1DBIx::Class::Manual::ReUasdeirngC(o3n)tributed Perl DocuDmBeInxt:a:tCiloanss::Manual::Reading(3)
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6 DBIx::Class::Manual::Reading - How to read and write DBIx::Class POD.
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9 This doc should help users to understand how the examples and
10 documentation found in the DBIx::Class distribution can be interpreted.
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12 Writers of DBIx::Class POD should also check here to make sure their
13 additions are consistent with the rest of the documentation.
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16 Methods should be documented in the files which also contain the code
17 for the method, or that file should be hidden from PAUSE completely, in
18 which case the methods are documented in the file which loads it.
19 Methods may also be documented and referred to in files representing
20 the major objects or components on which they can be called.
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22 For example, DBIx::Class::Relationship documents the methods actually
23 coded in the helper relationship classes like
24 DBIx::Class::Relationship::BelongsTo. The BelongsTo file itself is
25 hidden from PAUSE as it has no documentation. The accessors created by
26 relationships should be mentioned in DBIx::Class::Row, the major object
27 that they will be called on.
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29 Method documentation
30 • Each method starts with a "head2" statement of its name.
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32 Just the plain method name, not an example of how to call it, or a
33 link. This is to ensure easy linking to method documentation from
34 other POD.
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36 • The header is followed by a two-item list. This contains a
37 description of the arguments the method is expected to take, and an
38 indication of what the method returns.
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40 The first item provides a list of all possible values for the
41 arguments of the method in order, separated by ", ", preceded by
42 the text "Arguments: "
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44 Example (for the belongs_to relationship):
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46 =item Arguments: $accessor_name, $related_class, $fk_column|\%cond|\@cond?, \%attr?
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48 The following possible argument sigils can be shown:
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50 • $var - A scalar (string or numeric) variable.
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52 • \%var - A variable containing reference to a hash.
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54 • \@var - A variable containing a reference to an array.
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56 • \$var - A variable containing a reference to a scalar variable.
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58 • %var - A hashref variable (list of key/value pairs) - rarely
59 used in DBIx::Class.
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61 Reading an argument as a hash variable will consume all
62 subsequent method arguments, use with caution.
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64 • @var - An array variable (list of values).
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66 Reading an argument as a array variable will consume all
67 subsequent method arguments, use with caution.
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69 • $obj - Reference to the source class or object definition
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71 All arguments and return values should provide a link to the
72 object's class documentation or definition, even if it's the
73 same class as the current documentation. For example:
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75 ## Correct, if stated within DBIx::Class::ResultSet
76 L<$resultset|/new>
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78 ## Correct, if stated outside DBIx::Class::ResultSet
79 L<$resultset|DBIx::Class::ResultSet>
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81 • ? - Optional, should be placed after the argument type and
82 name.
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84 ## Correct
85 \%myhashref|\@myarrayref?
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87 ## Wrong
88 \%myhashref?|\@myarrayref
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90 Applies to the entire argument.
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92 Optional arguments can be left out of method calls, unless the
93 caller needs to pass in any of the following arguments. In
94 which case the caller should pass "undef" in place of the
95 missing argument.
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97 • | - Alternate argument content types.
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99 At least one of these must be supplied unless the argument is
100 also marked optional.
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102 The second item starts with the text "Return Value:". The remainder
103 of the line is either the text "not defined" or a variable with a
104 descriptive name.
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106 ## Good examples
107 =item Return Value: not defined
108 =item Return Value: L<$schema|DBIx::Class::Schema>
109 =item Return Value: $classname
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111 ## Bad examples
112 =item Return Value: The names
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114 "not defined" means the method does not deliberately return a
115 value, and the caller should not use or rely on anything it does
116 return. (Perl functions always return something, usually the
117 result of the last code statement, if there is no explicit return
118 statement.) This is different than specifying "undef", which means
119 that it explicitly returns undef, though usually this is used an
120 alternate return (like "$obj | undef").
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122 • The argument/return list is followed by a single paragraph
123 describing what the method does.
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125 • The description paragraph is followed by another list. Each item in
126 the list explains one of the possible argument/type combinations.
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128 This list may be omitted if the author feels that the variable
129 names are self-explanatory enough to not require it. Use best
130 judgement.
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132 • The argument/return list is followed by some examples of how to use
133 the method, using its various types of arguments.
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135 The examples can also include ways to use the results if
136 applicable. For instance, if the documentation is for a
137 relationship type, the examples can include how to call the
138 resulting relation accessor, how to use the relation name in a
139 search and so on.
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141 If some of the examples assume default values, these should be
142 shown with and without the actual arguments, with hints about the
143 equivalent calls.
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145 The example should be followed by one or more paragraphs explaining
146 what it does.
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148 Examples and explaining paragraphs can be repeated as necessary.
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151 Check the list of additional DBIC resources.
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154 This module is free software copyright by the DBIx::Class (DBIC)
155 authors. You can redistribute it and/or modify it under the same terms
156 as the DBIx::Class library.
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160perl v5.34.0 2021-07-22 DBIx::Class::Manual::Reading(3)