NAME

Config::Model::SearchElement - Search an element in a configuration model

VERSION

version 2.149

SYNOPSIS

 use Config::Model;

 # define configuration tree object
 my $model = Config::Model->new;
  $model->create_config_class(
    name    => "Foo",
    element => [
        [qw/foo bar/] => {
            type       => 'leaf',
            value_type => 'string'
        },
    ]
 );
 $model ->create_config_class (
    name => "MyClass",

    element => [

        [qw/foo bar/] => {
            type       => 'leaf',
            value_type => 'string'
        },
        hash_of_nodes => {
            type       => 'hash',     # hash id
            index_type => 'string',
            cargo      => {
                type              => 'node',
                config_class_name => 'Foo'
            },
        },
    ],
 ) ;

 my $inst = $model->instance(root_class_name => 'MyClass' );

 my $root = $inst->config_root ;

 # put data
 my $step = 'foo=FOO hash_of_nodes:fr foo=bonjour -
   hash_of_nodes:en foo=hello ';
 $root->load( step => $step );

 # create searcher for manual search
 my $searcher = $root->searcher();

 # looking for foo element in the tree
 $searcher -> prepare (element => 'foo') ;
 my @next = $searcher->next_step() ;

 print "next possible steps: @next\n";
 # next possible steps: foo hash_of_nodes

 # Looking for foo below hash_of_nodes
 $searcher->choose('hash_of_nodes') ;
 @next = $searcher->next_step() ;

 print "next possible steps: @next\n";
 # next possible steps: en fr

 # Looking for foo below fr
 $searcher->choose('fr') ;
 @next = $searcher->next_step() ;

 print "next possible steps: @next\n";
 # next possible steps: foo

 # last step
 $searcher->choose('foo') ;
 my $target = $searcher->current_object;

 print "Found '",$target->location,"'\n";
 # Found 'hash_of_nodes:fr foo'

 # automatic search setup
 my $element_call_back = sub { return 'hash_of_nodes' ;} ;
 my $id_call_back      = sub { return 'en' ;} ;

 $searcher->reset ;
 $target = $searcher->auto_choose($element_call_back, $id_call_back) ;
  print "Automatic search found '",$target->location,"'\n";
 # Automatic search found 'hash_of_nodes:en foo'

DESCRIPTION

This modules provides a way to search for a configuration element in a configuration tree by exploring the configuration model.

For instance, suppose that you have a xorg.conf model and you know that you need to tune the "MergedXinerama" parameter, but you don't remember where is this parameter in the configuration tree. This module guides you through the tree to the(s) node(s) that contain this parameter.

This class should be invaluable to construct interactive user interfaces.

This module provides 2 search modes:

A manual search where you are guided step by step to the element you're looking for. At each step, the module returns you the possible paths to choose from. The user has to choose the correct path from the available paths. Most of the time, only one possibility is returned, so the user choice should be straightforward. In other case (more that one choice), the user has to decide the next step.
An automatic search where you provide call-back that resolves the ambiguities in case of multiple paths.

CONSTRUCTOR

The constructor should be used only by Config::Model::Node.

Methods

get_searchable_elements

Return the list of elements found in model that can be searched in the configuration tree.

prepare

Parameters: "(element => ...)"

Prepare the searcher to look for the element passed in the argument. Returns the searcher object (i.e. $self).

reset

Re-initialize the search engine to redo the search from start

searched

Returns the searched element name.

Manual search

next_step

Returns an array (or a ref depending on context) containing the next possible step to find the element you're looking for. The array ref can contain 1 or more elements.

If the array ref is empty, you can get the target element with "current_object".

next_choice

Returns an array ref containing the next non-obvious choice to find the element you're looking for.

If the array ref is empty, you can get the target element with "current_object".

choose

Parameters: "( <chosen_element_name> )"

Tell the search engine your choice. The chosen element name must be one of the possibilities given by "next_step".

current_object

Returns the object where the search engine is. It can be a node, a list, a hash, or a leaf element.

Automatic search

auto_choose

Parameters: "( element_callback, id_call_back)"

Finds the searched element with minimal user interaction.

"element_callback" is called when the search engine finds a node where more than one element can lead to the searched item.

"id_call_back" is called when the search engine finds a hash element or a list element which contain no or more than 1 elements. In this case the call-back returns an id that is used by the search engine to get the target element.

Both call-back arguments are:

The current object (as returned by "current_object")
A list of possible choices

For instance, your callback can be :

 my $id_cb = sub {
    my ($object,@choices) = @_ ;
    ....
    return $choice[1] ;
 }

Both call-back are expected to return a scalar value that is either:

An element name
An id valid for the list or hash element returned by "current_object".

AUTHOR

Dominique Dumont, (ddumont at cpan dot org)

AUTHOR

Dominique Dumont

COPYRIGHT AND LICENSE

This is free software, licensed under:

  The GNU Lesser General Public License, Version 2.1, February 1999