This file is indexed.

/usr/share/perl5/Config/IniFiles.pm is in libconfig-inifiles-perl 2.88-1.

This file is owned by root:root, with mode 0o644.

The actual contents of the file can be viewed below.

   1
   2
   3
   4
   5
   6
   7
   8
   9
  10
  11
  12
  13
  14
  15
  16
  17
  18
  19
  20
  21
  22
  23
  24
  25
  26
  27
  28
  29
  30
  31
  32
  33
  34
  35
  36
  37
  38
  39
  40
  41
  42
  43
  44
  45
  46
  47
  48
  49
  50
  51
  52
  53
  54
  55
  56
  57
  58
  59
  60
  61
  62
  63
  64
  65
  66
  67
  68
  69
  70
  71
  72
  73
  74
  75
  76
  77
  78
  79
  80
  81
  82
  83
  84
  85
  86
  87
  88
  89
  90
  91
  92
  93
  94
  95
  96
  97
  98
  99
 100
 101
 102
 103
 104
 105
 106
 107
 108
 109
 110
 111
 112
 113
 114
 115
 116
 117
 118
 119
 120
 121
 122
 123
 124
 125
 126
 127
 128
 129
 130
 131
 132
 133
 134
 135
 136
 137
 138
 139
 140
 141
 142
 143
 144
 145
 146
 147
 148
 149
 150
 151
 152
 153
 154
 155
 156
 157
 158
 159
 160
 161
 162
 163
 164
 165
 166
 167
 168
 169
 170
 171
 172
 173
 174
 175
 176
 177
 178
 179
 180
 181
 182
 183
 184
 185
 186
 187
 188
 189
 190
 191
 192
 193
 194
 195
 196
 197
 198
 199
 200
 201
 202
 203
 204
 205
 206
 207
 208
 209
 210
 211
 212
 213
 214
 215
 216
 217
 218
 219
 220
 221
 222
 223
 224
 225
 226
 227
 228
 229
 230
 231
 232
 233
 234
 235
 236
 237
 238
 239
 240
 241
 242
 243
 244
 245
 246
 247
 248
 249
 250
 251
 252
 253
 254
 255
 256
 257
 258
 259
 260
 261
 262
 263
 264
 265
 266
 267
 268
 269
 270
 271
 272
 273
 274
 275
 276
 277
 278
 279
 280
 281
 282
 283
 284
 285
 286
 287
 288
 289
 290
 291
 292
 293
 294
 295
 296
 297
 298
 299
 300
 301
 302
 303
 304
 305
 306
 307
 308
 309
 310
 311
 312
 313
 314
 315
 316
 317
 318
 319
 320
 321
 322
 323
 324
 325
 326
 327
 328
 329
 330
 331
 332
 333
 334
 335
 336
 337
 338
 339
 340
 341
 342
 343
 344
 345
 346
 347
 348
 349
 350
 351
 352
 353
 354
 355
 356
 357
 358
 359
 360
 361
 362
 363
 364
 365
 366
 367
 368
 369
 370
 371
 372
 373
 374
 375
 376
 377
 378
 379
 380
 381
 382
 383
 384
 385
 386
 387
 388
 389
 390
 391
 392
 393
 394
 395
 396
 397
 398
 399
 400
 401
 402
 403
 404
 405
 406
 407
 408
 409
 410
 411
 412
 413
 414
 415
 416
 417
 418
 419
 420
 421
 422
 423
 424
 425
 426
 427
 428
 429
 430
 431
 432
 433
 434
 435
 436
 437
 438
 439
 440
 441
 442
 443
 444
 445
 446
 447
 448
 449
 450
 451
 452
 453
 454
 455
 456
 457
 458
 459
 460
 461
 462
 463
 464
 465
 466
 467
 468
 469
 470
 471
 472
 473
 474
 475
 476
 477
 478
 479
 480
 481
 482
 483
 484
 485
 486
 487
 488
 489
 490
 491
 492
 493
 494
 495
 496
 497
 498
 499
 500
 501
 502
 503
 504
 505
 506
 507
 508
 509
 510
 511
 512
 513
 514
 515
 516
 517
 518
 519
 520
 521
 522
 523
 524
 525
 526
 527
 528
 529
 530
 531
 532
 533
 534
 535
 536
 537
 538
 539
 540
 541
 542
 543
 544
 545
 546
 547
 548
 549
 550
 551
 552
 553
 554
 555
 556
 557
 558
 559
 560
 561
 562
 563
 564
 565
 566
 567
 568
 569
 570
 571
 572
 573
 574
 575
 576
 577
 578
 579
 580
 581
 582
 583
 584
 585
 586
 587
 588
 589
 590
 591
 592
 593
 594
 595
 596
 597
 598
 599
 600
 601
 602
 603
 604
 605
 606
 607
 608
 609
 610
 611
 612
 613
 614
 615
 616
 617
 618
 619
 620
 621
 622
 623
 624
 625
 626
 627
 628
 629
 630
 631
 632
 633
 634
 635
 636
 637
 638
 639
 640
 641
 642
 643
 644
 645
 646
 647
 648
 649
 650
 651
 652
 653
 654
 655
 656
 657
 658
 659
 660
 661
 662
 663
 664
 665
 666
 667
 668
 669
 670
 671
 672
 673
 674
 675
 676
 677
 678
 679
 680
 681
 682
 683
 684
 685
 686
 687
 688
 689
 690
 691
 692
 693
 694
 695
 696
 697
 698
 699
 700
 701
 702
 703
 704
 705
 706
 707
 708
 709
 710
 711
 712
 713
 714
 715
 716
 717
 718
 719
 720
 721
 722
 723
 724
 725
 726
 727
 728
 729
 730
 731
 732
 733
 734
 735
 736
 737
 738
 739
 740
 741
 742
 743
 744
 745
 746
 747
 748
 749
 750
 751
 752
 753
 754
 755
 756
 757
 758
 759
 760
 761
 762
 763
 764
 765
 766
 767
 768
 769
 770
 771
 772
 773
 774
 775
 776
 777
 778
 779
 780
 781
 782
 783
 784
 785
 786
 787
 788
 789
 790
 791
 792
 793
 794
 795
 796
 797
 798
 799
 800
 801
 802
 803
 804
 805
 806
 807
 808
 809
 810
 811
 812
 813
 814
 815
 816
 817
 818
 819
 820
 821
 822
 823
 824
 825
 826
 827
 828
 829
 830
 831
 832
 833
 834
 835
 836
 837
 838
 839
 840
 841
 842
 843
 844
 845
 846
 847
 848
 849
 850
 851
 852
 853
 854
 855
 856
 857
 858
 859
 860
 861
 862
 863
 864
 865
 866
 867
 868
 869
 870
 871
 872
 873
 874
 875
 876
 877
 878
 879
 880
 881
 882
 883
 884
 885
 886
 887
 888
 889
 890
 891
 892
 893
 894
 895
 896
 897
 898
 899
 900
 901
 902
 903
 904
 905
 906
 907
 908
 909
 910
 911
 912
 913
 914
 915
 916
 917
 918
 919
 920
 921
 922
 923
 924
 925
 926
 927
 928
 929
 930
 931
 932
 933
 934
 935
 936
 937
 938
 939
 940
 941
 942
 943
 944
 945
 946
 947
 948
 949
 950
 951
 952
 953
 954
 955
 956
 957
 958
 959
 960
 961
 962
 963
 964
 965
 966
 967
 968
 969
 970
 971
 972
 973
 974
 975
 976
 977
 978
 979
 980
 981
 982
 983
 984
 985
 986
 987
 988
 989
 990
 991
 992
 993
 994
 995
 996
 997
 998
 999
1000
1001
1002
1003
1004
1005
1006
1007
1008
1009
1010
1011
1012
1013
1014
1015
1016
1017
1018
1019
1020
1021
1022
1023
1024
1025
1026
1027
1028
1029
1030
1031
1032
1033
1034
1035
1036
1037
1038
1039
1040
1041
1042
1043
1044
1045
1046
1047
1048
1049
1050
1051
1052
1053
1054
1055
1056
1057
1058
1059
1060
1061
1062
1063
1064
1065
1066
1067
1068
1069
1070
1071
1072
1073
1074
1075
1076
1077
1078
1079
1080
1081
1082
1083
1084
1085
1086
1087
1088
1089
1090
1091
1092
1093
1094
1095
1096
1097
1098
1099
1100
1101
1102
1103
1104
1105
1106
1107
1108
1109
1110
1111
1112
1113
1114
1115
1116
1117
1118
1119
1120
1121
1122
1123
1124
1125
1126
1127
1128
1129
1130
1131
1132
1133
1134
1135
1136
1137
1138
1139
1140
1141
1142
1143
1144
1145
1146
1147
1148
1149
1150
1151
1152
1153
1154
1155
1156
1157
1158
1159
1160
1161
1162
1163
1164
1165
1166
1167
1168
1169
1170
1171
1172
1173
1174
1175
1176
1177
1178
1179
1180
1181
1182
1183
1184
1185
1186
1187
1188
1189
1190
1191
1192
1193
1194
1195
1196
1197
1198
1199
1200
1201
1202
1203
1204
1205
1206
1207
1208
1209
1210
1211
1212
1213
1214
1215
1216
1217
1218
1219
1220
1221
1222
1223
1224
1225
1226
1227
1228
1229
1230
1231
1232
1233
1234
1235
1236
1237
1238
1239
1240
1241
1242
1243
1244
1245
1246
1247
1248
1249
1250
1251
1252
1253
1254
1255
1256
1257
1258
1259
1260
1261
1262
1263
1264
1265
1266
1267
1268
1269
1270
1271
1272
1273
1274
1275
1276
1277
1278
1279
1280
1281
1282
1283
1284
1285
1286
1287
1288
1289
1290
1291
1292
1293
1294
1295
1296
1297
1298
1299
1300
1301
1302
1303
1304
1305
1306
1307
1308
1309
1310
1311
1312
1313
1314
1315
1316
1317
1318
1319
1320
1321
1322
1323
1324
1325
1326
1327
1328
1329
1330
1331
1332
1333
1334
1335
1336
1337
1338
1339
1340
1341
1342
1343
1344
1345
1346
1347
1348
1349
1350
1351
1352
1353
1354
1355
1356
1357
1358
1359
1360
1361
1362
1363
1364
1365
1366
1367
1368
1369
1370
1371
1372
1373
1374
1375
1376
1377
1378
1379
1380
1381
1382
1383
1384
1385
1386
1387
1388
1389
1390
1391
1392
1393
1394
1395
1396
1397
1398
1399
1400
1401
1402
1403
1404
1405
1406
1407
1408
1409
1410
1411
1412
1413
1414
1415
1416
1417
1418
1419
1420
1421
1422
1423
1424
1425
1426
1427
1428
1429
1430
1431
1432
1433
1434
1435
1436
1437
1438
1439
1440
1441
1442
1443
1444
1445
1446
1447
1448
1449
1450
1451
1452
1453
1454
1455
1456
1457
1458
1459
1460
1461
1462
1463
1464
1465
1466
1467
1468
1469
1470
1471
1472
1473
1474
1475
1476
1477
1478
1479
1480
1481
1482
1483
1484
1485
1486
1487
1488
1489
1490
1491
1492
1493
1494
1495
1496
1497
1498
1499
1500
1501
1502
1503
1504
1505
1506
1507
1508
1509
1510
1511
1512
1513
1514
1515
1516
1517
1518
1519
1520
1521
1522
1523
1524
1525
1526
1527
1528
1529
1530
1531
1532
1533
1534
1535
1536
1537
1538
1539
1540
1541
1542
1543
1544
1545
1546
1547
1548
1549
1550
1551
1552
1553
1554
1555
1556
1557
1558
1559
1560
1561
1562
1563
1564
1565
1566
1567
1568
1569
1570
1571
1572
1573
1574
1575
1576
1577
1578
1579
1580
1581
1582
1583
1584
1585
1586
1587
1588
1589
1590
1591
1592
1593
1594
1595
1596
1597
1598
1599
1600
1601
1602
1603
1604
1605
1606
1607
1608
1609
1610
1611
1612
1613
1614
1615
1616
1617
1618
1619
1620
1621
1622
1623
1624
1625
1626
1627
1628
1629
1630
1631
1632
1633
1634
1635
1636
1637
1638
1639
1640
1641
1642
1643
1644
1645
1646
1647
1648
1649
1650
1651
1652
1653
1654
1655
1656
1657
1658
1659
1660
1661
1662
1663
1664
1665
1666
1667
1668
1669
1670
1671
1672
1673
1674
1675
1676
1677
1678
1679
1680
1681
1682
1683
1684
1685
1686
1687
1688
1689
1690
1691
1692
1693
1694
1695
1696
1697
1698
1699
1700
1701
1702
1703
1704
1705
1706
1707
1708
1709
1710
1711
1712
1713
1714
1715
1716
1717
1718
1719
1720
1721
1722
1723
1724
1725
1726
1727
1728
1729
1730
1731
1732
1733
1734
1735
1736
1737
1738
1739
1740
1741
1742
1743
1744
1745
1746
1747
1748
1749
1750
1751
1752
1753
1754
1755
1756
1757
1758
1759
1760
1761
1762
1763
1764
1765
1766
1767
1768
1769
1770
1771
1772
1773
1774
1775
1776
1777
1778
1779
1780
1781
1782
1783
1784
1785
1786
1787
1788
1789
1790
1791
1792
1793
1794
1795
1796
1797
1798
1799
1800
1801
1802
1803
1804
1805
1806
1807
1808
1809
1810
1811
1812
1813
1814
1815
1816
1817
1818
1819
1820
1821
1822
1823
1824
1825
1826
1827
1828
1829
1830
1831
1832
1833
1834
1835
1836
1837
1838
1839
1840
1841
1842
1843
1844
1845
1846
1847
1848
1849
1850
1851
1852
1853
1854
1855
1856
1857
1858
1859
1860
1861
1862
1863
1864
1865
1866
1867
1868
1869
1870
1871
1872
1873
1874
1875
1876
1877
1878
1879
1880
1881
1882
1883
1884
1885
1886
1887
1888
1889
1890
1891
1892
1893
1894
1895
1896
1897
1898
1899
1900
1901
1902
1903
1904
1905
1906
1907
1908
1909
1910
1911
1912
1913
1914
1915
1916
1917
1918
1919
1920
1921
1922
1923
1924
1925
1926
1927
1928
1929
1930
1931
1932
1933
1934
1935
1936
1937
1938
1939
1940
1941
1942
1943
1944
1945
1946
1947
1948
1949
1950
1951
1952
1953
1954
1955
1956
1957
1958
1959
1960
1961
1962
1963
1964
1965
1966
1967
1968
1969
1970
1971
1972
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
2027
2028
2029
2030
2031
2032
2033
2034
2035
2036
2037
2038
2039
2040
2041
2042
2043
2044
2045
2046
2047
2048
2049
2050
2051
2052
2053
2054
2055
2056
2057
2058
2059
2060
2061
2062
2063
2064
2065
2066
2067
2068
2069
2070
2071
2072
2073
2074
2075
2076
2077
2078
2079
2080
2081
2082
2083
2084
2085
2086
2087
2088
2089
2090
2091
2092
2093
2094
2095
2096
2097
2098
2099
2100
2101
2102
2103
2104
2105
2106
2107
2108
2109
2110
2111
2112
2113
2114
2115
2116
2117
2118
2119
2120
2121
2122
2123
2124
2125
2126
2127
2128
2129
2130
2131
2132
2133
2134
2135
2136
2137
2138
2139
2140
2141
2142
2143
2144
2145
2146
2147
2148
2149
2150
2151
2152
2153
2154
2155
2156
2157
2158
2159
2160
2161
2162
2163
2164
2165
2166
2167
2168
2169
2170
2171
2172
2173
2174
2175
2176
2177
2178
2179
2180
2181
2182
2183
2184
2185
2186
2187
2188
2189
2190
2191
2192
2193
2194
2195
2196
2197
2198
2199
2200
2201
2202
2203
2204
2205
2206
2207
2208
2209
2210
2211
2212
2213
2214
2215
2216
2217
2218
2219
2220
2221
2222
2223
2224
2225
2226
2227
2228
2229
2230
2231
2232
2233
2234
2235
2236
2237
2238
2239
2240
2241
2242
2243
2244
2245
2246
2247
2248
2249
2250
2251
2252
2253
2254
2255
2256
2257
2258
2259
2260
2261
2262
2263
2264
2265
2266
2267
2268
2269
2270
2271
2272
2273
2274
2275
2276
2277
2278
2279
2280
2281
2282
2283
2284
2285
2286
2287
2288
2289
2290
2291
2292
2293
2294
2295
2296
2297
2298
2299
2300
2301
2302
2303
2304
2305
2306
2307
2308
2309
2310
2311
2312
2313
2314
2315
2316
2317
2318
2319
2320
2321
2322
2323
2324
2325
2326
2327
2328
2329
2330
2331
2332
2333
2334
2335
2336
2337
2338
2339
2340
2341
2342
2343
2344
2345
2346
2347
2348
2349
2350
2351
2352
2353
2354
2355
2356
2357
2358
2359
2360
2361
2362
2363
2364
2365
2366
2367
2368
2369
2370
2371
2372
2373
2374
2375
2376
2377
2378
2379
2380
2381
2382
2383
2384
2385
2386
2387
2388
2389
2390
2391
2392
2393
2394
2395
2396
2397
2398
2399
2400
2401
2402
2403
2404
2405
2406
2407
2408
2409
2410
2411
2412
2413
2414
2415
2416
2417
2418
2419
2420
2421
2422
2423
2424
2425
2426
2427
2428
2429
2430
2431
2432
2433
2434
2435
2436
2437
2438
2439
2440
2441
2442
2443
2444
2445
2446
2447
2448
2449
2450
2451
2452
2453
2454
2455
2456
2457
2458
2459
2460
2461
2462
2463
2464
2465
2466
2467
2468
2469
2470
2471
2472
2473
2474
2475
2476
2477
2478
2479
2480
2481
2482
2483
2484
2485
2486
2487
2488
2489
2490
2491
2492
2493
2494
2495
2496
2497
2498
2499
2500
2501
2502
2503
2504
2505
2506
2507
2508
2509
2510
2511
2512
2513
2514
2515
2516
2517
2518
2519
2520
2521
2522
2523
2524
2525
2526
2527
2528
2529
2530
2531
2532
2533
2534
2535
2536
2537
2538
2539
2540
2541
2542
2543
2544
2545
2546
2547
2548
2549
2550
2551
2552
2553
2554
2555
2556
2557
2558
2559
2560
2561
2562
2563
2564
2565
2566
2567
2568
2569
2570
2571
2572
2573
2574
2575
2576
2577
2578
2579
2580
2581
2582
2583
2584
2585
2586
2587
2588
2589
2590
2591
2592
2593
2594
2595
2596
2597
2598
2599
2600
2601
2602
2603
2604
2605
2606
2607
2608
2609
2610
2611
2612
2613
2614
2615
2616
2617
2618
2619
2620
2621
2622
2623
2624
2625
2626
2627
2628
2629
2630
2631
2632
2633
2634
2635
2636
2637
2638
2639
2640
2641
2642
2643
2644
2645
2646
2647
2648
2649
2650
2651
2652
2653
2654
2655
2656
2657
2658
2659
2660
2661
2662
2663
2664
2665
2666
2667
2668
2669
2670
2671
2672
2673
2674
2675
2676
2677
2678
2679
2680
2681
2682
2683
2684
2685
2686
2687
2688
2689
2690
2691
2692
2693
2694
2695
2696
2697
2698
2699
2700
2701
2702
2703
2704
2705
2706
2707
2708
2709
2710
2711
2712
2713
2714
2715
2716
2717
2718
2719
2720
2721
2722
2723
2724
2725
2726
2727
2728
2729
2730
2731
2732
2733
2734
2735
2736
2737
2738
2739
2740
2741
2742
2743
2744
2745
2746
2747
2748
2749
2750
2751
2752
2753
2754
2755
2756
2757
2758
2759
2760
2761
2762
2763
2764
2765
2766
2767
2768
2769
2770
2771
2772
2773
2774
2775
2776
2777
2778
2779
2780
2781
2782
2783
2784
2785
2786
2787
2788
2789
2790
2791
2792
2793
2794
2795
2796
2797
2798
2799
2800
2801
2802
2803
2804
2805
2806
2807
2808
2809
2810
2811
2812
2813
2814
2815
2816
2817
2818
2819
2820
2821
2822
2823
2824
2825
2826
2827
2828
2829
2830
2831
2832
2833
2834
2835
2836
2837
2838
2839
2840
2841
2842
2843
2844
2845
2846
2847
2848
2849
2850
2851
2852
2853
2854
2855
2856
2857
2858
2859
2860
2861
2862
2863
2864
2865
2866
2867
2868
2869
2870
2871
2872
2873
2874
2875
2876
2877
2878
2879
2880
2881
2882
2883
2884
2885
2886
2887
2888
2889
2890
2891
2892
2893
2894
2895
2896
2897
2898
2899
2900
2901
2902
2903
2904
2905
2906
2907
2908
2909
2910
2911
2912
2913
2914
2915
2916
2917
2918
2919
2920
2921
2922
2923
2924
2925
2926
2927
2928
2929
2930
2931
2932
2933
2934
2935
2936
2937
2938
2939
2940
2941
2942
2943
2944
2945
2946
2947
2948
2949
2950
2951
2952
2953
2954
2955
2956
2957
2958
2959
2960
2961
2962
2963
2964
2965
2966
2967
2968
2969
2970
2971
2972
2973
2974
2975
2976
2977
2978
2979
2980
2981
2982
2983
2984
2985
2986
2987
2988
2989
2990
2991
2992
2993
2994
2995
2996
2997
2998
2999
3000
3001
3002
3003
3004
3005
3006
3007
3008
3009
3010
3011
3012
3013
3014
3015
3016
3017
3018
3019
3020
3021
3022
3023
3024
3025
3026
3027
3028
3029
3030
3031
3032
3033
3034
3035
3036
3037
3038
3039
3040
3041
3042
3043
3044
3045
3046
3047
3048
3049
3050
3051
3052
3053
3054
3055
3056
3057
3058
3059
3060
3061
3062
3063
3064
3065
3066
3067
3068
3069
3070
3071
3072
3073
3074
3075
3076
3077
3078
3079
3080
3081
3082
3083
3084
3085
3086
3087
3088
3089
3090
3091
3092
3093
3094
3095
3096
3097
3098
3099
3100
3101
3102
3103
3104
3105
3106
3107
3108
3109
3110
3111
3112
3113
3114
3115
3116
3117
3118
3119
3120
3121
3122
3123
3124
3125
3126
3127
3128
3129
3130
3131
3132
3133
3134
3135
3136
3137
3138
3139
3140
3141
3142
3143
3144
3145
3146
3147
3148
3149
3150
3151
3152
3153
3154
3155
3156
3157
3158
3159
3160
3161
3162
3163
3164
3165
3166
3167
3168
3169
3170
3171
3172
3173
3174
3175
3176
3177
3178
3179
3180
3181
3182
3183
3184
3185
3186
3187
3188
3189
3190
3191
3192
package Config::IniFiles;

