Re: Flat File Comment

G'day PilotinControl,

As your files are very small, you could just make working copies where usage is flagged. Each time you find the temp file has been deleted, just recreate the working copies from the master files.

Here's a proof-of-concept script.

#!/usr/bin/env perl

use strict;
use warnings;
use autodie;

use File::Copy;
use Tie::File;

my $master_ext = '.master';
my $used_ext = '.used';
my $year_file_base = 'pm_year_make_model_file_years';
my $make_file_base = 'pm_year_make_model_file_makes';
my $model_file_base = 'pm_year_make_model_file_models';
my $temp_file = 'pm_year_make_model_temp_file';

my $used_years = "$year_file_base$used_ext";
my $used_makes = "$make_file_base$used_ext";
my $used_models = "$model_file_base$used_ext";

if (! -e $temp_file) {
    copy("$year_file_base$master_ext", $used_years);
    copy("$make_file_base$master_ext", $used_makes);
    copy("$model_file_base$master_ext", $used_models);
}

tie my @years, 'Tie::File', $used_years;
tie my @makes, 'Tie::File', $used_makes;
tie my @models, 'Tie::File', $used_models;

my $year = select_item('year', \@years);
my $make = select_item('make', \@makes);
my $model = select_item('model', \@models);

untie @years;
untie @makes;
untie @models;

open my $fh, '>>', $temp_file;
print $fh "$year $make $model\n";
close $fh;

print "Temp file contents:\n";
system cat => $temp_file;

sub select_item {
    my ($item, $records_ref) = @_;
    my %item_index_for =
        map { $records_ref->[$_] => $_ }
        grep { $records_ref->[$_] !~ /^#/ } 0 .. $#$records_ref;

    print "Available ${item}s:\n";
    print "$_\n" for sort keys %item_index_for;
    print "Select $item: ";
    chomp(my $selection = <STDIN>);
    substr($records_ref->[$item_index_for{$selection}], 0, 0) = '#';
    return $selection;
}
[download]

Here's some sample runs:

Start with no temp file:

$ rm pm_year_make_model_temp_file
[download]

First run - all selections available:

$ pm_year_make_model.pl
Available years:
1999
2000
2001
Select year: 2001
Available makes:
Chevrolet
Ford
KIA
Select make: Ford
Available models:
Cavalier
Expedition
Sorento
Select model: Expedition
Temp file contents:
2001 Ford Expedition
[download]

Second run - reduced selections available:

$ pm_year_make_model.pl
Available years:
1999
2000
Select year: 1999
Available makes:
Chevrolet
KIA
Select make: KIA
Available models:
Cavalier
Sorento
Select model: Cavalier
Temp file contents:
2001 Ford Expedition
1999 KIA Cavalier
[download]

The temp file is deleted at some point:

$ rm pm_year_make_model_temp_file
[download]

All selections are available again:

$ pm_year_make_model.pl
Available years:
1999
2000
2001
Select year: 1999
Available makes:
Chevrolet
Ford
KIA
Select make: Chevrolet
Available models:
Cavalier
Expedition
Sorento
Select model: Sorento
Temp file contents:
1999 Chevrolet Sorento
[download]

-- Ken

Comment on Re: Flat File Comment Select or Download Code

Replies are listed 'Best First'.
Re^2: Flat File Comment by PilotinControl (Pilgrim) on Dec 10, 2013 at 18:06 UTC
Hello Ken, That is exactly what I was trying to accomplish! Two thumbs up! Local car dealer will be very satisfied now. Thanks again Ken and all the monks for their input.	[reply]
Re^3: Flat File Comment by ww (Archbishop) on Dec 10, 2013 at 18:24 UTC
We're all (I'm sure) very happy that you're so happy... so please consult your client on how best to have ken paid... unless, that is, you've already made arragements to pay him yourself.	[reply]
Re^2: Flat File Comment by PilotinControl (Pilgrim) on Dec 17, 2013 at 22:45 UTC
I've hit a snag and it seems if I have a field that states both Expedition XLT and Expedition when either one is selected one Expedition ends up getting a ##Expedition in the used file. The script is not recognizing via the `chomp(my $selection = <STDIN>);` as it is only taking the first part of the input and not the whole input as one. I believe I may have to use a while loop or use the m// operator correct? Thanks for the suggestions.	[reply] [d/l]
Re^3: Flat File Comment by kcott (Archbishop) on Dec 18, 2013 at 13:01 UTC
I can't reproduce the problem with the code I posted. You haven't shown what code you're using: see "How do I post a question effectively?" for guidelines on what to post such that we can help you. Here's my test: `$ cat pm_year_make_model_file_models.master Sorento Cavalier Expedition` [download] `$ cat >> pm_year_make_model_file_models.master Expedition XLT` [download] `$ rm pm_year_make_model_temp_file` [download] `$ pm_year_make_model.pl Available years: 1999 2000 2001 Select year: 1999 Available makes: Chevrolet Ford KIA Select make: Ford Available models: Cavalier Expedition Expedition XLT Sorento Select model: Expedition Temp file contents: 1999 Ford Expedition` [download] `$ cat pm_year_make_model_file_models.used Sorento Cavalier #Expedition Expedition XLT` [download] `$ pm_year_make_model.pl Available years: 2000 2001 Select year: 2000 Available makes: Chevrolet KIA Select make: KIA Available models: Cavalier Expedition XLT Sorento Select model: Expedition XLT Temp file contents: 1999 Ford Expedition 2000 KIA Expedition XLT` [download] `$ cat pm_year_make_model_file_models.used Sorento Cavalier #Expedition #Expedition XLT` [download] -- Ken	[reply] [d/l] [select]
Re^4: Flat File Comment by PilotinControl (Pilgrim) on Dec 18, 2013 at 14:53 UTC
The added code is below. Since the program is actually sharing the master files which look like this: Expedition:XLT:Power Locks:Power Doors The code added strips the ":" and then joins only the two fields needed for my side of the program. I am not originating the files another program is doing that. `for (@models) { my @mfields = split /:/; $_ = join ' ' => $mfields[0], $mfields[1]; }` [download] When selected the program only recognizes the first field not the second when joined together creating the following output: ##Expedition Expedition XLT Thus not commenting out each Expedition FIXED!! Using the below code I have no issues splitting the fields and rejoining the fields using split and splice together. Thanks for the suggestions they have been most helpful. `for (@models) { my @mfields = split /:/, $_; $_ = join ( ' ',splice( @mfields, 0, 2)); }` [download]	[reply] [d/l] [select]