[lug] Perl question

[Zan Lynx]

Carl Wagner wrote:
> Hi,
> 
> I am working on a Perl module that someone else wrote.
> 
> I moved a sub from one file to another.  The sub contained a switch 
> statement.
> I included "use Switch" near the top of the module.
> 
> The Perl program would fail with the error:
> # cat server.log
> Number found where operator expected at Module1.pm line 823, near "case 2"
>        (Do you need to predeclare case?)
> Number found where operator expected at Module1.pm line 824, near "case 3"
>        (Do you need to predeclare case?)
> Did not find leading dereferencer, detected at offset 41073syntax error 
> at Module1.pm line 822, near ")
>    {"
> syntax error at Module1.pm line 824, near "case 3"
> 
> 
> But if I include "use Switch" within the sub, it works fine.
> 
> Any idea why I can't just do a "use Switch" at the top of the module?
> (I have "use Strict" near the top).
> 

Any "use" statements must be inside the scope of the "package" that 
wants to use them.  What is probably happening is something like this:

use Switch;
.
.
.
package Blah;
switch

What you need is:
.
.
.
package Blah;
use Switch;
switch

-- 
Zan Lynx
zlynx at acm.org

"Knowledge is Power.  Power Corrupts.  Study Hard.  Be Evil."