NAME

Bio::MAGE::Array::ArrayGroup - Class for the MAGE-OM API

SYNOPSIS

use Bio::MAGE::Array::ArrayGroup

# creating an empty instance
my $arraygroup = Bio::MAGE::Array::ArrayGroup->new();

# creating an instance with existing data
my $arraygroup = Bio::MAGE::Array::ArrayGroup->new(
      width=>$width_val,
      numArrays=>$numarrays_val,
      arraySpacingY=>$arrayspacingy_val,
      orientationMarkPosition=>$orientationmarkposition_val,
      arraySpacingX=>$arrayspacingx_val,
      name=>$name_val,
      barcode=>$barcode_val,
      orientationMark=>$orientationmark_val,
      length=>$length_val,
      identifier=>$identifier_val,
      arrays=>\@array_list,
      substrateType=>$ontologyentry_ref,
      auditTrail=>\@audit_list,
      propertySets=>\@namevaluetype_list,
      fiducials=>\@fiducial_list,
      distanceUnit=>$distanceunit_ref,
      descriptions=>\@description_list,
      security=>$security_ref,
);


# 'width' attribute
my $width_val = $arraygroup->width(); # getter
$arraygroup->width($value); # setter

# 'numArrays' attribute
my $numArrays_val = $arraygroup->numArrays(); # getter
$arraygroup->numArrays($value); # setter

# 'arraySpacingY' attribute
my $arraySpacingY_val = $arraygroup->arraySpacingY(); # getter
$arraygroup->arraySpacingY($value); # setter

# 'orientationMarkPosition' attribute
my $orientationMarkPosition_val = $arraygroup->orientationMarkPosition(); # getter
$arraygroup->orientationMarkPosition($value); # setter

# 'arraySpacingX' attribute
my $arraySpacingX_val = $arraygroup->arraySpacingX(); # getter
$arraygroup->arraySpacingX($value); # setter

# 'name' attribute
my $name_val = $arraygroup->name(); # getter
$arraygroup->name($value); # setter

# 'barcode' attribute
my $barcode_val = $arraygroup->barcode(); # getter
$arraygroup->barcode($value); # setter

# 'orientationMark' attribute
my $orientationMark_val = $arraygroup->orientationMark(); # getter
$arraygroup->orientationMark($value); # setter

# 'length' attribute
my $length_val = $arraygroup->length(); # getter
$arraygroup->length($value); # setter

# 'identifier' attribute
my $identifier_val = $arraygroup->identifier(); # getter
$arraygroup->identifier($value); # setter


# 'arrays' association
my $array_array_ref = $arraygroup->arrays(); # getter
$arraygroup->arrays(\@array_list); # setter

# 'substrateType' association
my $ontologyentry_ref = $arraygroup->substrateType(); # getter
$arraygroup->substrateType($ontologyentry_ref); # setter

# 'auditTrail' association
my $audit_array_ref = $arraygroup->auditTrail(); # getter
$arraygroup->auditTrail(\@audit_list); # setter

# 'propertySets' association
my $namevaluetype_array_ref = $arraygroup->propertySets(); # getter
$arraygroup->propertySets(\@namevaluetype_list); # setter

# 'fiducials' association
my $fiducial_array_ref = $arraygroup->fiducials(); # getter
$arraygroup->fiducials(\@fiducial_list); # setter

# 'distanceUnit' association
my $distanceunit_ref = $arraygroup->distanceUnit(); # getter
$arraygroup->distanceUnit($distanceunit_ref); # setter

# 'descriptions' association
my $description_array_ref = $arraygroup->descriptions(); # getter
$arraygroup->descriptions(\@description_list); # setter

# 'security' association
my $security_ref = $arraygroup->security(); # getter
$arraygroup->security($security_ref); # setter

DESCRIPTION

From the MAGE-OM documentation for the ArrayGroup class:

An array package is a physical platform that contains one or more arrays that are separately addressable (e.g. several arrays that can be hybridized on a single microscope slide) or a virtual grouping together of arrays.