use vars qw($VERSION);

$VERSION = '2.88';

require 5.008;
use strict;
use warnings;
use Carp;
use Symbol 'gensym','qualify_to_ref';   # For the 'any data type' hack
use Fcntl qw( SEEK_SET SEEK_CUR );

use List::Util qw(any none);

use File::Basename qw( dirname );
use File::Temp qw/ tempfile /;

@Config::IniFiles::errors = ( );

#   $Header: /home/shlomi/progs/perl/cpan/Config/IniFiles/config-inifiles-cvsbackup/config-inifiles/IniFiles.pm,v 2.41 2003-12-08 10:50:56 domq Exp $

=encoding utf8

=head1 NAME

Config::IniFiles - A module for reading .ini-style configuration files.

=head1 SYNOPSIS

  use Config::IniFiles;
  my $cfg = Config::IniFiles->new( -file => "/path/configfile.ini" );
  print "The value is " . $cfg->val( 'Section', 'Parameter' ) . "."
    if $cfg->val( 'Section', 'Parameter' );

=head1 DESCRIPTION

Config::IniFiles provides a way to have readable configuration files outside
your Perl script. Configurations can be imported (inherited, stacked,...),
sections can be grouped, and settings can be accessed from a tied hash.

=head1 FILE FORMAT

INI files consist of a number of sections, each preceded with the
section name in square brackets, followed by parameter names and
their values.

  [a section]
  Parameter=Value

  [section 2]
  AnotherParameter=Some value
  Setting=Something else
  Parameter=Different scope than the one in the first section

The first non-blank character of the line indicating a section must
be a left bracket and the last non-blank character of a line indicating
a section must be a right bracket. The characters making up the section
name can be any symbols at all. However section names must be unique.

Parameters are specified in each section as Name=Value.  Any spaces
around the equals sign will be ignored, and the value extends to the
end of the line (including any whitespace at the end of the line.
Parameter names are localized to the namespace of the section, but must
be unique within a section.

Both the hash mark (#) and the semicolon (;) are comment characters.
by default (this can be changed by configuration). Lines that begin with
either of these characters will be ignored. Any amount of whitespace may
precede the comment character.

Multi-line or multi-valued parameters may also be defined ala UNIX
"here document" syntax:

  Parameter=<<EOT
  value/line 1
  value/line 2
  EOT

You may use any string you want in place of "EOT". Note that whatever
follows the "<<" and what appears at the end of the text MUST match
exactly, including any trailing whitespace.

Alternately, as a configuration option (default is off), continuation
lines can be allowed:

  [Section]
  Parameter=this parameter \
    spreads across \
    a few lines


=head1 USAGE -- Object Interface

Get a new Config::IniFiles object with the I<new> method:

  $cfg = Config::IniFiles->new( -file => "/path/config_file.ini" );
  $cfg = new Config::IniFiles -file => "/path/config_file.ini";

Optional named parameters may be specified after the configuration
file name. See the I<new> in the B<METHODS> section, below.

