How to translate HTML symbols to normal text in Perl

[jmsrickland]

I have a script program that I tried using the following code:

  '
  '
  $value =~ tr/+/ /;
  $value =~ tr/%21/!/;
  $value =~ tr/%22/"/;
  $value =~ tr/%25/%/;
  $value =~ tr/%26/&/;
  $value =~ tr/%28/(/;
  $value =~ tr/%29/)/;
  $value =~ tr/%2C/,/;
  $value =~ tr/%2F/|/;
  $value =~ tr/%3C/>/;
  $value =~ tr/%3D/=/;
  $value =~ tr/%3E/</;
  '
  '

Unfortunately it does'nt do what I though it would do.

I want to take each HTML code like %xx and change it to the real character.

For example %3E = "<" and %3C = ">"

Anyone know how to do this?

[tr333]

Perldoc is your friend

How do I decode or create those %-encodings on the web?

[jmsrickland]

The example from that link don't work

my $original = "Colon : Hash # Percent %";
my $escaped = uri_escape( $original );
print "$escaped\n"; # 'Colon%20%3A%20Hash%20%23%20Percent%20%25'

Once it hits the 2nd line nothing else beyond that point is executed

[tr333]

Do you have URI::Escape installed?

Run the following from a terminal/console window:

perl -MURI::Escape -e ""

If it reports URI::Escape not found, then you need to install it with:

cpan URI::Escape

[jmsrickland]

I was wondering about that myself. I don't really have access to the Perl interpreter as it is owned by the hosting company of my web site where I keep the Perl CGI programs I write. Maybe I need to contact C.S. at the company and address this with them.

Thanks for your help

[tr333]

Yes. I would contact your hosting company to see if they have that module available. They might even install it for you, if you get lucky. I would think it must be a popular module since it's referenced from the PerlFAQ.

Failing that, you could include the module yourself by putting the module file(s) into a separate directory (outside of the www root) and then including it with a combination of lib and FindBin.