The array package that has been manufactured has information about where certain artifacts about the array are located for scanning and feature extraction purposes.

INHERITANCE

Bio::MAGE::Array::ArrayGroup has the following superclasses:

Bio::MAGE::Identifiable

CLASS METHODS

The following methods can all be called without first having an instance of the class via the Bio::MAGE::Array::ArrayGroup->methodname() syntax.

new()

new(%args)

The object constructor new() accepts the following optional named-value style arguments:

width

Sets the value of the width attribute
numArrays

Sets the value of the numArrays attribute
arraySpacingY

Sets the value of the arraySpacingY attribute
orientationMarkPosition

Sets the value of the orientationMarkPosition attribute
arraySpacingX

Sets the value of the arraySpacingX attribute
name

Sets the value of the name attribute (this attribute was inherited from class Bio::MAGE::Identifiable).
barcode

Sets the value of the barcode attribute
orientationMark

Sets the value of the orientationMark attribute
length

Sets the value of the length attribute
identifier

Sets the value of the identifier attribute (this attribute was inherited from class Bio::MAGE::Identifiable).
arrays

Sets the value of the arrays association

The value must be of type: array of Bio::MAGE::Array::Array.
auditTrail

Sets the value of the auditTrail association (this association was inherited from class Bio::MAGE::Describable).

The value must be of type: array of Bio::MAGE::AuditAndSecurity::Audit.
substrateType

Sets the value of the substrateType association

The value must be of type: instance of Bio::MAGE::Description::OntologyEntry.
propertySets

Sets the value of the propertySets association (this association was inherited from class Bio::MAGE::Extendable).

The value must be of type: array of Bio::MAGE::NameValueType.
fiducials

Sets the value of the fiducials association

The value must be of type: array of Bio::MAGE::Array::Fiducial.
descriptions

Sets the value of the descriptions association (this association was inherited from class Bio::MAGE::Describable).

The value must be of type: array of Bio::MAGE::Description::Description.
distanceUnit

Sets the value of the distanceUnit association

The value must be of type: instance of Bio::MAGE::Measurement::DistanceUnit.
security

Sets the value of the security association (this association was inherited from class Bio::MAGE::Describable).

The value must be of type: instance of Bio::MAGE::AuditAndSecurity::Security.

$obj = class->new(%parameters)

The new() method is the class constructor.

Parameters: if given a list of name/value parameters the corresponding slots, attributes, or associations will have their initial values set by the constructor.

Return value: It returns a reference to an object of the class.

Side effects: It invokes the initialize() method if it is defined by the class.

@names = class->get_slot_names()

The get_slot_names() method is used to retrieve the name of all slots defined in a given class.

NOTE: the list of names does not include attribute or association names.

Return value: A list of the names of all slots defined for this class.

Side effects: none

@name_list = get_attribute_names()

returns the list of attribute data members for this class.

@name_list = get_association_names()

returns the list of association data members for this class.

@class_list = get_superclasses()

returns the list of superclasses for this class.

@class_list = get_subclasses()

returns the list of subclasses for this class.

$name = class_name()

Returns the full class name for this class.

$package_name = package_name()

Returns the base package name (i.e. no 'namespace::') of the package that contains this class.

%assns = associations()

returns the association meta-information in a hash where the keys are the association names and the values are Association objects that provide the meta-information for the association.

INSTANCE METHODS

$obj_copy = $obj->new()

When invoked with an existing object reference and not a class name, the new() method acts as a copy constructor - with the new object's initial values set to be those of the existing object.

Parameters: No input parameters are used in the copy constructor, the initial values are taken directly from the object to be copied.

Return value: It returns a reference to an object of the class.

Side effects: It invokes the initialize() method if it is defined by the class.

$obj->set_slots(%parameters)

$obj->set_slots(\@name_list, \@value_list)

The set_slots() method is used to set a number of slots at the same time. It has two different invocation methods. The first takes a named parameter list, and the second takes two array references.

Return value: none

Side effects: will call croak() if a slot_name is used that the class does not define.

@obj_list = $obj->get_slots(@name_list)

The get_slots() method is used to get the values of a number of slots at the same time.