Values from the config file are fetched with the val method:

  $value = $cfg->val('Section', 'Parameter');

If you want a multi-line/value field returned as an array, just
specify an array as the receiver:

  @values = $cfg->val('Section', 'Parameter');

=head1 METHODS

=head2 new ( [-option=>value ...] )

Returns a new configuration object (or "undef" if the configuration
file has an error, in which case check the global C<@Config::IniFiles::errors>
array for reasons why). One Config::IniFiles object is required per configuration
file. The following named parameters are available:

=over 10


=item I<-file>  filename

Specifies a file to load the parameters from. This 'file' may actually be
any of the following things:

  1) the pathname of a file

    $cfg = Config::IniFiles->new( -file => "/path/to/config_file.ini" );

  2) a simple filehandle

    $cfg = Config::IniFiles->new( -file => STDIN );

  3) a filehandle glob

    open( CONFIG, "/path/to/config_file.ini" );
    $cfg = Config::IniFiles->new( -file => *CONFIG );

  4) a reference to a glob

    open( CONFIG, "/path/to/config_file.ini" );
    $cfg = Config::IniFiles->new( -file => \*CONFIG );

  5) an IO::File object

    $io = IO::File->new( "/path/to/config_file.ini" );
    $cfg = Config::IniFiles->new( -file => $io );

  or

    open my $fh, '<', "/path/to/config_file.ini" or die $!;
    $cfg = Config::IniFiles->new( -file => $fh );

  6) A reference to a scalar (requires newer versions of IO::Scalar)

    $ini_file_contents = <<EOT
    [section name]
    Parameter=A value
    Setting=Another value
    EOT

    $cfg = Config::IniFiles->new( -file => \$ini_file_contents );


If this option is not specified, (i.e. you are creating a config file from scratch)
you must specify a target file using L<SetFileName> in order to save the parameters.


=item I<-default> section

Specifies a section to be used for default values. For example, in the
following configuration file, if you look up the "permissions" parameter
in the "joe" section, there is none.

   [all]
   permissions=Nothing

   [jane]
   name=Jane
   permissions=Open files

   [joe]
   name=Joseph

If you create your Config::IniFiles object with a default section of "all" like this:

   $cfg = Config::IniFiles->new( -file => "file.ini", -default => "all" );

Then requsting a value for a "permissions" in the [joe] section will
check for a value from [all] before returning undef.

   $permissions = $cfg->val( "joe", "permissions");   // returns "Nothing"


=item I<-fallback> section

Specifies a section to be used for parameters outside a section. Default is none.
Without -fallback specified (which is the default), reading a configuration file
which has a parameter outside a section will fail. With this set to, say,
"GENERAL", this configuration:

   wrong=wronger

   [joe]
   name=Joseph

will be assumed as:

   [GENERAL]
   wrong=wronger

   [joe]
   name=Joseph

Note that Config::IniFiles will also omit the fallback section header when
outputing such configuration.

=item I<-nocase> 0|1

Set -nocase => 1 to handle the config file in a case-insensitive
manner (case in values is preserved, however).  By default, config
files are case-sensitive (i.e., a section named 'Test' is not the same
as a section named 'test').  Note that there is an added overhead for
turning off case sensitivity.


=item I<-import> object

This allows you to import or inherit existing setting from another
Config::IniFiles object. When importing settings from another object,
sections with the same name will be merged and parameters that are
defined in both the imported object and the I<-file> will take the
value of given in the I<-file>.

If a I<-default> section is also given on this call, and it does not
coincide with the default of the imported object, the new default
section will be used instead. If no I<-default> section is given,
then the default of the imported object will be used.


=item I<-allowcontinue> 0|1

Set -allowcontinue => 1 to enable continuation lines in the config file.
i.e. if a line ends with a backslash C<\>, then the following line is
appended to the parameter value, dropping the backslash and the newline
character(s).

Default behavior is to keep a trailing backslash C<\> as a parameter
value. Note that continuation cannot be mixed with the "here" value
syntax.


=item I<-allowempty> 0|1

If set to 1, then empty files are allowed at L<ReadConfig|ReadConfig()>
time. If set to 0 (the default), an empty configuration file is considered
an error.


=item I<-negativedeltas> 0|1

If set to 1 (the default if importing this object from another one),
parses and honors lines of the following form in the configuration
file:

  ; [somesection] is deleted

or

  [inthissection]
  ; thisparameter is deleted

If set to 0 (the default if not importing), these comments are treated
like ordinary ones.

The L<WriteConfig|WriteConfig($filename, -delta=>1)> form will output such
comments to indicate deleted sections or parameters. This way,
reloading a delta file using the same imported object produces the
same results in memory again. See L<IMPORT / DELTA FEATURES> for more
details.

=item I<-commentchar> 'char'

The default comment character is C<#>. You may change this by specifying
this option to another character. This can be any character except
alphanumeric characters, square brackets or the "equal" sign.


=item I<-allowedcommentchars> 'chars'

Allowed default comment characters are C<#> and C<;>. By specifying this
option you may change the range of characters that are used to denote a
comment line to include any set of characters

Note: that the character specified by B<-commentchar> (see above) is
I<always> part of the allowed comment characters.

Note 2: The given string is evaluated as a regular expression character
class, so '\' must be escaped if you wish to use it.


=item I<-reloadwarn> 0|1

Set -reloadwarn => 1 to enable a warning message (output to STDERR)
whenever the config file is reloaded.  The reload message is of the
form:

  PID <PID> reloading config file <file> at YYYY.MM.DD HH:MM:SS

Default behavior is to not warn (i.e. -reloadwarn => 0).

This is generally only useful when using Config::IniFiles in a server
or daemon application. The application is still responsible for determining
when the object is to be reloaded.


=item I<-nomultiline> 0|1

Set -nomultiline => 1 to output multi-valued parameter as:

 param=value1
 param=value2

instead of the default:

 param=<<EOT
 value1
 value2
 EOT

As the later might not be compatible with all applications.

=item I<-handle_trailing_comment> 0|1

Set -handle_trailing_comment => 1 to enable support of parameter trailing
comments.

For example, if we have a parameter line like this:

 param1=value1;comment1

by default, handle_trailing_comment will be set to B<0>, and we will get
I<value1;comment1> as the value of I<param1>. If we have
-handle_trailing_comment set to B<1>, then we will get I<value1>
as the value for I<param1>, and I<comment1> as the trailing comment of
I<param1>.

Set and get methods for trailing comments are provided as
L</SetParameterTrailingComment> and L</GetParameterTrailingComment>.

=back

=cut

sub _nocase
{
    my $self = shift;

    if (@_)
    {
        $self->{nocase} = (shift(@_) ? 1 : 0);
    }

    return $self->{nocase};
}

sub _is_parm_in_sect
{
    my ($self, $sect, $parm) = @_;

    return any { $_ eq $parm } @{$self->{myparms}{$sect}};
}

sub new {
  my $class = shift;
  my %parms = @_;

  my $errs = 0;
  my @groups = ( );

  my $self = bless {
    default => '',
    fallback =>undef,
    fallback_used => 0,
    imported =>undef,
    v =>{},
    cf => undef,
    firstload => 1,
    nomultiline => 0,
    handle_trailing_comment => 0,
  }, $class;

  if( ref($parms{-import}) && ($parms{-import}->isa('Config::IniFiles')) ) {
    $self->{imported}=$parms{-import}; # ReadConfig will load the data
    $self->{negativedeltas}=1;
  } elsif( defined $parms{-import} ) {
    carp "Invalid -import value \"$parms{-import}\" was ignored.";
  } # end if
  delete $parms{-import};

  # Copy the original parameters so we
  # can use them when we build new sections
  %{$self->{startup_settings}} = %parms;

  # Parse options
  my($k, $v);
  local $_;
  $self->_nocase(0);

  # Handle known parameters first in this order,
  # because each() could return parameters in any order
  if (defined ($v = delete $parms{'-file'})) {
    # Should we be pedantic and check that the file exists?
    # .. no, because now it could be a handle, IO:: object or something else
    $self->{cf} = $v;
  }
  if (defined ($v = delete $parms{'-nocase'})) {
    $self->_nocase($v);
  }
  if (defined ($v = delete $parms{'-default'})) {
    $self->{default} = $self->_nocase ? lc($v) : $v;
  }
  if (defined ($v = delete $parms{'-fallback'})) {
    $self->{fallback} = $self->_nocase ? lc($v) : $v;
  }
  if (defined ($v = delete $parms{'-reloadwarn'})) {
    $self->{reloadwarn} = $v ? 1 : 0;
  }
  if (defined ($v = delete $parms{'-nomultiline'})) {
    $self->{nomultiline} = $v ? 1 : 0;
  }
  if (defined ($v = delete $parms{'-allowcontinue'})) {
    $self->{allowcontinue} = $v ? 1 : 0;
  }
  if (defined ($v = delete $parms{'-allowempty'})) {
     $self->{allowempty} = $v ? 1 : 0;
  }
  if (defined ($v = delete $parms{'-negativedeltas'})) {
      $self->{negativedeltas} = $v ? 1 : 0;
  }
  if (defined ($v = delete $parms{'-commentchar'})) {
    if(!defined $v || length($v) != 1) {
      carp "Comment character must be unique.";
      $errs++;
    }
    elsif($v =~ /[\[\]=\w]/) {
      # must not be square bracket, equal sign or alphanumeric
      carp "Illegal comment character.";
      $errs++;
    }
    else {
      $self->{comment_char} = $v;
    }
  }
  if (defined ($v = delete $parms{'-allowedcommentchars'})) {
    # must not be square bracket, equal sign or alphanumeric
    if(!defined $v || $v =~ /[\[\]=\w]/) {
      carp "Illegal value for -allowedcommentchars.";
      $errs++;
    }
    else {
      $self->{allowed_comment_char} = $v;
    }
  }

  if (defined ($v = delete $parms{'-handle_trailing_comment'})) {
      $self->{handle_trailing_comment} = $v ? 1 : 0;
  }

  $self->{comment_char} = '#' unless exists $self->{comment_char};
  $self->{allowed_comment_char} = ';' unless exists $self->{allowed_comment_char};
  # make sure that comment character is always allowed
  $self->{allowed_comment_char} .= $self->{comment_char};

  $self->{_comments_at_end_of_file} = [];

  # Any other parameters are unkown
  while (($k, $v) = each %parms) {
    carp "Unknown named parameter $k=>$v";
    $errs++;
  }

  return undef if $errs;

  if ($self->ReadConfig) {
    return $self;
  } else {
    return undef;
  }
}


=head2 val ($section, $parameter [, $default] )

Returns the value of the specified parameter (C<$parameter>) in section
C<$section>, returns undef (or C<$default> if specified) if no section or
no parameter for the given section exists.


If you want a multi-line/value field returned as an array, just
specify an array as the receiver:

  @values = $cfg->val('Section', 'Parameter');

A multi-line/value field that is returned in a scalar context will be
joined using $/ (input record separator, default is \n) if defined,
otherwise the values will be joined using \n.

=cut

sub _caseify {
    my ($self, @refs) = @_;

    if (not $self->_nocase)
    {
        return;
    }

    foreach my $ref (@refs) {
        ${$ref} = lc(${$ref})
    }

    return;
}

sub val
{
    my ($self, $sect, $parm, $def) = @_;

    # Always return undef on bad parameters
    if (not (defined($sect) && defined($parm)))
    {
        return;
    }

    $self->_caseify(\$sect, \$parm);

    my $val_sect =
        defined($self->{v}{$sect}{$parm})
            ? $sect
            : $self->{default}
            ;

    my $val = $self->{v}{$val_sect}{$parm};

    # If the value is undef, make it $def instead (which could just be undef)
    if (!defined ($val))
    {
        $val = $def;
    }

    # Return the value in the desired context
    if (wantarray)
    {
        if (ref($val) eq "ARRAY")
        {
            return @$val;
        }
        elsif (defined($val))
        {
            return $val;
        }
        else
        {
            return;
        }
    }
    elsif (ref($val) eq "ARRAY")
    {
        return join( (defined($/) ? $/ : "\n"), @$val);
    }
    else
    {
        return $val;
    }
}

=head2 exists($section, $parameter)

True if and only if there exists a section C<$section>, with
a parameter C<$parameter> inside, not counting default values.

=cut

sub exists {
    my ($self, $sect, $parm) = @_;

    $self->_caseify(\$sect, \$parm);

    return (exists $self->{v}{$sect}{$parm});
}



=head2 push ($section, $parameter, $value, [ $value2, ...])

Pushes new values at the end of existing value(s) of parameter
C<$parameter> in section C<$section>.  See below for methods to write
the new configuration back out to a file.

You may not set a parameter that didn't exist in the original
configuration file.  B<push> will return I<undef> if this is
attempted. See B<newval> below to do this. Otherwise, it returns 1.

