NAME
Postgres::Handler - Builds upon DBD::Pg for advanced CGI web apps
DESCRIPTION
Postgres::Handler builds upon the foundation set by DBI and DBD::Pg to create a superset of methods for tying together some of the basic interface concepts of DB management when used in a web server environment. Postgres::Handler is meant to build upon the strengths of DBD::Pg and DBI and add common usability features for a variety of Internet applications.
Postgres::Handler encapsulates error message handling, information message handling, simple caching of requests through a complete iteration of a server CGI request. You will also find some key elements that hook the CGI class to the DBI class to simplify data IO to & from web forms and dynamic pages.
SYNOPSIS
# Instantiate Object
#
use Postgres::Handler;
my $DB = Postgres::Handler->new(dbname=>'products',dbuser=>'postgres',dbpass=>'pgpassword');
# Retrieve Data & List Records
#
$DB->PrepLEX('SELECT * FROM products');
while ($item=$DB->GetRecord()) {
print "$item->{PROD_ID}\t$item->{PROD_TITLE}\t$item->{PROD_QTY}\n";
}
# Add / Update Record based on CGI Form
# assuming objCGI is an instatiated CGI object
# if the CGI param 'prod_id' is set we update
# if it is not set we add
#
my %cgimap;
foreach ('prod_id','prod_title','prod_qty') { $cgimap{$_} = $_; }
$DB->AddUpdate( CGI=>$objCGI , CGIKEY=>'prod_id',
TABLE=>'products', DBKEY=>'prod_id',
hrCGIMAP=>\%cgimap
);
REQUIRES
CGI::Carp
CGI::Util
Class::Struct
DBD::Pg 1.43 or greater (fixes a bug when fetching Postgres varchar[] array data)
DBI
EXPORT
None by default.
DATA ACCESS METHODS
new()
Create a new Postgres::Handler object.
- Parameters
-
dbname => name of the database to connect to dbuser => postgres user dbpass => password for that user
data()
Get/set the data hash - this is where data fields are stored
for the active record.
dbh()
Returns the database handle for the DB connection.
dbpass()
Get/set postgres user's password.
dbname()
Get/set database name.
Simple string name of the database.
dbuser()
Get/set postgres username.
sth()
Returns the statement handle for the active record selection.
PUBLIC METHODS
AddUpdate()
Adds a new record or updates an existing record in the database
depending on whether or not a specific CGI parameter has been set.
Useful for processing a posted form that contains form fields
that match data fields. Pre-populate the form field that contains
the database key field and an update occurs. Set it to blank and
a new record is added.
Your database key field should have a default value that is unique
and should be set as type 'PRIMARY KEY'. We always use serial primary
key to auto-increment our keys when adding new records.
- example
-
-- -- Table: xyz -- CREATE TABLE xyz ( xyz_pkid serial primary key, xyz_update timestamp default now(), xyz_ipadd char(32) );
If a key is provided but is doesn't match anything in the existing
data then the update fails, UNLESS... CHECKKEY=> 1 in which case it
will attempt to add the record.
Your CGI->DB key hash reference should look something like this:
%mymap = ( tablefld_name => 'form_name', tablefld_ssn => 'htmlform_ssn' );
And is passed with a simple \%mymap as the hrCGIMAP parameter to this function.
-or-
Even better, name your CGI form fields the same thing as your Postgres DB field
names. Then you can skip the map altogether and just provide the CGISTART
variable. All fields that start with the the CGISTART string will be mapped.
Want to map every field? Set CGISTART = '.'.
