NAME

Tie::FormA - access a machine readable database file that minics a hardcopy form

SYNOPSIS

require Tie::FormA;

     #####
     # Using support methods and file handle with
     # the file subroutines such as open(), readline()
     # print(), close()
     #
     tie FORM_FILEHANDLE, 'Tie::FormA', @options
     $form = tied \FORM_FILEHANDLE; 
     #####
     # Using support methods only, no file subroutines
     # 
     $form = Tie::Form->new(@options);
     \$encoded_fields  = $form->decode_record(\$record); 
     \@fields          = $form->decode_field(\$encoded_fields);
     \$encoded_fields  = $form->encode_field (\@fields);
     \$record          = $form->encode_record(\$encoded_fields);
     $record           = $form->get_record();
     ####
     # Subroutine interface
     #
     \$encoded_fields  = decode_record(\$record); 
     \@fields          = decode_field(\$encoded_fields);
     \$encoded_fields  = encode_field (\@fields);
     \$record          = encode_record(\$encoded_fields);

If a subroutine or method will process a list of options, "@options", that subroutine will also process an array reference, "\@options", "[@options]", or hash reference, "\%options", "{@options}".

DESCRIPTION

The "Tie::FormA" module provides a text database file suitable for local data such as private mailing lists. The "Tie::FormA" cannot provide a data warehouse shared by mulitple users.

File format description

Desireable goals for small local private databases file format are as

follows
          manhood length: ________
          time spent in big house: _________
          what drugs do you use: _________
        Notice the applicant is not required to specify the form data using
        Perl hash notation such as
          manhood_length => 2
        By the way, that would be your entry. My entry would be
          manhood_length => 22
        The political incorrect NH live free or die response would be
          manhood length: come up to my place and I'll show you
          time spent in big house: none of your business
          what drugs do you use: put it where the sun doesn't shine
        The feds response to NH: no federal funding.

The "Tie::FormA" program module solution is to use separators of the following form:

(not_the_char) . (char) . (not_the_char)

The separators are escaped in embedded text by adding a extra (char) as

follows

sequence escaped

     [^$c]$c[^c]          [^$c]$c$c[^c]
     [^$c]$c$c[^c]        [^$c]$c$c$c[^c]
                     ...
     [^$c]$c x n[^c]      [^$c]$c($c x n)[^c]

SUBROUTINES

This package inherits most of its Tie methods from the Tie::Layers package.

The methods specific to this package are to encode and decode fields and records, and to put and get records as follows:

TIEHANDLE

     tie *FORM_FILEHANDLE, 'Tie::FormA', @options
     tie *FORM_FILEHANDLE, 'Tie::FormA', \@options
     tie FORM_FILEHANDLE, 'Tie::FormA', \%options
     $form = tied \FORM_FILEHANDLE; 

The "TIEHANDLE" method supports the "tie" Perl built-in subroutine. The "$form" object created by "tie" may be used to access the functions that are in addition to the those established in Tie Handle Perl specification. The available options are as follows:

option description

     EON         End of Name field termination separator
     EOD         End of Data field termination separator
     EOR         End of Record termination separator
     strict      strict processing of EON and EOD

Typically "EON", "EOD", "EOR" should be read-only. The requirements for these options are very specific.

encode_field

\$encoded_fields = encode_field (\@fields);

The "encode_field" subroutine method takes a "@fields" and returns a "encoded_fields" string. This subroutine will escape all field separators.

encode_record

\$record = encode_record(\$encoded_fields);

The "encode_record" subroutine takes a "$encoded_fields" string and encodes it as "$record". This subroutines escapes the record separator and embeds the record separator in the "$record" string.

decode_field

\@fields = decode_field(\$encoded_fields);

The "decode_fiel" subroutine takes "$encoded_fields", unescape the field separators, decodes the fields and places the results in "@fields". The "@fields" array is ordered name, value pairs of the fields. The even array elements are the field names and the following odd array element is the field data.

