NAME
    CAD::Drawing::IO::Split - Fast distributed text file methods.

AUTHOR
      Eric L. Wilhelm
      ewilhelm at sbcglobal dot net
      http://pages.sbcglobal.net/mycroft

COPYRIGHT
    This module is copyright (C) 2003 by Eric L. Wilhelm and A. Zahner Co.

LICENSE
    This module is distributed under the same terms as Perl. See the Perl
    source package for details.

    You may use this software under one of the following licenses:

      (1) GNU General Public License
        (found at http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/gpl.html)
      (2) Artistic License
        (found at http://www.perl.com/pub/language/misc/Artistic.html)

NO WARRANTY
    This software is distributed with ABSOLUTELY NO WARRANTY. The author and
    his employer will in no way be held liable for any loss or damages
    resulting from its use.

Modifications
    The source code of this module is made freely available and
    distributable under the GPL or Artistic License. Modifications to and
    use of this software must adhere to one of these licenses. Changes to
    the code should be noted as such and this notification (as well as the
    above copyright information) must remain intact on all copies of the
    code.

    Additionally, while the author is actively developing this code,
    notification of any intended changes or extensions would be most helpful
    in avoiding repeated work for all parties involved. Please contact the
    author with any such development plans.

SEE ALSO
      CAD::Drawing
      CAD::Drawing::IO

Changes
      0.01 First Public Release

Requisite Plug-in Functions
    See CAD::Drawing::IO for a description of the plug-in architecture.

  check_type

    Returns true if $type is "split" or $filename is a directory (need a
    tag?)

      $fact = check_type($filename, $type);

Load/Save Methods
    Concept here is to strip data down to the absolute bare minumum in an
    effort to find a generic and extensible incarnation of same.

  save

    Saves data into $toplevel_directory under a directory for each layer,
    each type, and a file for each id.

      save($drw, $toplevel_directory, \%options);

    Selective saves not yet supported.

    Unfortunately, the file-formats are rather primitive and the code needs
    refactoring. These are nowhere near stable, so don't expect version
    compatibility yet!

    Needs a clear_all_like => $regex option.

  load

      load($drw, $toplevel_directory, \%options);

    %options may include selective-load arguments

Naming Functions
  _dir_list

      @list = _dir_list($dir);

  _sp_filename

    Creates nested directories which are required to save %obj and returns
    the filename which should be saved into.

      _sp_filename(\%obj, \%data);

Inherited Methods
  clear_dir

    Removes layers (and items) from the split directory $dir.

    Defaults to removing all.

      $drw->clear_dir($dir, \%options);

    Available options:
      like    => qr/regex/,  # if regex matches layer name
      not_like => qr/regex/,  # negative of above (compounded)

    check_select() options:
    %options is passed through CAD::Drawing::Defined::check_select(), so the
    selections returned by it will be utilized here.

      select_layers => \@layer_list,
      select_types => \@types_list,

    Returns the number of items removed or undef() if $dir does not exist.