=cut

sub push {
  my ($self, $sect, $parm, @vals) = @_;

  return undef if not defined $sect;
  return undef if not defined $parm;

  $self->_caseify(\$sect, \$parm);

  return undef if (! defined($self->{v}{$sect}{$parm}));

  return 1 if (! @vals);

  $self->_touch_parameter($sect, $parm);

  $self->{EOT}{$sect}{$parm} = 'EOT' if
    (!defined $self->{EOT}{$sect}{$parm});

  $self->{v}{$sect}{$parm} = [$self->{v}{$sect}{$parm}] unless
     (ref($self->{v}{$sect}{$parm}) eq "ARRAY");

  CORE::push @{$self->{v}{$sect}{$parm}}, @vals;
  return 1;
}

=head2 setval ($section, $parameter, $value, [ $value2, ... ])

Sets the value of parameter C<$parameter> in section C<$section> to
C<$value> (or to a set of values).  See below for methods to write
the new configuration back out to a file.

You may not set a parameter that didn't exist in the original
configuration file.  B<setval> will return I<undef> if this is
attempted. See B<newval> below to do this. Otherwise, it returns 1.

=cut

sub setval {
  my $self = shift;
  my $sect = shift;
  my $parm = shift;
  my @val  = @_;

  return undef if not defined $sect;
  return undef if not defined $parm;

  $self->_caseify(\$sect, \$parm);

  if (defined($self->{v}{$sect}{$parm})) {
    $self->_touch_parameter($sect, $parm);
    if (@val > 1) {
      $self->{v}{$sect}{$parm} = \@val;
      $self->{EOT}{$sect}{$parm} = 'EOT';
    } else {
      $self->{v}{$sect}{$parm} = shift @val;
    }
    return 1;
  } else {
    return undef;
  }
}

=head2 newval($section, $parameter, $value [, $value2, ...])

Assignes a new value, C<$value> (or set of values) to the
parameter C<$parameter> in section C<$section> in the configuration
file.

=cut

sub newval {
    my $self = shift;
    my $sect = shift;
    my $parm = shift;
    my @val  = @_;

    return undef if not defined $sect;
    return undef if not defined $parm;

    $self->_caseify(\$sect, \$parm);

    $self->AddSection($sect);

    if (none { $_ eq $parm } @{$self->{parms}{$sect}})
    {
        CORE::push(@{$self->{parms}{$sect}}, $parm)
    }

    $self->_touch_parameter($sect, $parm);
    if (@val > 1) {
        $self->{v}{$sect}{$parm} = \@val;
        if (!defined $self->{EOT}{$sect}{$parm})
        {
            $self->{EOT}{$sect}{$parm} = 'EOT';
        }
    } else {
        $self->{v}{$sect}{$parm} = shift @val;
    }
    return 1
}

=head2 delval($section, $parameter)

Deletes the specified parameter from the configuration file

=cut

sub delval {
    my $self = shift;
    my $sect = shift;
    my $parm = shift;

    return undef if not defined $sect;
    return undef if not defined $parm;

    $self->_caseify(\$sect, \$parm);

    $self->{parms}{$sect} = [grep {$_ ne $parm} @{$self->{parms}{$sect}}];
    $self->_touch_parameter($sect, $parm);
    delete $self->{v}{$sect}{$parm};

    return 1;
}

=head2 ReadConfig

Forces the configuration file to be re-read. Returns undef if the
file can not be opened, no filename was defined (with the C<-file>
option) when the object was constructed, or an error occurred while
reading.

If an error occurs while parsing the INI file the @Config::IniFiles::errors
array will contain messages that might help you figure out where the
problem is in the file.

=cut

# Auxillary function to make deep (aliasing-free) copies of data
# structures.  Ignores blessed objects in tree (could be taught not
# to, if needed)
sub _deepcopy {
    my $ref = shift;

    if (! ref($ref)) {
        return $ref;
    }

    if (UNIVERSAL::isa($ref, "ARRAY")) {
        return [map {_deepcopy($_)} @$ref];
    }

    if (UNIVERSAL::isa($ref, "HASH")) {
        my $return = {};
        foreach my $k (keys %$ref) {
            $return->{$k} = _deepcopy($ref->{$k});
        }
        return $return;
    }

    carp "Unhandled data structure in $ref, cannot _deepcopy()";
}

# Internal method, gets the next line, taking proper care of line endings.
sub _nextline {
    my ($self, $fh) = @_;
    local $_;
    if (!exists $self->{line_ends}) {
        # no $self->{line_ends} is a hint set by caller that we are at
        # the first line (kludge kludge).
        {
            local $/=\1;
            my $nextchar;
            do {
                $nextchar=<$fh>;
                return undef if (!defined $nextchar);
                $_ .= $nextchar;
            } until (m/((\015|\012|\025|\n)$)/s);
            $self->{line_ends}=$1;
            if ($nextchar eq "\x0d") {
                # peek at the next char
                $nextchar = <$fh>;
                if ($nextchar eq "\x0a") {
                    $self->{line_ends} .= "\x0a";
                } else {
                    seek $fh, -1, SEEK_CUR();
                }
            }
        }

        # If there's a UTF BOM (Byte-Order-Mark) in the first
        # character of the first line then remove it before processing
        # ( http://www.unicode.org/unicode/faq/utf_bom.html#22 )
        s/^//;

        return $_;
    } else {
        local $/=$self->{line_ends};
        return scalar <$fh>;
    }
}

# Internal method, closes or resets the file handle. To be called
# whenever ReadConfig() returns.
sub _rollback {
    my ($self, $fh) = @_;
  # Only close if this is a filename, if it's
  # an open handle, then just roll back to the start
  if( !ref($self->{cf}) ) {
    close($fh);
  } else {
    # Attempt to rollback to beginning, no problem if this fails (e.g. STDIN)
    seek( $fh, 0, SEEK_SET() );
  } # end if
}

sub _no_filename
{
    my $self = shift;

    my $fn = $self->{cf};

    return (not (defined($fn) && length($fn)));
}

sub _read_line_num
{
    my $self = shift;

    if (@_)
    {
        $self->{_read_line_num} = shift;
    }

    return $self->{_read_line_num};
}

# Reads the next line and removes the end of line from it.
sub _read_next_line
{
    my ($self, $fh) = @_;

    my $line = $self->_nextline($fh);

    if (! defined($line))
    {
        return undef;
    }

    $self->_read_line_num( $self->_read_line_num() + 1);

    # Remove line ending char(s)
    $line =~ s/(\015\012?|\012|\025|\n)\z//;

    return $line;
}

sub _add_error
{
    my ($self, $msg) = @_;

    CORE::push(@Config::IniFiles::errors, $msg);

    return;
}

# The current section - used for parsing.
sub _curr_sect
{
    my $self = shift;

    if (@_)
    {
        $self->{_curr_sect} = shift;
    }

    return $self->{_curr_sect};
}

# The current parameter - used for parsing.
sub _curr_parm
{
    my $self = shift;

    if (@_)
    {
        $self->{_curr_parm} = shift;
    }

    return $self->{_curr_parm};
}

# Current location - section and parameter.
sub _curr_loc
{
    my $self = shift;

    return ($self->_curr_sect, $self->_curr_parm);
}

# The current value - used in parsing.
sub _curr_val
{
    my $self = shift;

    if (@_)
    {
        $self->{_curr_val} = shift;
    }

    return $self->{_curr_val};
}

sub _curr_cmts
{
    my $self = shift;

    if (@_)
    {
        $self->{_curr_cmts} = shift;
    }

    return $self->{_curr_cmts};
}

sub _curr_end_comment
{
    my $self = shift;

    if (@_)
    {
        $self->{_curr_end_comment} = shift;
    }

    return $self->{_curr_end_comment};
}

my $RET_CONTINUE = 1;
my $RET_BREAK;

sub _ReadConfig_handle_comment
{
    my ($self, $line) = @_;

    if ($self->{negativedeltas} and
        my ($to_delete) = $line =~ m/\A$self->{comment_char} (.*) is deleted\z/
    )
    {
        if (my ($sect) = $to_delete =~ m/\A\[(.*)\]\z/)
        {
            $self->DeleteSection($sect);
        }
        else
        {
            $self->delval($self->_curr_sect, $to_delete);
        }
    }
    else
    {
        CORE::push(@{$self->_curr_cmts}, $line);
    }

    return $RET_CONTINUE;
}

sub _ReadConfig_new_section
{
    my ($self, $sect) = @_;

    $self->_caseify(\$sect);

    $self->_curr_sect($sect);
    $self->AddSection($self->_curr_sect);
    $self->SetSectionComment($self->_curr_sect, @{$self->_curr_cmts});
    $self->_curr_cmts([]);

    return $RET_CONTINUE;
}

sub _handle_fallback_sect
{
    my ($self) = @_;

    if ((!defined($self->_curr_sect)) and defined($self->{fallback}))
    {
        $self->_curr_sect($self->{fallback});
        $self->{fallback_used}++;
    }

    return;
}

sub _ReadConfig_load_value
{
    my ($self, $val_aref) = @_;

    # Now load value
    if (exists $self->{v}{$self->_curr_sect}{$self->_curr_parm} &&
        exists $self->{myparms}{$self->_curr_sect} &&
        $self->_is_parm_in_sect($self->_curr_loc))
    {
        $self->push($self->_curr_loc, @$val_aref);
    }
    else
    {
        # Loaded parameters shadow imported ones, instead of appending
        # to them
        $self->newval($self->_curr_loc, @$val_aref);
    }

    return;
}

sub _test_for_fallback_or_no_sect
{
    my ($self, $fh) = @_;

    $self->_handle_fallback_sect;

    if (!defined $self->_curr_sect) {
        $self->_add_error(
            sprintf('%d: %s', $self->_read_line_num(),
                qq#parameter found outside a section#
            )
        );
        $self->_rollback($fh);
        return $RET_BREAK;
    }

    return $RET_CONTINUE;
}

sub _ReadConfig_handle_here_doc_param
{
    my ($self, $fh, $eotmark, $val_aref) = @_;

    my $foundeot = 0;
    my $startline = $self->_read_line_num();

    HERE_DOC_LOOP:
    while (defined( my $line = $self->_read_next_line($fh) ))
    {
        if ($line eq $eotmark)
        {
            $foundeot = 1;
            last HERE_DOC_LOOP;
        }
        else
        {
            # Untaint
            my ($contents) = $line =~ /(.*)/ms;
            CORE::push(@$val_aref, $contents);
        }
    }

    if (! $foundeot)
    {
        $self->_add_error(sprintf('%d: %s', $startline,
                qq#no end marker ("$eotmark") found#));
        $self->_rollback();
        return $RET_BREAK;
    }

    return $RET_CONTINUE;
}

sub _ReadConfig_handle_non_here_doc_param
{
    my ($self, $fh, $val_aref) = @_;

    my $allCmt = $self->{allowed_comment_char};
    my $end_commenthandle = $self->{handle_trailing_comment};

    # process continuation lines, if any
    $self->_process_continue_val($fh);

    # we should split value and comments if there is any comment
    if ($end_commenthandle and
        my ($value_to_assign, $end_comment_to_assign) = $self->_curr_val =~ /(.*?)\s*[$allCmt]\s*(.*)$/)
    {
        $self->_curr_val($value_to_assign);
        $self->_curr_end_comment($end_comment_to_assign);
    }
    else
    {
        $self->_curr_end_comment(q{});
    }

    @{$val_aref} = ($self->_curr_val);

    return;
}


sub _ReadConfig_populate_values
{
    my ($self, $val_aref, $eotmark) = @_;

    $self->_ReadConfig_load_value($val_aref);

    $self->SetParameterComment($self->_curr_loc, @{ $self->_curr_cmts });
    $self->_curr_cmts([]);
    if (defined $eotmark)
    {
        $self->SetParameterEOT($self->_curr_loc, $eotmark);
    }
    # if handle_trailing_comment is off, this line makes no sense, since all $end_comment=""
    $self->SetParameterTrailingComment($self->_curr_loc, $self->_curr_end_comment);

    return;
}

sub _ReadConfig_param_assignment
{
    my ($self, $fh, $line, $parm, $value_to_assign) = @_;

    $self->_curr_val($value_to_assign);
    $self->_curr_end_comment(undef());

    if (!defined( $self->_test_for_fallback_or_no_sect($fh) ))
    {
        return $RET_BREAK;
    }

    $self->_caseify(\$parm);
    $self->_curr_parm($parm);

    my @val = ( );
    my $eotmark;

    if (($eotmark) = $self->_curr_val =~ /\A<<(.*)$/)
    {
        if (! defined($self->_ReadConfig_handle_here_doc_param(
                    $fh, $eotmark, \@val
                ))
        )
        {
            return $RET_BREAK;
        }
    }
    else
    {
        $self->_ReadConfig_handle_non_here_doc_param( $fh, \@val );
    }

    $self->_ReadConfig_populate_values(\@val, $eotmark);

    return $RET_CONTINUE;
}

# Return 1 to continue - undef to terminate the loop.
sub _ReadConfig_handle_line
{
    my ($self, $fh, $line) = @_;

    my $allCmt = $self->{allowed_comment_char};

