LoadError: no such file to load -- tk

ruby-talk
1

I'm trying to install Ruby on a 64 bit Windows 7 machine following this
guide;

After setting the environment variables and compiling I get this error:

irb

irb(main):001:0> require 'tk'
LoadError: no such file to load -- tk
        from (irb):1:in `require'
        from (irb):1

I've googled for an answer but only find lot's of other people with the
same problem but no answer. Any ideas why it doesn't work or how to fix
it?

···

from :0
--
Posted via http://www.ruby-forum.com/\.

2

irb

irb(main):001:0> require 'tk'
LoadError: no such file to load -- tk
        from (irb):1:in `require'
        from (irb):1
        from :0

This means your ruby was built without the tk extension built.

Useful refs:
http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Ruby_Programming/GUI_Toolkit_Modules/Tk
http://wiki.github.com/rdp/ruby_tutorials_core/tk (availability).
Cheers.
-r

···

--
Posted via http://www.ruby-forum.com/\.

3

I followed the guide on http://www.tkdocs.com/tutorial/install.html
and success. I use Ubuntu.

1. change to root
   sudo -i

2. Install ActiveTcl
    wget
http://downloads.activestate.com/ActiveTcl/releases/8.6.0.0b7/ActiveTcl8.6.0.0b7.295590-linux-ix86-threaded.tar.gz
    tar xzf ActiveTcl8.6.0.0b7.295590-linux-ix86-threaded.tar.gz
    cd ActiveTcl8.6.0.0b7.295590-linux-ix86-threaded
    ./install.sh

3. export PATH=$PATH:/opt/ActiveTcl-8.6
    The guide on http://www.tkdocs.com not say this.
    But this is important, unless ruby will not find tk.

4. Install libx11-dev
    open "Ubuntu Software Centre"
    search "libx11-dev"
    install it

5. compile ruby
    wget http://ftp.ruby-lang.org/pub/ruby/1.9/ruby-1.9.3-p194.tar.gz
    tar xzf ruby-1.9.3-p194.tar.gz
    cd ruby-1.9.3-p194
    ./configure && make && make install

now everything works

irb(main):001:0> require 'tk'
=> true
irb(main):002:0> Tk::TK_PATCHLEVEL
=> "8.6b2"
irb(main):003:0>

···

--
Posted via http://www.ruby-forum.com/.

4

Roger Pack wrote:

This means your ruby was built without the tk extension built.

Useful refs:
Ruby Programming/GUI Toolkit Modules/Tk - Wikibooks, open books for an open world
http://wiki.github.com/rdp/ruby_tutorials_core/tk (availability).
Cheers.
-r

Yes I know, but why not? Neither of those links was helpful.

···

--
Posted via http://www.ruby-forum.com/\.

5

How did you install Ruby? Using RubyInstaller? That doesn't include Tk
(because, as I understand it, it's currently impossible to
automatically build and package Tk along with it).

Assuming you installed Tk, you can compile a gem called tk_as_gem that
will work with your existing Tk installation. You'll need the Ruby
development kit (MSys tools, available from http://rubyinstaller.org/\)
to compile it.

···

On Mon, Jul 19, 2010 at 3:26 PM, Rich Leblanc <rl001@pacbell.net> wrote:

Roger Pack wrote:

This means your ruby was built without the tk extension built.

Useful refs:
Ruby Programming/GUI Toolkit Modules/Tk - Wikibooks, open books for an open world
http://wiki.github.com/rdp/ruby_tutorials_core/tk (availability).
Cheers.
-r

Yes I know, but why not? Neither of those links was helpful.

6

Eric Christopherson wrote:

Roger Pack wrote:

This means your ruby was built without the tk extension built.

Useful refs:
Ruby Programming/GUI Toolkit Modules/Tk - Wikibooks, open books for an open world
http://wiki.github.com/rdp/ruby_tutorials_core/tk (availability).
Cheers.
-r

Yes I know, but why not? Neither of those links was helpful.

How did you install Ruby? Using RubyInstaller? That doesn't include Tk
(because, as I understand it, it's currently impossible to
automatically build and package Tk along with it).

Assuming you installed Tk, you can compile a gem called tk_as_gem that
will work with your existing Tk installation. You'll need the Ruby
development kit (MSys tools, available from http://rubyinstaller.org/\)
to compile it.