- Parameters (Required)
-
CGI => a CGI object from the CGI:: module DBKEY => the name of the key field within the table defaults to Postgres::Handler Object Property <table>!PGHkeyfld must be provided - or - the <table>!PGHkeyfld option must have been setup when creating a new Postgres::Handler object TABLE => the name of the table to play with CGISTART or hrCGIMAP must be set (see below)
- Parameters (Optional)
-
CGISTART => map all CGI object fields starting with this string into equivalently named database fields only used when hrCGIMAP is not set CGIKEY => the CGI parameter name that stores the data key defaults to DBKEY CHECKKEY => set to 1 to perform ADD if the DBKEY is not found in the database. DBSTAMP => the name of the timestamp field within the table defaults to Postgres::Handler Object Property <table>!PGHtimestamp DONTSTAMP => set to 1 to stop timestamping timestamp field must be set hrCGIMAP => a reference to a hash that contains CGI params as keys and DB field names as values MD5 => the name of the md5 encrypted field within the table defaults to Postgres::Handler Object Property <table>!PGHmd5 REQUIRED => array reference pointing to array that holds list of CGI params that must contain data VERBOSE => set to 1 to set lastinfo() = full command string otherwise returns 'INSERT' or 'UPDATE' on succesful execution BOOLEANS => array reference pointing to the array that holds the list of database field booleans that we want to force to false if not set by the equivalently named CGI field RTNSEQ => set to a sequence name and AddUpdate will return the value of this sequence for the newly added record. Useful for getting keys back from new records.
- Action
-
Either adds or updates a record in the specified table. Record is added if CGI data key [1] is blank or if CHECKKEY is set and the value of the key is not already in the database. Record is updated if CGI data key [2] contains a value.
- Returns
-
1 for success, get message with lastinfo() 0 for failure, get message with lasterror()
DoLE()
Do DBH Command and log any errors to the log file.
[0] = SQL command
[1] = Die on error
[2] = return error on 0 records affected
[3] = quiet mode (don't log via carp)
Set the object 'errortype' data element to 'simple' for short error messages.
i.e.
$self->data('errortype') = 'simple';
- Returns
-
1 for success 0 for failure, get message with lasterror
Field()
Retreive a field from the specified table.
- Parameters (required)
-
DATA => Which data item to return, must be of form "table!field" KEY => The table key to lookup in the database Used to determine if our current record is still valid. Also used as default for WHERE, key value is searched for in the PGHkeyfld that has been set for the Postgres::Handler object.
- Parameters (optional)
-
WHERE => Use this where clause to select the record instead of the key FORCE => Force Reload
- Returns
-
The value of the field. Returns 0 and lasterror() is set to a value if an error occurs lasterror() is blank if there was no error
- Example
-
my $objPGDATA = new Postgres::Handler::HTML ('mytable!PGHkeyfld' => 'id'); my $lookupID = '01123'; my $data = $objPGDATA->Field(DATA=>'mytable!prod_title', KEY=>$lookupID); my $lookupSKU = 'SKU-MYITEM-LG'; my $data = $objPGDATA->Field(DATA=>'mytable!prod_title', WHERE=>"sku=$lookupSKU");
GetRecord()
Retrieves the record in a hash reference with uppercase field names.
rtype not set or set to 'HASHREF',
Calls fetchrow_hashref('NAME_uc') from the specified SQL statement.
rtype not set or set to 'ARRAY',
Calls fetchrow_array() from the specified SQL statement.
rtype not set or set to 'ITEM',
Calls fetchrow() from the specified SQL statement.
- Parameters
-
[0] or -name select from the named statement handle, if not set defaults to the last active statement handle [1] or -rtype 'HASHREF' (default) or 'ARRAY' or 'ITEM' - type of structure to return data in [2] or -finish set to '1' to close the named statement handle after returning the data
- Returns
-
the hashref or array or scaler on success 0 for failure, get message with lasterror
lasterror()
Retrieve the latest error produced by a Postgres::Handler object.
- Returns
-
The error message
lastinfo()
Retrieve the latest info message produced by a Postgres::Handler object.
- Returns
-
The info message
nsth()
Retrieve a named statement handle
- Returns
-
The handle, as requested.
