1 files changed, 56 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/win32/bin/runperl.bat b/win32/bin/runperl.bat
index 84f758d64e..cca69e89e0 100644
--- a/win32/bin/runperl.bat
+++ b/win32/bin/runperl.bat
@@ -17,4 +17,60 @@ unless (-f $0) {
 doit: exec "perl", "-x", $0, @ARGV;
 die "Failed to exec `$0': $!";
 __END__
+
+=head1 NAME
+
+runperl.bat - an "universal" batch file to run perl scripts
+
+=head1 SYNOPSIS
+
+	C:\> copy runperl.bat foo.bat
+	C:\> foo
+	[..runs the perl script `foo'..]
+	
+	C:\> foo.bat
+	[..runs the perl script `foo'..]
+	
+
+=head1 DESCRIPTION
+
+This file can be copied to any file name ending in the ".bat" suffix.
+When executed on a DOS-like operating system, it will invoke the perl
+script of the same name, but without the ".bat" suffix.  It will
+look for the script in the same directory as itself, and then in
+the current directory, and then search the directories in your PATH.
+
+It relies on the C<exec()> operator, so you will need to make sure
+that works in your perl.
+
+This method of invoking perl scripts has some advantages over
+batch-file wrappers like C<pl2bat.bat>:  it avoids duplication
+of all the code; it ensures C<$0> contains the same name as the
+executing file, without any egregious ".bat" suffix; it allows
+you to separate your perl scripts from the wrapper used to
+run them; since the wrapper is generic, you can use symbolic
+links to simply link to C<runperl.bat>, if you are serving your
+files on a filesystem that supports that.
+
+On the other hand, if the batch file is invoked with the ".bat"
+suffix, it does an extra C<exec()>.  This may be a performance
+issue.  You can avoid this by running it without specifying
+the ".bat" suffix.
+
+Perl is invoked with the -x flag, so the script must contain
+a C<#!perl> line.  Any flags found on that line will be honored.
+
+=head1 BUGS
+
+Perl is invoked with the -S flag, so it will search the PATH to find
+the script.  This may have undesirable effects.
+
+=head1 SEE ALSO
+
+perl, perlwin32, pl2bat.bat
+
+=cut
+
+__END__
 :endofperl
+