Provided by: libuser-identity-perl_1.03-1_all 
NAME
User::Identity::Archive::Plain - simple, plain text archiver
INHERITANCE
User::Identity::Archive::Plain
is a User::Identity::Archive
is a User::Identity::Item
SYNOPSIS
use User::Identity::Archive::Plain;
my $friends = User::Identity::Archive::Plain->new('friends');
$friends->from(\*FH);
$friends->from('.friends');
DESCRIPTION
This archiver, which extends User::Identity::Archive, uses a very simple plain text file to store the
information of users. The syntax is described in the DETAILS section, below.
Extends "DESCRIPTION" in User::Identity::Archive.
OVERLOADED
Extends "OVERLOADED" in User::Identity::Archive.
METHODS
Extends "METHODS" in User::Identity::Archive.
Constructors
Extends "Constructors" in User::Identity::Archive.
$class->new( [$name], %options )
-Option --Defined in --Default
abbreviations []
description User::Identity::Item undef
from User::Identity::Archive undef
name User::Identity::Item <required>
only []
parent User::Identity::Item undef
tabstop 8
abbreviations => HASH|ARRAY
Adds a set of abbreviations for collections to the syntax of the plain text archiver. See section
"Simplified class names" for a list of predefined names.
description => STRING
from => FILEHANDLE|FILENAME
name => STRING
only => \@abbrevs|$abbrev
Lists the only information (as (LIST of) abbreviations) which should be read. Other information is
removed before even checking whether it is a valid abbreviation or not.
parent => OBJECT
tabstop => INTEGER
Sets the default tab-stop width.
Attributes
Extends "Attributes" in User::Identity::Archive.
$obj->abbreviation( $name, [$class] )
Returns the class which is capable of storing information which is grouped as $name. With $class
argument, you add (or overrule) the definitions of an abbreviation. The $class is automatically
loaded.
If $class is "undef", then the abbreviation is deleted. The class name which is deleted is returned.
$obj->abbreviations()
Returns a sorted list of all names which are known as abbreviations.
$obj->defaultTabStop( [$integer] )
Returns the width of a tab, optionally after setting it. This must be the same as set in your
editor.
$obj->description()
Inherited, see "Attributes" in User::Identity::Item
$obj->name( [$newname] )
Inherited, see "Attributes" in User::Identity::Item
Collections
Extends "Collections" in User::Identity::Archive.
$obj->add($collection, $role)
Inherited, see "Collections" in User::Identity::Item
$obj->addCollection( $object | <[$type], %options> )
Inherited, see "Collections" in User::Identity::Item
$obj->collection($name)
Inherited, see "Collections" in User::Identity::Item
$obj->parent( [$parent] )
Inherited, see "Collections" in User::Identity::Item
$obj->removeCollection($object|$name)
Inherited, see "Collections" in User::Identity::Item
$any->type()
Inherited, see "Collections" in User::Identity::Item
$obj->user()
Inherited, see "Collections" in User::Identity::Item
Searching
Extends "Searching" in User::Identity::Archive.
$obj->find($collection, $role)
Inherited, see "Searching" in User::Identity::Item
Access to the archive
Extends "Access to the archive" in User::Identity::Archive.
$obj->from( <$fh|$filename|ARRAY>, %options )
Read the plain text information from the specified $fh, $filename, STRING, or "ARRAY" of lines.
Improves base, see "Access to the archive" in User::Identity::Archive
-Option --Default
tabstop <default from object>
verbose 0
tabstop => INTEGER
verbose => INTEGER
DETAILS
The Plain Archiver Format
Simplified class names
It is too much work to specify full class named on each spot where you want to create a new object with
data. Therefore, abbreviations are introduced. Use new(abbreviations) or abbreviations() to add extra
abbreviations or to overrule some predefined.
Predefined names:
user User::Identity
email Mail::Identity
location User::Identity::Location
system User::Identity::System
list User::Identity::Collection::Emails
It would have been nicer to refer to a person in stead of a user, however that would add to the confusion
with the name-space.
Indentation says all
The syntax is as simple as possible. An extra indentation on a line means that the variable or class is a
collection within the class on the line before.
user markov
location home
country NL
email home
address mark@overmeer.net
location home
email work
address solutions@overmeer.bet
email tux
address tux@fish.net
The above defines two items: one User::Identity named "markov", and an e-mail address "tux". The user
has two collections: one contains a single location, and one stores two e-mail addresses.
To add to the confusion: the "location" is defined as field in "email" and as collection. The difference
is easily detected: if there are indented fields following the line it is a collection. Mistakes will in
most cases result in an error message.
Long lines
If you want to continue on the next line, because your content is too large, then add a backslash to the
end, like this:
email home
description This is my home address, \
But I sometimes use this for \
work as well
address tux@fish.aq
Continuations do not play the game of indentation, so what you also can do is:
email home
description \
This is my home address, \
But I sometimes use this for \
work as well
address tux@fish.aq
The fields "comment" and "address" must be correctly indented. The line terminations are lost, which is
useful for most fields. However, if you need them, you have to check the description of the applicable
field.
Comments
You may add comments and white spaces. Comments start with a '#' as first non-blank character on the
line. Comments are not allowed on the same line as real data, as some languages (like Perl) permit.
You can insert comments and blank lines on all places where you need them:
user markov
# my home address
email home
# useless comment statement
address tux@fish.aq
location #mind_the_hash
is equivalent to:
user markov
email home
address tux@fish.aq
location #mind_the_hash
References
Often you will have the need to add the same information to two items, for instance, multiple people
share the same address. In this case, you can create a reference. However, this is only permitted for
whole items: you can refer to someone's location, but not to the person's street.
To create a reference to an item of someone else, use
user markov
location home = user(cleo).location(home)
location work
organization MARKOV Solutions
Configuration parameters
You can add some configuration lines as well. On the moment, the only one defined is
tabstop = 4
which can be used to change the meaning of tabs in the file. The default setting is 8, but some people
prefer 4 (or other values).
DIAGNOSTICS
Error: $object is not a collection.
The first argument is an object, but not of a class which extends User::Identity::Collection. Cast
by addCollection()
Error: Cannot load collection module for $type ($class).
Either the specified $type does not exist, or that module named $class returns compilation errors.
If the type as specified in the warning is not the name of a package, you specified a nickname which
was not defined. Maybe you forgot the 'require' the package which defines the nickname. Cast by
addCollection()
Warning: Cannot read archive from $source
Cast by from()
Error: Creation of a collection via $class failed.
The $class did compile, but it was not possible to create an object of that class using the options
you specified. Cast by addCollection()
Error: Don't know what type of collection you want to add.
If you add a collection, it must either by a collection object or a list of options which can be used
to create a collection object. In the latter case, the type of collection must be specified. Cast
by addCollection()
Warning: No collection $name
The collection with $name does not exist and can not be created. Cast by add()
SEE ALSO
This module is part of User-Identity version 1.03, built on September 12, 2025. Website:
http://perl.overmeer.net/CPAN/
LICENSE
For contributors see file ChangeLog.
This software is copyright (c) 2003-2025 by Mark Overmeer.
This is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the same terms as the Perl 5
programming language system itself.
perl v5.40.1 2025-10-03 User::Identity::Archive::Plain(3pm)