[MacPerl] MacPerl::LoadExternals problem

["Joseph A. DiVerdi" <diverdi@XTRsystems.com> (by way of Vicki Brown)]

I am working on a project which involves the inclusion of external
XCMD/XFCNs in a module. Unfortunately, there is a problem involving
the file path supplied to the MacPerl::LoadExternals function that I
have been unable to solve. Here is a short description of the problem:

A simplified test module is named "XCMD.pm". It contains one XCMD in
its resource fork which does nothing more than return a static string
to indicate that it has been entered. It also contains some simple
glue code in its data fork which calls the MacPerl::LoadExternals
routine to make the XCMD available and provides a method for
interfacing to the test Perl program.

The test module is placed in the "site_perl" folder. The contents of
its data fork follow:

	#! perl -w
	package XCMD;
	MacPerl::LoadExternals("XCMD.pm");
	sub test { return _XCMD() }
	1;

A separate test program "uses" the module, calls the method, and
prints the received string. It contains the following code:

	#! perl -w
	use XCMD;
	print XCMD->test, "\n";
	exit;

When the test program is executed, it executes successfully returning
the following message:

	XCMD entered!

So far, so good.

Now, if the module is to be placed in the "site_perl:Mac" folder and
the following changes made to the module and test program:

	#! perl -w
	package Mac::XCMD;
	MacPerl::LoadExternals("Mac::XCMD.pm");
	sub test { return _XCMD() }
	1;

	#! perl -w
	use Mac::XCMD;
	print Mac::XCMD->test, "\n";
	exit;

When the test program is executed, it fails returning the following message:

	# MacPerl::LoadExternals("Mac::XCMD.pm"): File not found..
	File 'Lulu:Applications:MacPerl Ÿ:site_perl:Mac:XCMD.pm'; Line 7
	# BEGIN failed--compilation aborted.
	File 'Lulu:Desktop Folder:test.t'; Line 2


I have experimented with several different file paths as the
LoadExternals argument. A hard-coded absolute path, i.e.,
"Lulu:Applications:Mac Perl Ÿ:site_perl:Mac:XCMD.pm" executes
successfully. However, I have been unable to find a relative path
which does execute successfully.

A stuffed copy of XCMD.pm is available for those interested; just
send me a note. Any help in figuring out how to make it all work with
the module in an arbitrary location would be greatly appreciated.

Best regards,
Joseph

--
Joseph A. DiVerdi, Ph.D., M.B.A.
<mailto:diverdi@XTRsystems.com>             970.221.3982 (voice)
<http://www.XTRsystems.com>                 970.224.3723 (fax)
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