The below code will convert the decoded "@fields" to a hash:

%fields = @fields

decode_record

\$encoded_fields = decode_record(\$record);

The "decode_record" subroutine takes a "$record" string, removes the record separator, unescapes the record separator in the fields string and leaves the fields string in "$encoded_fields".

get_record

$record = $form->get_record();

The get_record method reads a fully encoded "$record" from the underlying file of the object.

new

     $form = Tie::FormA->new(@options);
     $form = Tie::FormA->new(\@options);
     $form = Tie::FormA->new(\%options);

The "new" method provides an object that may be used to access the functions that are in addition to the those established in Tie Handle Perl specification. The "@options" are the same as "TIEHANDLE".

REQUIREMENTS

The general "STD::TestGen" Perl module requirements are as follows:

general [1] - load

shall[1] load without error and

general [2] - pod check

shall[2] passed the Pod::Checker check without error.

File format requirements

For most databases, the file format is hidden. In this case, since the file may be accessed and edited by any text editor, the file format requirements must be rigorously established in order that they may be properly edited.

The "Tie::FormA" module file format will be as follows:

$field_name: $field_data ^

...

$field_name: $field_data ^

...

     ~-~
     $field_name: $field_data ^
          ...

$field_name: $field_data ^

The requirements for the file format are as follows:

format [1] - separator strings

The format separator strings shall[1] be as follows:

         End of Field Name (EON):  [^:]:[^:]
         ENd of Field Data (EOD):  [^\^]\^[^\^]
         End of Record(EOR):  ~-~
        The separator strings have the following format:
         (not_the_char) . (char) . (not_the_char)
        The '^' character was and still available in console text editors as
        a cursor. Because it appears very rarely in text, it is a good
        choice for use in a separator string. If it does not appear a lot,
        it will not have to be escaped a lot. The "~-~" separator sequence
        is a natural looking text section separator.

format [2] - separator escapes

        Separator strings embedded in $field_name and $field_data strings
        shall[2] be escaped by adding one additional middle character.
        Escaped sequences must also be escaped. An escaped separator
        sequence will always have one additional middle character from an
        unescaped separator sequence.

format [3] - field names

        The characters [\x00-\x1f] shall[3] not be allowed in $field_name
        strings. Spaces will be allowed. The character set [\x00-\x1f] are
        the ASCII control characters. See ascii.computerdiamonds.com.
        Embedded [\x00-\x1f] characters will be converted to the '_'
        character.

format [4] - field names

        Leading and trailing [ \x00-\x1f] characters in any potential
        $field_name string shall[4] not be part of the $field_name and
        discarded.

format [5] - EON

        A leading [^:] in the EON separator that is not a [ \x00-\x1f]
        shall[5] be the be the last character in the $field_name string;
        otherwise, it is not part of the the $field_name string and
        discarded. For the situation where the last part of a $field_name
        string is an escape sequence a [ \x00-\x1f] will be required between
        the $field_name string and the EON. The following is a valid
        $field_name EON sequence:
          escaped              unescaped
          field_name:: :       fieldname:

format [6] - Strict EOD

        For the strict format option, the leading [^\^] of the EOD shall[6]
        not be part of the $field_data. The [^\^] character may be any
        character including the [\x00-\x1f] characters.
        Examples of strict format option are as follows:
         $field_name: $data ^
         $field_name: $data$c^
         $field_name: 
         line1
           ..
         line2
         ^
        The $field_data for the above example is as follows:
         Example               $field_data   
         "$data ^"             "$data"  
         "$data$c^"            "$data"
         "$line1\n$line2\n^"   "$line1\n$line2"

