Installing Perl/Tk for Windows

With Windows, in contrast to UNIX, most users will be happy to install a binary distribution, which includes correct executables and libraries. ActiveState is generous enough to do so for Perl/Tk (among many other products it maintains). Here's the simplest sequence you can follow to begin to use Perl/Tk for Windows:

1. If you are using Windows 95/98/NT, download and install Version 1.1 or greater of the Windows Installer. You can find the installer at http://www .activestate.com/Products/ActivePerl/ Download .html. Win2000 arrives with the Windows Installer already in place.

2. Download ActivePerl, available at the same web page.

3. From Windows Explorer, activate the distribution just downloaded (at this writing, it is ActivePerl 618). This installs ActivePerl.

4. From a command line, invoke ppm install Tk. This automatically retrieves through the Internet all the pieces ActivePerl needs for Perl/Tk.

5. Test your installation from the command line by entering perl -e "use Tk."

— C.L.

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