NAME
Getopt::Regex - handle command line options flexibly using regular expressions
SYNOPSIS
use Getopt::Regex;
GetOptions(\@ARGV,[$regex,$ref,$takesarg],...);\@ARGV - reference to array of command line arguments $regex - regular expression for identifying the option $ref - reference to a variable to be set or a function which is passed the argument if it exists. $takesarg - if 1 subsequent command line argument is taken as its argument
DESCRIPTION
This package provides a flexible yet simple method for handling command line options. It does not stamp over the callers namespace or, currently, inforce any particular standard for the options - the user can do this if they want. By using anonymous closures sophisticated option specifications can be constructed.
The function GetOptions, exported from the package takes a reference to the argument list followed by a set of option specifications which are references to arrays containing at least a regular expression to match for the option and a reference to a variable to be set or a function to be called. A third optional argument for each option, if set to 1, pulles off the following command line argument as an argument for that option.
The simplest use is to set a boolean variable if an argument is set
GetOptions(\@ARGV,['-[v|V]',\$bool,0]);If the option '-v' or '-V' occurs $bool will be set to 1, otherwise it is left unchanged.
A subsequent command line argument may be used as as an option argument as follows
GetOptions(\@ARGV,['-f',\$fname,1]);will set $fname to fname if '-f fname' is specified on the command line.
Processed arguments are removed from the argument list. Only the first occurance of an argument is processed, if a variable is being set as in the above examples
More complex argument specifications are possible using anonymous functions as arguments. If the option takes an argument, the argument is passed to the function. Parts of the regular expression may also be used in the anonymous closure being executed. e.g.
GetOptions(\@ARGV,
['-D(.+)=(.+)',sub { diagnostic $1,$2; } ,0],
['-D(.+)', sub { diagnostic $1; $_[0]; },1]);The first option specification will match options in the format '-DDIAGNOSTIC=VALUE',the second will match occurances of the format '-DDIAGNOSTIC VALUE'. As can be seen use of the regex matching variables can be made in handling the options.
When GetOptions is called with a function reference the function is called for all matching occurances of the regular expression, and the proceesed options are removed from the argument list.
Another useful example is
GetOptions(\@ARGV,['-(no-)*optimization',0,sub { $optimization=!$1; }]);which identifies the option statements '-optimization' or '-no-optimization' setting $optimization true or false approptiately.
The option '--' ends the search for matching options - further arguments are not searched.
NOTE
Requires at least Perl 5.000 or Perl 5.001m if anonymous closures are used.
HISTORY
$Log: Regex.pm,v $ Revision 1.2 2002/05/27 13:16:55 willijar Added in bug fix given be Edmond Abrahamian <edmond@tripos.com> which permits it to work if an argument is zero (but not "").
Revision 1.1 2002/05/27 13:14:53 willijar Initial revision
Revision 1.3 1995/12/16 09:48:28 willijar Rename package to be more consistant with guidlines
Revision 1.2 1995/12/12 22:01:35 willijar Removed unnecessary default argument. Extended pod documentation.
Revision 1.1 1995/12/10 15:57:06 willijar Initial revision
BUGS
Please let me know.
TODO
Possibly integrate default behaviour of other option functions in this package.
AUTHOR
John A.R. Williams, <J.A.R.Williams@aston.ac.uk>