\section{\module{dbm} --- Simple ``database'' interface}\declaremodule{builtin}{dbm} \platform{Unix}\modulesynopsis{The standard ``database'' interface, based on ndbm.}The \module{dbm} module provides an interface to the \UNIX{}(\code{n})\code{dbm} library. Dbm objects behave like mappings(dictionaries), except that keys and values are always strings.Printing a dbm object doesn't print the keys and values, and the\method{items()} and \method{values()} methods are not supported.This module can be used with the ``classic'' ndbm interface, the BSDDB compatibility interface, or the GNU GDBM compatibility interface.On \UNIX, the \program{configure} script will attempt to locate theappropriate header file to simplify building this module.The module defines the following:\begin{excdesc}{error}Raised on dbm-specific errors, such as I/O errors.\exception{KeyError} is raised for general mapping errors likespecifying an incorrect key.\end{excdesc}\begin{datadesc}{library}Name of the \code{ndbm} implementation library used.\end{datadesc}\begin{funcdesc}{open}{filename\optional{, flag\optional{, mode}}}Open a dbm database and return a dbm object. The \var{filename}argument is the name of the database file (without the \file{.dir} or\file{.pag} extensions; note that the BSD DB implementation of theinterface will append the extension \file{.db} and only create onefile).The optional \var{flag} argument must be one of these values:\begin{tableii}{c|l}{code}{Value}{Meaning} \lineii{'r'}{Open existing database for reading only (default)} \lineii{'w'}{Open existing database for reading and writing} \lineii{'c'}{Open database for reading and writing, creating it if it doesn't exist} \lineii{'n'}{Always create a new, empty database, open for reading and writing}\end{tableii}The optional \var{mode} argument is the \UNIX{} mode of the file, usedonly when the database has to be created. It defaults to octal\code{0666}.\end{funcdesc}\begin{seealso} \seemodule{anydbm}{Generic interface to \code{dbm}-style databases.} \seemodule{gdbm}{Similar interface to the GNU GDBM library.} \seemodule{whichdb}{Utility module used to determine the type of an existing database.}\end{seealso}
\section{\module{dbm} ---
Simple ``database'' interface}
\declaremodule{builtin}{dbm}
\platform{Unix}
\modulesynopsis{The standard ``database'' interface, based on ndbm.}
The \module{dbm} module provides an interface to the \UNIX{}
(\code{n})\code{dbm} library. Dbm objects behave like mappings
(dictionaries), except that keys and values are always strings.
Printing a dbm object doesn't print the keys and values, and the
\method{items()} and \method{values()} methods are not supported.
This module can be used with the ``classic'' ndbm interface, the BSD
DB compatibility interface, or the GNU GDBM compatibility interface.
On \UNIX, the \program{configure} script will attempt to locate the
appropriate header file to simplify building this module.
The module defines the following:
\begin{excdesc}{error}
Raised on dbm-specific errors, such as I/O errors.
\exception{KeyError} is raised for general mapping errors like
specifying an incorrect key.
\end{excdesc}
\begin{datadesc}{library}
Name of the \code{ndbm} implementation library used.
\end{datadesc}
\begin{funcdesc}{open}{filename\optional{, flag\optional{, mode}}}
Open a dbm database and return a dbm object. The \var{filename}
argument is the name of the database file (without the \file{.dir} or
\file{.pag} extensions; note that the BSD DB implementation of the
interface will append the extension \file{.db} and only create one
file).
The optional \var{flag} argument must be one of these values:
\begin{tableii}{c|l}{code}{Value}{Meaning}
\lineii{'r'}{Open existing database for reading only (default)}
\lineii{'w'}{Open existing database for reading and writing}
\lineii{'c'}{Open database for reading and writing, creating it if
it doesn't exist}
\lineii{'n'}{Always create a new, empty database, open for reading
and writing}
\end{tableii}
The optional \var{mode} argument is the \UNIX{} mode of the file, used
only when the database has to be created. It defaults to octal
\code{0666}.
\end{funcdesc}
\begin{seealso}
\seemodule{anydbm}{Generic interface to \code{dbm}-style databases.}
\seemodule{gdbm}{Similar interface to the GNU GDBM library.}
\seemodule{whichdb}{Utility module used to determine the type of an
existing database.}
\end{seealso}