    # ignore blank lines
    if ($line =~ /\A\s*\z/)
    {
        return $RET_CONTINUE;
    }

    # collect comments
    if ($line =~/\A\s*[$allCmt]/)
    {
        return $self->_ReadConfig_handle_comment($line);
    }

    # New Section
    if (my ($sect) = $line =~ /\A\s*\[\s*(\S|\S.*\S)\s*\]\s*\z/)
    {
        return $self->_ReadConfig_new_section($sect);
    }

    # New parameter
    if (my ($parm, $value_to_assign) = $line =~ /^\s*([^=]*?[^=\s])\s*=\s*(.*)$/)
    {
        return $self->_ReadConfig_param_assignment($fh, $line, $parm, $value_to_assign);
    }

    $self->_add_error(
        sprintf("Line %d in file %s is mal-formed:\n\t\%s",
            $self->_read_line_num(), $self->GetFileName(), $line
        )
    );

    return $RET_CONTINUE;
}

sub _ReadConfig_lines_loop
{
    my ($self, $fh) = @_;

    $self->_curr_sect(undef());
    $self->_curr_parm(undef());
    $self->_curr_val(undef());
    $self->_curr_cmts([]);

    while ( defined(my $line = $self->_read_next_line($fh)) )
    {
        if (!defined(
                scalar( $self->_ReadConfig_handle_line($fh, $line) )
            )
        )
        {
            return undef;
        }
    }

    return 1;
}

sub ReadConfig
{
    my $self = shift;

    @Config::IniFiles::errors = ( );

    # Initialize (and clear out) storage hashes
    $self->{sects}  = [];
    $self->{parms}  = {};
    $self->{group}  = {};
    $self->{v}      = {};
    $self->{sCMT}   = {};
    $self->{pCMT}   = {};
    $self->{EOT}    = {};
    $self->{mysects} = []; # A pair of hashes to remember which params are loaded
    $self->{myparms} = {}; # or set using the API vs. imported - useful for
    $self->{peCMT}  = {};  # this will store trailing comments at the end of single-lined params
    $self->{e}      = {};  # If a section is already exists
    $self->{mye}    = {};  # If a section is already exists
    # import shadowing, see below, and WriteConfig($fn, -delta=>1)

    if( defined $self->{imported} ) {
        # Run up the import tree to the top, then reload coming
        # back down, maintaining the imported file names and our
        # file name.
        # This is only needed on a re-load though
        $self->{imported}->ReadConfig() unless ($self->{firstload});

        foreach my $field (qw(sects parms group v sCMT pCMT EOT e)) {
            $self->{$field} = _deepcopy($self->{imported}->{$field});
        }
    } # end if

    if ($self->_no_filename)
    {
        return 1;
    }

    # If this is a reload and we want warnings then send one to the STDERR log
    unless( $self->{firstload} || !$self->{reloadwarn} ) {
        my ($ss, $mm, $hh, $DD, $MM, $YY) = (localtime(time))[0..5];
        printf STDERR
        "PID %d reloading config file %s at %d.%02d.%02d %02d:%02d:%02d\n",
        $$, $self->{cf}, $YY+1900, $MM+1, $DD, $hh, $mm, $ss;
    }

    # Turn off. Future loads are reloads
    $self->{firstload} = 0;

    # Get a filehandle, allowing almost any type of 'file' parameter
    my $fh = $self->_make_filehandle( $self->{cf} );
    if (!$fh) {
        carp "Failed to open $self->{cf}: $!";
        return undef;
    }

    # Get mod time of file so we can retain it (if not from STDIN)
    # also check if it's a real file (could have been a filehandle made from a scalar).
    if (ref($fh) ne "IO::Scalar" && -e $fh)
    {
        my @stats = stat $fh;
        $self->{file_mode} = sprintf("%04o", $stats[2]) if defined $stats[2];
    }


    # The first lines of the file must be blank, comments or start with [
    my $first = '';

    delete $self->{line_ends}; # Marks start of parsing for _nextline()

    $self->_read_line_num(0);

    if (!defined($self->_ReadConfig_lines_loop($fh)))
    {
        return undef;
    }

    # Special case: return undef if file is empty. (suppress this line to
    # restore the more intuitive behaviour of accepting empty files)
    if (! keys %{$self->{v}} && ! $self->{allowempty}) {
        $self->_add_error("Empty file treated as error");
        $self->_rollback($fh);
        return undef;
    }

    if ( defined (my $defaultsect=$self->{startup_settings}->{-default}) )
    {
        $self->AddSection($defaultsect);
    }

    $self->_SetEndComments(@{ $self->_curr_cmts });

    $self->_rollback($fh);
    return (@Config::IniFiles::errors ? undef : 1);
}


=head2 Sections

Returns an array containing section names in the configuration file.
If the I<nocase> option was turned on when the config object was
created, the section names will be returned in lowercase.

=cut

sub Sections {
    my $self = shift;

    return @{_aref_or_empty($self->{sects})};
}

=head2 SectionExists ( $sect_name )

Returns 1 if the specified section exists in the INI file, 0 otherwise (undefined if section_name is not defined).

=cut

sub SectionExists {
    my $self = shift;
    my $sect = shift;

    return undef if not defined $sect;

    $self->_caseify(\$sect);

    return ((exists $self->{e}{$sect}) ? 1 : 0);
}

=head2 AddSection ( $sect_name )

Ensures that the named section exists in the INI file. If the section already
exists, nothing is done. In this case, the "new" section will possibly contain
data already.

If you really need to have a new section with no parameters in it, check that
the name that you're adding isn't in the list of sections already.

=cut

sub _AddSection_Helper
{
    my ($self, $sect) = @_;
    $self->{e}{$sect} = 1;
    CORE::push @{$self->{sects}}, $sect;
    $self->_touch_section($sect);

    $self->SetGroupMember($sect);

    # Set up the parameter names and values lists
    $self->{parms}{$sect} ||= [];

    if (!defined($self->{v}{$sect})) {
        $self->{sCMT}{$sect} = [];
        $self->{pCMT}{$sect} = {};      # Comments above parameters
        $self->{parms}{$sect} = [];
        $self->{v}{$sect} = {};
    }

    return;
}

sub AddSection {
    my ($self, $sect) = @_;

    return undef if not defined $sect;

    $self->_caseify(\$sect);

    if ( $self->SectionExists($sect))
    {
        return;
    }

    return $self->_AddSection_Helper($sect);
}

# Marks a section as modified by us (this includes deleted by us).
sub _touch_section {
    my ($self, $sect) = @_;

    $self->{mysects} ||= [];

    unless (exists $self->{mye}{$sect})
    {
        CORE::push @{$self->{mysects}}, $sect;
        $self->{mye}{$sect} = 1;
    }

    return;
}

# Marks a parameter as modified by us (this includes deleted by us).
sub _touch_parameter {
    my ($self, $sect, $parm) = @_;

    $self->_touch_section($sect);
    return if (!exists $self->{v}{$sect});
    $self->{myparms}{$sect} ||= [];

    if (! $self->_is_parm_in_sect($sect, $parm))
    {
        CORE::push @{$self->{myparms}{$sect}}, $parm;
    }

    return;
}


=head2 DeleteSection ( $sect_name )

Completely removes the entire section from the configuration.

=cut

sub DeleteSection {
    my $self = shift;
    my $sect = shift;

    return undef if not defined $sect;

    $self->_caseify(\$sect);

    # This is done the fast way, change if data structure changes!!
    delete $self->{v}{$sect};
    delete $self->{sCMT}{$sect};
    delete $self->{pCMT}{$sect};
    delete $self->{EOT}{$sect};
    delete $self->{parms}{$sect};
    delete $self->{myparms}{$sect};
    delete $self->{e}{$sect};

    $self->{sects} = [grep {$_ ne $sect} @{$self->{sects}}];
    $self->_touch_section($sect);

    $self->RemoveGroupMember($sect);

    return 1;
} # end DeleteSection

=head2 RenameSection ( $old_section_name, $new_section_name, $include_groupmembers)

Renames a section if it does not already exists optionally including groupmembers

=cut

sub RenameSection {
    my $self = shift;
    my $old_sect = shift;
    my $new_sect = shift;
    my $include_groupmembers = shift;
    return undef unless $self->CopySection($old_sect,$new_sect,$include_groupmembers);
    return $self->DeleteSection($old_sect);

} # end RenameSection

=head2 CopySection ( $old_section_name, $new_section_name, $include_groupmembers)

Copies one section to another optionally including groupmembers

=cut

sub CopySection {
    my $self = shift;
    my $old_sect = shift;
    my $new_sect = shift;
    my $include_groupmembers = shift;

    if (not defined $old_sect or
        not defined $new_sect or
        !$self->SectionExists($old_sect) or
        $self->SectionExists($new_sect)) {
        return undef;
    }

    $self->_caseify(\$new_sect);
    $self->_AddSection_Helper($new_sect);

    # This is done the fast way, change if data structure changes!!
    foreach my $key (qw(v sCMT pCMT EOT parms myparms e)) {
        next unless exists $self->{$key}{$old_sect};
        $self->{$key}{$new_sect} = Config::IniFiles::_deepcopy($self->{$key}{$old_sect});
    }

    if($include_groupmembers) {
        foreach my $old_groupmember ($self->GroupMembers($old_sect)) {
            my $new_groupmember = $old_groupmember;
            $new_groupmember =~ s/\A\Q$old_sect\E/$new_sect/;
            $self->CopySection($old_groupmember,$new_groupmember);
        }
    }

    return 1;
} # end CopySection

=head2 Parameters ($sect_name)

Returns an array containing the parameters contained in the specified
section.

=cut

sub _aref_or_empty
{
    my ($aref) = @_;

    return ((defined($aref) and ref($aref) eq 'ARRAY') ? $aref : []);
}

sub Parameters {
    my $self = shift;
    my $sect = shift;

    return undef if not defined $sect;

    $self->_caseify(\$sect);

    return @{_aref_or_empty($self->{parms}{$sect})};
}

=head2 Groups

Returns an array containing the names of available groups.

Groups are specified in the config file as new sections of the form

  [GroupName MemberName]

This is useful for building up lists.  Note that parameters within a
"member" section are referenced normally (i.e., the section name is
still "Groupname Membername", including the space) - the concept of
Groups is to aid people building more complex configuration files.

=cut

sub Groups
{
    my $self = shift;

    if (ref($self->{group}) eq 'HASH')
    {
        return keys %{$self->{group}};
    }
    else
    {
        return ();
    }
}

=head2 SetGroupMember ( $sect )

Makes sure that the specified section is a member of the appropriate group.

Only intended for use in newval.

=cut

sub _group_member_handling_skeleton
{
    my ($self, $sect, $method) = @_;

    return undef if not defined $sect;

    if (! (my ($group) = ($sect =~ /\A(\S+)\s+\S/)))
    {
        return 1;
    }
    else
    {
        return $self->$method($sect, $group);
    }
}

sub _SetGroupMember_helper
{
    my ($self, $sect, $group) = @_;

    if (not exists($self->{group}{$group})) {
        $self->{group}{$group} = [];
    }

    if (none {$_ eq $sect} @{$self->{group}{$group}}) {
        CORE::push @{$self->{group}{$group}}, $sect;
    }

    return;
}

sub SetGroupMember {
    my ($self, $sect) = @_;

    return $self->_group_member_handling_skeleton($sect, '_SetGroupMember_helper');
}

=head2 RemoveGroupMember ( $sect )

Makes sure that the specified section is no longer a member of the
appropriate group. Only intended for use in DeleteSection.

=cut

sub _RemoveGroupMember_helper
{
    my ($self, $sect, $group) = @_;

    if (!exists $self->{group}{$group})
    {
        return;
    }

    $self->{group}{$group} =
        [grep { $_ ne $sect } @{$self->{group}{$group}}];

    return;
}

sub RemoveGroupMember
{
    my ($self, $sect) = @_;

    return $self->_group_member_handling_skeleton($sect, '_RemoveGroupMember_helper');
}

=head2 GroupMembers ($group)

Returns an array containing the members of specified $group. Each element
of the array is a section name. For example, given the sections

  [Group Element 1]
  ...

  [Group Element 2]
  ...

GroupMembers would return ("Group Element 1", "Group Element 2").

=cut

sub GroupMembers {
    my ($self, $group) = @_;

    return undef if not defined $group;

    $self->_caseify(\$group);

    return @{_aref_or_empty($self->{group}{$group})};
}

=head2 SetWriteMode ($mode)

Sets the mode (permissions) to use when writing the INI file.

$mode must be a string representation of the octal mode.

=cut

sub SetWriteMode
{
    my ($self, $mode) = @_;

    if (not (defined($mode) && ($mode =~ m/[0-7]{3}/)))
    {
        return undef;
    }

    return ($self->{file_mode} = $mode);
}

=head2 GetWriteMode ($mode)

Gets the current mode (permissions) to use when writing the INI file.

$mode is a string representation of the octal mode.

=cut

sub GetWriteMode
{
    my $self = shift;

    return $self->{file_mode};
}

=head2 WriteConfig ($filename [, %options])

Writes out a new copy of the configuration file.  A temporary file
is written out and then renamed to the specified filename.  Also see
B<BUGS> below.

