Tie::Scalar(3)							Tie::Scalar(3)

NAME    [Toc]    [Back]

     Tie::Scalar, Tie::StdScalar - base	class definitions for tied scalars

SYNOPSIS    [Toc]    [Back]

	 package NewScalar;
	 require Tie::Scalar;

	 @ISA =	(Tie::Scalar);

	 sub FETCH { ... }	     # Provide a needed	method
	 sub TIESCALAR { ... }	     # Overrides inherited method


	 package NewStdScalar;
	 require Tie::Scalar;

	 @ISA =	(Tie::StdScalar);

	 # All methods provided	by default, so define only what	needs be overridden
	 sub FETCH { ... }


	 package main;

	 tie $new_scalar, 'NewScalar';
	 tie $new_std_scalar, 'NewStdScalar';

DESCRIPTION    [Toc]    [Back]

     This module provides some skeletal	methods	for scalar-tying classes. See
     the perltie manpage for a list of the functions required in tying a
     scalar to a package. The basic Tie::Scalar	package	provides a new method,
     as	well as	methods	TIESCALAR, FETCH and STORE. The	Tie::StdScalar package
     provides all the methods specified	in  the	perltie	manpage. It inherits
     from Tie::Scalar and causes scalars tied to it to behave exactly like the
     built-in scalars, allowing	for selective overloading of methods. The new
     method is provided	as a means of grandfathering, for classes that forget
     to	provide	their own TIESCALAR method.

     For developers wishing to write their own tied-scalar classes, the
     methods are summarized below. The the perltie manpage section not only
     documents these, but has sample code as well:

     TIESCALAR classname, LIST
	  The method invoked by	the command tie	$scalar, classname. Associates
	  a new	scalar instance	with the specified class. LIST would represent
	  additional arguments (along the lines	of the AnyDBM_File manpage and
	  compatriots) needed to complete the association.

     FETCH this
	  Retrieve the value of	the tied scalar	referenced by this.




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Tie::Scalar(3)							Tie::Scalar(3)



     STORE this, value
	  Store	data value in the tied scalar referenced by this.

     DESTROY this
	  Free the storage associated with the tied scalar referenced by this.
	  This is rarely needed, as Perl manages its memory quite well.	But
	  the option exists, should a class wish to perform specific actions
	  upon the destruction of an instance.

MORE INFORMATION    [Toc]    [Back]

     The the perltie manpage section uses a good example of tying scalars by
     associating process IDs with priority.


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