NAME CGI::Application::Plugin::Forward - Pass control from one run mode to another VERSION Version 1.04 SYNOPSIS use base 'CGI::Application'; use CGI::Application::Plugin::Forward; sub setup { my $self = shift; $self->run_modes([qw( start second_runmode )]); } sub start { my $self = shift; return $self->forward('second_runmode'); } sub second_runmode { my $self = shift; my $rm = $self->get_current_runmode; # 'second_runmode' } DESCRIPTION The forward method passes control to another run mode and returns its output. This is equivalent to calling "$self->$other_runmode", except that CGI::Application's internal value of the current run mode is updated. This means that calling "$self->get_current_runmode" after calling "forward" will return the name of the new run mode. This is useful for modules that depend on the name of the current run mode such as CGI::Application::Plugin::AnyTemplate. For example, here's how to pass control to a run mode named "other_action" from "start" while updating the value of "current_run_mode": sub setup { my $self = shift; $self->run_modes({ start => 'start', other_action => 'other_method', }); } sub start { my $self = shift; return $self->forward('other_action'); } sub other_method { my $self = shift; my $rm = $self->get_current_runmode; # 'other_action' } Note that forward accepts the *name* of the run mode (in this case *'other_action'*), which might not be the same as the name of the method that handles the run mode (in this case *'other_method'*) You can still call "$self->other_method" directly, but "current_run_mode" will not be updated: sub setup { my $self = shift; $self->run_modes({ start => 'start', other_action => 'other_method', }); } sub start { my $self = shift; return $self->other_method; } sub other_method { my $self = shift; my $rm = $self->get_current_runmode; # 'start' } Forward will work with coderef-based runmodes as well: sub setup { my $self = shift; $self->run_modes({ start => 'start', anon_action => sub { my $self = shift; my $rm = $self->get_current_runmode; # 'anon_action' }, }); } sub start { my $self = shift; return $self->forward('anon_action'); } METHODS forward Runs another run mode passing any parameters you supply. Returns the output of the new run mode. return $self->forward('run_mode_name', @run_mode_params); HOOKS Before the forwarded run mode is called, the "forward_prerun" hook is called. You can use this hook to do any prep work that you want to do before any new run mode gains control. This is similar to CGI::Application's built in "cgiapp_prerun" method, but it is called each time you call forward; not just the when your application starts. sub setup { my $self = shift; $self->add_callback('forward_prerun' => \&prepare_rm_stuff); } sub prepare_rm_stuff { my $self = shift; # do any necessary prep work here.... } Note that your hooked method will only be called when you call forward. If you never call "forward", the hook will not be called. In particuar, the hook will not be called for your application's "start_mode". For that, you still use "cgiapp_prerun". If you want to have a method run for every run mode *including* the "start_mode", then you can call the hook directly from "cgiapp_prerun". sub setup { my $self = shift; $self->add_callback('forward_prerun' => \&prepare_rm_stuff); } sub cgiapp_prerun { my $self = shift; $self->prepare_rm_stuff; } sub prepare_rm_stuff { my $self = shift; # do any necessary prep work here.... } Alternately, you can hook "cgiapp_prerun" to the "forward_prerun" hook: sub setup { my $self = shift; $self->add_callback('forward_prerun' => \&cgiapp_prerun); } sub cgiapp_prerun { my $self = shift; # do any necessary prep work here.... } This is a less flexible solution, since certain things that can be done in "cgiapp_prerun" (like setting "prerun_mode") won't work when the method is called from the "forward_prerun" hook. AUTHOR Michael Graham, "" BUGS Please report any bugs or feature requests to "bug-cgi-application-plugin-forward@rt.cpan.org", or through the web interface at . I will be notified, and then you'll automatically be notified of progress on your bug as I make changes. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Thanks to Mark Stosberg for the idea and...well...the implementation as well. COPYRIGHT & LICENSE Copyright 2005 Michael Graham, All Rights Reserved. This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the same terms as Perl itself.