If you're using Perl on Windows, there is always one problem -- Perl is not distributed with any version of Microsoft Windows, thus you either need to install, or require an install in order to deploy your script to other Windows systems or users.
This is where PAR, the Perl Archive Toolkit comes in! Using this cross platform Packaging and Deployment tool you can build Windows executables from your scripts. This is great, but how do you install and use this tool with ActivePerl on Windows?
PAR and PAR::Packer are not included with ActivePerl, so you need to install them using the Perl Package Manager. You can install PAR itself from the ActiveState repository (which you should), but this will not install the PAR::Packer tool. In order to do this from within the Perl Package Manager use the following steps:
- Select Edit -> Preferences
- Under Repository Tab -> Add Repository -> Suggested: bribes :: Bribes de Perl
- Now Search for PAR-Packer -> Mark for Install
- Run Marked Actions
This will install all off the required files for you to use the pp tool from the command line. Once installed simply give the following command:
pp -o file.exe file.pl
This will take your script including any required modules and create an executable archive that you can now distribute to any Windows system or user without the requirement of needing Perl installed!