Return value: a list of instance objects

Side effects: none

$val = $obj->set_slot($name,$val)

The set_slot() method sets the slot $name to the value $val

Return value: the new value of the slot, i.e. $val

Side effects: none

$val = $obj->get_slot($name)

The get_slot() method is used to get the values of a number of slots at the same time.

Return value: a single slot value, or undef if the slot has not been initialized.

Side effects: none

ATTRIBUTES

Attributes are simple data types that belong to a single instance of a class. In the Perl implementation of the MAGE-OM classes, the interface to attributes is implemented using separate setter and getter methods for each attribute.

Bio::MAGE::Array::ArrayGroup has the following attribute accessor methods:

width

Methods for the width attribute.

From the MAGE-OM documentation:

The width of the platform

$val = $arraygroup->setWidth($val)

The restricted setter method for the width attribute.

Input parameters: the value to which the width attribute will be set

Return value: the current value of the width attribute

Side effects: none

Exceptions: will call croak() if no input parameters are specified, or if too many input parameters are specified

$val = $arraygroup->getWidth()

The restricted getter method for the width attribute.

Input parameters: none

Return value: the current value of the width attribute

Side effects: none

Exceptions: will call croak() if any input parameters are specified

numArrays

Methods for the numArrays attribute.

From the MAGE-OM documentation:

This attribute defines the number of arrays on a chip or a slide.

$val = $arraygroup->setNumArrays($val)

The restricted setter method for the numArrays attribute.

Input parameters: the value to which the numArrays attribute will be set

Return value: the current value of the numArrays attribute

Side effects: none

Exceptions: will call croak() if no input parameters are specified, or if too many input parameters are specified

$val = $arraygroup->getNumArrays()

The restricted getter method for the numArrays attribute.

Input parameters: none

Return value: the current value of the numArrays attribute

Side effects: none

Exceptions: will call croak() if any input parameters are specified

arraySpacingY

Methods for the arraySpacingY attribute.

From the MAGE-OM documentation:

If there exist more than one array on a slide or a chip, then the spacing between the arrays is useful so that scanning / feature extraction software can crop images representing 1 unique bioassay.

$val = $arraygroup->setArraySpacingY($val)

The restricted setter method for the arraySpacingY attribute.

Input parameters: the value to which the arraySpacingY attribute will be set

Return value: the current value of the arraySpacingY attribute

Side effects: none

Exceptions: will call croak() if no input parameters are specified, or if too many input parameters are specified

$val = $arraygroup->getArraySpacingY()

The restricted getter method for the arraySpacingY attribute.

Input parameters: none

Return value: the current value of the arraySpacingY attribute

Side effects: none

Exceptions: will call croak() if any input parameters are specified

orientationMarkPosition

Methods for the orientationMarkPosition attribute.

From the MAGE-OM documentation:

One of top, bottom, left or right.

$val = $arraygroup->setOrientationMarkPosition($val)

The restricted setter method for the orientationMarkPosition attribute.

orientationMarkPosition is an enumerated attribute - it can only be set to undef or one of the following values: top bottom left right

Input parameters: the value to which the orientationMarkPosition attribute will be set

Return value: the current value of the orientationMarkPosition attribute

Side effects: none

Exceptions: will call croak() if no input parameters are specified, or if too many input parameters are specified, or if $val is not one of the accepted enumeration values: top bottom left right

$val = $arraygroup->getOrientationMarkPosition()

The restricted getter method for the orientationMarkPosition attribute.

Input parameters: none

Return value: the current value of the orientationMarkPosition attribute : an instance of type top bottom left right.

Side effects: none

Exceptions: will call croak() if any input parameters are specified

arraySpacingX

Methods for the arraySpacingX attribute.

From the MAGE-OM documentation:

If there exist more than one array on a slide or a chip, then the spacing between the arrays is useful so that scanning / feature extraction software can crop images representing 1 unique bioassay.

$val = $arraygroup->setArraySpacingX($val)

The restricted setter method for the arraySpacingX attribute.

