NAME

Text::Column - format tables from specific array and hash structures

SYNOPSIS

#####
# Subroutine interface
#
use Text::Column qw(format_hash_table format_array_table);

$table = format_hash_table(\%hash, \@width, \@header);
$table = format_array_table(\@array, \@width, \@header);

#####
# Object interface
#
use Text::Column;

$table = Text::Column->format_hash_table(\%hash, \@width, \@header);
$table = Text::Column->format_array_table(\@array, \@width, \@header);

DESCRIPTION

The methods in this module are used to generate formated tables from the data in various specific array and hash structures. These subroutines are used in test software. They are used to build simple inventory listings, tracebility listins and such for PODs. Thus, the purpose is not to load them with a lot of word processing features but to keep them bare bones with as little code as possible. Feature creep is prohibited. The last thing need is a blue screen for out of a 100,000 line option ridden, ten layer deep objectize, word processor in the test software.

SUBROUTINES

format_array_table

$formated_table = format_array_table(\@array, \@width, \@header)

The format_array_table method provides a formatted table suitable for inclusion in a POD. The \@array variable references an array of array references. Each array reference in the top array is for a row array that contains the items in column order for the row. The \@width variable references the width of each column in column order while the \@header references the table column names in column order.

format_hash_table

$table = format_hash_table(\%hash, \@width, \@header)

The format_hash_table method provides a formatted table suitable for inclusion in a POD. The \%array variable references a hash of references to either arrays or hashes. Each key is the first column of a row. An array referenced by the hash value contains the items in column order for the rest of the row. The keys of a hash referenced by the hash value is the items for the next column in the row. Any other hash value signals the end of the row. The format_hash_table method always sort hash keys.

The \@width variable references the width of each column in column order while the \@header references the table column names in column order.

REQUIREMENTS

Coming soon.

DEMONSTRATION

~~~~~~ Demonstration overview ~~~~~

Perl code begins with the prompt

=>

The selected results from executing the Perl Code follow on the next lines. For example,

=> 2 + 2
4

~~~~~~ The demonstration follows ~~~~~

=>     use File::Spec;

=>     use File::Package;
=>     my $fp = 'File::Package';

=>     my $tt = 'Text::Column';

=>     my $loaded = '';
=>     my $template = '';
=>     my %variables = ();
=>     my $expected = '';
=> my $errors = $fp->load_package($tt)
=> $errors
''

=> my @array_table =  (
=>    [qw(module.pm 0.01 2003/5/6 new)],
=>    [qw(bin/script.pl 1.04 2003/5/5 generated)],
=>    [qw(bin/script.pod 3.01 2003/6/8), 'revised 2.03']
=> );
=> $tt->format_array_table(\@array_table, [15,7,10,15],[qw(file version date comment)])
' file            version date       comment
 --------------- ------- ---------- ---------------
 module.pm       0.01    2003/5/6   new
 bin/script.pl   1.04    2003/5/5   generated
 bin/script.pod  3.01    2003/6/8   revised 2.03
'

=> my %hash_table =  (
=>    'module.pm' => [qw(0.01 2003/5/6 new)],
=>    'bin/script.pl' => [qw(1.04 2003/5/5 generated)],
=>    'bin/script.pod' => [qw(3.01 2003/6/8), 'revised 2.03']
=> );
=> $tt->format_hash_table(\%hash_table, [15,7,10,15],[qw(file version date comment)])
' file            version date       comment
 --------------- ------- ---------- ---------------
 bin/script.pl   1.04    2003/5/5   generated
 bin/script.pod  3.01    2003/6/8   revised 2.03
 module.pm       0.01    2003/5/6   new
'

=> %hash_table =  (
=>    'L<test1>' => {'L<requirement4>' => undef, 'L<requirement1>' => undef },
=>    'L<test2>' => {'L<requirement3>' => undef },
=>    'L<test3>' => {'L<requirement2>' => undef, 'L<requirement1>' => undef },
=> );
=> $tt->format_hash_table(\%hash_table, [20,20],[qw(test requirement)])
' test                 requirement
 -------------------- --------------------
 L<test1>             L<requirement1>
 L<test1>             L<requirement4>
 L<test2>             L<requirement3>
 L<test3>             L<requirement1>
 L<test3>             L<requirement2>
'

QUALITY ASSURANCE

Running the test script Column.t verifies the requirements for this module. The tmake.pl cover script for Test::STDmaker automatically generated the Column.t test script, Column.d demo script, and t::Text::Column program module POD, from the t::Text::Column program module contents. The tmake.pl cover script automatically ran the Column.d demo script and inserted the results into the 'DEMONSTRATION' section above. The t::Text::Column program module is in the distribution file Text-Column-$VERSION.tar.gz.

NOTES

Author

The holder of the copyright and maintainer is

<support@SoftwareDiamonds.com>

Copyrighted (c) 2002 Software Diamonds

All Rights Reserved

Binding Requirement Notice

Binding requirements are indexed with the pharse 'shall[dd]' where dd is an unique number for each header section. This conforms to standard federal government practices, STD490A 3.2.3.6. In accordance with the License, Software Diamonds is not liable for any requirement, binding or otherwise.

License

Software Diamonds permits the redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without modification, provided that the following conditions are met:

  1. Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.

  2. Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the documentation and/or other materials provided with the distribution.

SOFTWARE DIAMONDS, http::www.softwarediamonds.com, PROVIDES THIS SOFTWARE 'AS IS' AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL SOFTWARE DIAMONDS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL,EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE,DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.

SEE ALSO

Docs::Site_SVD::Text_Column
Test::STDmaker
ExtUtils::SVDmaker