If C<-delta> is set to a true value in %options, and this object was
imported from another (see L</new>), only the differences between this
object and the imported one will be recorded. Negative deltas will be
encoded into comments, so that a subsequent invocation of I<new()>
with the same imported object produces the same results (see the
I<-negativedeltas> option in L</new>).

C<%options> is not required.

Returns true on success, C<undef> on failure.

=cut

sub _write_config_to_filename
{
    my ($self, $filename, %parms) = @_;

    if (-e $filename) {
        if (not (-w $filename))
        {
            #carp "File $filename is not writable.  Refusing to write config";
            return undef;
        }
        my $mode = (stat $filename)[2];
        $self->{file_mode} = sprintf "%04o", ($mode & 0777);
        #carp "Using mode $self->{file_mode} for file $file";
    }

    my ($fh, $new_file);

    # We need to trap the exception that tempfile() may throw and instead
    # carp() and return undef() because that was the previous behaviour:
    #
    # See RT #77039 ( https://rt.cpan.org/Ticket/Display.html?id=77039 )
    eval {
        ($fh, $new_file) = tempfile(
            "temp.ini-XXXXXXXXXX",
            DIR => dirname($filename)
        );

        # Convert the filehandle to a "text" filehandle suitable for use
        # on Windows (and other platforms).
        #
        # This may break compatibility for ultra-old perls (ones before 5.6.0)
        # so I say - Good Riddance!
        if ($^O =~ m/\AMSWin/)
        {
            binmode $fh, ':crlf';
        }
    };

    if ($@)
    {
        carp( "Unable to write temp config file: $!" );
        return undef;
    }

    $self->OutputConfigToFileHandle($fh, $parms{-delta});
    close($fh);
    if (!rename( $new_file, $filename )) {
        carp "Unable to rename temp config file ($new_file) to ${filename}: $!";
        return undef;
    }
    if (exists $self->{file_mode}) {
        chmod oct($self->{file_mode}), $filename;
    }

    return 1;
}

sub _write_config_with_a_made_fh
{
    my ($self, $fh, %parms) = @_;

    # Only roll back if it's not STDIN (if it is, Carp)
    if( $fh == \*STDIN )
    {
        carp "Cannot write configuration file to STDIN.";
    }
    else
    {
        seek( $fh, 0, SEEK_SET() );
        # Make sure to keep the previous junk out.
        # See:
        # https://rt.cpan.org/Public/Bug/Display.html?id=103496
        truncate( $fh, 0 );
        $self->OutputConfigToFileHandle($fh, $parms{-delta});
        seek( $fh, 0, SEEK_SET() );
    } # end if

    return 1;
}

sub _write_config_to_fh
{
    my ($self, $file, %parms) = @_;

    # Get a filehandle, allowing almost any type of 'file' parameter
    ## NB: If this were a filename, this would fail because _make_file
    ##     opens a read-only handle, but we have already checked that case
    ##     so re-using the logic is ok [JW/WADG]
    my $fh = $self->_make_filehandle( $file );

    if (!$fh) {
        carp "Could not find a filehandle for the input stream ($file): $!";
        return undef;
    }

    return $self->_write_config_with_a_made_fh($fh, %parms);
}

sub WriteConfig {
    my ($self, $file, %parms) = @_;

    return undef unless defined $file;

    # If we are using a filename, then do mode checks and write to a
    # temporary file to avoid a race condition
    if( !ref($file) )
    {
        return $self->_write_config_to_filename($file, %parms);
    }
    # Otherwise, reset to the start of the file and write, unless we are using
    # STDIN
    else
    {
        return $self->_write_config_to_fh($file, %parms);
    }
}

=head2 RewriteConfig

Same as WriteConfig, but specifies that the original configuration
file should be rewritten.

=cut

sub RewriteConfig {
    my $self = shift;

    if ($self->_no_filename)
    {
        return 1;
    }

    return $self->WriteConfig($self->{cf});
}

=head2 GetFileName

Returns the filename associated with this INI file.

If no filename has been specified, returns undef.

=cut

sub GetFileName
{
    my $self = shift;

    return $self->{cf};
}

=head2 SetFileName ($filename)

If you created the Config::IniFiles object without initialising from
a file, or if you just want to change the name of the file to use for
ReadConfig/RewriteConfig from now on, use this method.

Returns $filename if that was a valid name, undef otherwise.

=cut

sub SetFileName {
    my ($self, $new_filename) = @_;

    if ( length($new_filename) > 0 ) {
        return ($self->{cf} = $new_filename);
    }
    else {
        return undef;
    }
}

=head2 $ini->OutputConfigToFileHandle($fh, $delta)

Writes OutputConfig to the $fh filehandle. $delta should be set to 1
1 if writing only delta. This is a newer and safer version of
C<OutputConfig()> and one is encouraged to use it instead.

=head2 $ini->OutputConfig($delta)

Writes OutputConfig to STDOUT. Use select() to redirect STDOUT to
the output target before calling this function. Optional argument
should be set to 1 if writing only delta. Also see OutputConfigToFileHandle

=cut

sub _calc_eot_mark
{
    my ($self, $sect, $parm, $val) = @_;

    my $eotmark = $self->{EOT}{$sect}{$parm} || 'EOT';

    # Make sure the $eotmark does not occur inside the string.
    my @letters = ('A' .. 'Z');
    my $joined_val = join(q{ }, @$val);
    while (index($joined_val, $eotmark) >= 0)
    {
        $eotmark .= $letters[rand(@letters)];
    }

    return $eotmark;
}

sub _OutputParam {
    my ($self, $sect, $parm, $val, $end_comment, $output_cb) = @_;

    my $line_loop = sub {
        my ($mapper) = @_;

        foreach my $line (@{$val}[0 .. $#$val-1]) {
            $output_cb->($mapper->($line));
        }
        $output_cb->(
            $mapper->($val->[-1]),
            ($end_comment ? (" $self->{comment_char} $end_comment") : ()),
        );
        return;
    };

    if (! @$val) {
        # An empty variable - see:
        # https://rt.cpan.org/Public/Bug/Display.html?id=68554
        $output_cb->("$parm=");
    }
    elsif ((@$val == 1) or $self->{nomultiline}) {
        $line_loop->(sub { my ($line) = @_; return "$parm=$line"; });
    }
    else
    {
        my $eotmark = $self->_calc_eot_mark($sect, $parm, $val);

        $output_cb->("$parm= <<$eotmark");
        $line_loop->(sub { my ($line) = @_; return $line; });
        $output_cb->($eotmark);
    }

    return;
}

sub OutputConfig {
    my ($self, $delta) = @_;

    return $self->OutputConfigToFileHandle(select(), $delta);
}

sub _output_comments
{
    my ($self, $print_line, $comments_aref) = @_;

    if (ref($comments_aref) eq 'ARRAY') {
        foreach my $comment (@$comments_aref) {
            $print_line->($comment);
        }
    }

    return;
}

sub _process_continue_val
{
    my ($self, $fh) = @_;

    if (not $self->{allowcontinue})
    {
        return;
    }

    my $val = $self->_curr_val;

    while($val =~ s/\\\z//) {
        $val .= $self->_read_next_line($fh);
    }

    $self->_curr_val($val);

    return;
}

sub _output_param_total
{
    my ($self, $sect, $parm, $print_line, $split_val, $delta) = @_;
    if (!defined $self->{v}{$sect}{$parm}) {
        if ($delta) {
            $print_line->("$self->{comment_char} $parm is deleted");
        }
        else {
            warn "Weird unknown parameter $parm" if $^W;
        }
        return;
    }

    $self->_output_comments($print_line, $self->{pCMT}{$sect}{$parm});

    my $val = $self->{v}{$sect}{$parm};
    my $end_comment = $self->{peCMT}{$sect}{$parm};

    return if ! defined ($val); # No parameter exists !!

    $self->_OutputParam(
        $sect,
        $parm,
        $split_val->($val),
        (defined($end_comment) ? $end_comment : ""),
        $print_line,
    );

    return;
}

sub _output_section {
    my ($self, $sect, $print_line, $split_val, $delta, $position) = @_;

    if (!defined $self->{v}{$sect}) {
        if ($delta) {
            $print_line->("$self->{comment_char} [$sect] is deleted");
        } else {
            warn "Weird unknown section $sect" if $^W;
        }
        return;
    }
    return if not defined $self->{v}{$sect};
    $print_line->() if ($position > 0);
    $self->_output_comments($print_line, $self->{sCMT}{$sect});

    if (!
        ($self->{fallback_used} and $sect eq $self->{fallback})
    )
    {
        $print_line->("[$sect]");
    }
    return if ref($self->{v}{$sect}) ne 'HASH';

    foreach my $parm (@{$self->{$delta ? "myparms" : "parms"}{$sect}}) {
        $self->_output_param_total(
            $sect, $parm, $print_line, $split_val, $delta
        );
    }

    return;
}

sub OutputConfigToFileHandle {
    # We need no strict 'refs' to be able to print to $fh if it points
    # to a glob filehandle.
    no strict 'refs';
    my ($self, $fh, $delta) = @_;

    my $ors = $self->{line_ends} || $\ || "\n"; # $\ is normally unset, but use input by default
    my $print_line = sub { print {$fh} (@_, $ors); };
    my $split_val = sub {
        my ($val) = @_;

        return ((ref($val) eq 'ARRAY')
            ? $val
            : [split /[$ors]/, $val, -1]
        );
    };

    my $position = 0;

    foreach my $sect (@{$self->{$delta ? "mysects" : "sects"}}) {
        $self->_output_section(
            $sect, $print_line, $split_val, $delta, $position++
        );
    }

    $self->_output_comments($print_line, [ $self->_GetEndComments() ] );

    return 1;
}

=head2 SetSectionComment($section, @comment)

Sets the comment for section $section to the lines contained in @comment.

Each comment line will be prepended with the comment character (default
is C<#>) if it doesn't already have a comment character (ie: if the
line does not start with whitespace followed by an allowed comment
character, default is C<#> and C<;>).

To clear a section comment, use DeleteSectionComment ($section)

=cut

sub SetSectionComment
{
    my ($self, $sect, @comment) = @_;

    if (not (defined($sect) && @comment))
    {
        return undef;
    }

    $self->_caseify(\$sect);

    $self->_touch_section($sect);
    # At this point it's possible to have a comment for a section that
    # doesn't exist. This comment will not get written to the INI file.
    $self->{sCMT}{$sect} = $self->_markup_comments(\@comment);

    return scalar @comment;
}



# this helper makes sure that each line is preceded with the correct comment
# character
sub _markup_comments
{
    my ($self, $comment_aref) = @_;

    my $allCmt = $self->{allowed_comment_char};
    my $cmtChr = $self->{comment_char};

    my $is_comment = qr/\A\s*[$allCmt]/;

    # TODO : Maybe create a qr// out of it.
    return [map { ($_ =~ $is_comment) ? $_ : "$cmtChr $_" } @$comment_aref];
}



=head2 GetSectionComment ($section)

Returns a list of lines, being the comment attached to section $section. In
scalar context, returns a string containing the lines of the comment separated
by newlines.

The lines are presented as-is, with whatever comment character was originally
used on that line.

=cut

sub _return_comment
{
    my ($self, $comment_aref) = @_;

    my $delim = defined($/) ? $/ : "\n";

    return wantarray() ? @$comment_aref : join($delim, @$comment_aref);
}

sub GetSectionComment
{
    my ($self, $sect) = @_;

    return undef if not defined $sect;

    $self->_caseify(\$sect);

    if (! exists $self->{sCMT}{$sect}) {
        return undef;
    }

    return $self->_return_comment( $self->{sCMT}{$sect} );
}

=head2 DeleteSectionComment ($section)

Removes the comment for the specified section.

=cut

sub DeleteSectionComment
{
    my $self = shift;
    my $sect = shift;

    return undef if not defined $sect;

    $self->_caseify(\$sect);
    $self->_touch_section($sect);

    delete $self->{sCMT}{$sect};

    return;
}

=head2 SetParameterComment ($section, $parameter, @comment)

Sets the comment attached to a particular parameter.

Any line of @comment that does not have a comment character will be
prepended with one. See L</SetSectionComment($section, @comment)> above

=cut

sub SetParameterComment
{
    my ($self, $sect, $parm, @comment) = @_;

    if (not (defined($sect) && defined($parm) && @comment))
    {
        return undef;
    }

    $self->_caseify(\$sect, \$parm);

    $self->_touch_parameter($sect, $parm);

    # Note that at this point, it's possible to have a comment for a parameter,
    # without that parameter actually existing in the INI file.
    $self->{pCMT}{$sect}{$parm} = $self->_markup_comments(\@comment);

    return scalar @comment;
}

sub _SetEndComments
{
    my $self = shift;
    my @comments = @_;

    $self->{_comments_at_end_of_file} = \@comments;

    return 1;
}

sub _GetEndComments {
    my $self = shift;

    return @{$self->{_comments_at_end_of_file}};
}

=head2 GetParameterComment ($section, $parameter)

Gets the comment attached to a parameter. In list context returns all
comments - in scalar context returns them joined by newlines.