format [7] - Lenient EOD

        For the lenient format option, the leading [^\^] of the EOD shall[7]
        be part of the $field_data. The lenient format has ambiguous case
        when the last character in the $field_data is the [\^] character. In
        order to be valid, a [^\^] must be used before the [\^], making the
        [^\^] part of the $field_data whether that is intended or not. For
        example in, "$data^^ ^", the $field_data is "$data^ " whether or not
        the space is intended as part of the $field_data. If this cannot be
        tolerated for an application the strict format opion should be
        specified.
        Examples of lenient format option are as follows:
         $field_name: $data1 ^
         $field_name: $data2^
         $field_name: 
         $line1
         $line2
         ^
        The $field_data for the above example is as follows:
         Example               $field_data   
         "$data1 ^"            "$data1 "  
         "$data2^"             "$data2"
         "$line1\n$line2\n^"   "$line1\n$line2\n"

Methods requirements

There are two options, that impact the methodsas follows:

strict => 1 option

        This option determines whether to encode a field in strict or
        lenient format.

binary => 1 option

        This option determines whether or not to process carriage returns
        and line feeds. Different operating systems handle these characters
        differently for text files.

The requirements for the methods are as follows:

methods [1] - encode_field

$field = $tdb->encode_field (\@fields, \$fields)

        The @fields array will contain a number of fields. The $field_names
        will be the even elements and the $field_data the following odd
        elements.
        The encode_field subroutine shall[1] encode the $field_name string
        and $field_data string into the $field string in accordance with the
        File Format requirements. The encoding shall escape the EON and EOD
        separators and embed the EON and EOD separators.
        The encoding will be conservative in complying with the File Format
        requirements.
        As established by the File Format requirements, the encoding will be
        different depending upon the value of the strict option,
        $tdb->{options}->{strict}.

methods [2] - decode_field

$success = $tdb->decode_field(\$fields, \@fields)

        The decode_field subroutine shall[2] decode a $record string into
        the @fields array in accordance with the File Format requirements.
        The $field_names will be the even elements in the @fields array and
        the $field_data the following odd elements.
        The decoding will be liberal what it considers that complies to the
        File Format requirements.
        As established by the File Format requirements, the decoding will be
        different depending upon the value of the strict option,
        $tdb->{options}->{strict}.

methods [3] - encode_record

         $success = $tdb->encode_record(\$fields, \$record) 
         $success = $tdb->encode_record( \$fields) 
        The encode_record subroutine shall[3] encode the $fields string into
        the $record string in accordance with File Format requirements. If
        the $record string is absence or the \$record reference and the
        \$fields reference are the same, the encoding will modify the
        \$fields string. In this case, the encoding will not perserve the
        $fields string. The encoding will escape the EOR and embed the EOR.

methods [4] - decode_record

         $success  = $tdb->decode_record(\$record, \$fields) 
         $success  = $tdb->decode_record(\$record) 
        The decode_record subroutine shall[4] decode the $record string and
        into the $fields string in accordance with the File Format
        requirements. If the $fields string is absence or the \$record
        reference and the \$fields reference are the same, the encoding will
        modify the \$record string. In this case, the encoding will not
        perserve the $record string. The decoding will remove the EOR and
        unescape the EOR.

methods [5] - put_record

$success = $tdb_out->put_record( \$record )

        The put_record subroutine shall[5] write out the $record to the file
        specified when the object $tdb_out was created with the following
        statement
         $tdb_out = Tie::FormA( flag => '>', file => $file, @options );

methods [6] - get_record

$success = $tdb_in->get_record( \$record )

        The get_record subroutine shall[6] read a $record from the file
        specified when the object $tdb_in was created with the following
        statement
         $tdb_in = Tie::FormA( flag => '<', file=>$file, @options );

methods [7] - get_record

        Unless $tdb_in was created with the binary option, {binary => 1},
        the get_record subroutine shall[7] translate any "\015\012"
        combination into the "\n" for the current operating system.

