The ActiveState Visual Package Manager(VPM) is a web-based application that allows you to verify, update, remove, and install Perl packages on your workstation or centralized Perl installation. This document features help on each aspect of this application.

   Verify
and
Update
   Click on the Verify link to open the Verify and Update page. You can see all of the currently installed packages by clicking on the Refresh button. The Sort By radio button allows you to sort the installed packages by Package Name, Author Name, or Installation Date.

If you would like to see details for a given package, click on the package name.

To verify one or more packages, select the checkbox to the left of each package you wish to verify, and click on the Verify button. VPM will check each selected package, and determine whether a new version is available. If a new version is available for a given package, its version number will appear in a red color.

You can also select one or more packages, and click on the Update button. VPM will then update those packages with the most recent version.

VPM will query and install packages from the repository you have selected in the Repository URL picklist.

  
  
  
   Remove    Click on the Remove link to open the Remove Packages page. You can see all of the currently installed packages by clicking on the Refresh button. The Sort By radio button allows you to sort the installed packages by Package Name, Author Name, or Installation Date.

If you would like to see details for a given package, click on the package name.

To remove one or more packages, select the checkbox to the left of each package you wish to remove, and click on the Remove button.

  
  
  
   Install    Click on the Install link to open the Install Packages page. You should select a repository from the Repository URL pull-down menu, and click on the Refresh button. All available packages will appear on the page. Select the packages you wish to install. Click the "Install These Packages" button to begin the install.

  
  
  
   Options    Click on the Options link to open the VPM Options page. You can set the following options:

Build Dir. This changes the temporary working directory where the Package Manager performs builds.
Root Dir. This should be the root Perl directory, where packages will be installed.
Case Select this checkbox to turn on case-sensitive matching.
Clean Select this checkbox to have VPM clean up temporary files.
Force installs Forces installation of packages even when a dependency cannot be installed or located.


You can add a new repository by supplying a name (you can assign it any name) and a URL. Click on the Add button to add the repository. You can select a repository and click on Remove to remove one.

  
  
  
   Help    Click on the Help link to display this screen.   
  
  
   Quit    Click on the Quit link to quit the VPM application.