NAME
Mail::Addressbook::Convert::Pegasus - convert to and from Pegasus addressbooks
SYNOPSIS
use strict;
use Mail::Addressbook::Convert::Pegasus;
my $Pegasus = new Mail::Addressbook::Convert::Pegasus();
my $PegasusMain1File ="PegasusMainSample.txt"; # name of a file containing the Pegasus Addressbook data
my $PegasusMain2File ="PegasusMainSample.txt"; # name of a file containing the Pegasus Addressbook data
my $PegasusDist1InFile ="PegasusDist1Sample.txt"; # name of a the file containing the a distribution list data
my $PegasusDist2InFile ="PegasusDist2Sample.txt"; # name of a the file containing the a distribution list data
# Convert Pegasus to Standard Intermediate format
# see documentation for details on format.
my $raIntermediate = $Pegasus->scan([\$PegasusMain1File ,\PegasusMain2File], [\$PegasusDist1InFile, \$PegasusDist2InFile] );
# This will also work
#my @PegasusMain1Array = @arrayContainingThePegasusMainAddressesData; #my @PegasusMain2Array = @arrayContainingThePegasusMainAddressesData; #my @PegasusDist1Array = @arrayContainingAPegasusDistribution1ListData; #my @PegasusDist2Array = @arrayContainingAPegasusDistribution2ListData; #my @DistNames = qw(Dist1, Dist2);
# The third parameter contains the names of the distribution lists that are in the second parameter. # This parameter is only needed is the lists specified as references to arrays. # if they are specified as files, the third parameter is not necessary.
#my $raIntermediate = $Pegasus->scan([\@PegasusMain1Array,\@PegasusMain2Array], # [\@PegasusDist1Array , \@PegasusDist2Array],\@DistNames );
#( You may put as many distribution lists arrays in the parameters as you wish. )
# Convert back to Pegaus
my @PegaOut = $Pegasus->output($raIntermediate);
#See below for explaination of the output array, and sample code.
REQUIRES
Perl, version 5.001 or higher
Carp File::Basename;
DESCRIPTION
This module is meant to be used as part of the Mail::Addressbook::Convert distribution.
It can convert a Pegasus addressbook to a Standard Intermediate format(STF) and a STF to Ldif As part of the larger distribution, it will allow conversion between Pegasus and many other formats.
To use to convert between Pegaus and Eudora as an example, you would do the following
use Mail::Addressbook::Convert::Pegasus;
use Mail::Addressbook::Convert::Eudora;
my $Pegasus = new Mail::Addressbook::Convert::Pegasus();
my $Eudora = new Mail::Addressbook::Convert::Eudora();
# The main addressbooks must be exported from Pegasus in tagged text format. my $PegasusAddr1InFile ="PegasusAddr1Sample.txt"; # name of a file containing Pegasus Tagged text Addressbook data
my $PegasusAddr2InFile ="PegasusAddr2Sample.txt"; # name of a file containing Pegasus Tagged text Addressbook data
my $PegasusDist1InFile ="PegasusDist1Sample.txt"; # name of the file containing the a distribution list data
my $PegasusDist2InFile ="PegasusDist2Sample.txt"; # name of the file containing the a distribution list data
my $raIntermediate = $Pegasus->scan( [\$PegasusAddr1InFile, \$PegasusAddr2InFile], [\$PegasusDist1InFile, \$PegasusDist2InFile ]); # $raIntermediate is the intermediate (STF) format file described below.
my $raEudora = $Eudora->output($raIntermediate); # reference to an array containing a Eudora addressbook
##------------------------------------------------------------------------
The following code will convert from STF intermediate format and write out Pegasus files
# $raIntermediate is a reference to an intermediate STF file. my @raPegasus = $Pegasus->output($raIntermediate);
my @mainAddressbook = @{$raPegasus[0]}; # This array is in tagged text format and must be imported into Pegasus
open FH , ">PegasusMainAddressBook" or die "Cannot open PegasusMainAddressBook for writing $!"; # This file is in tagged text format and must be imported into Pegasus foreach (@mainAddressbook) { print FH $_; }
close FH;
my @distListArrayRefs = @{$raPegasus[1]}; my $numberOfDistLists = @distListArrayRefs; # an array called in scalar context returns the number #of elements. my @distListArrayNames = @{$raPegasus[2]};
foreach my $i (0..$numberOfDistLists-1) { my $DistListName = $distListArrayNames[$i]; my @DistList = @{$distListArrayRefs[$i]}; open FH , ">$DistListName" or die "Cannot open $DistListName $!"; # Thes files are distribution lists and can be used directly, no conversion required foreach (@DistList) { print FH $_; }
close FH;
}
DEFINITIONS
Standard Intermediate Format(STF) :
The addressbook format that is used as an intermediate
between conversions. It is rfc822 compliant and can
be used directly as a Eudora addressbook. Do not use
a Eudora addressbook as an STF. Some versions of
Eudora use a format, that while RFC822 compliant, will
not work as an STF. Run the Eudora addressbook
through $Eudora->scan()
Pegasus addressbook: Pegausus stores its addresses in multiple files. There are one or more addressbooks, and zero or more distribution lists. Each distribution list is in a separate file.
The addressbooks cannot be used directly, but must be exported. Open the
addressbook, then use the Addressbook Menu : "Export to Tagged Text File". The
exported file(s) will be used as imput.
The distribution lists are kept in files with a ".pml" extension. They
are used as input directly -- no exporting is necessary. Pegasus does not check
for circular references until the distribution list is used. Be sure that you have
either used the list, or you have checked that there are no circular references.
METHODS
new
no arguments needed.
scan
Input :
Parameter 1; Required: An anonymous array. Each element of the array is either a reference to an array containing the contents of a tagged text file ( exported from an addressbook -- see above under definitions) or a reference to a scalar containing the file name with the tagged text addressbook. The array must contain at least one element.
Parameter 2: Optional: An anonymous array. Each element of the array is either a reference to an array containing the contents of a distribution list (.pml) file or a reference to a scalar containing the distribution list file name.
Parameter 3: Optional: A reference to an array. Each element of the array the name of the corresponding distribution list in Parameter 2. This parameter is only necessary if the elements of parameter 2 are array references. When the elements are references to scalers containing the name of the distribution list files, the distribution list name is taken from file name.
Returns: a reference to a STF ( see above).
output
Input: a reference to a STF ( see above). Returns an array of three items
Return 1: A reference to an array containing the main addressbook in tagged text format. This format can be imported into Pegasus.
Return 2: A reference to an array. Each element of the array is a a reference an array containing a distrubution list.
Return 3: A reference to an array containing the file names of the distribution lists in return 2.
LIMITATIONS
This only converts email address, aliases, and mailing lists. Phone numbers, postal addresses and other such data are not converted.
REFERENCES
You can find information on Pegasus at http://www.pmail.com/
HISTORY
This code is derived from the code used on www.interguru.com/mailconv.htm . The site has been up since 1996 ( but ldif was only included on 1997, when Netscape 3 started using it.) The site gets about 8000 unique visitors a month, many of whom make addressbook conversions. The code has been well tested.
FUTURE DIRECTIONS
BUGS
CHANGES
Original Version 2001-Sept-09
COPYRIGHT
Copyright (c) 2001 Joe Davidson. All rights reserved. This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of the Perl Artistic License (see http://www.perl.com/perl/misc/Artistic.html). or the GPL copyleft license ( http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/gpl.html)
AUTHOR
Mail::Addressbook::Convert was written by Joe Davidson <jdavidson@interguru.com> in 2001.