NAME

       Log::Dispatch::Output - Base class for all Log::Dispatch::* objects

VERSION

       version 2.41

SYNOPSIS

         package Log::Dispatch::MySubclass;

         use Log::Dispatch::Output;
         use base qw( Log::Dispatch::Output );

         sub new {
             my $proto = shift;
             my $class = ref $proto || $proto;

             my %p = @_;

             my $self = bless {}, $class;

             $self->_basic_init(%p);

             # Do more if you like

             return $self;
         }

         sub log_message {
             my $self = shift;
             my %p    = @_;

             # Do something with message in $p{message}
         }

         1;

DESCRIPTION

       This module is the base class from which all Log::Dispatch::* objects should be derived.

CONSTRUCTOR

       The constructor, "new", must be overridden in a subclass. See Output Classes for a
       description of the common parameters accepted by this constructor.

METHODS

       •   _basic_init(%p)

           This should be called from a subclass's constructor.  Make sure to pass the arguments
           in @_ to it.  It sets the object's name and minimum level from the passed parameters
           It also sets up two other attributes which are used by other Log::Dispatch::Output
           methods, level_names and level_numbers.  Subclasses will perform parameter validation
           in this method, and must also call the superclass's method.

       •   name

           Returns the object's name.

       •   min_level

           Returns the object's minimum log level.

       •   max_level

           Returns the object's maximum log level.

       •   accepted_levels

           Returns a list of the object's accepted levels (by name) from minimum to maximum.

       •   log( level => $, message => $ )

           Sends a message if the level is greater than or equal to the object's minimum level.
           This method applies any message formatting callbacks that the object may have.

       •   _should_log ($)

           This method is called from the "log()" method with the log level of the message to be
           logged as an argument.  It returns a boolean value indicating whether or not the
           message should be logged by this particular object.  The "log()" method will not
           process the message if the return value is false.

       •   _level_as_number ($)

           This method will take a log level as a string (or a number) and return the number of
           that log level.  If not given an argument, it returns the calling object's log level
           instead.  If it cannot determine the level then it will croak.

       •   add_callback( $code )

           Adds a callback (like those given during construction). It is added to the end of the
           list of callbacks.

   Subclassing
       This class should be used as the base class for all logging objects you create that you
       would like to work under the Log::Dispatch architecture.  Subclassing is fairly trivial.
       For most subclasses, if you simply copy the code in the SYNOPSIS and then put some
       functionality into the "log_message" method then you should be all set.  Please make sure
       to use the "_basic_init" method as described above.

       The actual logging implementation should be done in a "log_message" method that you write.
       Do not override "log"!.

AUTHOR

       Dave Rolsky <autarch@urth.org>

COPYRIGHT AND LICENSE

       This software is Copyright (c) 2013 by Dave Rolsky.

       This is free software, licensed under:

         The Artistic License 2.0 (GPL Compatible)