Like the first post says;

I'm trying to install Ruby on a 64 bit Windows 7 machine following this
guide;

I installed ActiveState ActiveTCL which includes tk. I can run wish85
successfully. Tcl/tk is installed.

Like the first post says, after setting environment variables and
compiling according to the instructions it doesn't work. And by that I
mean that when I run require 'tk' from the irb it gives the error
message;

LoadError: no such file to load -- tk

···

On Mon, Jul 19, 2010 at 3:26 PM, Rich Leblanc <rl001@pacbell.net> wrote:

--
Posted via http://www.ruby-forum.com/\.

7

Rich Leblanc wrote:

Eric Christopherson wrote:

Roger Pack wrote:

This means your ruby was built without the tk extension built.

Useful refs:
Ruby Programming/GUI Toolkit Modules/Tk - Wikibooks, open books for an open world
http://wiki.github.com/rdp/ruby_tutorials_core/tk (availability).
Cheers.
-r

Yes I know, but why not? Neither of those links was helpful.

How did you install Ruby? Using RubyInstaller? That doesn't include Tk
(because, as I understand it, it's currently impossible to
automatically build and package Tk along with it).

Assuming you installed Tk, you can compile a gem called tk_as_gem that
will work with your existing Tk installation. You'll need the Ruby
development kit (MSys tools, available from http://rubyinstaller.org/\)
to compile it.

Like the first post says;

I'm trying to install Ruby on a 64 bit Windows 7 machine following this
guide;

TkDocs Tutorial - Installing Tk

I installed ActiveState ActiveTCL which includes tk. I can run wish85
successfully. Tcl/tk is installed.

Like the first post says, after setting environment variables and
compiling according to the instructions it doesn't work. And by that I
mean that when I run require 'tk' from the irb it gives the error
message;

LoadError: no such file to load -- tk

I'm not using rubyinstaller. I'm compiling from source.

Assuming you installed Tk, you can compile a gem called tk_as_gem that
will work with your existing Tk installation. You'll need the Ruby
development kit (MSys tools, available from http://rubyinstaller.org/\)
to compile it.

I don't understand what any of that means or why I'd want to do it. I'm
just a newb trying to learn ruby but can't get it to install with tk
following that tutorial.

···

On Mon, Jul 19, 2010 at 3:26 PM, Rich Leblanc <rl001@pacbell.net> wrote:

--
Posted via http://www.ruby-forum.com/\.

8

LoadError: no such file to load -- tk

This means that your Ruby runtime, when you built it, was unable to find
your Tk libs/headers, so didn't build your Tk installation.

Your only hope after that point is to somehow make them accessible (in
your case, by building Tcl/Tk using the same compiler you used to build
ruby, then installing tk_as_gem).

recommendation: use rubyinstaller, then research the links I gave you,
which point eventually to either using tk_as_gem+devkit or this helper.

Also ffi-tk might fit the bill.

The rubyinstaller guys hope to make it easier to get to tk in the
future.
-r

···

--
Posted via http://www.ruby-forum.com/\.

9

Roger Pack wrote:

LoadError: no such file to load -- tk

This means that your Ruby runtime, when you built it, was unable to find
your Tk libs/headers, so didn't build your Tk installation.

Yes I got that much. But I don't understand why. I followed that guide
step by step but it didn't work.

Your only hope after that point is to somehow make them accessible (in
your case, by building Tcl/Tk using the same compiler you used to build
ruby, then installing tk_as_gem).

My only hope? What about figuring out why it didn't work, fix the
problem and try again? That tutorial obviously works for some people.

recommendation: use rubyinstaller, then research the links I gave you,
which point eventually to either using tk_as_gem+devkit or this helper.

The tutorial says do not use the installer. I'd like to get one thing
working before moving on to something else I don't understand. I didn't
find anything helpful in those links. If you'd like to link the specific
page that points to the answer to my problem I'd be happy to read it.

···

Also ffi-tk might fit the bill.

The rubyinstaller guys hope to make it easier to get to tk in the
future.
-r

--
Posted via http://www.ruby-forum.com/\.

10

Rich Leblanc wrote:

Roger Pack wrote:

LoadError: no such file to load -- tk

This means that your Ruby runtime, when you built it, was unable to find
your Tk libs/headers, so didn't build your Tk installation.

Yes I got that much. But I don't understand why. I followed that guide
step by step but it didn't work.

1.9.1 didn't build the Tk extension all that well on windows. It should
be fixed with 1.9.2...or there may be some other bug since I only use
mingw not VC to compile it.

