NAME

       Bio::Tools::EUtilities::Info - Interface class for storing einfo data.

VERSION

       version 1.75

SYNOPSIS

         #### should not create instance directly; Bio::Tools::EUtilities does this ####

         my $info = Bio::Tools::EUtilities->new(-eutil => 'einfo',
                                                -file => 'einfo.xml');
         # can also use '-response' (for HTTP::Response objects) or '-fh' (for filehandles)

         # print available databases (if data is present)

         print join(', ',$info->get_available_databases),"\n";

         # get database info

         my $db = $info->get_database; # in case you forgot...
         my $desc = $info->get_description;
         my $nm = $info->get_menu_name;
         my $ct = $info->get_record_count;
         my $dt = $info->get_last_update;

         # EUtilDataI interface methods

         my $eutil = $info->eutil;
         my $type = $info->datatype;

         # iterate through Field and Link objects

         while (my $field = $info->next_Field) {
             print "Field code: ",$field->get_field_code,"\n";
             print "Field name: ",$field->get_field_name,"\n";
             print "Field desc: ",$field->get_field_description,"\n";
             print "DB  : ",$field->get_database,"\n";
             print "Term ct   : ",$field->get_term_count,"\n";
             for my $att (qw(is_date is_singletoken is_hierarchy is_hidden is_numerical)) {
                 print "\tField $att\n" if $field->$att;
             }
         }

         my @fields = $info->get_Fields; # grab them all (useful for grep)

         while (my $link = $info->next_LinkInfo) {
             print "Link name: ",$link->get_link_name,"\n";
             print "Link desc: ",$link->get_link_description,"\n";
             print "DBFrom: ",$link->get_dbfrom,"\n"; # same as get_database()
             print "DBTo: ",$link->get_dbto,"\n"; # database linked to
         }

         my @links = $info->get_LinkInfo; # grab them all (useful for grep)

         $info->rewind(); # rewinds all iterators
         $info->rewind('links'); # rewinds Link iterator
         $info->rewind('fields'); # rewinds Field iterator

DESCRIPTION

       This class handles data output (XML) from einfo.

       Einfo is capable of returning two types of information:

       •  A list of all available databases (when called w/o parameters)

       •  Information about a specific database.

       The latter information includes the database description, record count, and date/time
       stamp for the last update, among other things. It also includes a list of fields (indices
       by which record data is stored which can be used in queries) and links (crossrefs between
       related records in other databases at NCBI). Data from the latter two are stored in two
       small subclasses (FieldInfo and LinkInfo) which can be iterated through or retrieved all
       at once, as demonstrated above.  NOTE: Methods described for the LinkInfo and FieldInfo
       subclasses are unique to those classes (as they retrieve data unique to those data types).

       Further documentation for Link and Field subclass methods is included below.

       For more information on einfo see:

          http://eutils.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query/static/einfo_help.html

   rewind
        Title    : rewind
        Usage    : $info->rewind() # rewinds all (default)
                   $info->rewind('links') # rewinds only links
        Function : 'rewinds' (resets) specified interators (all if no arg)
        Returns  : none
        Args     : [OPTIONAL] String:
                   'all'    - all iterators (default)
                   'linkinfo'  - LinkInfo objects only
                   'fieldinfo' - FieldInfo objects only

   to_string
        Title    : to_string
        Usage    : $foo->to_string()
        Function : converts current object to string
        Returns  : none
        Args     : (optional) simple data for text formatting
        Note     : Used generally for debugging and for various print methods

FEEDBACK

   Mailing lists
       User feedback is an integral part of the evolution of this and other Bioperl modules. Send
       your comments and suggestions preferably to the Bioperl mailing list.  Your participation
       is much appreciated.

         bioperl-l@bioperl.org                  - General discussion
         http://bioperl.org/wiki/Mailing_lists  - About the mailing lists

   Support
       Please direct usage questions or support issues to the mailing list: bioperl-l@bioperl.org

       rather than to the module maintainer directly. Many experienced and reponsive experts will
       be able look at the problem and quickly address it. Please include a thorough description
       of the problem with code and data examples if at all possible.

   Reporting bugs
       Report bugs to the Bioperl bug tracking system to help us keep track of the bugs and their
       resolution. Bug reports can be submitted via the web:

         https://github.com/bioperl/%%7Bdist%7D

AUTHOR

       Chris Fields <cjfields@bioperl.org>

COPYRIGHT

       This software is copyright (c) 2006-2013 by Chris Fields.

       This software is available under the same terms as the perl 5 programming language system
       itself.