[SOLVED] PERL programming: sending arrays

zak100 · 10-10-2011, 11:42 PM

Hi,

I want to send an array using PERL IO::Socket. I have written the following code:

Code:

use IO::Socket::INET;
$server=IO::Socket::INET->new(Local .......);
#i have skipped the whole command for avoiding typing
$server->recv(@arra, 2):
$avg=($array[0]+$array[1]);
print("server1 =", $avg);
$server->send("$avg"):

When I compile it says:

Code:

  usage:$sock->recv(BUF, LEN, [, FLAGS]) at ser1lab7.pl line 3

I have checked the internet it says i have to do serialization, but it doesnt provide any example.

Somebody plz guide me with this problem.

Zulfi.

Tinkster · 10-11-2011, 03:01 AM

Not sure I understand what you're asking; you discovered (via error message)
that send/recv only supports scalars. So you need to come up w/ a method to
convert your array into e.g. a parseable string before throwing it at
the respective method (and vice versa).

Cheers,
Tink

j-ray · 10-11-2011, 03:02 AM

Serialization means in this case put the values of the array into a string and send the string. AFAIK there is no builtin function in perl to do serialization. So I think you have to do sth like

Quote:

my $str = '';

foreach (@arr) {
$str .= $_.",";
}

pgpython · 10-11-2011, 03:10 AM

You cannot transmit data structures over sockets - only binary data. To get around this you need to serialize the structure, send it then unserialize it at the other end. Rather than try and come up with your method I recommend using a module from CPAN. Storable works well. Also recommend you can only serialize which can be reproduced at the other end. So for example an database connection cannot be serialized for this reason

zak100 · 10-11-2011, 12:07 PM

Thanks. I would use the serialize option. Thanks for elaborating it.

Zulfi.