Package =TWiki::Prefs::PrefsCache

The PrefsCache package holds a cache of topics that have been read in, using the TopicPrefs class. These functions manage that cache.

We maintain 2 hashes of values:

• {locals} Contains all locals at this level. Locals are values that only apply when the current topic is the topic where the local is defined. The variable names are decorated with the locality where they apply.
• {values} contains all sets, locals, and all values inherited from the parent level

As each cache level is built, the values are copied down from the parent cache level. This sounds monstrously inefficient, but in fact perl does this a lot better than doing a multi-level lookup when a value is referenced. This is especially important when many prefs lookups may be done in a session, for example when searching.

ClassMethod new ($prefs,$parent,$type,$web,$topic,$prefix)

Creates a new Prefs object.

• $prefs - controlling TWiki::Prefs object
• $parent - the PrefsCache object to use to initialise values from
• $type - Type of prefs object to create, see notes.
• $web - web containing topic to load from (required is $topic is set)
• $topic - topic to load from
• $prefix - key prefix for all preferences (used for plugins)

ObjectMethod finalise ($parent)

Finalise preferences in this cache, by freezing any preferences listed in FINALPREFERENCES at their current value.

• $parent = object that supports getPreferenceValue

ObjectMethod *loadPrefsFromTopic ($web,$topic,$keyPrefix)

Loads preferences from a topic. All settings loaded are prefixed with the key prefix (default '').

ObjectMethod *loadPrefsFromText ($text,$meta,$web,$topic)

Loads preferences from text and optional metadata. All settings loaded are prefixed with the key prefix (default ''). If $meta is defined, then metadata will be taken from that object. Otherwise, $text will be parsed to extract meta-data.

Note that attempts to redefine final preferences will be ignored.

ObjectMethod stringify ($html,\%shown) -> $text

Generate an (HTML if $html) representation of the content of this cache.