NAME

Text::FixedLength::Extra - various niceties for Text::FixedLength lovers.

SYNOPSIS

  use Text::FixedLength::Extra; #automatically uses Text::FixedLength

  my %format        =   (record_type => '3L', total_orders => '5R');
  my @field_order   = qw(record_type total_orders);
  my %data          =   (record_type => 'F',  total_orders => 300);

  # Bonus One: Simplified API to Text::FixedLength !
  $x = fixedlength(\%format, \%data, \@field_order);

  # Bonus Two: Zero filling and processing of integers and floating points ! 
  my %format        =   (record_type => '3R', total_orders => '10R*F3');
  my @field_order   = qw(record_type total_orders);
  my %data          =   (record_type => 'F',  total_orders => 300.52894);


  $x = fixedlength(\%format, \%data, \@field_order);

DESCRIPTION

Right now, Text::FixedLength::Extra does two things for those who like using Text::FixedLength - simpler API and extended number processing.

Simplified API to Text::FixedLength

A function, fixedlength() has been created which should make it easier to create fixed-width reports. Here is a sample of setting up data for use with fixedlength:

  # the fields we will format and their formatting instructions
  my %format = 
    (
     record_type => '3',
     upc => '13L',
     lcc_label => '5R',
     lcc_catalog => '7R',
     lcc_config => '1',
     artist_name => '30L',
     item_title => '30L',
     quoted_price => '6R',
     quantity => '4R',
     customer_title => '30L',
     customer_reference => '20L'
    );

  # how to order the fields in %format
  my @format =  qw(record_type   upc     lcc_label     lcc_catalog     
lcc_config     artist_name     item_title     quoted_price     quantity  
customer_title     customer_reference    );
  

  my %data = ( record_type => '23423' ... customer_reference => 'adfja;kdf');

  my $formatted_line = fixedlength(\%format, %data, \@format);

Number processing

The standard format instruction with Text::FixedLength is

  WIDTH JUSTIFICATION?

E.g. 6L creates a left-justified field taking up 6 spaces, filling any non-used spaces with a spaces.

This module re-implements the Text::FixedLength::getFixed function to handle additional optional syntax for formatting numbers. The new format instruction is:

  WIDTH JUSTIFICATION? (ZERO_FILL? D)?
    or
  WIDTH JUSTIFICATION? (ZERO_FILL? F PLACES_AFTER_DECIMAL)?

If you dont understand the above let me give you a nice set of examples:

  10R*F3 means uses 10 spaces, zero fill if necessary and allow 3 places after the decimal point.

  10R*D  means uses 10 spaces, zero fill if necessary.

  10RF3  means uses 10 spaces, space fill (not zero-fill, note there was no * in the specification) if necessary and allow 3 places after the decimal point.

EXPORT

fixedlength()

OVERWRITTEN

Text::FixedLength::getFixed()

AUTHOR

T. M. Brannon, <TBONE@CPAN.ORG>