---
name: "VCP::DB_File::sdbm"
section: "3pm"
platform: "linux"
package: "libvcp-perl"
version: "0.9-20050110-1"
release: "Debian 4.0 (Etch)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/VCP::DB_File::sdbm"
---

# VCP::DB\_File::sdbm(3pm)

Subclass providing SDBM\_File storage

## NAME

VCP::DB\_File::sdbm - Subclass providing SDBM\_File storage

## SYNOPSIS

```
    use VCP::DB_File;
    VCP::DB_File->new;
```

## DESCRIPTION

To write your own DB\_File filetype, copy this file and alter it.  Then ask us to add an option to the .vcp file parsing to enable it.

- dump

  ```
     $db->dump( \*STDOUT );
     my $s = $db->dump;
     my @l = $db->dump;
  ```

  Dumps keys and values from a DB, in lexically sorted key order. If a filehandle reference is provided, prints to that filehandle. Otherwise, returns a string or array containing the entire dump, depending on context.

## LIMITATIONS

There is no way (yet) of telling the mapper to continue processing the rules list.  We could implement labels like `" <<`*label*`"`\> \> to be allowed before pattern expressions (but not between pattern and result), and we could then impelement `" <<goto `*label*`"`\> \>.  And a `" <<next"`\> \> could be used to fall through to the next label.  All of which is wonderful, but I want to gain some real world experience with the current system and find a use case for gotos and fallthroughs before I implement them.  This comment is here to solicit feedback :).

## AUTHOR

Barrie Slaymaker \<barries@slaysys.com\>

## COPYRIGHT

Copyright (c) 2000, 2001, 2002 Perforce Software, Inc. All rights reserved.

See VCP::License (`"vcp help license"`) for the terms of use.