How to locate an error in a CGI application

[rbi]

Hello,
I'm getting this error message in the Apache error_log file:
Use of uninitialized value in array element at (eval 9) line 86., referer: http://my.server/cgi-bin/mainscript.cgi?feature=a
I don't understand what position is this. mainscript.cgi is less than 86 lines so I guess it is in the modules I'm using, but how can I get to the specific module and line of code ?
Thanks for an explaination.

[shmem]

how can I get to the specific module and line of code ?

Insert at the top of your script

use Carp;
$SIG{__WARN__} = \&Carp::cluck;

That will output a backtrace at each warning.

update - lowercase'd cluck

[moritz]

It occurs in the eval at line 9, and in the evaled string it's in line 86.

[almut]

It's the 9th execution of an eval (not an eval on line 9). For example, the script below would give

Use of uninitialized value in array element at (eval 9) line 4.

#!/usr/bin/perl

use warnings;

my $code_err = q|
my @arr;
my $i;
$arr[$i] = 0;     # line 4 within this code snippet
|;

my $code_ok = q|my $var = ""|;

eval $code_ok for (1..8);
eval $code_err;   # 9th eval, but line 14 in this script

Unfortunately, I don't think there's an easy, straightforward way to locate the warning based on the info you've got...

[moritz]

Thanks for the clarification. Unfortunately I tested it with one eval at line one - not a good idea, of course ;-)

A possible way to find the error woud be to Carp::confess() on errors, I think that works via a SIG{__DIE__} handler, but I don't know that offhand.

Update: I just tested it, it doesn't seem to work inside an eval.

[rbi]

Thanks, at least now I know what to debug in my code.

[rbi]

I have no eval at line 9 of the mainscript.cgi (empty line, and still line 9 is indicated if I put some warn messages above line 9 just to increment the lines at the top of the mainscript.cgi code).
Could it be in one of the modules I'm using ? How can I locate it, in that case ?

[cdarke]

With a CGI program you might find it easier to use:
use CGI::Carp qw(fatalsToBrowser);

[rbi]

Thanks :)

[Anonymous Monk]

"Use of uninitialized value in array element"

[rbi]

Thanks but my real problem is how to locate the line where the error takes place in my codes.

[shmem]

how to locate the line

Open the file mainscript.cgi with your favourite editor. Put the cursor on line 1, then move it down 85 times. With vi that's typing 85j (or :86) while in command mode. You should end up on line 86.

What's on that line?

update: reading your reply, I see that I missed some information (which you didn't post). You meant to ask

how to locate the file and the line