SYNOPSIS
use Data::Grove::Parent;
$root = $object->root;
$rootpath = $object->rootpath;
$tied = $object->add_magic([ $parent ]);
$node = Data::Grove::Parent->new($hash [, $parent]);
$node_list = Data::Grove::ParentList->new($array [, $parent]);
DESCRIPTION
Data::Grove::Parent is an extension to Data::Grove that adds `"Parent"' and `"Raw"' properties to Data::Grove objects and methods for returning the root node of a grove, a list of nodes between and including the root node and the current node, and a method that creates parented nodes.Data::Grove::Parent works by creating a Perl ``tied'' object that contains a parent reference (`"Parent"') and a reference to the original Data::Grove object (`"Raw"'). Tying-magic is used so that every time you reference the Data::Grove::Parent object it actually references the underlying raw object.
When you retrieve a list or a property of the Raw object, Data::Grove::Parent automatically adds magic to the returned list or node. This means you only call `add_magic()' once to create the first Data::Grove::Parent object and then use the grove objects like you normally would.
The most obvious use of this is so you don't have to call a `"delete"' method when you want to release a grove or part of a grove; since Data::Grove and Data::Grove::Parent objects have no cyclic references, Perl can garbage collect them normally.
A secondary use is to allow you to reuse grove or property set fragments in multiple trees. WARNING: Data::Grove currently does not protect you from creating your own cyclic references! This could lead to infinite loops if you don't take care to avoid them.
METHODS
- $object->root()
- $object->rootpath()
- `"root()"' returns the root node if `$object' is a `"Data::Grove::Parent"' object. `"rootpath()"' returns an array of all the nodes between and including the root node and `$object'.
- $tied = $object->add_magic([ $parent ])
- `"add_magic()"' returns a "Data::Grove::Parent" object with `$object' as it's `"Raw"' object. If `$parent' is given, that becomes the tied object's parent object.