To reproduce it go into your ext/tk library and run extconf.rb (and
nmake I guess). It should fail.

Your only hope after that point is to somehow make them accessible (in
your case, by building Tcl/Tk using the same compiler you used to build
ruby, then installing tk_as_gem).

My only hope? What about figuring out why it didn't work, fix the
problem and try again?

Please do.

The tutorial says do not use the installer. I'd like to get one thing
working before moving on to something else I don't understand. I didn't
find anything helpful in those links. If you'd like to link the specific
page that points to the answer to my problem I'd be happy to read it.

The tutorial contains instructions on how to build it from source...

Also ffi-tk might fit the bill.

Do you have any response to this (it's a gem)?

Anyway, to make it easier I packaged up one for you.
I downloaded 1.9.1p429 from Downloads
then downloaded "◦Ruby/Tk environment" from from
Ruby/Tk-Kit for RubyInstaller 1.9.1p378rc2 - Ruby - Ruby-Forum
and unpackaged it to the appropriate directory.

http://faithpromotingrumors.org/incoming/ruby-1.9.1-p429-i386-mingw32.7z

GL.
-r

···

--
Posted via http://www.ruby-forum.com/\.

11

Roger Pack wrote:

Rich Leblanc wrote:

Roger Pack wrote:

LoadError: no such file to load -- tk

This means that your Ruby runtime, when you built it, was unable to find
your Tk libs/headers, so didn't build your Tk installation.

Yes I got that much. But I don't understand why. I followed that guide
step by step but it didn't work.

1.9.1 didn't build the Tk extension all that well on windows. It should
be fixed with 1.9.2...or there may be some other bug since I only use
mingw not VC to compile it.

The tutorial says use 1.8.x not 1.9.x.

To reproduce it go into your ext/tk library and run extconf.rb (and
nmake I guess). It should fail.

Reproduce what? I don't understand.

Your only hope after that point is to somehow make them accessible (in
your case, by building Tcl/Tk using the same compiler you used to build
ruby, then installing tk_as_gem).

My only hope? What about figuring out why it didn't work, fix the
problem and try again?

Please do.

I'm trying. That's why I'm here. It seems that tk library is not in the
right place when compiling. Is that it? Then where should it be so I can
check and see if it's there?

The tutorial says do not use the installer. I'd like to get one thing
working before moving on to something else I don't understand. I didn't
find anything helpful in those links. If you'd like to link the specific
page that points to the answer to my problem I'd be happy to read it.

The tutorial contains instructions on how to build it from source...

Uh, ya.

Also ffi-tk might fit the bill.

Do you have any response to this (it's a gem)?

I don't know what that is or what a gem is. I'm a newb at the beginning
trying to follow a tutorial. I know very little about ruby.

Anyway, to make it easier I packaged up one for you.
I downloaded 1.9.1p429 from Downloads
then downloaded "◦Ruby/Tk environment" from from
Ruby/Tk-Kit for RubyInstaller 1.9.1p378rc2 - Ruby - Ruby-Forum
and unpackaged it to the appropriate directory.

http://faithpromotingrumors.org/incoming/ruby-1.9.1-p429-i386-mingw32.7z

GL.
-r

don't know what any of that means.

···

--
Posted via http://www.ruby-forum.com/\.

12

Roger Pack wrote:

Rich Leblanc wrote:

Roger Pack wrote:

I downloaded 1.9.1p429 from Downloads
then downloaded "◦Ruby/Tk environment" from from
Ruby/Tk-Kit for RubyInstaller 1.9.1p378rc2 - Ruby - Ruby-Forum

Ok, I got those.

and unpackaged it to the appropriate directory.

What does that mean? You ran the Ruby installer to create a directory
tree on windows, then copied "◦Ruby/Tk environment" to the "appropriate
directory" (whatever that is) then gave a copy of the whole resultant
directory tree to me? What is the "appropriate directory"? If you use
explicit paths it would be a lot easier for me to understand.

···

--
Posted via http://www.ruby-forum.com/\.

13

Message-ID: <c3dd9cbcf8eadc1284f794414063b294@ruby-forum.com>

> To reproduce it go into your ext/tk library and run extconf.rb (and
> nmake I guess). It should fail.

