Bio::DB::HIV::HIVQueryHelper.3pm

Langue: en

Version: 2010-05-19 (ubuntu - 24/10/10)

Section: 3 (Bibliothèques de fonctions)

NAME

Bio::DB::HIV::HIVQueryHelper - Routines and packages used by Bio::DB::HIV and Bio::DB::Query::HIVQuery

SYNOPSIS

   Used in Bio::DB::Query::HIVQuery. No need to use directly.
 
 

DESCRIPTION

"Bio::DB::HIV::HIVQueryHelper" contains a number of packages for use by Bio::DB::Query::HIVQuery. Package "HIVSchema" parses the "lanl-schema.xml" file, and allows access to it in the context of the relational database it represents (see APPENDIX for excruciating detail). Packages "QRY", "R", and "Q" together create the query string parser that enables NCBI-like queries to be understood by "Bio::DB::Query::HIVQuery". They provide objects and operators to perform and simplify logical expressions involving "AND", "OR", and "()" and return hash structures that can be handled by "Bio::DB::Query::HIVQuery" routines.

FEEDBACK

Mailing Lists

User feedback is an integral part of the evolution of this and other Bioperl modules. Send your comments and suggestions preferably to the Bioperl mailing list. Your participation is much appreciated.
   bioperl-l@bioperl.org                  - General discussion
   http://bioperl.org/wiki/Mailing_lists  - About the mailing lists
 
 

Support

Please direct usage questions or support issues to the mailing list:

bioperl-l@bioperl.org

rather than to the module maintainer directly. Many experienced and reponsive experts will be able look at the problem and quickly address it. Please include a thorough description of the problem with code and data examples if at all possible.

Reporting Bugs

Report bugs to the Bioperl bug tracking system to help us keep track of the bugs and their resolution. Bug reports can be submitted via the web:
   http://bugzilla.open-bio.org/
 
 

AUTHOR - Mark A. Jensen

Email maj@fortinbras.us

CONTRIBUTORS

Mark A. Jensen

APPENDIX

The rest of the documentation details each of the contained packages. Internal methods are usually preceded with a _

HIVSchema - objects/methods to manipulate a version of the LANL HIV DB schema

HIVSchema SYNOPSIS
     $schema = new HIVSchema( 'lanl-schema.xml' );
     @tables = $schema->tables;
     @validFields = $schema->fields;
     @validAliases = $schema->aliases;
     @query_aliases_for_coreceptor = $schema->aliases( 'SEQ_SAMple.SSAM_second_receptor' );
     $pk_for_SequenceEntry = $schema->primarykey('SequenceEntry');    # returns 'SequenceEntry.SE_id' 
     $fk_for_SEQ_SAMple_to_SequenceEntry = 
               $schema->foreignkey('SEQ_SAMple', 'SequenceEntry');    # returns 'SEQ_SAMple.SSAM_SE_id'
 
     $table = $schema->tablepart('SEQ_SAMple.SSAM_badseq');           # returns 'SEQ_SAMple'
     $column = $schema->columnpart('SEQ_SAMple.SSAM_badseq');         # returns 'SSAM_badseq'
 
 

HIVSchema DESCRIPTION

HIVSchema methods are used in Bio::DB::Query::HIVQuery for table, column, primary/foreign key manipulations based on the observed Los Alamos HIV Sequence Database (LANL DB) naming conventions for their CGI parameters. The schema is contained in an XML file ("lanl-schema.xml") which is read into an HIVSchema object, in turn a property of the HIVQuery object. HIVSchema methods are used to build correct cgi queries in a way that attempts to preserve the context of the relational database the query parameters represent.

HIVSchema CONSTRUCTOR

HIVSchema::new

  Title   : new
  Usage   : $schema = new HIVSchema( "lanl-schema.xml ");
  Function: 
  Example :
  Returns : an HIVSchema object
  Args    : XML filename
 
 

HIVSchema INSTANCE METHODS

HIVSchema tables

  Title   : tables
  Usage   : $schema->tables()
  Function: get all table names in schema
  Example :
  Returns : array of table names
  Args    : none
 
 

HIVSchema columns

  Title   : columns
  Usage   : $schema->columns( [$tablename] );
  Function: return array of columns for specified table, or all columns in 
            schema, if called w/o args
  Example :
  Returns : 
  Args    : tablename or fieldname string
 
 

