NAME

XAO::DO::Catalogs - XAO catalog exchange module

SYNOPSIS

xao-ifilter-sample --debug sample_site sample.xml
xao-import-map --debug sample_site sample

DESCRIPTION

XAO Catalogs is a Perl module that supports integrating multiple manufacturers' catalogs into a single products database. This can be used for eCommerce sites, data integration projects, and search and comparison engines.

METHODS

XAO::DO::Catalogs contains only minor utility methods, all real functionality is in ImportMap::Base and specific import maps based on it.

build_structure ()

Builds supporting structure in the database. Does not destroy existing data -- safe to call on already populated database.

Usually should be called in Config.pm's build_structure() method.

data_structure ()

Returns a reference to a hash that describes database structure. Usually you would add it to your database description in Config.pm:

my $cobj=XAO::Objects->new(objname => 'Catalogs');

my %structure=(
    MyData => {
        ...
    },

    %{$cobj->data_structure},

    MyOtherData => {
        ...
    }
);

If that looks ugly (it is ugly) then look at the build_structure() method description instead.

AUTHOR

Copyright (c) 2001-2002 XAO, Inc.

Andrew Maltsev <am@xao.com>.

SEE ALSO

Recommended reading: XAO::DO::ImportMap::Base, XAO::Objects, XAO::Web, XAO::Commerce.