GBPVR.pm - initial release for discussion

[dwestbrook]

I have started to create a perl module for accessing the GBPVR (and Video Archive plugin db) database based upon Class::DBI and DBD::ODBC. The goal is to provide an easy-to-use object-oriented interface for both reading and writing (w/transactions) to the database where knowledge of actual SQL or schema is not required.

I'm posting the initial creation here and would welcome comments/discussion, specifically:

1. Is this a good thing to have?
   
2. Will you use it?
   
3. Do you have specific uses in mind?
   
4. Do you have any comment on the structure (names space, method names, relationships, etc)?
   
5. Comments on TODO items in the doc
   

Attached is a zip with the .pm and docuemention in POD and HTML formats with many more details.

As a short summary, these are the table classes provided:
[INDENT] GBPVR::CDBI::RecordingSchedule
GBPVR::CDBI::Programme
GBPVR::CDBI::PlaybackPosition
GBPVR::CDBI::Channel
GBPVR::CDBI::CaptureSource
GBPVR::CDBI::VA::ArchiveTable
[/INDENT]

And here are a few snippets to help illustrate the usage:

Code:

use GBPVR;
# search listings for titles of Star*
@rows = GBPVR::CDBI::Programme->search_like(name => 'Star%');
# find recorded shows
@rows = GBPVR::CDBI::RecordingSchedule->search(status => 2);

# find and output details for pending recordings
my @rows = GBPVR::CDBI::RecordingSchedule->search(status => 0);
@rows = sort { $a->manual_start_time cmp $b->manual_start_time } @rows;
foreach my $row (@rows){
  printf "%-20s %8s %s - '%s'\n",
    $row->manual_start_time,
    $row->programme_oid->channel_oid->name,
    $row->programme_oid->name,
    $row->programme_oid->sub_title;
  printf "   %s\n", $row->programme_oid->description;
}

[botha]

I'm curious if you have pursued this any further. I tried to download the module but it is comes up as a corrupt zip file. I would love to get a copy and try it.


thanks!

[smeghead]

It's a known problem with internet explorer. Download the file, extract the file it contains and put ".zip" on the end. Then try that zip file, sort of a zip file within a zip file.

[jsteele]

Yes, I'd like to use it, I do a lot of work in PERL/PERLScript-ASP. What I'd really like to see is a generalized interface module to get status, control functions, etc.

[jsteele]

It's a known problem with internet explorer. Download the file, extract the file it contains and put ".zip" on the end. Then try that zip file, sort of a zip file within a zip file.

I don't think it's a problem with IE. I only have this problem on this forum, I can click and download from other sites all day and night without a problem. It is definately RELATED to IE, but only with respect to this forum.

[sub]

Yeah, it is something to do with the web host used for the forums. I've talked to the hosting guy, but he didnt come up with a cause.

Strangely it only affects some users. I have two machines here that IE can open every zip attachment without fail, and one further machine that has problems. Its very strange.

[botha]

Thanks for the tip. I was able to start using the module. I work a lot with perl and have written scripts connecting to SQL but not Access so this will save me some time. I'm not quite sure what I'll use for just yet but this has some interesting potential.

BTW, thanks Sub for GBPVR. I have it running with 2 MVPs and it works great!

[dwestbrook]

Thanks for the tip. I was able to start using the module. I work a lot with perl and have written scripts connecting to SQL but not Access so this will save me some time. I'm not quite sure what I'll use for just yet but this has some interesting potential.

Keep in touch (either on this thread or my dwestbrook gmail account) with how it goes, bugfixes, potential directions ... I haven't really touched it since i posted it originally, but would like to get back to it if there's a good place to go with it ...

I'll probably post it up to CPAN, too, so it's easier to view/download, etc .. any thoughts on the namespace? as-is or something better (maybe PVR::GBPVR:: or something)?

[dwestbrook]

Thanks for the tip. I was able to start using the module.

I've released it to CPAN here: http://search.cpan.org/perldoc?GBPVR::CDBI

Should be easier to install from there and easier to track updates/etc.

thanks,
--david