NAME

DBIx::Hash2Table - Save a hash into a database table

Synopsis

        #!/usr/bin/perl

        my(%entity)     = create_a_hash(...);
        my($dbh)        = DBI -> connect(...);
        my($table_name) = 'entity';

        # Cope with MySQL-specific SQL.
        eval{$dbh -> do("drop table if exists $table_name")};

        # Cope with non-existant table.
        eval{$dbh -> do("drop table $table_name")};

        my($sql) = "create table $table_name (id int, parent_id int, " .
                                "code char(5), name varchar(255), _url varchar(255) )";

        $dbh -> do($sql);

        DBIx::Hash2Table -> new
        (
                hash_ref   => \%entity,
                dbh        => $dbh,
                table_name => $table_name,
                columns    => ['id', 'parent_id', 'name'],
#               extras     => ['code']
#               extras     => ['_url', 'code']
#               extras     => ['code', '_url']
        ) -> insert();

Description

DBIx::Hash2Table is a pure Perl module.

This module saves a hash ref into an existing database table of at least 3 columns.

Each row in the table will consist of these 3 columns, at least: id (row number), parent's id, and the value of a hash key.

You specify the names of these 3 columns in the constructor's array ref parameter called columns.

I suggest you display the script examples/test-hash2table.pl in another window while reading the following.

In fact, you are strongly recommended to run the demo now, and examine the resultant database table, before reading further. Then, remove the comment '#' from one of lines 84 .. 86 and run it again.

In the hash ref being saved to the database, hash keys normally point to hash refs. This nested structure is preserved when the data is written to the table.

That is, the hash keys which point to hash refs become parents in the database, and keys within the hash ref being pointed to may become children of this parent.

I say 'may' because inside the hash ref you can have hash keys which are column names, and you can have hash keys which are just 'normal' hash keys, ie not column names.

If the nested hash key is a column name, then it should point to a non-ref, ie a number or a string. In that case, you can optionally have the value it points to written to the table.

You activate this feature by putting the names of the columns you wish to have saved in the database into the constructor's array ref parameter called extras.

In the example code, such a nested hash keys are called code, _run_mode and _url, and at lines 84 .. 86 you can control whether or not any or all of these values are written to the table.

If the nested hash key is not a column name, then it should point to a hash ref, and when its turn comes, it too will be written to the table.

In more detail, the 3 mandatory columns in each row of the database are:

• An id column

  This column is for the (unique) id of the row containing the hash key.

  You do not have to define this column of the table to be unique, or to be a database key, but that might be a Good Idea.

  DBIx::Hash2Table counts an integer up from 1, to generate the values for this column.

• The parent's id column

  This column is for the id of the row of the parent of the hash key.

  The root key(s) of the hash will have a parent id of 0.

• A name column

  This column is for the value of the hash key itself.

Distributions

This module is available both as a Unix-style distro (*.tgz) and an ActiveState-style distro (*.ppd). The latter is shipped in a *.zip file.

See http://savage.net.au/Perl-modules.html for details.

See http://savage.net.au/Perl-modules/html/installing-a-module.html for help on unpacking and installing each type of distro.

Constructor and initialization

new(...) returns a DBIx::Hash2Table object.

This is the class's contructor.

Parameters:

• hash_ref

  A reference to the hash to be inserted in a database table.

  This parameter is mandatory.

• dbh

  A database handle.

  This parameter is mandatory.

• table_name

  This is the name of the table to populate.

  This parameter is mandatory.

• columns

  This is an array ref of the 3 mandatory column names.

  Warning: The order of entries in this array ref is of great significance. Of course, just because the column names must be in this order does not mean the table itself must be declared with the columns in the same order.

  • Index 0

    This is the column name used for the id column.

    Ids start at 1.

  • Index 1

    This is the column name used for the id of the parent of the hash key.

    The root key(s) of the hash will have a parent id of 0.

  • Index 2

    This is the column name used for the hash key itself.

  This parameter is mandatory.

• extras

  This is an array ref of column names which are also keys in the hash ref.

  It defaults to [].

  This parameter is optional.

  These column names which are hash keys have the following properties:

  • It's a child

    The hash key is a child of the 'current' hash key.

  • It's value is not a reference

    The value pointed to be this hash key is a non-ref, ie it's just a number or a string.

  • Save me!

    You want the hash key's value to be written to the 'current' row of the table.

    In other words, even though this hash key (which is a column name!) is a child of the 'current' hash key, the value pointed to by this hash key is written to the same row has the 'current' hash key.

  The program examples/test-hash2table.pl shows exactly what this means.

Method: new(...)

Returns an object of type DBIx::Hash2Table.

See above, in the section called 'Constructor and initialization'.

Method: insert()

Returns nothing.

Calling insert() actually executes the SQL insert statement, and recursively writes all hash keys to the table.

FAQ

Q: What is the point of this module?

A: To be able to save a hash to permanent storage via a database rather than via a file.

Q: Can your other module DBIx::Table2Hash reconstruct a hash written by this module?

A: No. Sorry. Perhaps one day.

Repository

https://github.com/ronsavage/DBIx-Hash2Table

Support

Bugs should be reported via the CPAN bug tracker at

https://github.com/ronsavage/DBIx-Hash2Table/issues

Author

DBIx::Hash2Table was written by Ron Savage <ron@savage.net.au> in 2003.

Home page: http://savage.net.au/index.html

Copyright

Australian copyright (c) 2003, Ron Savage. All Programs of mine are 'OSI Certified Open Source Software'; you can redistribute them and/or modify them under the terms of The Artistic License, a copy of which is available at: http://www.opensource.org/licenses/index.html

cpanm DBIx::Hash2Table

perl -MCPAN -e shell
install DBIx::Hash2Table