NAME
   DBIx::SQLEngine::ReadMe - Introduction to DBIx::SQLEngine.

DESCRIPTION
   The DBIx::SQLEngine class provides an extended interface for DBI
   database handles, adding methods that support ad-hoc SQL generation and
   query execution in a single call.

MOTIVATION
   This is the most recent version of a collection of libraries that I've
   used over the last several years to develop business data applications
   and object-relational mapping toolkits.

   Its goal is to simplify dynamic query execution with the following
   capabilities:

   *   Data-driven SQL: Ad-hoc generation of SQL statements from Perl data
       structures in a variety of formats.

   *   High-Level Interface: Standard operations are handled by a single
       method call each. Error handling is standardized.

   *   Full API Access: Pass-through arbitrary SQL and allow access to
       entire DBI API for cases when high-level interfaces are insufficient
       or inconvenient.

   *   Portability: Dynamic subclassing (via DBIx::AnyDBD) to allow
       platform-specific support for driver idiosyncrasies and DBMS
       workarounds.

DEPENDENCIES
   This module requires these other modules and libraries:

     DBI                           1.0
     DBIx::AnyDBD                  2.0
     Class::MakeMethods            1.003
     Class::MakeMethods::Template  1.003

   You must also have at least one working DBD module installed. (If you
   run into trouble, check that your DBI and DBD modules are up-to-date; in
   particular, if you are using DBD::CSV or DBD::AnyData, make sure you
   have upgraded to SQL::Statement 1.0 or later.)

INSTALLATION
   To install this module type the following:

     perl Makefile.PL
     make
     make test
     make install

   In order for the test to succeed, you must also have at least one
   working DBD module installed, and must provide a DSN to which the script
   can connect with permissions to create tables.

STATUS AND SUPPORT
   This version is routine release of DBIx::SQLEngine intended for public
   use.

   The proposed CPAN module list entry is as follows:

     Name            DSLI  Description
     --------------  ----  ---------------------------------------------
     DBIx::
     ::SQLEngine     bdpo  Extends DBI with high-level operations

   Further information and support for this module is available at
   http://www.evoscript.org.

   Please report bugs or other problems to "<[email protected]>".

   See the DBIx::SQLEngine::ToDo manpage for bugs and missing features.

SEE ALSO
   See the DBIx::SQLEngine manpage for interface documentation.

   See the DBIx::SQLEngine::Changes manpage for revision history.

 Similar Modules

   Several other CPAN modules provide a similar wrapper around DBI for
   purposes of simplification, abstraction, or portability.

   Most of these provide simple wrappers around DBI's connect, prepare, and
   fetch methods, but do not appear to support any kind of cross-DBMS
   portability mechanism. See the DBIx::Abstract manpage, the
   DBIx::AbstractLite manpage, and the DBIx::Broker manpage for examples of
   this group. (Single-platform solutions like the MySQL::Easy manpage are
   also available.)

   Some provide at least some cross-DBMS support via specialized subclasses
   for the DBDs they support. See the DBIx::SearchBuilder manpage, the
   DBIx::Easy manpage, and the DBIx::DWIW manpage for examples of this
   group. An incomplete but interesting newcomer is available in the
   DBIx::Portable manpage.

   The DBIx::Recordset framework provides similar functionality, including
   a substantial library of cross-DBMS compatibilty information. It also
   includes a tied-hash interface that allows automatic updates on
   retrieved rows. See the DBIx::RecordSet manpage, the DBIx::Database
   manpage, the DBIx::Compat manpage

   The Alzabo framework provides similar functionality, including
   DBMS-specific SQL generation, as part of an RDBMS-OO mapper; see the
   Alzabo::Driver manpage and the Alzabo::SQLMaker manpage.

CREDITS AND COPYRIGHT
 Developed By

     M. Simon Cavalletto, [email protected]
     Evolution Softworks, www.evoscript.org

 Contributors

     Piglet / EJ Evans, [email protected]
     Eric Schneider, [email protected]

 Copyright

   Copyright 2001, 2002 Matthew Cavalletto.

   Portions copyright 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 Evolution Online
   Systems, Inc.

 License

   You may use, modify, and distribute this software under the same terms
   as Perl.