Input parameters: the value to which the arraySpacingX attribute will be set

Return value: the current value of the arraySpacingX attribute

Side effects: none

Exceptions: will call croak() if no input parameters are specified, or if too many input parameters are specified

$val = $arraygroup->getArraySpacingX()

The restricted getter method for the arraySpacingX attribute.

Input parameters: none

Return value: the current value of the arraySpacingX attribute

Side effects: none

Exceptions: will call croak() if any input parameters are specified

name

Methods for the name attribute.

From the MAGE-OM documentation:

The potentially ambiguous common identifier.

$val = $arraygroup->setName($val)

The restricted setter method for the name attribute.

Input parameters: the value to which the name attribute will be set

Return value: the current value of the name attribute

Side effects: none

Exceptions: will call croak() if no input parameters are specified, or if too many input parameters are specified

$val = $arraygroup->getName()

The restricted getter method for the name attribute.

Input parameters: none

Return value: the current value of the name attribute

Side effects: none

Exceptions: will call croak() if any input parameters are specified

barcode

Methods for the barcode attribute.

From the MAGE-OM documentation:

Identifier for the ArrayGroup.

$val = $arraygroup->setBarcode($val)

The restricted setter method for the barcode attribute.

Input parameters: the value to which the barcode attribute will be set

Return value: the current value of the barcode attribute

Side effects: none

Exceptions: will call croak() if no input parameters are specified, or if too many input parameters are specified

$val = $arraygroup->getBarcode()

The restricted getter method for the barcode attribute.

Input parameters: none

Return value: the current value of the barcode attribute

Side effects: none

Exceptions: will call croak() if any input parameters are specified

orientationMark

Methods for the orientationMark attribute.

From the MAGE-OM documentation:

For a human to determine where the top left side of the array is, such as a barcode or frosted side of the glass, etc.

$val = $arraygroup->setOrientationMark($val)

The restricted setter method for the orientationMark attribute.

Input parameters: the value to which the orientationMark attribute will be set

Return value: the current value of the orientationMark attribute

Side effects: none

Exceptions: will call croak() if no input parameters are specified, or if too many input parameters are specified

$val = $arraygroup->getOrientationMark()

The restricted getter method for the orientationMark attribute.

Input parameters: none

Return value: the current value of the orientationMark attribute

Side effects: none

Exceptions: will call croak() if any input parameters are specified

length

Methods for the length attribute.

From the MAGE-OM documentation:

The length of the platform.

$val = $arraygroup->setLength($val)

The restricted setter method for the length attribute.

Input parameters: the value to which the length attribute will be set

Return value: the current value of the length attribute

Side effects: none

Exceptions: will call croak() if no input parameters are specified, or if too many input parameters are specified

$val = $arraygroup->getLength()

The restricted getter method for the length attribute.

Input parameters: none

Return value: the current value of the length attribute

Side effects: none

Exceptions: will call croak() if any input parameters are specified

identifier

Methods for the identifier attribute.

From the MAGE-OM documentation:

An identifier is an unambiguous string that is unique within the scope (i.e. a document, a set of related documents, or a repository) of its use.

$val = $arraygroup->setIdentifier($val)

The restricted setter method for the identifier attribute.

Input parameters: the value to which the identifier attribute will be set

Return value: the current value of the identifier attribute

Side effects: none

Exceptions: will call croak() if no input parameters are specified, or if too many input parameters are specified

$val = $arraygroup->getIdentifier()

The restricted getter method for the identifier attribute.

Input parameters: none

Return value: the current value of the identifier attribute

Side effects: none

Exceptions: will call croak() if any input parameters are specified

ASSOCIATIONS

Associations are references to other classes. Associations in MAGE-OM have a cardinality that determines the minimum and maximum number of instances of the 'other' class that maybe included in the association:

There must be exactly one item in the association, i.e. this is a mandatory data field.
0..1

There may be one item in the association, i.e. this is an optional data field.
1..N

There must be one or more items in the association, i.e. this is a mandatory data field, with list cardinality.
0..N

There may be one or more items in the association, i.e. this is an optional data field, with list cardinality.