=cut

sub GetParameterComment
{
    my ($self, $sect, $parm) = @_;

    if (not (defined($sect) && defined($parm)))
    {
        return undef;
    }

    $self->_caseify(\$sect, \$parm);

    if (not (exists( $self->{pCMT}{$sect} )
         &&  exists( $self->{pCMT}{$sect}{$parm} )))
    {
        return undef;
    }

    return $self->_return_comment( $self->{pCMT}{$sect}{$parm} );
}

=head2 DeleteParameterComment ($section, $parmeter)

Deletes the comment attached to a parameter.

=cut

sub DeleteParameterComment
{
    my ($self, $sect, $parm) = @_;

    if (not (defined($sect) && defined($parm)))
    {
        return undef;
    }

    $self->_caseify(\$sect, \$parm);

    # If the parameter doesn't exist, our goal has already been achieved
    if (   exists( $self->{pCMT}{$sect} )
        && exists( $self->{pCMT}{$sect}{$parm} ))
    {
        $self->_touch_parameter($sect, $parm);
        delete $self->{pCMT}{$sect}{$parm};
    }

    return 1;
}

=head2 GetParameterEOT ($section, $parameter)

Accessor method for the EOT text (in fact, style) of the specified parameter. If any text is used as an EOT mark, this will be returned. If the parameter was not recorded using HERE style multiple lines, GetParameterEOT returns undef.

=cut

sub GetParameterEOT
{
    my ($self, $sect, $parm) = @_;

    if (not (defined($sect) && defined($parm)))
    {
        return undef;
    }

    $self->_caseify(\$sect, \$parm);

    return $self->{EOT}{$sect}{$parm};
}

=head2 $cfg->SetParameterEOT ($section, $parameter, $EOT)

Accessor method for the EOT text for the specified parameter. Sets the HERE style marker text to the value $EOT. Once the EOT text is set, that parameter will be saved in HERE style.

To un-set the EOT text, use DeleteParameterEOT ($section, $parameter).

=cut

sub SetParameterEOT
{
    my ($self, $sect, $parm, $EOT) = @_;

    if (not (defined($sect) && defined($parm) && defined($EOT)))
    {
        return undef;
    }

    $self->_caseify(\$sect, \$parm);

    $self->_touch_parameter($sect, $parm);

    $self->{EOT}{$sect}{$parm} = $EOT;

    return;
}

=head2 DeleteParameterEOT ($section, $parmeter)

Removes the EOT marker for the given section and parameter.
When writing a configuration file, if no EOT marker is defined
then "EOT" is used.

=cut

sub DeleteParameterEOT
{
    my ($self, $sect, $parm) = @_;

    if (not (defined($sect) && defined($parm)))
    {
        return undef;
    }

    $self->_caseify(\$sect, \$parm);

    $self->_touch_parameter($sect, $parm);
    delete $self->{EOT}{$sect}{$parm};

    return;
}

=head2 SetParameterTrailingComment ($section, $parameter, $cmt)

Set the end trailing comment for the given section and parameter.
If there is a old comment for the parameter, it will be
overwritten by the new one.

If there is a new parameter trailing comment to be added, the
value should be added first.

=cut

sub SetParameterTrailingComment
{
    my ($self, $sect, $parm, $cmt) = @_;

    if (not (defined($sect) && defined($parm) && defined($cmt)))
    {
        return undef;
    }

    $self->_caseify(\$sect, \$parm);

    # confirm the parameter exist
    return undef if not exists $self->{v}{$sect}{$parm};

    $self->_touch_parameter($sect, $parm);
    $self->{peCMT}{$sect}{$parm} = $cmt;

    return 1;
}

=head2 GetParameterTrailingComment ($section, $parameter)

An accessor method to read the trailing comment after the parameter.
The trailing comment will be returned if there is one. A null string
will be returned if the parameter exists but no comment for it.
otherwise, L<undef> will be returned.

=cut

sub GetParameterTrailingComment
{
    my ($self, $sect, $parm) = @_;

    if (not (defined($sect) && defined($parm)))
    {
        return undef;
    }

    $self->_caseify(\$sect, \$parm);

    # confirm the parameter exist
    return undef if not exists $self->{v}{$sect}{$parm};
    return $self->{peCMT}{$sect}{$parm};
}

=head2 Delete

Deletes the entire configuration file in memory.

=cut

sub Delete {
    my $self = shift;

    foreach my $section ($self->Sections()) {
        $self->DeleteSection($section);
    }

    return 1;
} # end Delete



=head1 USAGE -- Tied Hash

=head2 tie %ini, 'Config::IniFiles', (-file=>$filename, [-option=>value ...] )

Using C<tie>, you can tie a hash to a B<Config::IniFiles> object. This creates a new
object which you can access through your hash, so you use this instead of the
B<new> method. This actually creates a hash of hashes to access the values in
the INI file. The options you provide through C<tie> are the same as given for
the B<new> method, above.

Here's an example:

  use Config::IniFiles;

  my %ini;
  tie %ini, 'Config::IniFiles', ( -file => "/path/configfile.ini" );

  print "We have $ini{Section}{Parameter}." if $ini{Section}{Parameter};

Accessing and using the hash works just like accessing a regular hash and
many of the object methods are made available through the hash interface.

For those methods that do not coincide with the hash paradigm, you can use
the Perl C<tied> function to get at the underlying object tied to the hash
and call methods on that object. For example, to write the hash out to a new
ini file, you would do something like this:

  tied( %ini )->WriteConfig( "/newpath/newconfig.ini" ) ||
    die "Could not write settings to new file.";

=head2 $val = $ini{$section}{$parameter}

Returns the value of $parameter in $section.

Multiline values accessed through a hash will be returned
as a list in list context and a concatenated value in scalar
context.

=head2 $ini{$section}{$parameter} = $value;

Sets the value of C<$parameter> in C<$section> to C<$value>.

To set a multiline or multiv-alue parameter just assign an
array reference to the hash entry, like this:

 $ini{$section}{$parameter} = [$value1, $value2, ...];

If the parameter did not exist in the original file, it will
be created. However, Perl does not seem to extend autovivification
to tied hashes. That means that if you try to say

  $ini{new_section}{new_paramters} = $val;

and the section 'new_section' does not exist, then Perl won't
properly create it. In order to work around this you will need
to create a hash reference in that section and then assign the
parameter value. Something like this should do nicely:

  $ini{new_section} = {};
  $ini{new_section}{new_paramters} = $val;

=head2 %hash = %{$ini{$section}}

Using the tie interface, you can copy whole sections of the
ini file into another hash. Note that this makes a copy of
the entire section. The new hash in no longer tied to the
ini file, In particular, this means -default and -nocase
settings will not apply to C<%hash>.


=head2 $ini{$section} = {}; %{$ini{$section}} = %parameters;

Through the hash interface, you have the ability to replace
the entire section with a new set of parameters. This call
will fail, however, if the argument passed in NOT a hash
reference. You must use both lines, as shown above so that
Perl recognizes the section as a hash reference context
before COPYing over the values from your C<%parameters> hash.

=head2 delete $ini{$section}{$parameter}

When tied to a hash, you can use the Perl C<delete> function
to completely remove a parameter from a section.

=head2 delete $ini{$section}

The tied interface also allows you to delete an entire
section from the ini file using the Perl C<delete> function.

=head2 %ini = ();

If you really want to delete B<all> the items in the ini file, this
will do it. Of course, the changes won't be written to the actual
file unless you call B<RewriteConfig> on the object tied to the hash.

=head2 Parameter names

=over 4

=item my @keys = keys %{$ini{$section}}

=item while (($k, $v) = each %{$ini{$section}}) {...}

=item if( exists %{$ini{$section}}, $parameter ) {...}

=back

When tied to a hash, you use the Perl C<keys> and C<each>
functions to iteratively list the parameters (C<keys>) or
parameters and their values (C<each>) in a given section.

You can also use the Perl C<exists> function to see if a
parameter is defined in a given section.

Note that none of these will return parameter names that
are part of the default section (if set), although accessing
an unknown parameter in the specified section will return a
value from the default section if there is one.


=head2 Section names

=over 4

=item foreach( keys %ini ) {...}

=item while (($k, $v) = each %ini) {...}

=item if( exists %ini, $section ) {...}

=back

When tied to a hash, you use the Perl C<keys> and C<each>
functions to iteratively list the sections in the ini file.

You can also use the Perl C<exists> function to see if a
section is defined in the file.

=cut

############################################################
#
# TIEHASH Methods
#
# Description:
# These methods allow you to tie a hash to the
# Config::IniFiles object. Note that, when tied, the
# user wants to look at thinks like $ini{sec}{parm}, but the
# TIEHASH only provides one level of hash interace, so the
# root object gets asked for a $ini{sec}, which this
# implements. To further tie the {parm} hash, the internal
# class Config::IniFiles::_section, is provided, below.
#
############################################################
# ----------------------------------------------------------
# Date      Modification                              Author
# ----------------------------------------------------------
# 2000May09 Created method                                JW
# ----------------------------------------------------------
sub TIEHASH {
  my $class = shift;
  my %parms = @_;

  # Get a new object
  my $self = $class->new( %parms );

  return $self;
} # end TIEHASH


# ----------------------------------------------------------
# Date      Modification                              Author
# ----------------------------------------------------------
# 2000May09 Created method                                JW
# ----------------------------------------------------------
sub FETCH {
  my $self = shift;
  my( $key ) = @_;

  $self->_caseify(\$key);
  return if (! $self->{v}{$key});

  my %retval;
  tie %retval, 'Config::IniFiles::_section', $self, $key;
  return \%retval;

} # end FETCH

# ----------------------------------------------------------
# Date      Modification                              Author
# ----------------------------------------------------------
# 2000Jun14 Fixed bug where wrong ref was saved           JW
# 2000Oct09 Fixed possible but in %parms with defaults    JW
# 2001Apr04 Fixed -nocase problem in storing              JW
# ----------------------------------------------------------
sub STORE {
  my $self = shift;
  my( $key, $ref ) = @_;

  return undef unless ref($ref) eq 'HASH';

  $self->_caseify(\$key);

  $self->AddSection($key);
  $self->{v}{$key} = {%$ref};
  $self->{parms}{$key} = [keys %$ref];
  $self->{myparms}{$key} = [keys %$ref];

  return 1;
} # end STORE


# ----------------------------------------------------------
# Date      Modification                              Author
# ----------------------------------------------------------
# 2000May09 Created method                                JW
# 2000Dec17 Now removes comments, groups and EOTs too     JW
# 2001Arp04 Fixed -nocase problem                         JW
# ----------------------------------------------------------
sub DELETE {
  my $self = shift;
  my( $key ) = @_;

  my $retval=$self->FETCH($key);
  $self->DeleteSection($key);
  return $retval;
} # end DELETE


# ----------------------------------------------------------
# Date      Modification                              Author
# ----------------------------------------------------------
# 2000May09 Created method                                JW
# ----------------------------------------------------------
sub CLEAR {
  my $self = shift;

  return $self->Delete();
} # end CLEAR

# ----------------------------------------------------------
# Date      Modification                              Author
# ----------------------------------------------------------
# 2000May09 Created method                                JW
# ----------------------------------------------------------
sub FIRSTKEY {
  my $self = shift;

  $self->{tied_enumerator}=0;
  return $self->NEXTKEY();
} # end FIRSTKEY


# ----------------------------------------------------------
# Date      Modification                              Author
# ----------------------------------------------------------
# 2000May09 Created method                                JW
# ----------------------------------------------------------
sub NEXTKEY {
  my $self = shift;
  my( $last ) = @_;

  my $i=$self->{tied_enumerator}++;
  my $key=$self->{sects}[$i];
  return if (! defined $key);
  return wantarray ? ($key, $self->FETCH($key)) : $key;
} # end NEXTKEY


# ----------------------------------------------------------
# Date      Modification                              Author
# ----------------------------------------------------------
# 2000May09 Created method                                JW
# 2001Apr04 Fixed -nocase bug and false true bug          JW
# ----------------------------------------------------------
sub EXISTS {
  my $self = shift;
  my( $key ) = @_;
  return $self->SectionExists($key);
} # end EXISTS


# ----------------------------------------------------------
# DESTROY is used by TIEHASH and the Perl garbage collector,
# ----------------------------------------------------------
# Date      Modification                              Author
# ----------------------------------------------------------
# 2000May09 Created method                                JW
# ----------------------------------------------------------
sub DESTROY {
  # my $self = shift;
} # end if


# ----------------------------------------------------------
# Sub: _make_filehandle
#
# Args: $thing
#   $thing  An input source
#
# Description: Takes an input source of a filehandle,
# filehandle glob, reference to a filehandle glob, IO::File
# object or scalar filename and returns a file handle to
# read from it with.
# ----------------------------------------------------------
# Date      Modification                              Author
# ----------------------------------------------------------
# 06Dec2001 Added to support input from any source        JW
# ----------------------------------------------------------
sub _make_filehandle {
  my $self = shift;

