Text::Query - Query processing framework

    use Text::Query;

    # Constructor
    $query = Text::Query->new([QSTRING] [OPTIONS]);

    # Methods
    $query->prepare(QSTRING [OPTIONS]);
    $query->match([TARGET]);
    $query->matchscalar([TARGET]);

This module provides an object that matches a data source against a query expression.

Query expressions are compiled into an internal form when a new object is created or the CWprepare method is called; they are not recompiled on each match.

The class provided by this module uses four packages to process the query. The query parser parses the question and calls a query expression builder (internal form of the question). The optimizer is then called to reduce the complexity of the expression. The solver applies the expression on a data source.

The following parsers are provided:

Text::Query::ParseAdvanced

Text::Query::ParseSimple

The following builders are provided:

Text::Query::BuildAdvancedString

Text::Query::BuildSimpleString

The following solver is provided:

Text::Query::SolveSimpleString

Text::Query::SolveAdvancedString

  use Text::Query;
  my $q=new Text::Query('hello and world',
                        -parse => 'Text::Query::ParseAdvanced',
                        -solve => 'Text::Query::SolveAdvancedString',
                        -build => 'Text::Query::BuildAdvancedString');
  die "bad query expression" if not defined $q;
  print if $q->match;
  ...
  $q->prepare('goodbye or adios or ta ta',
              -litspace => 1,
              -case => 1);
  #requires single space between the two ta's
  if($q->match($line)) {
  #doesn't match "Goodbye"
  ...
  $q->prepare('"and" or "or"');
  #quoting operators for literal match
  ...
  $q->prepare('\\bintegrate\\b', -regexp => 1);
  #won't match "disintegrated"

new ([QSTRING] [OPTIONS])

This is the constructor for a new Text::Query object. If a CWQSTRING is given it will be compiled to internal form. CWOPTIONS are passed in a hash like fashion, using key and value pairs. Possible options are: -parse - Package name of the parser. Default is Text::Query::ParseSimple. -build - Package name of the builder. Default is Text::Query::Build. -optimize - Package name of the optimizer. Default is Text::Query::Optimize. -solve - Package name of the solver. Default is Text::Query::Solve. -mode - Name of predefined group of packages to use. Options are currently CWsimple_text and CWadvanced_text. These options are handled by the CWconfigure method. All other options are passed to the parser CWprepare function. See the corresponding manual pages for a description. If CWQSTRING is undefined, the prepare function is not called. The constructor will croak if a CWQSTRING was supplied and had illegal syntax.

configure ([OPTIONS])

Set the CWparse, CWbuild, CWoptimize or CWsolve packages. See the CWCONSTRUCTOR description for explanations.

prepare (QSTRING [OPTIONS])

Compiles the query expression in CWQSTRING to internal form and sets any options (same as in the constructor). CWprepare may be used to change the query expression and options for an existing query object. If CWOPTIONS are omitted, any options set by a previous call to CWprepare are persistent. The optimizer (-optimize) is called with the result of the parser (-parse). The parser uses the builder (-build) to construct the internal form. This method returns a reference to the query object if the syntax of the expression was legal, or croak if not.

match ([TARGET])

Calls the match method of the solver (-solve).

matchscalar ([TARGET])

Calls the matchscalar method of the solver (-solve).

Text::Query::ParseAdvanced(3), Text::Query::ParseSimple(3), Text::Query::BuildSimpleString(3), Text::Query::BuildAdvanedString(3), Text::Query::SolveSimpleString(3), Text::Query::SolveAdvancedString(3),

Text::Query::Build(3), Text::Query::Parse(3), Text::Query::Solve(3), Text::Query::Optimize(3)

Eric Bohlman (ebohlman@netcom.com)

Loic Dachary (loic@senga.org)