Bio::MAGE::Array::ArrayGroup has the following association accessor methods:

arrays

Methods for the arrays association.

From the MAGE-OM documentation:

Association between an ArrayGroup and its Arrays, typically the ArrayGroup will represent a slide and the Arrays will be the manufactured so that they may be hybridized separately on that slide.

$array_ref = $arraygroup->setArrays($array_ref)

The restricted setter method for the arrays association.

Input parameters: the value to which the arrays association will be set : a reference to an array of objects of type Bio::MAGE::Array::Array

Return value: the current value of the arrays association : a reference to an array of objects of type Bio::MAGE::Array::Array

Side effects: none

Exceptions: will call croak() if no input parameters are specified, or if too many input parameters are specified, or if $array_ref is not a reference to an array class Bio::MAGE::Array::Array instances

$array_ref = $arraygroup->getArrays()

The restricted getter method for the arrays association.

Input parameters: none

Return value: the current value of the arrays association : a reference to an array of objects of type Bio::MAGE::Array::Array

Side effects: none

Exceptions: will call croak() if any input parameters are specified

$val = $arraygroup->addArrays(@vals)

Because the arrays association has list cardinality, it may store more than one value. This method adds the current list of objects in the arrays association.

Input parameters: the list of values @vals to add to the arrays association. NOTE: submitting a single value is permitted.

Return value: the number of items stored in the slot after adding @vals

Side effects: none

Exceptions: will call croak() if no input parameters are specified, or if any of the objects in @vals is not an instance of class Bio::MAGE::Array::Array

auditTrail

Methods for the auditTrail association.

From the MAGE-OM documentation:

A list of Audit instances that track changes to the instance of Describable.

$array_ref = $arraygroup->setAuditTrail($array_ref)

The restricted setter method for the auditTrail association.

Input parameters: the value to which the auditTrail association will be set : a reference to an array of objects of type Bio::MAGE::AuditAndSecurity::Audit

Return value: the current value of the auditTrail association : a reference to an array of objects of type Bio::MAGE::AuditAndSecurity::Audit

Side effects: none

$array_ref = $arraygroup->getAuditTrail()

The restricted getter method for the auditTrail association.

Input parameters: none

Return value: the current value of the auditTrail association : a reference to an array of objects of type Bio::MAGE::AuditAndSecurity::Audit

Side effects: none

Exceptions: will call croak() if any input parameters are specified

$val = $arraygroup->addAuditTrail(@vals)

Because the auditTrail association has list cardinality, it may store more than one value. This method adds the current list of objects in the auditTrail association.

Input parameters: the list of values @vals to add to the auditTrail association. NOTE: submitting a single value is permitted.

Return value: the number of items stored in the slot after adding @vals

Side effects: none

Exceptions: will call croak() if no input parameters are specified, or if any of the objects in @vals is not an instance of class Bio::MAGE::AuditAndSecurity::Audit

substrateType

Methods for the substrateType association.

From the MAGE-OM documentation:

Commonly, arrays will be spotted on 1x3 glass microscope slides but there is nothing that says this must be the case. This association is for scanners to inform them on the possible different formats of slides that can contain arrays.

$val = $arraygroup->setSubstrateType($val)

The restricted setter method for the substrateType association.

Input parameters: the value to which the substrateType association will be set : one of the accepted enumerated values.

Return value: the current value of the substrateType association : one of the accepted enumerated values.

Side effects: none

Exceptions: will call croak() if no input parameters are specified, or if too many input parameters are specified, or if $val is not an instance of class Bio::MAGE::Description::OntologyEntry

$val = $arraygroup->getSubstrateType()

The restricted getter method for the substrateType association.

Input parameters: none

Return value: the current value of the substrateType association : an instance of type Bio::MAGE::Description::OntologyEntry.

Side effects: none

Exceptions: will call croak() if any input parameters are specified

propertySets

Methods for the propertySets association.

From the MAGE-OM documentation:

Allows specification of name/value pairs. Meant to primarily help in-house, pipeline processing of instances by providing a place for values that aren't part of the specification proper.

