NAME

Log::Dispatch::Output - Base class for all Log::Dispatch::* objects

SYNOPSIS

  package Log::Dispatch::MySubclass;

  use Log::Dispatch::Output;
  use base qw( Log::Dispatch::Output );

  sub new
  {
      my $proto = shift;
      my $class = ref $proto || $proto;

      my %p = @_;

      my $self = bless {}, $class;

      $self->_basic_init(%p);

      # Do more if you like

      return $self;
  }

  sub log_message
  {
      my $self = shift;
      my %p = @_;

      # Do something with message in $p{message}
  }

  1;

DESCRIPTION

This module is the base class from which all Log::Dispatch::* objects should be derived.

CONSTRUCTOR

The constructor, new, must be overridden in a subclass. See Output Classes for a description of the common parameters accepted by this constructor.

METHODS

• _basic_init(%p)

  This should be called from a subclass's constructor. Make sure to pass the arguments in @_ to it. It sets the object's name and minimum level. It also sets up two other attributes which are used by other Log::Dispatch::Output methods, level_names and level_numbers.

• name

  Returns the object's name.

• min_level

  Returns the object's minimum log level.

• max_level

  Returns the object's maximum log level.

• accepted_levels

  Returns a list of the object's accepted levels (by name) from minimum to maximum.

• log( level => $, message => $ )

  Sends a message if the level is greater than or equal to the object's minimum level. This method applies any message formatting callbacks that the object may have.

• _should_log ($)

  This method is called from the log() method with the log level of the message to be logged as an argument. It returns a boolean value indicating whether or not the message should be logged by this particular object. The log() method will not process the message if the return value is false.

• _level_as_number ($)

  This method will take a log level as a string (or a number) and return the number of that log level. If not given an argument, it returns the calling object's log level instead. If it cannot determine the level then it will croak.

• add_callback( $code )

  Adds a callback (like those given during construction). It is added to the end of the list of callbacks.

Subclassing

This class should be used as the base class for all logging objects you create that you would like to work under the Log::Dispatch architecture. Subclassing is fairly trivial. For most subclasses, if you simply copy the code in the SYNOPSIS and then put some functionality into the log_message method then you should be all set. Please make sure to use the _basic_init method as directed.

The actual logging implementation should be done in a log_message method that you write. Do not override log!.

AUTHOR

Dave Rolsky, <autarch@urth.org>