NAME
Text::Query - Query processing framework
SYNOPSIS
use Text::Query;
# Constructor
$query = Text::Query->new([QSTRING] [OPTIONS]);
# Methods
$query->prepare(QSTRING [OPTIONS]);
$query->match([TARGET]);
$query->matchscalar([TARGET]);
DESCRIPTION
This module provides an object that matches a data source against a query expression.
Query expressions are compiled into an internal form when a new object is created or the prepare
method is called; they are not recompiled on each match.
The class provided by this module uses four packages to process the query. The query parser parses the question and calls a query expression builder (internal form of the question). The optimizer is then called to reduce the complexity of the expression. The solver applies the expression on a data source.
The following parsers are provided:
The following builders are provided:
The following solver is provided:
EXAMPLES
use Text::Query;
my $q=new Text::Query('hello and world',
-parse => 'Text::Query::ParseAdvanced',
-solve => 'Text::Query::SolveAdvancedString',
-build => 'Text::Query::BuildAdvancedString');
die "bad query expression" if not defined $q;
print if $q->match;
...
$q->prepare('goodbye or adios or ta ta',
-litspace => 1,
-case => 1);
#requires single space between the two ta's
if($q->match($line)) {
#doesn't match "Goodbye"
...
$q->prepare('"and" or "or"');
#quoting operators for literal match
...
$q->prepare('\\bintegrate\\b', -regexp => 1);
#won't match "disintegrated"
CONSTRUCTOR
- new ([QSTRING] [OPTIONS])
-
This is the constructor for a new Text::Query object. If a
QSTRING
is given it will be compiled to internal form.OPTIONS
are passed in a hash like fashion, using key and value pairs. Possible options are:-parse - Package name of the parser. Default is Text::Query::ParseSimple.
-build - Package name of the builder. Default is Text::Query::Build.
-optimize - Package name of the optimizer. Default is Text::Query::Optimize.
-solve - Package name of the solver. Default is Text::Query::Solve.
-mode - Name of predefined group of packages to use. Options are currently
simple_text
andadvanced_text
.These options are handled by the
configure
method.All other options are passed to the parser
prepare
function. See the corresponding manual pages for a description.If
QSTRING
is undefined, the prepare function is not called.The constructor will croak if a
QSTRING
was supplied and had illegal syntax.
METHODS
- configure ([OPTIONS])
-
Set the
parse
,build
,optimize
orsolve
packages. See theCONSTRUCTOR
description for explanations. - prepare (QSTRING [OPTIONS])
-
Compiles the query expression in
QSTRING
to internal form and sets any options (same as in the constructor).prepare
may be used to change the query expression and options for an existing query object. IfOPTIONS
are omitted, any options set by a previous call toprepare
are persistent.The optimizer (-optimize) is called with the result of the parser (-parse). The parser uses the builder (-build) to construct the internal form.
This method returns a reference to the query object if the syntax of the expression was legal, or croak if not.
- match ([TARGET])
-
Calls the match method of the solver (-solve).
- matchscalar ([TARGET])
-
Calls the matchscalar method of the solver (-solve).
SEE ALSO
Text::Query::ParseAdvanced(3), Text::Query::ParseSimple(3), Text::Query::BuildSimpleString(3), Text::Query::BuildAdvanedString(3), Text::Query::SolveSimpleString(3), Text::Query::SolveAdvancedString(3),
Text::Query::Build(3), Text::Query::Parse(3), Text::Query::Solve(3), Text::Query::Optimize(3)
MAINTENANCE
AUTHORS
Eric Bohlman (ebohlman@netcom.com)
Loic Dachary (loic@senga.org)
Jon Jensen, jon@endpoint.com