Tie::Layers

        The methods inherit from Tie::Layers will comply to the Tie::Layers
        requirements

DEMONSTRATION

     #########
     # perl FormA.d
     ###

~~~~~~ Demonstration overview ~~~~~

The results from executing the Perl Code follow on the next lines as comments. For example,

     2 + 2
     # 4

~~~~~~ The demonstration follows ~~~~~

         use File::Package;
         use File::SmartNL;
         use File::Spec;
         my $uut = 'Tie::FormA'; # Unit Under Test
         my $fp = 'File::Package';
         my $loaded;
         my (@fields);  # force context
         my $out_file = File::Spec->catfile('FormA','form1.txt');;
         unlink $out_file;
         my $lenient_in_file = File::Spec->catfile('FormA','lenient0.txt');
         my $strict_in_file = File::Spec->catfile('FormA','strict0.txt');
     ##################
     # Load UUT
     # 
     my $errors = $fp->load_package($uut)
     $errors
     # ''
     # 
     ##################
     # Tie::FormA Version 0.01 loaded
     # 
     $fp->is_package_loaded($uut)
     # 1
     # 
     ##################
     # Read lenient FormA
     # 
         tie *FORM, 'Tie::FormA';
         open FORM,'<',File::Spec->catfile($lenient_in_file);
         @fields = <FORM>;
         close FORM;
     [@fields]
     # [
     #           [
     #             'UUT',
     #             'File/Version.pm',
     #             'File_Spec',
     #             '',
     #             'Revision',
     #             '',
     #             'End_User',
     #             '',
     #             'Author',
     #             'http://www.SoftwareDiamonds.com support@SoftwareDiamonds.com',
     #             'SVD',
     #             'SVD::DataCop-DataFile',
     #             'Template',
     #             'STD/STD001.frm'
     #           ],
     #           [
     #             'Email',
     #             'nobody@hotmail.com',
     #             'Form',
     #             'Udo-fully processed oils',
     #             'Tutorial',
     #             '~~ Better Health thru Biochemistry ~~',
     #             'REMOTE_ADDR',
     #             '213.158.186.150',
     #             'HTTP_USER_AGENT',
     #             'Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 5.0; Windows 98; DigExt)',
     #             'HTTP_REFERER',
     #             'http://computerdiamonds.com/'
     #           ],
     #           [
     #             'EOF',
     #             '\n',
     #             'EOL',
     #             '\n^\n',
     #             'EOV',
     #             '}',
     #             'SOV',
     #             '${'
     #           ],
     #           [
     #             'EOF',
     #             '^',
     #             'EOL',
     #             '~-~',
     #             'SOV',
     #             '${',
     #             'EOV',
     #             '}'
     #           ],
     #           [
     #             'EOF',
     #             '^^',
     #             'EOL',
     #             '~---~',
     #             'SOV',
     #             '${',
     #             'EOV',
     #             '}'
     #           ]
     #         ]
     # 
     ##################
     # Write lenient FormA
     # 
         open FORM, '>', $out_file;
         print FORM @fields;
         close FORM;
     File::SmartNL->fin($out_file)
     # 'UUT: File/Version.pm^
     # File_Spec: ^
     # Revision: ^
     # End_User: ^
     # Author: http://www.SoftwareDiamonds.com support@SoftwareDiamonds.com^
     # SVD: SVD::DataCop-DataFile^
     # Template: STD/STD001.frm^
     # ~-~
     # Email: nobody@hotmail.com^
     # Form: Udo-fully processed oils^
