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Term-Menus-FromFile-1.0.0
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/ Term::Menus::FromFile

NAME

Term::Menus::FromFile

SYNOPSIS

Lets you store Term::Menu menu definitions in a file.

DESCRIPTION

Term::Menus::FromFile reads a file (in a specific format), an uses that to create a menu with Term::Menu. The menus can either just return their selection (like Term::Menu) or can call other scripts/programs on your system. In the latter case Term::Menu::FromFile will run the program for you, and return the output of the program.

There are seperate functions for if you have an open filehandle, or just the path to the file. If you want multiple return values, there are functions wrapping Term::Menu's menu function as well. (Note: The 'call the chosen script' ablity does not exist for multiple return value menus.)

USAGE

No functions are imported by default: you'll have to import them yourself. Avalible functions are listed below.

The file format is fairly straightforward: At the top of the file is a 'Title' line, followed by menu entry lines. Menu entries have three fields, seperated by semicolons. The fields are: 'Order', 'Menu_text' and 'Command'. The 'Command' field is only relevant if you want to call a script on selection. Title lines must start with #TITLE:.

Example file:

#TITLE:Menu 1
1;Item 1;
2;Item 2;perl test_data/test_command.pl
3;Item 3;fiddledo

In the example, 'Item 1' has no command, 'Item 2' uses perl to run a script and 'Item 3' runs the fiddledo command directly. (I wonder what that does...)

Functions

Possible Exports

pick_from_filename   pick_command_from_filename 
pick_from_file       pick_command_from_file
menu_from_filename   menu_from_file

pick_from_filename

Arguments

One argument: The name of the menu file.

Return Value

Returns the menu item picked. (By text, as in Term::Menu's pick function.)

Opens a menu file, reads it, displays a menu to the user, and returns the user-picked value to the program. It will croak if it can't find or open the menu file, or if the file parses to an empty menu.

pick_command_from_filename

Arguments

One argument: The name of the menu file.

Return Value

Returns the output of the command that was run.

Opens a menu file, reads it, displays a menu to the user, and runs the command specifed in the menu file for the menu time the user picked. The output of the command is returned in a scalar. (Note that the return value will be in $?, also called $CHILD_ERROR.)

It will croak if it can't find or open the menu file, or if the file parses to an empty menu.

pick_from_file

Arguments

One argument: An open filehandle.

Return Value

Returns the menu item picked. (By text, as in Term::Menu's pick function.)

Reads an already opened menu file, displays the menu to the user, and returns the user-picked value to the program. It will croak if it can't find or open the menu file, or if the file parses to an empty menu.

pick_command_from_file

Arguments

One argument: An open filehandle.

Return Value

Returns the output of the command that was run.

Reads an already open menu file, displays the menu to the user, and runs the command specifed in the menu file for the menu time the user picked. The output of the command is returned in a scalar. (Note that the return value will be in $?, also called $CHILD_ERROR.)

It will croak if it can't find or open the menu file, or if the file parses to an empty menu.

Arguments

One argument: The name of the menu file.

Return Value

Returns the menu items picked. (By text in an array reference, as in Term::Menu's Menu function.)

Opens a menu file, reads it, displays a menu to the user, and returns the user-picked values to the caller. It will croak if it can't find or open the menu file, or if the file parses to an empty menu.

!-- Currently this does not work. --!

Arguments

One argument: An open filehandle.

Return Value

Returns the menu items picked. (By text in an array reference, as in Term::Menu's Menu function.)

Reads an open menu file, displays a menu to the user, and returns the user-picked values to the caller. It will croak if it can't find or open the menu file, or if the file parses to an empty menu.

!-- Currently this does not work. --!

CAVEATS

The menu file is basically assumed to be valid, if we managed to parse any lines. We probably shouldn't do that.

Also, the title is required, when it really should be optional.

And comments. We don't allow comments.

There are some forms of menus that Term::Menus supports that we don't.

The 'menu' functions don't work, until I figure out what format Term::Menus actually does support.

REQUIRES

Perl 5.6

Term::Menus

AUTHOR

Daniel T. Staal

DStaal@usa.net

SEE ALSO

Term::Menus

COPYRIGHT and LICENSE

Copyright (c) 2008 Daniel T. Staal. All rights reserved. This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the same terms as Perl itself.

This copyright will expire in 30 years, or 5 years after the author's death, whichever is longer.