Doc/lib/libmultifile.tex

\section{\module{multifile} ---
         Support for reading files which contain distinct parts.}
\declaremodule{standard}{multifile}
\sectionauthor{Eric S. Raymond}{esr@snark.thyrsus.com}

\modulesynopsis{Support for reading files which contain distinct
parts, such as some MIME data.}


The \class{MultiFile} object enables you to treat sections of a text
file as file-like input objects, with \code{''} being returned by
\method{readline()} when a given delimiter pattern is encountered.  The
defaults of this class are designed to make it useful for parsing
MIME multipart messages, but by subclassing it and overriding methods 
it can be easily adapted for more general use.

\begin{classdesc}{MultiFile}{fp\optional{, seekable}}
Create a multi-file.  You must instantiate this class with an input
object argument for the \class{MultiFile} instance to get lines from,
such as as a file object returned by \function{open()}.

\class{MultiFile} only ever looks at the input object's
\method{readline()}, \method{seek()} and \method{tell()} methods, and
the latter two are only needed if you want random access to the
individual MIME parts. To use \class{MultiFile} on a non-seekable
stream object, set the optional \var{seekable} argument to false; this
will prevent using the input object's \method{seek()} and
\method{tell()} methods.
\end{classdesc}

It will be useful to know that in \class{MultiFile}'s view of the world, text
is composed of three kinds of lines: data, section-dividers, and
end-markers.  MultiFile is designed to support parsing of
messages that may have multiple nested message parts, each with its
own pattern for section-divider and end-marker lines.


\subsection{MultiFile Objects \label{MultiFile-objects}}

A \class{MultiFile} instance has the following methods:

\begin{methoddesc}{push}{str}
Push a boundary string.  When an appropriately decorated version of
this boundary is found as an input line, it will be interpreted as a
section-divider or end-marker.  All subsequent
reads will return the empty string to indicate end-of-file, until a
call to \method{pop()} removes the boundary a or \method{next()} call
reenables it.

It is possible to push more than one boundary.  Encountering the
most-recently-pushed boundary will return EOF; encountering any other
boundary will raise an error.
\end{methoddesc}

\begin{methoddesc}{readline}{str}
Read a line.  If the line is data (not a section-divider or end-marker
or real EOF) return it.  If the line matches the most-recently-stacked
boundary, return \code{''} and set \code{self.last} to 1 or 0 according as
the match is or is not an end-marker.  If the line matches any other
stacked boundary, raise an error.  On encountering end-of-file on the
underlying stream object, the method raises \exception{Error} unless
all boundaries have been popped.
\end{methoddesc}

\begin{methoddesc}{readlines}{str}
Return all lines remaining in this part as a list of strings.
\end{methoddesc}

\begin{methoddesc}{read}{}
Read all lines, up to the next section.  Return them as a single
(multiline) string.  Note that this doesn't take a size argument!
\end{methoddesc}

\begin{methoddesc}{next}{}
Skip lines to the next section (that is, read lines until a
section-divider or end-marker has been consumed).  Return true if
there is such a section, false if an end-marker is seen.  Re-enable
the most-recently-pushed boundary.
\end{methoddesc}

\begin{methoddesc}{pop}{}
Pop a section boundary.  This boundary will no longer be interpreted
as EOF.
\end{methoddesc}

\begin{methoddesc}{seek}{pos\optional{, whence}}
Seek.  Seek indices are relative to the start of the current section.
The \var{pos} and \var{whence} arguments are interpreted as for a file
seek.
\end{methoddesc}

\begin{methoddesc}{tell}{}
Return the file position relative to the start of the current section.
\end{methoddesc}

\begin{methoddesc}{is_data}{str}
Return true if \var{str} is data and false if it might be a section
boundary.  As written, it tests for a prefix other than \code{'--'} at
start of line (which all MIME boundaries have) but it is declared so
it can be overridden in derived classes.

Note that this test is used intended as a fast guard for the real
boundary tests; if it always returns false it will merely slow
processing, not cause it to fail.
\end{methoddesc}

\begin{methoddesc}{section_divider}{str}
Turn a boundary into a section-divider line.  By default, this
method prepends \code{'--'} (which MIME section boundaries have) but
it is declared so it can be overridden in derived classes.  This
method need not append LF or CR-LF, as comparison with the result
ignores trailing whitespace. 
\end{methoddesc}

\begin{methoddesc}{end_marker}{str}
Turn a boundary string into an end-marker line.  By default, this
method prepends \code{'--'} and appends \code{'--'} (like a
MIME-multipart end-of-message marker) but it is declared so it can be
be overridden in derived classes.  This method need not append LF or
CR-LF, as comparison with the result ignores trailing whitespace.
\end{methoddesc}

Finally, \class{MultiFile} instances have two public instance variables:

\begin{memberdesc}{level}
Nesting depth of the current part.
\end{memberdesc}

\begin{memberdesc}{last}
True if the last end-of-file was for an end-of-message marker. 
\end{memberdesc}


\subsection{\class{MultiFile} Example \label{multifile-example}}

% This is almost unreadable; should be re-written when someone gets time.

\begin{verbatim}
fp = MultiFile(sys.stdin, 0)
fp.push(outer_boundary)
message1 = fp.readlines()
# We should now be either at real EOF or stopped on a message
# boundary. Re-enable the outer boundary.
fp.next()
# Read another message with the same delimiter
message2 = fp.readlines()
# Re-enable that delimiter again
fp.next()
# Now look for a message subpart with a different boundary
fp.push(inner_boundary)
sub_header = fp.readlines()
# If no exception has been thrown, we're looking at the start of
# the message subpart.  Reset and grab the subpart
fp.next()
sub_body = fp.readlines()
# Got it.  Now pop the inner boundary to re-enable the outer one.
fp.pop()
# Read to next outer boundary
message3 = fp.readlines()
\end{verbatim}