     # Tutorial: ~~ Better Health thru Biochemistry ~~^
     # REMOTE_ADDR: 213.158.186.150^
     # HTTP_USER_AGENT: Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 5.0; Windows 98; DigExt)^
     # HTTP_REFERER: http://computerdiamonds.com/^
     # ~-~
     # EOF: \n^
     # EOL: \n^^\n^
     # EOV: }^
     # SOV: ${^
     # ~-~
     # EOF: ^^ ^
     # EOL: ~--~^
     # SOV: ${^
     # EOV: }^
     # ~-~
     # EOF: ^^^ ^
     # EOL: ~----~^
     # SOV: ${^
     # EOV: }^
     # ~-~
     # '
     # 
     ##################
     # Read strict FormA
     # 
         tie *FORM, 'Tie::FormA';
         open FORM,'<',File::Spec->catfile($strict_in_file);
         @fields = <FORM>;
         close FORM;
     [@fields]
     # [
     #           [
     #             'UUT',
     #             'File/Version.pm',
     #             'File_Spec',
     #             '',
     #             'Revision',
     #             '',
     #             'End_User',
     #             '',
     #             'Author',
     #             'http://www.SoftwareDiamonds.com support@SoftwareDiamonds.com',
     #             'SVD',
     #             'SVD::DataCop-DataFile',
     #             'Template',
     #             'STD/STD001.frm'
     #           ],
     #           [
     #             'Email',
     #             'nobody@hotmail.com',
     #             'Form',
     #             'Udo-fully processed oils',
     #             'Tutorial',
     #             '~~ Better Health thru Biochemistry ~~',
     #             'REMOTE_ADDR',
     #             '213.158.186.150',
     #             'HTTP_USER_AGENT',
     #             'Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 5.0; Windows 98; DigExt)',
     #             'HTTP_REFERER',
     #             'http://computerdiamonds.com/'
     #           ],
     #           [
     #             'EOF',
     #             '\n',
     #             'EOL',
     #             '\n^\n',
     #             'EOV',
     #             '}',
     #             'SOV',
     #             '${'
     #           ],
     #           [
     #             'EOF',
     #             '^',
     #             'EOL',
     #             '~-~',
     #             'SOV',
     #             '${',
     #             'EOV',
     #             '}'
     #           ],
     #           [
     #             'EOF',
     #             '^^',
     #             'EOL',
     #             '~---~',
     #             'SOV',
     #             '${',
     #             'EOV',
     #             '}'
     #           ]
     #         ]
     # 
     ##################
     # Write strict FormA
     # 
         open FORM, '>', $out_file;
         print FORM @fields;
         close FORM;
     File::SmartNL->fin($out_file)
     # 'UUT: File/Version.pm^
     # File_Spec: ^
     # Revision: ^
     # End_User: ^
     # Author: http://www.SoftwareDiamonds.com support@SoftwareDiamonds.com^
     # SVD: SVD::DataCop-DataFile^
     # Template: STD/STD001.frm^
     # ~-~
     # Email: nobody@hotmail.com^
     # Form: Udo-fully processed oils^
     # Tutorial: ~~ Better Health thru Biochemistry ~~^
     # REMOTE_ADDR: 213.158.186.150^
     # HTTP_USER_AGENT: Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 5.0; Windows 98; DigExt)^
     # HTTP_REFERER: http://computerdiamonds.com/^
     # ~-~
     # EOF: \n^
     # EOL: \n^^\n^
     # EOV: }^
     # SOV: ${^
     # ~-~
     # EOF: ^^ ^
     # EOL: ~--~^
     # SOV: ${^
     # EOV: }^
     # ~-~
     # EOF: ^^^ ^
     # EOL: ~----~^
     # SOV: ${^
     # EOV: }^
     # ~-~
     # '
     # 
     unlink $out_file;