Reproduce what? I don't understand.

ext/tk/extconf.rb creates Makefile for tcltklilb.so (core library of
Ruby/Tk), when it finds Tcl/Tk libraries (see ext/tk/README.tcltklib).
If it fails to find proper Tcl/Tk libraries, it creates a dummy
Makefile (it can make nothing). So, before retrying to configure
(run ext/tk/extconf.rb), please remove such dummy Makefile.

If ext/tk/extconf.rb cannot create an available Makefile although you
give the paths of Tcl/Tk libraries, please check consistency of
architecture between Ruby and Tcl/Tk.
When 32bit <=> 64bit or 64bit <=> 32bit, probably ext/tk/extconf.rb
doesn't select the Tcl/Tk libraries to make tcltklib.so.

···

From: Rich Leblanc <rl001@pacbell.net>
Subject: Re: LoadError: no such file to load -- tk
Date: Wed, 21 Jul 2010 03:50:10 +0900
--
Hidetoshi NAGAI (nagai@ai.kyutech.ac.jp)
Department of Artificial Intelligence, Kyushu Institute of Technology

14

1.9.1 didn't build the Tk extension all that well on windows. It should
be fixed with 1.9.2...or there may be some other bug since I only use
mingw not VC to compile it.

The tutorial says use 1.8.x not 1.9.x.

If you're interested in a 1.8.x that works with tk, see

"Ruby 1.8.6-p27 (RC2)"

Install that, and activeState 8.5 in your path and it should "just work"

To reproduce it go into your ext/tk library and run extconf.rb (and
nmake I guess). It should fail.

Reproduce what? I don't understand.

Reproduce ruby not "finding" Tk to compile it in.

I'm trying. That's why I'm here. It seems that tk library is not in the
right place when compiling. Is that it?

I think so.

Then where should it be so I can
check and see if it's there?

I'm not sure I've never built it using mswin.

If you want to build it with mingw checkout the tcl branch of
rubyinstaller:
http://github.com/oneclick/rubyinstaller/tree/tcl

if you run a rake from there
(rake ruby18)
it should build ruby with the tk extension built.

Do you have any response to this (it's a gem)?

Typically when you're just starting ruby on windows, it's recommended to
use a pre-built package instead of building it yourself.

gem is ruby's way of distributing libraries easily. google for rubygems.
Cheers!
-rp

http://faithpromotingrumors.org/incoming/ruby-1.9.1-p429-i386-mingw32.7z

If you unpack that zip file (download 7 zip to be able to extract it),
you'll get a full fledged ruby 1.9.1 with the Tk extension already
built.

···

--
Posted via http://www.ruby-forum.com/\.

15

Rich Leblanc wrote:

Roger Pack wrote:

Rich Leblanc wrote:

Roger Pack wrote:

LoadError: no such file to load -- tk

This means that your Ruby runtime, when you built it, was unable to find
your Tk libs/headers, so didn't build your Tk installation.

Yes I got that much. But I don't understand why. I followed that guide
step by step but it didn't work.

1.9.1 didn't build the Tk extension all that well on windows. It should
be fixed with 1.9.2...or there may be some other bug since I only use
mingw not VC to compile it.

The tutorial says use 1.8.x not 1.9.x.

To reproduce it go into your ext/tk library and run extconf.rb (and
nmake I guess). It should fail.

Reproduce what? I don't understand.

Your only hope after that point is to somehow make them accessible (in
your case, by building Tcl/Tk using the same compiler you used to build
ruby, then installing tk_as_gem).

My only hope? What about figuring out why it didn't work, fix the
problem and try again?

Please do.

I'm trying. That's why I'm here. It seems that tk library is not in the
right place when compiling. Is that it? Then where should it be so I can
check and see if it's there?

The tutorial says do not use the installer. I'd like to get one thing
working before moving on to something else I don't understand. I didn't
find anything helpful in those links. If you'd like to link the specific
page that points to the answer to my problem I'd be happy to read it.

The tutorial contains instructions on how to build it from source...

Uh, ya.

Also ffi-tk might fit the bill.

Do you have any response to this (it's a gem)?

I don't know what that is or what a gem is. I'm a newb at the beginning
trying to follow a tutorial. I know very little about ruby.

Anyway, to make it easier I packaged up one for you.
I downloaded 1.9.1p429 from Downloads
then downloaded "◦Ruby/Tk environment" from from
Ruby/Tk-Kit for RubyInstaller 1.9.1p378rc2 - Ruby - Ruby-Forum
and unpackaged it to the appropriate directory.

http://faithpromotingrumors.org/incoming/ruby-1.9.1-p429-i386-mingw32.7z

GL.
-r

don't know what any of that means.

