
Bio::Phylo - Phylogenetic analysis using perl

# Actually, you would almost never use this module directly. This is
# the base class for other modules.
use Bio::Phylo;
# sets global verbosity to 'error'
Bio::Phylo->VERBOSE( -level => Bio::Phylo::Util::Logger::ERROR );
# sets verbosity for forest ojects to 'debug'
Bio::Phylo->VERBOSE(
-level => Bio::Phylo::Util::Logger::DEBUG,
-class => 'Bio::Phylo::Forest'
);
# prints version, including SVN revision number
print Bio::Phylo->VERSION;
# prints suggested citation
print Bio::Phylo->CITATION;

This is the base class for the Bio::Phylo package for phylogenetic analysis using object-oriented perl5. In this file, methods are defined that are performed by other objects in the Bio::Phylo release that inherit from this base class (which you normally wouldn't use directly).
For general information on how to use Bio::Phylo, consult the manual (Bio::Phylo::Manual).
If you come here because you are trying to debug a problem you run into in using Bio::Phylo, you may be interested in the "exceptions" system as discussed in Bio::Phylo::Util::Exceptions. In addition, you may find the logging system in Bio::Phylo::Util::Logger of use to localize problems.

The Bio::Phylo root constructor is rarely used directly. Rather, many other objects in Bio::Phylo internally go up the inheritance tree to this constructor. The arguments shown here can therefore also be passed to any of the child classes' constructors, which will pass them on up the inheritance tree. Generally, constructors in Bio::Phylo subclasses can process as arguments all methods that have set_* in their names. The arguments are named for the methods, but "set_" has been replaced with a dash "-", e.g. the method "set_name" becomes the argument "-name" in the constructor.
Type : Constructor
Title : new
Usage : my $phylo = Bio::Phylo->new;
Function: Instantiates Bio::Phylo object
Returns : a Bio::Phylo object
Args : Optional, any number of setters. For example,
Bio::Phylo->new( -name => $name )
will call set_name( $name ) internally
Sets invocant GUID.
Type : Mutator
Title : set_guid
Usage : $obj->set_guid($guid);
Function: Assigns an object's GUID.
Returns : Modified object.
Args : A scalar
Notes : This field can be used for storing an identifier that is
unambiguous within a given content. For example, an LSID,
a genbank accession number, etc.
Sets invocant description.
Type : Mutator Title : set_desc Usage : $obj->set_desc($desc); Function: Assigns an object's description. Returns : Modified object. Args : Argument must be a string.
Sets invocant score.
Type : Mutator
Title : set_score
Usage : $obj->set_score($score);
Function: Assigns an object's numerical score.
Returns : Modified object.
Args : Argument must be any of
perl's number formats, or undefined
to reset score.
Sets generic key/value pair(s).
Type : Mutator
Title : set_generic
Usage : $obj->set_generic( %generic );
Function: Assigns generic key/value pairs to the invocant.
Returns : Modified object.
Args : Valid arguments constitute:
* key/value pairs, for example:
$obj->set_generic( '-lnl' => 0.87565 );
* or a hash ref, for example:
$obj->set_generic( { '-lnl' => 0.87565 } );
* or nothing, to reset the stored hash, e.g.
$obj->set_generic( );
Gets invocant GUID.
Type : Accessor
Title : get_guid
Usage : my $guid = $obj->get_guid;
Function: Assigns an object's GUID.
Returns : Scalar.
Args : None
Notes : This field can be used for storing an identifier that is
unambiguous within a given content. For example, an LSID,
a genbank accession number, etc.
Gets invocant description.
Type : Accessor Title : get_desc Usage : my $desc = $obj->get_desc; Function: Returns the object's description (if any). Returns : A string Args : None
Gets invocant's score.
Type : Accessor Title : get_score Usage : my $score = $obj->get_score; Function: Returns the object's numerical score (if any). Returns : A number Args : None
Gets generic hashref or hash value(s).
Type : Accessor
Title : get_generic
Usage : my $value = $obj->get_generic($key);
or
my %hash = %{ $obj->get_generic() };
Function: Returns the object's generic data. If an
argument is used, it is considered a key
for which the associated value is returned.
Without arguments, a reference to the whole
hash is returned.
Returns : A value or an array reference of values
Args : A key (string) or an array reference of keys
Attempts to fetch an in-memory object by its UID
Type : Accessor Title : get_obj_by_id Usage : my $obj = Bio::Phylo->get_obj_by_id($uid); Function: Fetches an object from the IDPool cache Returns : A Bio::Phylo object Args : A unique id
Clones invocant.
Type : Utility method Title : clone Usage : my $clone = $object->clone; Function: Creates a copy of the invocant object. Returns : A copy of the invocant. Args : None. Comments: Cloning is currently experimental, use with caution.

There is a mailing list at https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/bio-phylo for any user or developer questions and discussions.
Also see the manual: Bio::Phylo::Manual and http://rutgervos.blogspot.com

If you use Bio::Phylo in published research, please cite it:
Rutger A Vos, Jason Caravas, Klaas Hartmann, Mark A Jensen and Chase Miller, 2011. Bio::Phylo - phyloinformatic analysis using Perl. BMC Bioinformatics 12:63. http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1471-2105-12-63