package CGI::Application::Plugin::Forward; use warnings; use strict; use Carp; use vars qw(@ISA @EXPORT); @ISA = ('Exporter'); @EXPORT = ('forward'); =head1 NAME CGI::Application::Plugin::Forward - Pass control from one run mode to another =head1 VERSION Version 1.06 =cut our $VERSION = '1.06'; use CGI::Application; if (CGI::Application->can('new_hook')) { CGI::Application->new_hook('forward_prerun'); } =head1 SYNOPSIS use base 'CGI::Application'; use CGI::Application::Plugin::Forward; sub setup { my $self = shift; $self->run_modes([qw( start second_runmode )]); } sub start { my $self = shift; return $self->forward('second_runmode'); } sub second_runmode { my $self = shift; my $rm = $self->get_current_runmode; # 'second_runmode' } =head1 DESCRIPTION The forward method passes control to another run mode and returns its output. This is equivalent to calling C<< $self->$other_runmode >>, except that L's internal value of the current run mode is updated. This means that calling C<< $self->get_current_runmode >> after calling C will return the name of the new run mode. This is useful for modules that depend on the name of the current run mode such as L. For example, here's how to pass control to a run mode named C from C while updating the value of C: sub setup { my $self = shift; $self->run_modes({ start => 'start', other_action => 'other_method', }); } sub start { my $self = shift; return $self->forward('other_action'); } sub other_method { my $self = shift; my $rm = $self->get_current_runmode; # 'other_action' } Note that forward accepts the I of the run mode (in this case I<'other_action'>), which might not be the same as the name of the method that handles the run mode (in this case I<'other_method'>) You can still call C<< $self->other_method >> directly, but C will not be updated: sub setup { my $self = shift; $self->run_modes({ start => 'start', other_action => 'other_method', }); } sub start { my $self = shift; return $self->other_method; } sub other_method { my $self = shift; my $rm = $self->get_current_runmode; # 'start' } Forward will work with coderef-based runmodes as well: sub setup { my $self = shift; $self->run_modes({ start => 'start', anon_action => sub { my $self = shift; my $rm = $self->get_current_runmode; # 'anon_action' }, }); } sub start { my $self = shift; return $self->forward('anon_action'); } =head1 FORWARD vs. REDIRECT Calling C changes the run mode of your application, but it stays within the same HTTP request. To redirect to a new runmode using a completely new web request, you might consider using the C method provided by L. The advantage of using an external redirect as opposed to an internal forward is that it provides a 'clean break' between pages. For instance, in a typical BREAD application (Browse, Read, Edit, Add, Delete), after the user completes an action, you usually return the user to the Browse list. For instance, when the user adds a new record via a POST form, and your app returns them to the list of records. If you use C, then you are still in the same request as the original I. The user might hit I, expecting to refresh the list of records. But in fact, I will attempt to repost the I form. The user's browser might present a warning about reposting the same data. The browser may refuse to redisplay the page, due for caching reasons. So in this case, it may make more sense to do a fresh HTTP redirect back to the Browse list. =head1 METHODS =head2 forward Runs another run mode passing any parameters you supply. Returns the output of the new run mode. return $self->forward('run_mode_name', @run_mode_params); =cut sub forward { my $self = shift; my $run_mode = shift; if ($CGI::Application::Plugin::AutoRunmode::VERSION) { if (CGI::Application::Plugin::AutoRunmode->can('is_auto_runmode')) { if (CGI::Application::Plugin::AutoRunmode::is_auto_runmode($self, $run_mode)) { $self->run_modes( $run_mode => $run_mode); } } } my %rm_map = $self->run_modes; if (not exists $rm_map{$run_mode}) { croak "CAP::Forward: run mode $run_mode does not exist"; } my $method = $rm_map{$run_mode}; if ($self->can($method) or ref $method eq 'CODE') { $self->{__CURRENT_RUNMODE} = $run_mode; if ($self->can('call_hook')) { $self->call_hook('forward_prerun'); } return $self->$method(@_); } else { croak "CAP::Forward: target method $method of run mode $run_mode does not exist"; } } =head1 HOOKS Before the forwarded run mode is called, the C hook is called. You can use this hook to do any prep work that you want to do before any new run mode gains control. This is similar to L's built in C method, but it is called each time you call L; not just the when your application starts. sub setup { my $self = shift; $self->add_callback('forward_prerun' => \&prepare_rm_stuff); } sub prepare_rm_stuff { my $self = shift; # do any necessary prep work here.... } Note that your hooked method will only be called when you call L. If you never call C, the hook will not be called. In particuar, the hook will not be called for your application's C. For that, you still use C. If you want to have a method run for every run mode I the C, then you can call the hook directly from C. sub setup { my $self = shift; $self->add_callback('forward_prerun' => \&prepare_rm_stuff); } sub cgiapp_prerun { my $self = shift; $self->prepare_rm_stuff; } sub prepare_rm_stuff { my $self = shift; # do any necessary prep work here.... } Alternately, you can hook C to the C hook: sub setup { my $self = shift; $self->add_callback('forward_prerun' => \&cgiapp_prerun); } sub cgiapp_prerun { my $self = shift; # do any necessary prep work here.... } This is a less flexible solution, since certain things that can be done in C (like setting C) won't work when the method is called from the C hook. =head1 AUTHOR Michael Graham, C<< >> =head1 BUGS Please report any bugs or feature requests to C, or through the web interface at L. I will be notified, and then you'll automatically be notified of progress on your bug as I make changes. =head1 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Thanks to Mark Stosberg for the idea and...well...the implementation as well. =head1 COPYRIGHT & LICENSE Copyright 2005 Michael Graham, All Rights Reserved. This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the same terms as Perl itself. =cut 1; # End of CGI::Application::Plugin::Forward