[GNC] Difficulty with online price retrieval

[Geoff]

Good morning Samantha

Today's task is to repair your perl installation (specifically the 
missing "Date::Manip" module) so that gnucash can use the perl 
Finance::Quote module to retrieve currency exchange rates for you.

I have tested this on my Windows 10 PC today by manually deleting the 
Date::Manip module then reinstalling it using the steps below.  Note 
that instead of using Powershell as you have been doing to date, you 
will use the DOS Command Shell to enter the necessary commands.  Please 
refer to the attached screenshots as you proceed.

Screenshot: gnucsh_date_manip_1_command_prompt.jpg
The objective here is to open a DOS Command Shell running with 
Administrator privileges.  There several ways to do this, the one I have 
shown involves typing "cmd" into the search box on the left of the 
Windows task bar at the bottom of your screen.  A new window will open 
titled "Administrator: Command Prompt".  Type these 4 commands into that 
window - obviously using your own API Key:
cd "C:\Program Files (x86)\gnucash\bin"
set ALPHAVANTAGE_API_KEY=your_actual_key
echo %ALPHAVANTAGE_API_KEY%
install-fq-mods.cmd

Screenshot: gnucsh_date_manip_2_installation.jpg
The gnucash perl installation script is now running and you will see a 
heap of gobbledygook on your screen like this.

Screenshot: gnucsh_date_manip_3_long_delay.jpg
After a few minutes the installation will appear to "freeze" at this 
point.  Just be patient and wait, I have seen it take over 30 minutes in 
some cases.

Screenshot: gnucsh_date_manip_4_completion.jpg
This is what it should look like after a successful installation.   If 
you don't see this, please send details including a screenshot and we 
will decide the next steps.

Screenshot: gnucsh_date_manip_5_testing.jpg
Assuming you do have a successful installation, let's test it out by 
typing (or pasting) these 3 commands into the window:
echo (currency "GBP" "EUR") | perl gnc-fq-helper
echo (currency "USD" "GBP") | perl gnc-fq-helper
echo (currency "USD" "EUR") | perl gnc-fq-helper


Good luck!

Geoff
=====

On 25/08/2020 10:18 pm, Samantha Payn wrote:
> Thanks Geoff! Sleep well!
>> On 25 August 2020 13:17 Geoff < cleanoutmyshed at gmail.com 
>> <mailto:cleanoutmyshed at gmail.com>> wrote:
>>
>>
>> Ah hah! This could be the cause of all your problems.
>>
>> That error message says that your perl installation is missing a key
>> component - the "Date::Manip" module.
>>
>> Explaining how to fix this will take a bit of effort, and as it is now
>> bedtime in my part of the world, I will try to knock up some
>> instructions for you tomorrow.
>>
>> Stay tuned.
>>
>> Geoff
>> =====
>>
>> On 25/08/2020 9:24 pm, Samantha Payn wrote:
>>> Hi Geoff
>>> Thanks for your suggestoins. This is what I get:
>>> PS C:\Users\User> $Env:ALPHAVANTAGE_API_KEY = 'mykey'
>>> PS C:\Users\User> echo '(currency "USD" "GBP")' | perl 'c:\Program Files
>>> (x86)\gnucash\bin\gnc-fq-helper'
>>> Can't locate Date/Manip.pm in @INC (you may need to install the
>>> Date::Manip module) (@INC contains: C:/Strawberry/perl/site/lib
>>> C:/Strawberry/perl/vendor/lib C:/Strawberry/perl/lib) at c:\Program
>>> Files (x86)\gnucash\bin\gnc-fq-helper line 29.
>>> BEGIN failed--compilation aborted at c:\Program Files
>>> (x86)\gnucash\bin\gnc-fq-helper line 29.
>>> PS C:\Users\User> echo '(currency "USD" "EUR")' | perl 'c:\Program Files
>>> (x86)\gnucash\bin\gnc-fq-helper'
>>> Can't locate Date/Manip.pm in @INC (you may need to install the
>>> Date::Manip module) (@INC contains: C:/Strawberry/perl/site/lib
>>> C:/Strawberry/perl/vendor/lib C:/Strawberry/perl/lib) at c:\Program
>>> Files (x86)\gnucash\bin\gnc-fq-helper line 29.
>>> BEGIN failed--compilation aborted at c:\Program Files
>>> (x86)\gnucash\bin\gnc-fq-helper line 29.
>>> PS C:\Users\User> echo '(currency "GBP" "EUR")' | perl 'c:\Program Files
>>> (x86)\gnucash\bin\gnc-fq-helper'
>>> Can't locate Date/Manip.pm in @INC (you may need to install the
>>> Date::Manip module) (@INC contains: C:/Strawberry/perl/site/lib
>>> C:/Strawberry/perl/vendor/lib C:/Strawberry/perl/lib) at c:\Program
>>> Files (x86)\gnucash\bin\gnc-fq-helper line 29.
>>> BEGIN failed--compilation aborted at c:\Program Files
>>> (x86)\gnucash\bin\gnc-fq-helper line 29.
>>> PS C:\Users\User>
>>> Thanks for taking up the cudgels on this one.
>>> Samantha
>>>> On 25 August 2020 12:13 Geoff < cleanoutmyshed at gmail.com 
>>>> <mailto:cleanoutmyshed at gmail.com>
>>>> <mailto: cleanoutmyshed at gmail.com 
>>>> <mailto:cleanoutmyshed at gmail.com>>> wrote:
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