Ok I've unzipped this thing now how do I install it? And what would I do
if you didn't make me this? I'd really like to get the original problem
fixed and figure out how to get the 1.8.x source compiled and working as
in that tutorial. I'd like to know how to get the proper files in the
right place and understand what I'm doing not "click one button and have
it magically work".

I don't want to start getting sidetracked. How can I build the 1.8.x
source properly with tk and avoid this error? That was my original
question. I also need to get this working on my Unix machine next (or in
parallel). As far as I know there is no "one-click installer" for that.
I need to know what goes where. Aren't there any install instructions
anywhere?

···

--
Posted via http://www.ruby-forum.com/\.

16

Rich Leblanc wrote:

Roger Pack wrote:

Rich Leblanc wrote:

Roger Pack wrote:

I downloaded 1.9.1p429 from Downloads
then downloaded "◦Ruby/Tk environment" from from
Ruby/Tk-Kit for RubyInstaller 1.9.1p378rc2 - Ruby - Ruby-Forum

Ok, I got those.

and unpackaged it to the appropriate directory.

What does that mean? You ran the Ruby installer to create a directory
tree on windows, then copied "◦Ruby/Tk environment" to the "appropriate
directory" (whatever that is) then gave a copy of the whole resultant
directory tree to me? What is the "appropriate directory"? If you use
explicit paths it would be a lot easier for me to understand.

I unzipped a .7z file from rubyinstaller,
then followed the instructions on
http://www.dumbo.ai.kyutech.ac.jp/~nagai/RubyTk/?Ruby/Tk-Kit

specifically "Ruby/Tk environment (please extract at RubyInstaller's
lib/ruby/1.9.1) :
rubytk-simple-w-img_ext-20100523-for-RubyInstaller191.zip"

HTH.
-r

···

--
Posted via http://www.ruby-forum.com/\.

17

He can't use explicit paths in the example because he doesn't know
your setup.

You need to find your way too, don't expect receive a 100% to the
letter type of instructions since you're not providing enough details.

I believe you are getting over complicated and Roger's instructions
are not helping you because the instructions expect certain knowledge
of build tools and building Ruby.

You should try the following, and if doesn't work, start a new thread
instead of this eternal back and forth between so many instructions:

1) Download Ruby 1.9.1 installers form RubyInstaller website.

2) Install the Development Kit, accessible from the same website and
follow the instructions detailed here:

http://wiki.github.com/oneclick/rubyinstaller/development-kit

3) Install Tcl, or if you have already installed, figure it out where
it was installed in your system.

4) Take note of Tcl location and add the binaries location to the
PATH:

SET PATH=<path to Tcl bin directory>;%PATH%

5) Install tk-win gem:

gem install tk-win

6) Start using it

require 'rubygems'
require 'tk'

···

On Jul 22, 6:46 pm, Rich Leblanc <rl...@pacbell.net> wrote:

Roger Pack wrote:
> Rich Leblanc wrote:
>> Roger Pack wrote:
> I downloaded 1.9.1p429 fromhttp://rubyinstaller.org/downloads/
> then downloaded "◦Ruby/Tk environment" from from
>Ruby/Tk-Kit for RubyInstaller 1.9.1p378rc2 - Ruby - Ruby-Forum

Ok, I got those.

> and unpackaged it to the appropriate directory.

What does that mean? You ran the Ruby installer to create a directory
tree on windows, then copied "◦Ruby/Tk environment" to the "appropriate
directory" (whatever that is) then gave a copy of the whole resultant
directory tree to me? What is the "appropriate directory"? If you use
explicit paths it would be a lot easier for me to understand.

--
Luis Lavena

18

Hidetoshi NAGAI wrote:

From: Rich Leblanc <rl001@pacbell.net>
Subject: Re: LoadError: no such file to load -- tk
Date: Wed, 21 Jul 2010 03:50:10 +0900
Message-ID: <c3dd9cbcf8eadc1284f794414063b294@ruby-forum.com>

> To reproduce it go into your ext/tk library and run extconf.rb (and
> nmake I guess). It should fail.

Reproduce what? I don't understand.

ext/tk/extconf.rb creates Makefile for tcltklilb.so (core library of
Ruby/Tk), when it finds Tcl/Tk libraries (see ext/tk/README.tcltklib).
If it fails to find proper Tcl/Tk libraries, it creates a dummy
Makefile (it can make nothing). So, before retrying to configure
(run ext/tk/extconf.rb), please remove such dummy Makefile.