HIVSchema fields

  Title   : fields
  Usage   : $schema->fields();
  Function: return array of all fields in schema, in format "table.column"
  Example : 
  Returns : array of all fields
  Args    : none
 
 

HIVSchema options

  Title   : options
  Usage   : $schema->options(@fieldnames)
  Function: get array of options (i.e., valid match data strings) available
            to specified field
  Example : 
  Returns : array of match data strings
  Args    : [array of] fieldname string[s] in "table.column" format
 
 

HIVSchema aliases

  Title   : aliases
  Usage   : $schema->aliases(@fieldnames)
  Function: get array of aliases to specified field[s]
  Example : 
  Returns : array of valid query aliases for fields as spec'd in XML file
  Args    : [an array of] fieldname[s] in "table.column" format
 
 

HIVSchema ankh

  Title   : ankh (annotation key hash)
  Usage   : $schema->ankh(@fieldnames)
  Function: return a hash translating fields to annotation keys for the
            spec'd fields.
            (Annotation keys are used for parsing the tab-delimited response
            to Bio::DB::Query::HIVQuery::_do_lanl_request.)
  Example :
  Returns : hash ref 
  Args    : [an array of] fieldname[s] in "table.column" format
 
 

HIVSchema tablepart

  Title   : tablepart (alias: tbl)
  Usage   : $schema->tbl(@fieldnames)
  Function: return the portion of the fieldname[s] that refer to the 
            db table
  Example : $schema->tbl('SequenceEntry.SE_id'); # returns 'SequenceEntry'
  Returns : table name as string
  Args    : [an array of] fieldname[s] in "table.column" format
 
 

HIVSchema columnpart

  Title   : columnpart (alias: col)
  Usage   : $schema->col(@fieldnames)
  Function: return the portion of the fieldname[s] that refer to the 
            db column
  Example : $schema->col('SequenceEntry.SE_id'); # returns 'SE_id'
  Returns : column name as string
  Args    : [an array of] fieldname[s] in "table.column" format
 
 

HIVSchema primarykey

  Title   : primarykey [alias: pk]
  Usage   : $schema->pk(@tablenames);
  Function: return the primary key of the specified table[s], as judged by
            the syntax of the table's[s'] fieldnames
  Example : $schema->pk('SequenceEntry') # returns 'SequenceEntry.SE_id'
  Returns : primary key fieldname[s] in "table.column" format, or null if
            no pk exists
  Args    : [an array of] table name[s] (fieldnames are ok, table part used)
 
 

HIVSchema foreignkey

  Title   : foreignkey [alias: fk]
  Usage   : $schema->fk($intable [, $totable])
  Function: return foreign key fieldname in table $intable referring to 
            table $totable, or all foreign keys in $intable if $totable
            unspec'd
  Example : $schema->fk('AUthor', 'SequenceEntry'); # returns 'AUthor_AU_SE_id'
  Returns : foreign key fieldname[s] in "table.column" format
  Args    : tablename [, optional foreign table name] (fieldnames are ok,
            table part used)
 
 

HIVSchema foreigntable

  Title   : foreigntable [alias ftbl]
  Usage   : $schema->ftbl( @foreign_key_fieldnames );
  Function: return tablename of table that foreign keys points to
  Example : $schema->ftbl( 'AUthor.AU_SE_id' ); # returns 'SequenceEntry'
  Returns : tablename
  Args    : [an array of] fieldname[s] in "table.column" format
 
 

HIVSchema find_join

  Title   : find_join
  Usage   : $sch->find_join('Table1', 'Table2')
  Function: Retrieves a set of foreign and primary keys (in table.column 
            format) that represents a join path from Table1 to Table2
  Example :
  Returns : an array of keys (as table.column strings) -or- an empty 
            array if Table1 == Table2 -or- undef if no path exists
  Args    : two table names as strings
 
 

HIVSchema _find_join_guts

  Title   : _find_join_guts
  Usage   : $sch->_find_join_guts($table1, $table2, $stackref, \$found, $reverse)
            (call with $stackref = [], $found=0)
  Function: recursive guts of find_join
  Example :
  Returns : if a path is found, $found==1 and @$stackref contains the keys
            in table.column format representing the path; if a path is not
            found, $found == 0 and @$stackref contains garbage
  Args    : $table1, $table2 : table names as strings
            $stackref : an arrayref to an empty array
            \$found   : a scalar ref to the value 0
            $rev : if $rev==1, the arrays of table names will be reversed;
                   this can give a shorter path if cycles exist in the 
                   schema graph
 