  #
  # This code is 'borrowed' from Lincoln D. Stein's GD.pm module
  # with modification for this module. Thanks Lincoln!
  #

  no strict 'refs';
  my $thing = shift;

  if (ref($thing) eq "SCALAR") {
      if (eval { require IO::Scalar; $IO::Scalar::VERSION >= 2.109; }) {
          return IO::Scalar->new($thing);
      } else {
          warn "SCALAR reference as file descriptor requires IO::stringy ".
            "v2.109 or later" if ($^W);
          return;
      }
  }

  return $thing if defined(fileno $thing);

  # otherwise try qualifying it into caller's package
  my $fh = qualify_to_ref($thing,caller(1));
  return $fh if defined(fileno $fh);

  # otherwise treat it as a file to open
  $fh = gensym;
  open($fh,$thing) || return;

  return $fh;
} # end _make_filehandle

############################################################
#
# INTERNAL PACKAGE: Config::IniFiles::_section
#
# Description:
# This package is used to provide a single-level TIEHASH
# interface to the sections in the IniFile. When tied, the
# user wants to look at thinks like $ini{sec}{parm}, but the
# TIEHASH only provides one level of hash interace, so the
# root object gets asked for a $ini{sec} and must return a
# has reference that accurately covers the '{parm}' part.
#
# This package is only used when tied and is inter-woven
# between the sections and their parameters when the TIEHASH
# method is called by Perl. It's a very simple implementation
# of a tied hash object that simply maps onto the object API.
#
############################################################
# Date        Modification                            Author
# ----------------------------------------------------------
# 2000.May.09 Created to excapsulate TIEHASH interface    JW
############################################################
package Config::IniFiles::_section;

use strict;
use warnings;
use Carp;
use vars qw( $VERSION );

$Config::IniFiles::_section::VERSION = 2.16;

# ----------------------------------------------------------
# Sub: Config::IniFiles::_section::TIEHASH
#
# Args: $class, $config, $section
#   $class    The class that this is being tied to.
#   $config   The parent Config::IniFiles object
#   $section  The section this tied object refers to
#
# Description: Builds the object that implements accesses to
# the tied hash.
# ----------------------------------------------------------
# Date      Modification                              Author
# ----------------------------------------------------------
# ----------------------------------------------------------
sub TIEHASH {
  my $proto = shift;
  my $class = ref($proto) || $proto;
  my ($config, $section) = @_;

  # Make a new object
  return bless {config=>$config, section=>$section}, $class;
} # end TIEHASH


# ----------------------------------------------------------
# Sub: Config::IniFiles::_section::FETCH
#
# Args: $key
#   $key    The name of the key whose value to get
#
# Description: Returns the value associated with $key. If
# the value is a list, returns a list reference.
# ----------------------------------------------------------
# Date      Modification                              Author
# ----------------------------------------------------------
# 2000Jun15 Fixed bugs in -default handler                JW
# 2000Dec07 Fixed another bug in -deault handler          JW
# 2002Jul04 Returning scalar values (Bug:447532)          AS
# ----------------------------------------------------------
sub FETCH {
    my ($self, $key) = @_;
    my @retval=$self->{config}->val($self->{section}, $key);
    return (@retval <= 1) ? $retval[0] : \@retval;
} # end FETCH


# ----------------------------------------------------------
# Sub: Config::IniFiles::_section::STORE
#
# Args: $key, @val
#   $key    The key under which to store the value
#   @val    The value to store, either an array or a scalar
#
# Description: Sets the value for the specified $key
# ----------------------------------------------------------
# Date      Modification                              Author
# ----------------------------------------------------------
# 2001Apr04 Fixed -nocase bug                             JW
# ----------------------------------------------------------
sub STORE {
    my ($self, $key, @val) = @_;
    return $self->{config}->newval($self->{section}, $key, @val);
} # end STORE


# ----------------------------------------------------------
# Sub: Config::IniFiles::_section::DELETE
#
# Args: $key
#   $key    The key to remove from the hash
#
# Description: Removes the specified key from the hash and
# returns its former value.
# ----------------------------------------------------------
# Date      Modification                              Author
# ----------------------------------------------------------
# 2001Apr04 Fixed -nocase bug                              JW
# ----------------------------------------------------------
sub DELETE {
    my ($self, $key) = @_;
    my $retval=$self->{config}->val($self->{section}, $key);
    $self->{config}->delval($self->{section}, $key);
    return $retval;
} # end DELETE

# ----------------------------------------------------------
# Sub: Config::IniFiles::_section::CLEAR
#
# Args: (None)
#
# Description: Empties the entire hash
# ----------------------------------------------------------
# Date      Modification                              Author
# ----------------------------------------------------------
# ----------------------------------------------------------
sub CLEAR    {
  my ($self) = @_;
  return $self->{config}->DeleteSection($self->{section});
} # end CLEAR

# ----------------------------------------------------------
# Sub: Config::IniFiles::_section::EXISTS
#
# Args: $key
#   $key    The key to look for
#
# Description: Returns whether the key exists
# ----------------------------------------------------------
# Date      Modification                              Author
# ----------------------------------------------------------
# 2001Apr04 Fixed -nocase bug                             JW
# ----------------------------------------------------------
sub EXISTS   {
  my ($self, $key) = @_;
  return $self->{config}->exists($self->{section},$key);
} # end EXISTS

# ----------------------------------------------------------
# Sub: Config::IniFiles::_section::FIRSTKEY
#
# Args: (None)
#
# Description: Returns the first key in the hash
# ----------------------------------------------------------
# Date      Modification                              Author
# ----------------------------------------------------------
# ----------------------------------------------------------
sub FIRSTKEY {
  my $self = shift;

  $self->{tied_enumerator}=0;
  return $self->NEXTKEY();
} # end FIRSTKEY

# ----------------------------------------------------------
# Sub: Config::IniFiles::_section::NEXTKEY
#
# Args: $last
#   $last   The last key accessed by the interator
#
# Description: Returns the next key in line
# ----------------------------------------------------------
# Date      Modification                              Author
# ----------------------------------------------------------
# ----------------------------------------------------------
sub NEXTKEY  {
  my $self = shift;
  my( $last ) = @_;

  my $i=$self->{tied_enumerator}++;
  my @keys = $self->{config}->Parameters($self->{section});
  my $key=$keys[$i];
  return if (! defined $key);
  return wantarray ? ($key, $self->FETCH($key)) : $key;
} # end NEXTKEY


# ----------------------------------------------------------
# Sub: Config::IniFiles::_section::DESTROY
#
# Args: (None)
#
# Description: Called on cleanup
# ----------------------------------------------------------
# Date      Modification                              Author
# ----------------------------------------------------------
# ----------------------------------------------------------
sub DESTROY  {
  # my $self = shift
} # end DESTROY

1;

=head1 IMPORT / DELTA FEATURES

The I<-import> option to L</new> allows one to stack one
I<Config::IniFiles> object on top of another (which might be itself
stacked in turn and so on recursively, but this is beyond the
point). The effect, as briefly explained in L</new>, is that the
fields appearing in the composite object will be a superposition of
those coming from the ``original'' one and the lines coming from the
file, the latter taking precedence. For example, let's say that
C<$master> and C<overlay> were created like this:

   my $master  = Config::IniFiles->new(-file => "master.ini");
   my $overlay = Config::IniFiles->new(-file => "overlay.ini",
            -import => $master);

If the contents of C<master.ini> and C<overlay.ini> are respectively

   ; master.ini
   [section1]
   arg0=unchanged from master.ini
   arg1=val1

   [section2]
   arg2=val2

and

   ; overlay.ini
   [section1]
   arg1=overriden

Then C<< $overlay->val("section1", "arg1") >> is "overriden", while
C<< $overlay->val("section1", "arg0") >> is "unchanged from
master.ini".

This feature may be used to ship a ``global defaults'' configuration
file for a Perl application, that can be overridden piecewise by a
much shorter, per-site configuration file. Assuming UNIX-style path
names, this would be done like this:

   my $defaultconfig = Config::IniFiles->new
       (-file => "/usr/share/myapp/myapp.ini.default");
   my $config = Config::IniFiles->new
       (-file => "/etc/myapp.ini", -import => $defaultconfig);
   # Now use $config and forget about $defaultconfig in the rest of
   # the program

Starting with version 2.39, I<Config::IniFiles> also provides features
to keep the importing / per-site configuration file small, by only
saving those options that were modified by the running program. That
is, if one calls

   $overlay->setval("section1", "arg1", "anotherval");
   $overlay->newval("section3", "arg3", "val3");
   $overlay->WriteConfig('overlay.ini', -delta=>1);

C<overlay.ini> would now contain

   ; overlay.ini
   [section1]
   arg1=anotherval

   [section3]
   arg3=val3

This is called a I<delta file> (see L</WriteConfig>). The untouched
[section2] and arg0 do not appear, and the config file is therefore
shorter; while of course, reloading the configuration into C<$master>
and C<$overlay>, either through C<< $overlay->ReadConfig() >> or through
the same code as above (e.g. when application restarts), would yield
exactly the same result had the overlay object been saved in whole to
the file system.

The only problem with this delta technique is one cannot delete the
default values in the overlay configuration file, only change
them. This is solved by a file format extension, enabled by the
I<-negativedeltas> option to L</new>: if, say, one would delete
parameters like this,

   $overlay->DeleteSection("section2");
   $overlay->delval("section1", "arg0");
   $overlay->WriteConfig('overlay.ini', -delta=>1);

The I<overlay.ini> file would now read:

   ; overlay.ini
   [section1]
   ; arg0 is deleted
   arg1=anotherval

   ; [section2] is deleted

   [section3]
   arg3=val3

Assuming C<$overlay> was later re-read with C<< -negativedeltas => 1 >>,
the parser would interpret the deletion comments to yield the correct
result, that is, [section2] and arg0 would cease to exist in the
C<$overlay> object.

=cut


=head1 DIAGNOSTICS

=head2 @Config::IniFiles::errors

Contains a list of errors encountered while parsing the configuration
file.  If the I<new> method returns B<undef>, check the value of this
to find out what's wrong.  This value is reset each time a config file
is read.

=head1 BUGS

=over 3

=item *

The output from [Re]WriteConfig/OutputConfig might not be as pretty as
it can be.  Comments are tied to whatever was immediately below them.
And case is not preserved for Section and Parameter names if the -nocase
option was used.

=item *

No locking is done by [Re]WriteConfig.  When writing servers, take
care that only the parent ever calls this, and consider making your
own backup.

=back

=head1 Data Structure

Note that this is only a reference for the package maintainers - one of the
upcoming revisions to this package will include a total clean up of the
data structure.

  $iniconf->{cf} = "config_file_name"
          ->{startup_settings} = \%orginal_object_parameters
          ->{firstload} = 0 OR 1
          ->{imported} = $object WHERE $object->isa("Config::IniFiles")
          ->{nocase} = 0
          ->{reloadwarn} = 0
          ->{sects} = \@sections
          ->{mysects} = \@sections
          ->{sCMT}{$sect} = \@comment_lines
          ->{group}{$group} = \@group_members
          ->{parms}{$sect} = \@section_parms
          ->{myparms}{$sect} = \@section_parms
          ->{EOT}{$sect}{$parm} = "end of text string"
          ->{pCMT}{$sect}{$parm} = \@comment_lines
          ->{v}{$sect}{$parm} = $value   OR  \@values
          ->{e}{$sect} = 1 OR does not exist
          ->{mye}{$sect} = 1 OR does not exists

=head1 AUTHOR and ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The original code was written by Scott Hutton.
Then handled for a time by Rich Bowen (thanks!),
and was later managed by Jeremy Wadsack (thanks!),
and now is managed by Shlomi Fish ( L<http://www.shlomifish.org/> )
with many contributions from various other people.

In particular, special thanks go to (in roughly chronological order):

Bernie Cosell, Alan Young, Alex Satrapa, Mike Blazer, Wilbert van de Pieterman,
Steve Campbell, Robert Konigsberg, Scott Dellinger, R. Bernstein,
Daniel Winkelmann, Pires Claudio, Adrian Phillips,
Marek Rouchal, Luc St Louis, Adam Fischler, Kay Röpke, Matt Wilson,
Raviraj Murdeshwar and Slaven Rezic, Florian Pfaff

Geez, that's a lot of people. And apologies to the folks who were missed.

If you want someone to bug about this, that would be:

    Shlomi Fish <shlomif@cpan.org>

If you want more information, or want to participate, go to:

L<http://sourceforge.net/projects/config-inifiles/>

Please submit bug reports using the Request Tracker interface at
L<https://rt.cpan.org/Public/Dist/Display.html?Name=Config-IniFiles> .

Development discussion occurs on the mailing list
config-inifiles-dev@lists.sourceforge.net, which you can subscribe
to by going to the project web site (link above).

=head1 LICENSE

This software is copyright (c) 2000 by Scott Hutton and the rest of the
Config::IniFiles contributors.

This is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it under
the same terms as the Perl 5 programming language system itself.

=cut

1;

# Please keep the following within the last four lines of the file
#[JW for editor]:mode=perl:tabSize=8:indentSize=2:noTabs=true:indentOnEnter=true: