FileCache(3perl)					 Perl Programmers Reference Guide					  FileCache(3perl)

NAME

       FileCache - keep more files open than the system permits

SYNOPSIS

	   no strict 'refs';

	   use FileCache;
	   # or
	   use FileCache maxopen => 16;

	   cacheout $mode, $path;
	   # or
	   cacheout $path;
	   print $path @data;

	   $fh = cacheout $mode, $path;
	   # or
	   $fh = cacheout $path;
	   print $fh @data;

DESCRIPTION

       The "cacheout" function will make sure that there's a filehandle open for reading or writing available as the pathname you give it. It
       automatically closes and re-opens files if you exceed your system's maximum number of file descriptors, or the suggested maximum maxopen.

       cacheout EXPR
	   The 1-argument form of cacheout will open a file for writing ('>') on it's first use, and appending ('>>') thereafter.

	   Returns EXPR on success for convenience. You may neglect the return value and manipulate EXPR as the filehandle directly if you prefer.

       cacheout MODE, EXPR
	   The 2-argument form of cacheout will use the supplied mode for the initial and subsequent openings. Most valid modes for 3-argument
	   "open" are supported namely; '>', '+>', '<', '<+', '>>',  '|-'  and	'-|'

	   To pass supplemental arguments to a program opened with  '|-'  or  '-|' append them to the command string as you would system EXPR.

	   Returns EXPR on success for convenience. You may neglect the return value and manipulate EXPR as the filehandle directly if you prefer.

CAVEATS

       While it is permissible to "close" a FileCache managed file, do not do so if you are calling "FileCache::cacheout" from a package other
       than which it was imported, or with another module which overrides "close".  If you must, use "FileCache::cacheout_close".

       Although FileCache can be used with piped opens ('-|' or '|-') doing so is strongly discouraged.  If FileCache finds it necessary to close
       and then reopen a pipe, the command at the far end of the pipe will be reexecuted - the results of performing IO on FileCache'd pipes is
       unlikely to be what you expect.	The ability to use FileCache on pipes may be removed in a future release.

       FileCache does not store the current file offset if it finds it necessary to close a file.  When the file is reopened, the offset will be
       as specified by the original "open" file mode.  This could be construed to be a bug.

       The module functionality relies on symbolic references, so things will break under 'use strict' unless 'no strict "refs"' is also
       specified.

BUGS

       sys/param.h lies with its "NOFILE" define on some systems, so you may have to set maxopen yourself.

perl v5.14.2							    2010-12-30							  FileCache(3perl)