


AutoSplit(3p)    Perl Programmers Reference Guide   AutoSplit(3p)


NAME
       AutoSplit - split a package for autoloading

SYNOPSIS
        autosplit($file, $dir, $keep, $check, $modtime);

        autosplit_lib_modules(@modules);


DESCRIPTION
       This function will split up your program into files that
       the AutoLoader module can handle. It is used by both the
       standard perl libraries and by the MakeMaker utility, to
       automatically configure libraries for autoloading.

       The "autosplit" interface splits the specified file into a
       hierarchy rooted at the directory "$dir". It creates
       directories as needed to reflect class hierarchy, and cre-
       ates the file autosplit.ix. This file acts as both forward
       declaration of all package routines, and as timestamp for
       the last update of the hierarchy.

       The remaining three arguments to "autosplit" govern other
       options to the autosplitter.

       $keep
         If the third argument, $keep, is false, then any pre-
         existing "*.al" files in the autoload directory are
         removed if they are no longer part of the module (obso-
         leted functions).  $keep defaults to 0.

       $check
         The fourth argument, $check, instructs "autosplit" to
         check the module currently being split to ensure that it
         does include a "use" specification for the AutoLoader
         module, and skips the module if AutoLoader is not
         detected.  $check defaults to 1.

       $modtime
         Lastly, the $modtime argument specifies that "autosplit"
         is to check the modification time of the module against
         that of the "autosplit.ix" file, and only split the mod-
         ule if it is newer.  $modtime defaults to 1.

       Typical use of AutoSplit in the perl MakeMaker utility is
       via the command-line with:

        perl -e 'use AutoSplit; autosplit($ARGV[0], $ARGV[1], 0, 1, 1)'

       Defined as a Make macro, it is invoked with file and
       directory arguments; "autosplit" will split the specified
       file into the specified directory and delete obsolete
       ".al" files, after checking first that the module does use
       the AutoLoader, and ensuring that the module is not



2001-05-24                 perl v5.6.1                          1





AutoSplit(3p)    Perl Programmers Reference Guide   AutoSplit(3p)


       already currently split in its current form (the modtime
       test).

       The "autosplit_lib_modules" form is used in the building
       of perl. It takes as input a list of files (modules) that
       are assumed to reside in a directory lib relative to the
       current directory. Each file is sent to the autosplitter
       one at a time, to be split into the directory lib/auto.

       In both usages of the autosplitter, only subroutines
       defined following the perl __END__ token are split out
       into separate files. Some routines may be placed prior to
       this marker to force their immediate loading and parsing.

       Multiple packages

       As of version 1.01 of the AutoSplit module it is possible
       to have multiple packages within a single file. Both of
       the following cases are supported:

          package NAME;
          __END__
          sub AAA { ... }
          package NAME::option1;
          sub BBB { ... }
          package NAME::option2;
          sub BBB { ... }

          package NAME;
          __END__
          sub AAA { ... }
          sub NAME::option1::BBB { ... }
          sub NAME::option2::BBB { ... }


DIAGNOSTICS
       "AutoSplit" will inform the user if it is necessary to
       create the top-level directory specified in the invoca-
       tion. It is preferred that the script or installation pro-
       cess that invokes "AutoSplit" have created the full direc-
       tory path ahead of time. This warning may indicate that
       the module is being split into an incorrect path.

       "AutoSplit" will warn the user of all subroutines whose
       name causes potential file naming conflicts on machines
       with drastically limited (8 characters or less) file name
       length. Since the subroutine name is used as the file
       name, these warnings can aid in portability to such sys-
       tems.

       Warnings are issued and the file skipped if "AutoSplit"
       cannot locate either the __END__ marker or a "package
       Name;"-style specification.




2001-05-24                 perl v5.6.1                          2





AutoSplit(3p)    Perl Programmers Reference Guide   AutoSplit(3p)


       "AutoSplit" will also emit general diagnostics for inabil-
       ity to create directories or files.























































2001-05-24                 perl v5.6.1                          3


