When I need a Perl module, I typically use CPAN. It works fine. But not this time.

I want to use MARC::Charset, but this one uses GDBM_File, and I can't seem to install GDBM_File from CPAN.

CPAN finds it all right, but trying to install it, it starts installing the full Perl 5.10.1 distribution.

MARC::Charset is a rather old module, so there should be a way to use it from some common Perl version (Mac OS X 10.6.2 has 5.10.0 and 5.8.9 by default).

While installing the full blow Perl 5.10.1 is not an option, modifying MARC::Charset to stop using GDBM_File might be one. What would be the best course of action to do so?

This last option might also be the only one. googling GDBM_File uncovers a few items that suggest that gdbm is not even available on the Mac. Those items typically went over my head though.

While I don't expect a silver bullet, somebody may have a pointer or two on where I should start.

After all, MARC::Charset only does character transliteration to/from the marc8 char set, which unfortunately, iconv doesn't seem to support.