If you want to use the Google APIs via Perl, a search at CPAN wile lead you to Net-Google. However, this distribution seems not to be available for the Active State version of Perl last time I checked (March, 30th, 2004).
Luckily, downloading the gzipped tar file and installing it is quite straightforward. But first you need to get a license key from Google.
A license key is required from Google in order to use the Net-Google modules. Visit the Google Web APIs site and download the developer's kit. This kit contains useful documentation. Next, create a Google Account to obtain your license key. This key makes it possible to do 1,000 automated queries per day.
After creating the account and confirming it by activating a link you get by email you can request your license key. This key is also send by email. You need this key in the modules build step below and, of course, for using Net-Google in your own Perl programs.
Select Net-Google from the CPAN search: net-google search result. Click on the link and select the download link from the resulting Net-Google page. This should download a gzipped tar file. When finished downloading, extract the gzipped tar file with, for example, 7-Zip.
In order to build and install the Net-Google modules you need NMake. See Make for Windows: NMake for more information on how to obtain NMake.
The following lines are a copy of an installation on a Windows XP system. You need to enter the license key in the NMake test step below.
Note: the latest version of Net-Google available at CPAN has a bug, see: Net::Google bug: missing wsdl file for a quick and easy fix.
perl Makefile.PL
Checking if your kit is complete...
Looks good
Writing Makefile for Net::Google
nmake
Microsoft (R) Program Maintenance Utility Version 1.50
Copyright (c) Microsoft Corp 1988-94. All rights reserved.
cp lib/Net/Google/Search.pm blib\lib\Net\Google\Search.pm
cp lib/Net/Google.pm blib\lib\Net\Google.pm
cp lib/Net/Google/tool.pm blib\lib\Net\Google\tool.pm
cp lib/Net/Google/Spelling.pm blib\lib\Net\Google\Spelling.pm
cp lib/Net/Google/Cache.pm blib\lib\Net\Google\Cache.pm
cp lib/Net/Google/Services/GoogleSearch.wsdl blib\lib\Net\Google
\Services\GoogleSearch.wsdl
cp lib/Net/Google/Service.pm blib\lib\Net\Google\Service.pm
cp lib/Net/Google/Response.pm blib\lib\Net\Google\Response.pm
nmake test
Microsoft (R) Program Maintenance Utility Version 1.50
Copyright (c) Microsoft Corp 1988-94. All rights reserved.
C:\Perl\bin\perl.exe "-MExtUtils::Command::MM" "-e" "tes
t_harness(0, 'blib\lib', 'blib\arch')" t\000-key.t t\001-search.
t t\002-spelling.t t\003-cache.t t\000-key.........#
# The Google API web service requires that you provide create a
Google Account and obtain a license key
# This key is then passed with each request you make to the Goog
le servers.
# If you do not already have a Google Account, you can sign up f
or one here:
# http://www.google.com/apis/
#
# Please enter your Google API key:
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
t\000-key.........ok
t\001-search......ok
t\002-spelling....ok
t\003-cache.......ok
All tests successful.
Files=4, Tests=18, 103 wallclock secs ( 0.00 cusr + 0.00 csys =
0.00 CPU)
nmake install
Microsoft (R) Program Maintenance Utility Version 1.50
Copyright (c) Microsoft Corp 1988-94. All rights reserved.
Installing C:\Perl\site\lib\Net\Google.pm
Installing C:\Perl\site\lib\Net\Google\Cache.pm
Installing C:\Perl\site\lib\Net\Google\Response.pm
Installing C:\Perl\site\lib\Net\Google\Search.pm
Installing C:\Perl\site\lib\Net\Google\Service.pm
Installing C:\Perl\site\lib\Net\Google\Spelling.pm
Installing C:\Perl\site\lib\Net\Google\tool.pm
Installing C:\Perl\site\lib\Net\Google\Services\GoogleSearch.wsd
l
Appending installation info to C:\Perl\lib/perllocal.podA version of Perl for Microsoft Windows (Win32) operating systems, named ActivePerl, can be downloaded from the ActiveState website.
Recently, test 5 fails. This has been reported as a bug, see: Comments: Net-Google with ActiveState Perl