NAME

       DBIx::Class::Manual::Reading - How to read and write DBIx::Class POD.

DESCRIPTION

       This doc should help users to understand how the examples and documentation found in the DBIx::Class
       distribution can be interpreted.

       Writers of DBIx::Class POD should also check here to make sure their additions are consistent with the
       rest of the documentation.

METHODS

       Methods should be documented in the files which also contain the code for the method, or that file should
       be hidden from PAUSE completely, in which case the methods are documented in the file which loads it.
       Methods may also be documented and referred to in files representing the major objects or components on
       which they can be called.

       For example, DBIx::Class::Relationship documents the methods actually coded in the helper relationship
       classes like DBIx::Class::Relationship::BelongsTo. The BelongsTo file itself is hidden from PAUSE as it
       has no documentation. The accessors created by relationships should be mentioned in DBIx::Class::Row, the
       major object that they will be called on.

   Method documentation
       •   Each method starts with a "head2" statement of its name.

           Just the plain method name, not an example of how to call it, or a link.  This is to ensure easy
           linking to method documentation from other POD.

       •   The header is followed by a two-item list. This contains a description of the arguments the method is
           expected to take, and an indication of what the method returns.

           The first item provides a list of all possible values for the arguments of the method in order,
           separated by ", ", preceded by the text "Arguments: "

           Example (for the belongs_to relationship):

             =item Arguments: $accessor_name, $related_class, $fk_column|\%cond|\@cond?, \%attr?

           The following possible argument sigils can be shown:

           •   $var - A scalar (string or numeric) variable.

           •   \%var - A variable containing reference to a hash.

           •   \@var - A variable containing a reference to an array.

           •   \$var - A variable containing a reference to a scalar variable.

           •   %var - A hashref variable (list of key/value pairs) - rarely used in DBIx::Class.

               Reading an argument as a hash variable will consume all subsequent method arguments, use with
               caution.

           •   @var - An array variable (list of values).

               Reading an argument as a array variable will consume all subsequent method arguments, use with
               caution.

           •   $obj - Reference to the source class or object definition

               All arguments and return values should provide a link to the object's class documentation or
               definition, even if it's the same class as the current documentation.  For example:

                 ## Correct, if stated within DBIx::Class::ResultSet
                 L<$resultset|/new>

                 ## Correct, if stated outside DBIx::Class::ResultSet
                 L<$resultset|DBIx::Class::ResultSet>

           •   ? - Optional, should be placed after the argument type and name.

                 ## Correct
                 \%myhashref|\@myarrayref?

                 ## Wrong
                 \%myhashref?|\@myarrayref

               Applies to the entire argument.

               Optional arguments can be left out of method calls, unless the caller needs to pass in any of the
               following arguments. In which case the caller should pass "undef" in place of the missing
               argument.

           •   | - Alternate argument content types.

               At least one of these must be supplied unless the argument is also marked optional.

           The second item starts with the text "Return Value:". The remainder of the line is either the text
           "not defined" or a variable with a descriptive name.

             ## Good examples
             =item Return Value: not defined
             =item Return Value: L<$schema|DBIx::Class::Schema>
             =item Return Value: $classname

             ## Bad examples
             =item Return Value: The names

           "not defined" means the method does not deliberately return a value, and the caller should not use or
           rely on anything it does return.  (Perl functions always return something, usually the result of the
           last code statement, if there is no explicit return statement.)  This is different than specifying
           "undef", which means that it explicitly returns undef, though usually this is used an alternate
           return (like "$obj | undef").

       •   The argument/return list is followed by a single paragraph describing what the method does.

       •   The description paragraph is followed by another list. Each item in the list explains one of the
           possible argument/type combinations.

           This list may be omitted if the author feels that the variable names are self-explanatory enough to
           not require it. Use best judgement.

       •   The argument/return list is followed by some examples of how to use the method, using its various
           types of arguments.

           The examples can also include ways to use the results if applicable. For instance, if the
           documentation is for a relationship type, the examples can include how to call the resulting relation
           accessor, how to use the relation name in a search and so on.

           If some of the examples assume default values, these should be shown with and without the actual
           arguments, with hints about the equivalent calls.

           The example should be followed by one or more paragraphs explaining what it does.

           Examples and explaining paragraphs can be repeated as necessary.

FURTHER QUESTIONS?

       Check the list of additional DBIC resources.

COPYRIGHT AND LICENSE

       This module is free software copyright by the DBIx::Class (DBIC) authors. You can redistribute it and/or
       modify it under the same terms as the DBIx::Class library.