=pod

=head1 NAME

Data::Range::Compare::Stream::Iterator::Compare::Base - Abstract class

=head1 DESCRIPTION

This module extends Data::Range::Compare::Stream::Iterator::Base and provides the shared hooks for the Compare Asc class and any future compare classes.

=head2 OO Methods

=over 3

=item * my $compare=new Data::Range::Compare::Stream::Iterator::Compare::Base;

Optional arguments:

     factory_instance =>$obj
        
        # defines the object that implements the $obj->factory($start,$end,$data).
        # new ranges are constructed from the factory interfcae.  If a factory interface
        # is not created an instance of Data::Range::Compare::Stream is assumed.

=item * $compare->add_consolidator($iterator_a);

    An $iterator object must implement one of the following iterator classes

      Data::Range::Compare::Stream::Iterator::Consolidate
       
      Data::Range::Compare::Stream::Iterator::Compare::Asc

     my $boolean=$iterator_a->has_next

       Boolean value indicating if there are any more ranges

     my $result=$iterator_a->get_next;

       $result must implement one of the following result objects:

         Data::Range::Compare::Stream::Iterator::Consolidate::Result
	   
         Data::Range::Compare::Stream::Iterator::Compare::Result

=item * while($compare->has_next) { do something }

Must be implemented See: Data::Range::Compare::Stream::Iterator::Compare::Asc

=item * my $result=$compare->get_next;

Must be implemented See: Data::Range::Compare::Stream::Iterator::Compare::Asc

Suggested implementation: if $compare->has_next returns true: Returns a instance of Data::Range::Compare::Stream::Iterator::Compare::Result.

=item * my $count=$compare->get_column_count_human_readable;

Returns a human readable count of the columns in the comparison object.

=item * my $count=$compare->get_column_count;

Returns the last index id of the iterator column counts.

=item * my $range=$compare->get_current_row;

Returns the range object that will be used in the $compare->get_next call.

=item * my $boolean=$compare->iterators_empty;

Returns false when all iterator objects in $compare are depleted.

=item * my $result=$compare->get_next;

Must be implemented See: Data::Range::Compare::Stream::Iterator::Compare::Asc

Suggested implementation: if $compare->has_next returns true: Returns an instance of Data::Range::Compare::Stream::Iterator::Compare::Result.

=item * my $id=$compare->insert_consolidator($consolidator);

Inserts a consolidator object into a prepared and or running $compare object.  This interface can be dangerous, use with caution!

=item * my $consolidator=$compare->get_iterator_by_id($id);

Returns the consolidator identified by $id.  Fatal if $id does not exist.

=item * $compare->set_column_id($id)

Used to set the column_id for the compare object.

=item * my $id=$compare->get_column_id;

Used to fetch the column_id;

=back

=head1 SEE ALSO

Data::Range::Compare::Stream::Iterator::Compare::Asc
Data::Range::Compare::Stream::Iterator::Compare::Result
Data::Range::Compare::Stream::Iterator::Consolidate::Result
Data::Range::Compare::Stream::Iterator::Consolidate
Data::Range::Compare::Stream::Cookbook

=head1 AUTHOR

Michael Shipper

=head1 Source-Forge Project

As of version 0.001 the Project has been moved to Source-Forge.net

L<Data Range Compare|https://sourceforge.net/projects/data-range-comp/>
L<https://sourceforge.net/projects/data-range-comp/>

=head1 COPYRIGHT

Copyright 2011 Michael Shipper.  All rights reserved.

This library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
modify it under the same terms as Perl itself.

=cut