Alzabo::SQLMaker - Alzabo base class for RDBMS drivers


NAME

Alzabo::SQLMaker - Alzabo base class for RDBMS drivers


SYNOPSIS

  use Alzabo::SQLMaker;
  my $sql = Alzabo::SQLMaker->new( sql => 'MySQL' );


DESCRIPTION

This is the base class for all Alzabo::SQLMaker modules. To instantiate a driver call this class's new method. See SUBCLASSING Alzabo::SQLMaker for information on how to make a driver for the RDBMS of your choice.


METHODS

available

Returns

A list of names representing the available Alzabo::SQLMaker subclasses. Any one of these names would be appropriate as a parameter for the Alzabo::SQLMaker->new method.

load

Load the specified subclass.

Parameters

Returns

The name of the Alzabo::SQLMaker subclass that was loaded.

Throws

Alzabo::Exception::Eval


GENERATING SQL

This class can be used to generate SQL by calling methods that are the same as those used in SQL (select, update, etc.) in sequence, with the appropriate parameters.

There are four entry point methods, select, insert, update, and delete. Attempting call any other method without first calling one of these is an error.

Entry Points

These methods are called as class methods and return a new object.

select (Alzabo::Table and/or Alzabo::Column objects)

This begins a select. The columns to be selected are the column(s) passed in, and/or the columns of the table(s) passed in as arguments.

Followed by

from

** function

insert

Followed by

into

update (Alzabo::Table)

Followed by

set

delete

Followed by

from

Other Methods

All of these methods return the object itself, making it possible to chain together method calls such as:

 Alzabo::SQLMaker->select($column)->from($table)->where($other_column, '>', 2);

from (Alzabo::Table object, ...)

The table(s) from which we are selecting data.

Follows

select

** function

delete

Followed by

where

order_by

Throws

Alzabo::Exception::SQL

** function (Alzabo::Table object(s) and/or $string(s))

There is no publically available method in this class called ** function. This method represents all available SQL functions, such as COUNT or AVG. The name of the method is the name of the function to be called. Each subclass knows which functions are legal for the RDBMS they represent. All the arguments are joined together by commas (,) internally. Here is a simple example:

 Alzabo::SQLMaker->select->count($column)->from($table)->where($other_column, '>', 2);

Follows

select

** function

Followed by

** function

from

Throws

Alzabo::Exception::SQL

where ( (Alzabo::Column object or SQL function), $comparison, (Alzabo::Column object, $value, or Alzabo::SQLMaker object), [ see below ] )

The first parameter must be an Alzabo::Column object or SQL function. The second is a comparison operator of some sort, given as a string. The third argument can be one of three things. It can be an Alzabo::Column object, a value (a number or string), or an Alzabo::SQLMaker object. The latter is treated as a subselect.

Values given as parameters will be properly quoted an escaped.

Some comparison operators allow additional parameters.

The BETWEEN comparison operator requires a fourth argument. This must be either an Alzabo::Column object or a value.

The IN operator allows any number of additional parameters, which may be Alzabo::Column objects, values, or Alzabo::SQLMaker objects.

Follows

from

Followed by

and

or

order_by

Throws

Alzabo::Exception::SQL

and (same as where)

or (same as where)

These methods take the same parameters as the where method. There is currently no way to group together comparison operators.

Follows

where

and

or

Followed by

and

or

order_by

Throws

Alzabo::Exception::SQL

order_by (Alzabo::Column objects)

Adds an ORDER BY clause to your SQL.

Follows

from

where

and

or

Followed by

asc

desc

Throws

Alzabo::Exception::SQL

asc

desc

Modifies the sorting of an ORDER BY clause.

Follows

order_by

Followed by

limit

Throws

Alzabo::Exception::SQL

limit ($max, optional $offset)

Specifies a limit on the number of rows to be returned. The offset parameter is optional.

Follows

from

where

and

or

order_by

Followed by

Nothing.

Throws

Alzabo::Exception::SQL

into (Alzabo::Table object, optional Alzabo::Column objects)

Used to specify what table an insert is into. If column objects are given then it is expected that values will only be given for that object. Otherwise, it assumed that all columns will be specified in the values method.

Follows

insert

Followed by

values

Throws

Alzabo::Exception::SQL

values (Alzabo::Column object => $value, ...)

This method expects to recive an structured like a hash where the keys are Alzabo::Column objects and the values are the value to be inserted into that column.

Follows

into

Followed by

Nothing.

Throws

Alzabo::Exception::SQL

set (Alzabo::Column object => $value, ...)

This method'a parameter are exactly like those given to the values method.

Follows

update

Followed by

where

Throws

Alzabo::Exception::SQL

Retrieving SQL

sql

This can be called at any time though obviously it will not return valid SQL unless called at a natural end point. In the future, an exception may be thrown if called when the SQL is not in a valid state.

Returns

The SQL generated so far.

bind

Returns

An array reference containing the parameters to be bound to the SQL statement.

get_limit

This method may return undef even if the limit method was called. Some RDBMS's have special SQL syntax for LIMIT clauses. For those that don't support this, the Alzabo::Driver in the Alzabo::Driver manpage module takes a limit parameter. The return value of this method can be passed in as that parameter in all cases.

Returns

If the RDBMS does not support LIMIT clauses, the return value is an array reference containing two values, the maximum number of rows allowed and the row offset (the first row that should be used).

If the RDBMS does support LIMIT clauses, then the return value is undef.


SUBCLASSING Alzabo::SQLMaker

To create a subclass of Alzabo::SQLMaker for your particular RDBMS requires only that the Alzabo::SQLMaker/Virtual Methods in the virtual methods manpage listed below be implemented.

In addition, you may choose to override any of the other methods listed in over-rideable methods. For example, the MySQL subclass override the _subselect method because MySQL cannot support sub-selects.

Virtual Methods


AUTHOR

Dave Rolsky, <dave@urth.org>

 Alzabo::SQLMaker - Alzabo base class for RDBMS drivers