@Nick: Thanks for that update, but my problem remains that GC barfs with "perl512.dll is missing".

Since ActiveState Perl version 5.12 is no longer freely available, my original request remains:

Remove Perl version dependency from GnuCash distros.

finally, I got the GnuCash get automatic quote update to work under ActivePerl 5.14

solution: update the YAML::Syck module to ver 1.19.
(It is required in the Date::Manip::Lang::english module.)

I did not mean to fault any product, but the situation remains that you cannot install and use this functionality of GnuCash today on Windows. With that dependency, GnuCash will need to update as ActiveState progresses.
I don't belittle ActiveState for wanting to make money, but it seems that to build a community dependent on a version of your product, then remove that version from general availability seems petty. Lots of other products (e.g. Mozilla) make money, yet leave the older versions available.

Thanks Garry,

It's not GnuCash that is at fault.
I traced the problem down to the Date::Manip module. It won't run on ActivePerl 5.14.

Nick, it would seem this version of GnuCash only works with ActivePerl 5.12.

This is a Windows-only problem, since ActiveState seems to be the only source for Perl on Windows.

But, there is no free place that I could find to download 5.12. ActivePerl only supports 5.14 for free. To get older versions you need a license (pay).

Although an effort, it might be worthwhile to dump Perl and use one of the other scripting languages that aren't so version dependent, and locked-in to a commercial license.

current configuration: Windows 7, GnuCash 2.4.8, perl 5.14
prior configuration: Windows 7, GnuCash 2.4.7, perl 5.12
the Finance::Quote module ver. 1.17 is installed

The program runs under current configuration, but the Price Editor/Get Quotes feature that worked previously, now doesn't. The Get Quotes command button is active.

When trying to get automatic quotes the following message appears:
"The program can't start because perl512.dll is missing from your computer. Try reinstalling the program to fix this problem."
I did reinstall GnuCash, but that didn't fix the problem.

Please advice. Thanks.

Windows 7, GnuCash 2.4.7, using the Price Editor to get mutual fund quotes. This uses the Perl Finance::Quote module. The documentation says you must have Perl 5.12, but today, if you try to download Perl from ActiveState, you can only get version 5.14. Older versions require a subscription (fee). The extension in GC seems to be built against Perl v5.12, and I get an error saying "The program can't start because Perl512.dll is missing ...".
Thanks!

Thanks for the feedback. Unfortunately I don't understand what you mean. Which operating system do you use? How is there a "Perl version dependency"? I am sure gnucash can also be used without the FInance::Quote feature, so I don't understand what is forcing you to use a particular perl version.