Method names with colons in them?

dmitri has asked for the wisdom of the Perl Monks concerning the following question:

Dear Brethren,

I have the following piece of code:

ABC::XYZ->new->$autoloaded;
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Obviously, method specified in $autoloaded is handled by AUTOLOAD. This works well if the value of the variable is something like 'abc', but does not work if the value is 'abc::xyz', as this results in the following run-time error:

Can't locate object method "xyz" via package "abc::xyz"

However, I still want to get AUTOLOAD called even if there are colons in the value of $autoloaded. Is there any way to do it?

P.S. I am using 5.6.1.

Update Thank you all for your responses! I think I now understand this a bit better.

Comment on Method names with colons in them? Download Code

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Re: Method names with colons in them? by VSarkiss (Monsignor) on Jul 08, 2005 at 14:48 UTC
However, I still want to get AUTOLOAD called It will. The question is, which `AUTOLOAD`? More precisely, `AUTOLOAD` in which package? In the example you wrote, Perl will search for `AUTOLOAD` in the `abc::xyz` package and any other packages up the `@ISA` chain. In other words, it won't look for `AUTOLOAD` in the `abc` package (unless `abc::xyz` ISA `abc`). More detail on `AUTOLOAD` is in perlsub. Unless I've completely misunderstood your question.... Do not rebuke them with harsh words ... but rather lead them gently - with URLs - so that they may learn wisdom.	[reply] [d/l] [select]
Re^2: Method names with colons in them? by runrig (Abbot) on Jul 08, 2005 at 16:29 UTC
Actually, the error message is misleading (the 'def' package is called, not 'def::xyz'--update: the correct error message appears in perl 5.8.4, but not 5.6.1), ~~and AUTOLOAD doesn't get called at all~~. The package called is 'def', ~~and if you comment out the 'sub xyz...', you still get the error (maybe you could consider it a bug...I haven't read the docs lately, though)~~: Read more... (768 Bytes)	[reply] [d/l]
Re: Method names with colons in them? by artist (Parson) on Jul 08, 2005 at 13:34 UTC
Of course, you are allowed experiment and try new things, but why you need to have method with colons in it? It is syntax preserved for modules etc. From perlmod:The symbol table for a package happens to be stored in the hash of that name with two colons appended. You can refer to variables and filehandles in other packages by prefixing the identifier with the package name and a double colon: $Package::Variable. --Artist	[reply]
Re: Method names with colons in them? by Fletch (Bishop) on Jul 08, 2005 at 14:47 UTC
Method names with colons are taken as a hint to start looking for the method in the named class (e.g. the call `$bar->ABC::xyz()` means to call the `xyz` method on `$bar`, but start looking in package `ABC` rather than in whatever class `$bar` isa). In your example it's looking for the method `xyz` starting in (the probably non-existent) package `abc`. -- We're looking for people in ATL	[reply] [d/l] [select]