QUALITY ASSURANCE

The module "t::Tie::FormA" is the Software Test Description(STD) module for the "Tie::FormA" program module.

To generate all the test output files, run the generated test script, run the demonstration script, execute the following in any directory:

tmake -verbose -demo -run -test_verbose -pm=t::Tie::FormA

Note that tmake.pl must be in the execution path "$ENV{PATH}" and the "t" directory on the same level as the "lib" that contains the "Tie::FormA" program module. The "tmake" subroutine is in the "Test::STDmaker|Test::STDmaker" distribution file.

NOTES
Construction of Words

The construction of the words "shall", "may" and "should" shall[1] conform to United States (US) Departmart of Defense (DoD) STD490A 3.2.3.6 which is more precise and even consistent, at times, with RFC 2119, http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc2119.txt Binding requirements shall[2] be uniquely identified by the construction "shall[\d+]" , where "\d+" is an unique number for each paragraph(s) uniquely identified by a header. The construction of commonly used words and phrasing shall[3] conform to US DoD STD490A 3.2.3.5 In accordance with US Dod STD490A 3.2.6, requirments shall[4] not be emphazied by underlining and capitalization. All of the requirements are important in obtaining the desired performance.

Unless otherwise specified, in accordance with the Software Diamonds' License, Software Diamonds shall[5] not be responsible for this program module conforming to all the specified requirements, binding or otherwise.

Author

The author, holder of the copyright and maintainer is

<support@SoftwareDiamonds.com>

Copyright

copyright © 2003 SoftwareDiamonds.com

License

Software Diamonds permits the redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without modification, provided that the following conditions are met:

1 Redistributions of source code, modified or unmodified must retain

        the above copyright notice, this list of conditions and the
        following disclaimer.

2 Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright

        notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the
        documentation and/or other materials provided with the distribution.

3 In addition to condition (1) and (2), commercial installation of a

        software product with the binary or source code embedded in the
        software product or a software product of binary or source code,
        with or without modifications, must visually present to the
        installer the above copyright notice, this list of conditions
        intact, that the original source is available at
        http://packages.softwarediamonds.com and provide means for the
        installer to actively accept the list of conditions; otherwise, the
        commercial activity, as determined by Software Diamonds and
        published at http://packages.softwarediamonds.com, shall[1] pay a
        license fee to Software Diamonds and shall[2] make donations, to
        open source repositories carrying the source code.

The construction of the word "shall[x]" is always mandatory and not merely directory and identifies each binding requirement of this License. It is the responsibility of the licensee to conform to all requirements.

SOFTWARE DIAMONDS, http://www.SoftwareDiamonds.com, PROVIDES THIS SOFTWARE 'AS IS' AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL SOFTWARE DIAMONDS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL,EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE,DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.

SEE ALSO

Tie::Layers
Test::STDmaker
Tie::CSV
Tie::Eudora
Data::Query
NAME

Docs::Site_SVD::Tie::FormA - Software Version Description (SVD) for the Tie::FormA program module.

Title Page

Software Version Description

for

Tie::FormA - Text Database that mimics a Form

Revision: A

Version: 0.02

Date: 2004/06/03

Prepared for: General Public

Prepared by: SoftwareDiamonds.com < support@SoftwareDiamonds.comE <gt>

Copyright: copyright © 2003 Software Diamonds

Classification: NONE

1.0 SCOPE

This paragraph identifies and provides an overview of the released files.

1.1 Identification

This release, identified in 3.2, is a collection of Perl modules that extend the capabilities of the Perl language.

1.2 System overview

The system is the Perl programming language software. As established by the Perl referenced documents, program modules, such the "Tie::Form" module, extends the Perl language.

The "Tie::Form" program module accesses a text database file in the very specific Form format and inherits generic database methods from the "DataPort::DataFile" module. The "Tie::Form" program module is a data source for the "DataPort::DataFile" module.

The Form format has improve flexability and performance over other text base formats such as the Comma Separated Variable (CSV) format.

The text format resembles as much as possible the standard hard copy forms. An example of a "DatatPort::FIleType::Form record follows:

     manhood length: ________ ^
     time spent in big house: _________ ^
     what drugs do you use:
     _________ 
     _________ 
     ^
     ~-~

The ':' separates field names and field content. The '^' tags the end of a field and the '~-~' tags the end of the record. The separation sequences are escaped within the form by adding an extra character as

follows

sequence escaped




^ ^^ ^^ ^^^ : : :: :::

Since ~-~ never appears inside a record, Perl or any other Programming Language can very easily find the record separators just by ... well ... searching for it. The search for the end of field and end of field name are just a little bit more complicated. Search for a ':' or '^' all by itself. Escaping and unescaping is just adding one more ':', '^', '-' or removing one of these characters.