$array_ref = $arraygroup->setPropertySets($array_ref)

The restricted setter method for the propertySets association.

Input parameters: the value to which the propertySets association will be set : a reference to an array of objects of type Bio::MAGE::NameValueType

Return value: the current value of the propertySets association : a reference to an array of objects of type Bio::MAGE::NameValueType

Side effects: none

$array_ref = $arraygroup->getPropertySets()

The restricted getter method for the propertySets association.

Input parameters: none

Return value: the current value of the propertySets association : a reference to an array of objects of type Bio::MAGE::NameValueType

Side effects: none

Exceptions: will call croak() if any input parameters are specified

$val = $arraygroup->addPropertySets(@vals)

Because the propertySets association has list cardinality, it may store more than one value. This method adds the current list of objects in the propertySets association.

Input parameters: the list of values @vals to add to the propertySets association. NOTE: submitting a single value is permitted.

Return value: the number of items stored in the slot after adding @vals

Side effects: none

Exceptions: will call croak() if no input parameters are specified, or if any of the objects in @vals is not an instance of class Bio::MAGE::NameValueType

fiducials

Methods for the fiducials association.

From the MAGE-OM documentation:

Association to the marks on the Array for alignment for the scanner.

$array_ref = $arraygroup->setFiducials($array_ref)

The restricted setter method for the fiducials association.

Input parameters: the value to which the fiducials association will be set : a reference to an array of objects of type Bio::MAGE::Array::Fiducial

Return value: the current value of the fiducials association : a reference to an array of objects of type Bio::MAGE::Array::Fiducial

Side effects: none

$array_ref = $arraygroup->getFiducials()

The restricted getter method for the fiducials association.

Input parameters: none

Return value: the current value of the fiducials association : a reference to an array of objects of type Bio::MAGE::Array::Fiducial

Side effects: none

Exceptions: will call croak() if any input parameters are specified

$val = $arraygroup->addFiducials(@vals)

Because the fiducials association has list cardinality, it may store more than one value. This method adds the current list of objects in the fiducials association.

Input parameters: the list of values @vals to add to the fiducials association. NOTE: submitting a single value is permitted.

Return value: the number of items stored in the slot after adding @vals

Side effects: none

Exceptions: will call croak() if no input parameters are specified, or if any of the objects in @vals is not an instance of class Bio::MAGE::Array::Fiducial

descriptions

Methods for the descriptions association.

From the MAGE-OM documentation:

Free hand text descriptions. Makes available the associations of Description to an instance of Describable.

$array_ref = $arraygroup->setDescriptions($array_ref)

The restricted setter method for the descriptions association.

Input parameters: the value to which the descriptions association will be set : a reference to an array of objects of type Bio::MAGE::Description::Description

Return value: the current value of the descriptions association : a reference to an array of objects of type Bio::MAGE::Description::Description

Side effects: none

$array_ref = $arraygroup->getDescriptions()

The restricted getter method for the descriptions association.

Input parameters: none

Return value: the current value of the descriptions association : a reference to an array of objects of type Bio::MAGE::Description::Description

Side effects: none

Exceptions: will call croak() if any input parameters are specified

$val = $arraygroup->addDescriptions(@vals)

Because the descriptions association has list cardinality, it may store more than one value. This method adds the current list of objects in the descriptions association.

Input parameters: the list of values @vals to add to the descriptions association. NOTE: submitting a single value is permitted.

Return value: the number of items stored in the slot after adding @vals

Side effects: none

Exceptions: will call croak() if no input parameters are specified, or if any of the objects in @vals is not an instance of class Bio::MAGE::Description::Description

distanceUnit

Methods for the distanceUnit association.

From the MAGE-OM documentation:

The unit of the measurement attributes.

$val = $arraygroup->setDistanceUnit($val)

The restricted setter method for the distanceUnit association.

Input parameters: the value to which the distanceUnit association will be set : one of the accepted enumerated values.

Return value: the current value of the distanceUnit association : one of the accepted enumerated values.

