I'm trying to install some software, which needs some dependencies, which it tells me I can only resolve by getting them from CPAN. I configured my CPAN with all the default options, added a few servers, and even upgraded/reloaded CPAN all without problems.

Now, it's time to get the files I need...

cpan> install DBD::mysql
.....
.....
.....
Writing Makefile for DBD::mysql
Makefile:89: *** missing separator. Stop.
/usr/bin/make -- NOT OK
Running make test
Can't test without successful make
Running make install
make had returned bad status, install seems impossible

So, I open up the Makefile in my text editor, and examine it. Apparently on line 89, there is a missing

='some/dir/here'

And I have no idea what it should be, so I just say, I'll try with a blank

=' '

I try the make again, and it finds yet another missing piece on a different line, which I examined again, and found. I also located several other locations where the value is set incorrectly, as in:

blah = '/usr/lib/somefile'
blip = '/us
boop = '/usrlib/someotherfile'

as though there is pieces just 'missing'....

I'm not a CPAN guru, and this is only the second time I've used it ever, so maybe there is something I'm doing wrong? Or something I can do differently to succeed?

I've seen that make error before...
Usually when there's spaces where
a TAB is supposed to be in a Makefile.

Cheers,
Tink

So, I just replace them with tab characters? And it does appear that there are missing characters... Is there any way that you know of to fix the problem?