PrepLE()
Prepare an SQL statement and returns the statement handle, log errors if any.
- Parameters (positional or named)
-
[0] or -cmd - required -statement [1] or -exec - execute flag (PREPLE) or die flag (PREPLEX) [2] or -die - die flag (PREPLE) or null (PREPLEX) [3] or -param - single parameter passed to execute [4] or -name - store the statement handle under this name
- Returns
-
1 for success
PrepLEX()
Same as PrepLE but also executes the SQL statement
- Parameters (positional or named)
-
[0] or -cmd - required -statement [1] or -die - die flag (PREPLE) or null (PREPLEX) [2] or -param - single parameter passed to execute [3] or -name - store the statement handle under this name
- Returns
-
1 for success
Quote()
Quote a parameter for SQL processing via
the DBI::quote() function
Sets the data handle if necessary.
SEMI-PUBLIC METHODS
Using these methods without understanding the implications of playing with their
values can wreak havoc on the code. Use with caution...
SetDH()
Internal function to set data handles
Returns Data Handle
If you don't want the postgres username and password
littering your perl code, create a subclass that
overrides SetDH with DB specific connection info.
SetMethodParms()
Allows for either ordered or positional parameters in
a method call AND allows the method to be called as EITHER
an instantiated object OR as an direct class call.
- Parameters
-
[0] - self, the instantiated object [1] - the class we are looking to instantiate if necessary [2] - reference to hash that will get our named parameters [3] - an array of the names of named parameters IN THE ORDER that the positional parameters are expected to appear [4] - extra parameters, positional or otherwise
- Action
-
Populates the hash refered to in the first param with keys & values
- Returns
-
An object of type class, newly instantiated if necessary.
- Example
-
sub MyMethod() { my $self = shift; my %options; $self = SetMethodParms($self,'MYCLASS::SUBCLASS', \%options, [PARM1,PARM2,PARM3], @_ ); print $options{PARM1} if ($options{PARM2} ne ''); print $options{PARM3}; }
CGIMap()
Prepare a hash reference for mapping CGI parms to DB fields
typically used with AddUpdate() from Postgres::Handler.
- Parameters
-
hrCGIMAP - reference to hash that contains the map CGI - the CGI object CGISTART - map all fields starting with this text CGIKEY - the cgi key field BOOLEANS - address to list of boolean fields
- Example
-
@boolist = qw(form_field1 form_field2); $item->CGIMap(CGI => $objCGI, hrCGIMAP=>\%cgimap, CGISTART=>'cont_', CGIKEY=>'cont_id', BOOLEANS=>\@boolist);
NOTES
Some methods allow for parameters to be passed in via both positional and named formats.
If you decide to use named parameters with these "bi-modal" methods you must prefix the
parameter with a hyphen.
# Positional Example
#
use Postgres::Handler;
my $DB = Postgres::Handler->new(dbname=>'products',dbuser=>'postgres',dbpass=>'pgpassword');
$DB->PrepLEX('SELECT * FROM products');
# Named Example
#
use Postgres::Handler;
my $DB = Postgres::Handler->new(dbname=>'products',dbuser=>'postgres',dbpass=>'pgpassword');
$DB->PrepLEX( -cmd => 'SELECT * FROM products' );
EXAMPLES
# Instantiate Object
#
use Postgres::Handler;
my $DB = Postgres::Handler->new(dbname=>'products',dbuser=>'postgres',dbpass=>'pgpassword');
# Retrieve Data & List Records
#
$DB->PrepLEX('SELECT * FROM products');
while ($item=$DB->GetRecord()) {
print $item->{PROD_ID}\t$item->{PROD_TITLE}\t$item->{PROD_QTY}\n";
}
# Add / Update Record based on CGI Form
# assuming objCGI is an instatiated CGI object
# if the CGI param 'prod_id' is set we update
# if it is not set we add
#
my %cgimap;
foreach ('prod_id','prod_title','prod_qty') { $cgimap{$_} = $_; }
$DB->AddUpdate( CGI=>$objCGI , CGIKEY=>'prod_id',
TABLE=>'products', DBKEY=>'prod_id',
hrCGIMAP=>\%cgimap
);
AUTHOR
Lance Cleveland, Advanced Internet Technology Consultant
Contact info@charlestonsw.com for more info.
