I assume you are building your own Mock Objects, and not using Test::MockObject. In which case, all you need to do to automatically stringify your object is to make them overload the "" operator.

# assuming there is a stringify method 
# that does the right thing
use overload ('""' => \&stringify);
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Errrr.... I am using Test::MockObject::Extends, in fact.

Your point is that if I'm handrolling my own mocks, I just overload it like any other object, yes? If that is your point, then, yes, I get what you are saying and I agree -- but I am following the Virtue of Laziness and using T:MO:E.

Suggestions for my case, beyond "roll-your-own"?

To be honest, I am not all that familiar with Test::MockObject, as I have yet to find a situation to use it in. Am I right in assuming that you are using Test::MockObject::Extends to mock parts of Class::DBI objects? Or is it to mock other objects?

One possiblity might be to move your mock objects down a level, and use DBD::Mock as a faux-database, rather than mocking Class::DBI (if that is indeed what you are doing)? This would allow you to use Class::DBI as you would normally. Personally, I like to mock as little as possible, and as "low to the ground" as possible (database, network connection, etc.).

But I am just making assumptions here, if you want to provide more info about exactly what it is you are trying to do, I might be able to help more. And of course you could always try messaging chromatic, since he is the one who wrote Test::MockObject in the first place.

-stvn

Beats me, though it's very close to bedtime here. I tried the following to no avail:

my $tmoe = Test::MockObject::Extends->new( $foo );

overload::OVERLOAD(
    ref $tmoe,
    '""'       => sub { "mock stringy\n" },
    'fallback' => sub { "default mock overload\n" }
);
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My guess is that the magic's not registering properly, though I have no idea why that should be. Calling ("" directly works.

so..........

am i out of luck?

the serious magic of M:O:E are well beyond this Water's small brain...

what ought I try next?