calling Perl functions within PHP?

[Anon]

I have several Perl functions defined in a file, call it /my/path/get_details.pl. Okay, actually, it's a collection of files, each with various subroutines that I need to call.

Is it possible to call subroutines defined in those files from PHP code? That is, can I somehow 'require' they be compiled in?

I understand how you can use virtual() to call a Perl script, but what if the Perl script is simply a library of functions to be called?

If this CAN be done, how would I pass parameters to those functions?

Our application is that we currently have a custom application, written pretty much in 100% Perl. My colleague and I share certain 'global' files, and I'd like to start working on a PHP version of our interface as my side of the application is to generate an HTML interface for our users. I'd much rather draw the HTML and embed PHP than to enter countless amounts of Perl code to draw the HTML for me. The subroutines and functions in the Perl files need to stay in Perl for the work my colleague is doing.

Any assitance would be appreciated. If this isn't possible, it's no big deal, I'd just MUCH rather develop in PHP than Perl right now. ;o)

Ian

[Anon]

You just need an interface between PHP and Perl. Create a PHP file that will contain part of the interface for the PHP side, and then a Perl file for the Perl side of the interface. The PHP file will have a function, let's say call_perl, which takes a filename (the file where the Perl function is), the function name as a string, and an array of parameters. call_perl will arrange everything, and thru the command line execute something like
"perl interface.pl file_name func_name params"

Then, interface.pl will take the file_name, include it, and then call func_name with the parameters. This assumes that Perl can handle function pointers...which I think it should...I can't think why not.

HTH,

Diego