ABOUT CSA
Charleston Software Associates (CSA) is and advanced internet technology
consulting firm based in Charleston South Carolina. We provide custom
software, database, and consulting services for small to mid-sized
businesses.
For more information, or to schedule a consult, visit our website at
www.CharlestonSW.com
CONTRIBUTIONS
Like the script and want to contribute?
You can send payments via credit card or bank transfer using
PayPal and sending money to our info@charlestonsw.com PayPal address.
COPYRIGHT
(c) 2005, Charleston Software Associates
This script is covered by the GNU GENERAL PUBLIC LICENSE.
View the license at http://www.charlestonsw.com/community/gpl.txt
or at http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/gpl.html
REVISION HISTORY
v2.2 - Apr 2006
Fixed problem with SetDH database handle management
v2.1 - Mar 2006
Added RTNSEQ feature to AddUpdate so we can get back the key of a newly added record
v2.0 - Feb 2006
Moved CGI::Carp outside of the package to prevent perl -w warnings
v1.9 - Feb 2006
Update Field() to prevent SIGV error when WHERE clause causes error on statement
Field() now returns 0 + lasterror() set to value if failed execute
returns fldval + lasterror() is blank if execution OK
v1.8 - Jan 2006
Bug fix on PrepLE and PrepLEX for perl -w compatability
Added DoLE param to return error status (0) if the command affects 0 records '0E0'
Added DoLE param to keep quiet on errors (do not log to syslog via carp)
Documentation updates
v1.5 - Nov 2005
Fixed @BOOLEANS on AddUpdate to force 'f' setting instead of NULL if blank or 0
v1.5 - Oct 2005
Fixed return value error on AddUpdate()
v1.4 - Aug 2005
Minor patches
v1.3 - Jul 17 2005
Minor patches
Now requires DBD::Pg version 1.43 or greater
v1.2 - Jun 10 2005
GetRecord() mods, added 'ITEM'
test file fix in distribution
created yml file for added requisites on CPAN
v1.1 - Jun 9 2005
pod updates
Field() cache bug fix
GetRecord() expanded, added finish option
Moved from root "PGHandler" namespace to better-suited "Postgres::Handler"
v0.9 - May 2 2005
pod updates
AddUpdate() updated, CGIKEY optional - defaults to DBKEY
AddUpdate() updated, BOOLEANS feature added
GetRecord() updated, added check for sth active before executing
Field() fixed hr cache bug and data bug and trap non-set hr issue
v0.8 - Apr 26 2005
Fixed GetRecord() (again) - needed to check $DBI::errstr not $err
v0.7 - Apr 25 2005
Added error check on ->Field to ensure hashref returned from getrecord
Added CGIMAP method
Invoke CGIMAP from within AddUpdate if missing map
Fixed GetRecord Return system
v0.5 - Apr/2005
Added DBI error trap on DoLE function
Added named statement handles for multiple/nested PrepLE(X) capability
Added VERBOSE mode to AddUpdate
Added NAME to retrieved named statements via GetRecord
Updated FIELD to use named statement handles
v0.4 - Apr/2005
Fixed some stuff
v0.3 - Apr/2005
Added REQUIRED optional parameter to AddUpdate
Improved documentation
Quoted DBKEY on add/update to handle non-numeric keys
v0.2 - Mar/2005 -
Added error messages to object
Fixed issues with Class:Struct and the object properties
Updated AddUpdate to use named parameters (hash) for clarity
v0.1 - Dec/2004
Initial private release