By dummy Makefile do you mean an empty one? There is a Makefile but
there is stuff in it. I deleted it and tried to recompile but now having
problems with the Microsoft tools this tutorial wants me to use.

If ext/tk/extconf.rb cannot create an available Makefile although you
give the paths of Tcl/Tk libraries, please check consistency of
architecture between Ruby and Tcl/Tk.
When 32bit <=> 64bit or 64bit <=> 32bit, probably ext/tk/extconf.rb
doesn't select the Tcl/Tk libraries to make tcltklib.so.

This is getting more and more confusing. How do I check check
consistency of architecture between Ruby and Tcl/Tk if it's 32 bit or
64? I thought 32 bit apps can run on a 64 bit machine. This tutorial is
really awful. It gives me nothing but problems every step of the way. Is
there some better way to learn Ruby/tk? And why does he want me to use
1.8.x and not 1.9.x?

···

--
Posted via http://www.ruby-forum.com/\.

19

Actually I would like to get this fixed on my Unix machine too. I'm
getting this same error. I have tcl8.5.8 installed and Ruby 1.8.7. How
can I get it to work on Unix? Maybe if I get that working I'll
understand what I'm supposed to do on Windows.

···

--
Posted via http://www.ruby-forum.com/.

20

gem install ffi-tk

That should work on any platform, be it 64bit, 32bit, windows, linux,
MRI, or JRuby.

The issue is that all existing tutorials are written with ruby-tk in
mind, some of the API is different.

···

On Wed, Jul 21, 2010 at 1:27 PM, Rich Leblanc <rl001@pacbell.net> wrote:

Rich Leblanc wrote:

Roger Pack wrote:

Rich Leblanc wrote:

Roger Pack wrote:

LoadError: no such file to load -- tk

This means that your Ruby runtime, when you built it, was unable to find
your Tk libs/headers, so didn't build your Tk installation.

Yes I got that much. But I don't understand why. I followed that guide
step by step but it didn't work.

1.9.1 didn't build the Tk extension all that well on windows. It should
be fixed with 1.9.2...or there may be some other bug since I only use
mingw not VC to compile it.

The tutorial says use 1.8.x not 1.9.x.

To reproduce it go into your ext/tk library and run extconf.rb (and
nmake I guess). It should fail.

Reproduce what? I don't understand.

Your only hope after that point is to somehow make them accessible (in
your case, by building Tcl/Tk using the same compiler you used to build
ruby, then installing tk_as_gem).

My only hope? What about figuring out why it didn't work, fix the
problem and try again?

Please do.

I'm trying. That's why I'm here. It seems that tk library is not in the
right place when compiling. Is that it? Then where should it be so I can
check and see if it's there?

The tutorial says do not use the installer. I'd like to get one thing
working before moving on to something else I don't understand. I didn't
find anything helpful in those links. If you'd like to link the specific
page that points to the answer to my problem I'd be happy to read it.

The tutorial contains instructions on how to build it from source...

Uh, ya.

Also ffi-tk might fit the bill.

Do you have any response to this (it's a gem)?

I don't know what that is or what a gem is. I'm a newb at the beginning
trying to follow a tutorial. I know very little about ruby.

Anyway, to make it easier I packaged up one for you.
I downloaded 1.9.1p429 from Downloads
then downloaded "◦Ruby/Tk environment" from from
Ruby/Tk-Kit for RubyInstaller 1.9.1p378rc2 - Ruby - Ruby-Forum
and unpackaged it to the appropriate directory.

http://faithpromotingrumors.org/incoming/ruby-1.9.1-p429-i386-mingw32.7z

GL.
-r

don't know what any of that means.

Ok I've unzipped this thing now how do I install it? And what would I do
if you didn't make me this? I'd really like to get the original problem
fixed and figure out how to get the 1.8.x source compiled and working as
in that tutorial. I'd like to know how to get the proper files in the
right place and understand what I'm doing not "click one button and have
it magically work".

I don't want to start getting sidetracked. How can I build the 1.8.x
source properly with tk and avoid this error? That was my original
question. I also need to get this working on my Unix machine next (or in
parallel). As far as I know there is no "one-click installer" for that.
I need to know what goes where. Aren't there any install instructions
anywhere?

--
Michael Fellinger
CTO, The Rubyists, LLC