The Form record looks very much like a hard copy form yet is very simple and straight forward for Perl or any other programming language to process.

1.3 Document overview.

This document releases Tie::FormA version 0.02 providing description of the inventory, installation instructions and other information necessary to utilize and track this release.

3.0 VERSION DESCRIPTION

All file specifications in this SVD use the Unix operating system file specification.

3.1 Inventory of materials released.

This document releases the file

Tie-FormA-0.02.tar.gz

found at the following repository(s):

      http://www.softwarediamonds/packages/
      http://www.perl.com/CPAN/authors/id/S/SO/SOFTDIA/

Restrictions regarding duplication and license provisions are as

follows

Copyright.

copyright © 2003 Software Diamonds

Copyright holder contact.

603 882-0846 E<lt>support@SoftwareDiamonds.comE<gt>

License.

        Software Diamonds permits the redistribution and use in source and
        binary forms, with or without modification, provided that the
        following conditions are met:
        1   Redistributions of source code, modified or unmodified shall[1]
            retain the above copyright notice, this list of conditions and
            the following disclaimer.
        2   Redistributions in binary form shall[2] reproduce the above
            copyright notice, this list of conditions and the following
            disclaimer in the documentation and/or other materials provided
            with the distribution.
        3   In addition to condition (1) and (2), commercial installation of
            a software product with the binary or source code embedded in
            the software product or a software product of binary or source
            code, with or without modifications, shall[3] visually present
            to the installer the above copyright notice, this list of
            conditions intact, that the original source is available at
            http://packages.softwarediamonds.com and provide means for the
            installer to actively accept the list of conditions; otherwise,
            the commercial activity, as determined by Software Diamonds and
            published at http://packages.softwarediamonds.com, shall[4] pay
            a license fee to Software Diamonds and shall[5] make donations,
            to open source repositories carrying the source code.
        The construction of the word "shall[x]" is always mandatory and not
        merely directory and identifies each binding requirement of this
        License. It is the responsibility of the licensee to conform to all
        requirements.
        SOFTWARE DIAMONDS, http://www.SoftwareDiamonds.com, PROVIDES THIS
        SOFTWARE 'AS IS' AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING,
        BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND
        FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL
        SOFTWARE DIAMONDS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL,
        SPECIAL,EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT
        LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF
        USE,DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND
        ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY,
        OR TORT (INCLUDING USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF
        NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE POSSIBILITY
        OF SUCH DAMAGE.

3.2 Inventory of software contents

The content of the released, compressed, archieve file, consists of the following files:

     file                                                         version date       comment
     ------------------------------------------------------------ ------- ---------- ------------------------
     lib/Docs/Site_SVD/Tie/FormA.pm                               0.02    2004/06/03 revised 0.01
     MANIFEST                                                     0.02    2004/06/03 generated, replaces 0.01
     Makefile.PL                                                  0.02    2004/06/03 generated, replaces 0.01
     README                                                       0.02    2004/06/03 generated, replaces 0.01
     lib/Tie/FormA.pm                                             0.02    2004/06/03 revised 0.01
     lib/Bundle/Tie/FormA.pm                                      0.02    2004/06/03 revised 0.01
     t/Tie/FormA.d                                                0.02    2004/06/03 revised 0.01
     t/Tie/FormA.pm                                               0.02    2004/06/03 revised 0.01
     t/Tie/FormA.t                                                0.02    2004/06/03 revised 0.01
     t/Tie/FormA/lenient0.txt                                     0.01    2004/06/01 unchanged
     t/Tie/FormA/lenient2.txt                                     0.01    2004/06/01 unchanged
     t/Tie/FormA/strict0.txt                                      0.01    2004/06/01 unchanged
     t/digest.t                                                   0.01    2004/06/03 new
     t/File/Digest.pm                                             1.14    2004/05/03 new
     t/Tie/Test.pm                                                1.25    2004/04/28 unchanged
     t/Tie/Algorithm/Diff.pm                                      1.15               unchanged
     t/Tie/File/SmartNL.pm                                        1.16    2004/05/24 unchanged
     t/Tie/File/Package.pm                                        1.18    2004/05/24 unchanged
     t/Tie/Test/Tech.pm                                           1.27    2004/05/28 unchanged
     t/Tie/Data/Secs2.pm                                          1.26    2004/05/24 unchanged
     t/Tie/Data/Str2Num.pm                                        0.08    2004/05/24 unchanged