Side effects: none

Exceptions: will call croak() if no input parameters are specified, or if too many input parameters are specified, or if $val is not an instance of class Bio::MAGE::Measurement::DistanceUnit

$val = $arraygroup->getDistanceUnit()

The restricted getter method for the distanceUnit association.

Input parameters: none

Return value: the current value of the distanceUnit association : an instance of type Bio::MAGE::Measurement::DistanceUnit.

Side effects: none

Exceptions: will call croak() if any input parameters are specified

security

Methods for the security association.

From the MAGE-OM documentation:

Information on the security for the instance of the class.

$val = $arraygroup->setSecurity($val)

The restricted setter method for the security association.

Input parameters: the value to which the security association will be set : one of the accepted enumerated values.

Return value: the current value of the security association : one of the accepted enumerated values.

Side effects: none

Exceptions: will call croak() if no input parameters are specified, or if too many input parameters are specified, or if $val is not an instance of class Bio::MAGE::AuditAndSecurity::Security

$val = $arraygroup->getSecurity()

The restricted getter method for the security association.

Input parameters: none

Return value: the current value of the security association : an instance of type Bio::MAGE::AuditAndSecurity::Security.

Side effects: none

Exceptions: will call croak() if any input parameters are specified

sub initialize {

my $self = shift;
return 1;

}

SLOTS, ATTRIBUTES, AND ASSOCIATIONS

In the Perl implementation of MAGE-OM classes, there are three types of class data members: slots, attributes, and associations.

SLOTS

This API uses the term slot to indicate a data member of the class that was not present in the UML model and is used for mainly internal purposes - use only if you understand the inner workings of the API. Most often slots are used by generic methods such as those in the XML writing and reading classes.

Slots are implemented using unified getter/setter methods:

$var = $obj->slot_name();: Retrieves the current value of the slot.
$new_var = $obj->slot_name($new_var);: Store $new_var in the slot - the return value is also $new_var.
@names = $obj->get_slot_names(): Returns the list of all slots in the class.

DATA CHECKING: No data type checking is made for these methods.

ATTRIBUTES AND ASSOCIATIONS

The terms attribute and association indicate data members of the class that were specified directly from the UML model.

In the Perl implementation of MAGE-OM classes, association and attribute accessors are implemented using three separate methods:

get*

Retrieves the current value.

NOTE: For associations, if the association has list cardinality, an array reference is returned.

DATA CHECKING: Ensure that no argument is provided.

set*

Sets the current value, replacing any existing value.

NOTE: For associations, if the association has list cardinality, the argument must be an array reference. Because of this, you probably should be using the add* methods.

DATA CHECKING: For attributes, ensure that a single value is provided as the argument. For associations, if the association has list cardinality, ensure that the argument is a reference to an array of instances of the correct MAGE-OM class, otherwise ensure that there is a single argument of the correct MAGE-OM class.

add*

NOTE: Only present in associations with list cardinality.

Appends a list of objects to any values that may already be stored in the association.

DATA CHECKING: Ensure that all arguments are of the correct MAGE-OM class.

GENERIC METHODS

The unified base class of all MAGE-OM classes, Bio::MAGE::Base, provides a set of generic methods that will operate on slots, attributes, and associations:

$val = $obj->get_slot($name)
\@list_ref = $obj->get_slots(@name_list);
$val = $obj->set_slot($name,$val)
$obj->set_slots(%parameters)
$obj->set_slots(\@name_list, \@value_list): See elsewhere in this page for a detailed description of these methods.

BUGS

Please send bug reports to the project mailing list: (mged-mage 'at' lists 'dot' sf 'dot' net)

AUTHOR

Jason E. Stewart (jasons 'at' cpan 'dot' org)

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NAME

SYNOPSIS

DESCRIPTION

INHERITANCE

CLASS METHODS

INSTANCE METHODS

ATTRIBUTES

ASSOCIATIONS

SLOTS, ATTRIBUTES, AND ASSOCIATIONS

SLOTS

ATTRIBUTES AND ASSOCIATIONS

GENERIC METHODS

BUGS

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SEE ALSO

Module Install Instructions