---
name: "Bio::ClusterIO"
section: "3pm"
platform: "linux"
package: "libbio-cluster-perl"
version: "1.7.3-6"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/Bio::ClusterIO"
---

# Bio::ClusterIO(3pm)

Handler for Cluster Formats

## NAME

Bio::ClusterIO - Handler for Cluster Formats

## SYNOPSIS

```
  #NB: This example is unigene specific
  use Bio::ClusterIO;
  $stream  = Bio::ClusterIO->new('-file' => "Hs.data",
                                 '-format' => "unigene");
  # note: we quote -format to keep older perl's from complaining.
  while ( my $in = $stream->next_cluster() ) {
      print $in->unigene_id() . "\n";
      while ( my $sequence = $in->next_seq() ) {
          print $sequence->accession_number() . "\n";
      }
  }
  # Parsing errors are printed to STDERR.
```

## DESCRIPTION

The ClusterIO module works with the ClusterIO format module to read various cluster formats such as NCBI UniGene.

## CONSTRUCTORS

### Bio::ClusterIO-\>new()

```
   $str = Bio::ClusterIO->new(-file => 'filename',
                              -format=>$format);
```

The **new()** class method constructs a new Bio::ClusterIO object.  The returned object can be used to retrieve or print cluster objects. **new()** accepts the following parameters:

- \-file

  A file path to be opened for reading.

- \-format

  Specify the format of the file.  Supported formats include:

  ```
     unigene              *.data  UniGene build files.
     dbsnp                *.xml   dbSNP XML files
  ```

  If no format is specified and a filename is given, then the module will attempt to deduce it from the filename.  If this is unsuccessful, the main UniGene build format is assumed.

  The format name is case insensitive.  'UNIGENE', 'UniGene' and 'unigene' are all supported, as are dbSNP, dbsnp, and DBSNP

## OBJECT METHODS

See below for more detailed summaries.  The main methods are:

### $cluster = $str-\>next\_cluster()

Fetch the next cluster from the stream.

### TIEHANDLE(), READLINE(), PRINT()

These I've left in here because they were in the SeqIO module. Feedback appreciated. There they provide the tie interface. See perltie for more details.

## FEEDBACK

### Mailing Lists

User feedback is an integral part of the evolution of this and other Bioperl modules. Send your comments and suggestions preferably\
  to one of the Bioperl mailing lists. Your participation is much appreciated.

```
  bioperl-l@bioperl.org                  - General discussion
  http://bioperl.org/wiki/Mailing_lists  - About the mailing lists
```

### Support

Please direct usage questions or support issues to the mailing list:

*bioperl-l@bioperl.org*

rather than to the module maintainer directly. Many experienced and  reponsive experts will be able look at the problem and quickly  address it. Please include a thorough description of the problem  with code and data examples if at all possible.

### Reporting Bugs

Report bugs to the Bioperl bug tracking system to help us keep track the bugs and their resolution.  Bug reports can be submitted via the web:

```
  https://github.com/bioperl/bioperl-live/issues
```

## AUTHOR - Andrew Macgregor

Email andrew@anatomy.otago.ac.nz

## APPENDIX

The rest of the documentation details each of the object methods. Internal methods are usually preceded with a \_

### new

```
 Title   : new
 Usage   : Bio::ClusterIO->new(-file => $filename, -format => 'format')
 Function: Returns a new cluster stream
 Returns : A Bio::ClusterIO::Handler initialised with the appropriate format
 Args    : -file => $filename
           -format => format
```

### format

```
 Title   : format
 Usage   : $format = $stream->format()
 Function: Get the cluster format
 Returns : cluster format
 Args    : none
```

### next\_cluster

```
 Title   : next_cluster
 Usage   : $cluster = $stream->next_cluster()
 Function: Reads the next cluster object from the stream and returns it.
 Returns : a L<Bio::ClusterI> compliant object
 Args    : none
```

### cluster\_factory

```
 Title   : cluster_factory
 Usage   : $obj->cluster_factory($newval)
 Function: Get/set the object factory to use for creating the cluster
           objects.
 Example :
 Returns : a L<Bio::Factory::ObjectFactoryI> compliant object
 Args    : on set, new value (a L<Bio::Factory::ObjectFactoryI>
           compliant object or undef, optional)
```

### object\_factory

```
 Title   : object_factory
 Usage   : $obj->object_factory($newval)
 Function: This is an alias to cluster_factory with a more generic name.
 Example :
 Returns : a L<Bio::Factory::ObjectFactoryI> compliant object
 Args    : on set, new value (a L<Bio::Factory::ObjectFactoryI>
           compliant object or undef, optional)
```

### \_load\_format\_module

```
 Title   : _load_format_module
 Usage   : *INTERNAL ClusterIO stuff*
 Function: Loads up (like use) a module at run time on demand
 Example :
 Returns :
 Args    :
```

### \_guess\_format

```
 Title   : _guess_format
 Usage   : $obj->_guess_format($filename)
 Function: guess format based on file suffix
 Example :
 Returns : guessed format of filename (lower case)
 Args    :
 Notes   : formats that _filehandle() will guess include unigene and dbsnp
```