3.3 Changes

Changes to previous revisions are as follows:

Tie::Form 0.01

Originated

Tie::Form 0.02

The "new" subroutine did not "bless" with the input "$class". Fixed.

Tie::FormA 0.01

Add the "config" subroutine.

        Recoded the "new" subroutine changing the functional (user)
        interface. The different user interface destories backward
        compatiblitiy with the version. Adding a revision letter A to the
        program module name starts a new development thread that superceds
        and obsoletes the "Tie::Form" module.

3.4 Adaptation data.

This installation requires that the installation site has the Perl programming language installed. There are no other additional requirements or tailoring needed of configurations files, adaptation data or other software needed for this installation particular to any installation site.

3.5 Related documents.

There are no related documents needed for the installation and test of this release.

3.6 Installation instructions.

Instructions for installation, installation tests and installation support are as follows:

Installation Instructions.

        To installed the release file, use the CPAN module pr PPM module in
        the Perl release or the INSTALL.PL script at the following web site:
         http://packages.SoftwareDiamonds.com
        Follow the instructions for the the chosen installation software.
        If all else fails, the file may be manually installed. Enter one of
        the following repositories in a web browser:
          http://www.softwarediamonds/packages/
          http://www.perl.com/CPAN/authors/id/S/SO/SOFTDIA/
        Right click on 'Tie-FormA-0.02.tar.gz' and download to a temporary
        installation directory. Enter the following where $make is 'nmake'
        for microsoft windows; otherwise 'make'.
         gunzip Tie-FormA-0.02.tar.gz
         tar -xf Tie-FormA-0.02.tar
         perl Makefile.PL
         $make test
         $make install
        On Microsoft operating system, nmake, tar, and gunzip must be in the
        exeuction path. If tar and gunzip are not install, download and
        install unxutils from
         http://packages.softwarediamonds.com

Prerequistes.

         'Tie::Layers' => '0.06',
         'Data::Startup' => '0.08',

Security, privacy, or safety precautions.

None.

Installation Tests.

        Most Perl installation software will run the following test
        script(s) as part of the installation:
         t/digest.t
         t/Tie/FormA.t

Installation support.

        If there are installation problems or questions with the
        installation contact
         603 882-0846 E<lt>support@SoftwareDiamonds.comE<gt>

3.7 Possible problems and known errors

There are no known open issues.

4.0 NOTES
Acronyms

The following are useful acronyms:

.d extension for a Perl demo script file

.pm extension for a Perl Library Module

.t extension for a Perl test script file

Construction of Words

The construction of the words "shall", "may" and "should" shall[1] conform to United States (US) Departmart of Defense (DoD) STD490A 3.2.3.6 which is more precise and even consistent, at times, with RFC 2119, http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc2119.txt Binding requirements shall[2] be uniquely identified by the construction "shall[\d+]" , where "\d+" is an unique number for each paragraph(s) uniquely identified by a header. The construction of commonly used words and phrasing shall[3] conform to US DoD STD490A 3.2.3.5 In accordance with US Dod STD490A 3.2.6, requirments shall[4] not be emphazied by underlining and capitalization. All of the requirements are important in obtaining the desired performance.

Unless otherwise specified, in accordance with Software Diamonds' License, Software Diamonds shall[5] not be responsible for this program module conforming to all the specified requirements, binding or otherwise.

2.0 SEE ALSO

Tie::FormA