Here is my new Perl module, MPE::File. It is version 0.01 as the
documentation is quite sparse and many of the functions have had only
minimal testing.  Feedback is appreciated.

As always, you can download it from CPAN (www.cpan.org), or from
http://invent3k.external.hp.com/~KEN.HIRSCH/

Second, I have added a slight convenience to the MPE::CIvar module-- There
is now a 'hpcicmds' subroutine where you can give a whole list of commands.
The errors and other parameters are passed implicitly (more Perlish, ya
know).

Third, I have improved my mail program so that it can send encrypted mail
(using OpenSSL, which installs easily on MPE).  If anybody's interested, I
can post it, too.


NAME
    MPE::File - Perl extension for accessing MPE File intrinsics

SYNOPSIS
      use MPE::File;
      $file = MPE::File->new("FRED.PUB,old;acc=in")
        or die "Cannot open FRED.PUB: $MPE_error\n";
      OR
      $file = MPE::File->hpfopen(2, "FRED.PUB", 3, 1, 11, 0)
        or die "Cannot open FRED.PUB: $MPE_error\n";
      OR
      $file = MPE::File->fopen("FRED.PUB", 1, 0)
        or die "Cannot open FRED.PUB: $MPE_error\n";

      $rec = $file->readrec();   # use this instead of fread

      $rec = $file->freadbykey($key, $keyloc);
      $rec = $file->freadlabel( [$labelid] );
      $rec = $file->freaddir($lrecnum);
      $rec = $file->freadc();
      $file->fread($buffer, $bufsize);

      $file->writerec($buffer, [$controlcode] )
                                    # use this instead of fwrite

      $file->fupdate($buffer);
      $file->fwritedir($buffer, $lrecnum);
      $file->fwritelabel ($buffer, [$labelid] )
      $file->fwrite($buffer, $length, $controlcode)

      $file->fpoint($lrecnum);
      $file->fcontrol($itemnum, $item);
      $file->fdelete( [$lrecnum] );
      $file->fsetmode($modeflags);
      $file->fremove();
      $file->fgetkeyinfo($param, $control);
      $file->ffindbykey($value, $location, $length, $relop);
      $file->printfileinfo();

      @info = $file->ffileinfo(1, 3, 7, 9);

      @info = flabelinfo("FRED.PUB", $mode, 1, 3, 7, 9);

      $errmsg = ferrmsg($fserrcode);
      hperrmsg($displaycode,...)

DESCRIPTION
      The primary reference should be the MPE/iX Intrinsic Reference
      Manual (available at http://docs.hp.com/mpeix/all/index.html)

      Notice that there are some difference in parameters.  For
      example, I take care of all the delimited strings in HPFOPEN
      Subroutines return 0 or undef on failure; check $MPE_error for
      the error number and/or string (both should be valid).

      MPE::File->new($x) is the same as MPE::File->hpfopen(52, $x)
      which, to quote the Intrinsic manual:
        "Passes a character string that matches the file equation
        specification syntax exactly."

      You can pass other HPFOPEN parameter pairs after the first
      one, although almost all can be specified in the file
      equation.

      One that can't be is to save a file right away, on HPFOPEN,
      instead of waiting until FCLOSE.  You can do that like this:

      $file =
       MPE::File->new("FRED,new;rec=-80,,f,ascii;msg;acc=in", 3, 4)
         or die "Cannot open FRED: $MPE_error\n";
      (Notice the 3, 4 pair at the end.)

      If you use FFREADBYKEY, remember to pad out your keys to the
      full length.  Also, if they are binary keys, you'll need to
      use pack, otherwise a number will be converted to its string
      equivalent.

      This documentation will be expanded at some point; feel free
      to send me suggestions (or completed paragraphs).

  EXPORT

    flabelinfo $MPE_error

AUTHOR
    Ken Hirsch <[log in to unmask]>

    This module may be used and distributed on the same terms as Perl.

SEE ALSO
    perl(1).

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