 

HIVSchema loadSchema

  Title   : loadHIVSchema [alias: loadSchema]
  Usage   : $schema->loadSchema( $XMLfilename )
  Function: read (LANL DB) schema spec from XML 
  Example : $schema->loadSchema('lanl-schema.xml');
  Returns : hashref to schema data
            Keys are fieldnames in "table.column" format.
            Each value is a hashref with the following properties:
            {name}    : HIVWEB 'table.column' format fieldname, 
                        can be used directly in the cgi query
            {aliases} : ref to array containing valid aliases/shortcuts for 
                        {name}; can be used in routines creating the HTML query
            {options} : ref to array containing valid matchdata for this field
                        can be used directly in the HTML query
            {ankey}   : contains the annotation key for this field used with 
                        Bioperl annotation objects
            {..attr..}: ..value_of_attr.. for this field (app-specific metadata)
  Args    :
 
 

HIVSchema _sfieldh

  Title   : _sfieldh
  Usage   : $schema->_sfieldh($fieldname)
  Function: get hashref to the specified field hash
  Example :
  Returns : hashref
  Args    : fieldname in "table.column" format
 
 

Class QRY - a query algebra for HIVQuery

QRY SYNOPSIS
   $Q = new QRY( 
                new R( 
                       new Q('coreceptor', 'CXCR4'), 
                       new Q('country', 'ZA')
                      )
                );
   QRY::Eq(QRY::And($Q, $Q), $Q);                     # returns 1
   QRY::Eq(QRY::Or($Q, $Q), $Q);                      # returns 1
   $Q2 = $Q1->clone;
   $Q2 = new QRY( 
                 new R( 
                        new Q( 'coreceptor', 'CCR5' ),
                        new Q( 'country', 'ZA')
                       )
                );
   (QRY::And($Q, $Q2))->isnull;                       # returns 1
   $Q3 = QRY::Or($Q, $Q2);
   print $Q3->A;                                      # prints '(CCR5 CXCR4)[coreceptor] (ZA)[country]'
 
 

QRY DESCRIPTION

The QRY package provides a query parser for Bio::DB::Query::HIVQuery. Currently, the parser supports AND, OR, and () operations. The structure of the LANL cgi makes it tricky to perform NOTs, though this could be implemented if the desire were great.

Two class methods do the work. "QRY::_parse_q" does a first-pass parse of the query string. "QRY::_make_q" interprets the parse tree as returned by "QRY::_parse_q" and produces an array of hash structures that can be used directly by "Bio::DB::Query::HIVQuery" query execution methods. Validation of query fields and options is performed at the "Bio::DB::Query::HIVQuery" level, not here.

"QRY" objects are collections of "R" (or request) objects, which are in turn collections of "Q" (or atomic query) objects. "Q" objects represent a query on a single field, with match data options "OR"ed together, e.g. "(A B)[subtype]". "R" objects collect "Q" objects that could be processed in a single HTTP request; i.e., a set of atomic queries each having different fields "AND"ed together, such as

   (A B)[subtype] AND ('CCR5')[coreceptor] AND (US CA)[country]
 
 

The "QRY" object collects "R"s that cannot be reduced (through logical operations) to a single HTTP request, e.g.

   ((C)[subtype] AND (SI)[phenotype]) OR ( (D)[subtype] AND (NSI)[phenotype] ),
 
 

which cannot be got in one go through the current LANL cgi implementation (as far as I can tell). The parser will simplify something like

   ((C)[subtype] AND (SI)[phenotype]) OR ((C)[subtype] AND (NSI)[phenotype])
 
 

to the single request

   (C)[subtype] AND (NSI SI)[phenotype]
 
 

however.

The operators "&" and "|" are overloaded to "QRY::And" and "QRY::Or", to get Perl precedence and grouping for free. "bool" is overloaded to get symbolic tests such as "if ($QRY) {stuff}". "==" is overloaded with "QRY::Eq" for convenience. No overloading is done for "R" or "Q".

QRY _make_q

  Title   : _make_q 
  Usage   : QRY::_make_q($parsetree)
  Function: creates hash structures suitable for HIVQuery from parse tree
            returned by QRY::_parse_q
  Example :
  Returns : array of hashrefs of query specs
  Args    : a hashref
 
 

QRY _make_q_guts

  Title   : _make_q_guts (Internal class method)
  Usage   : _make_q_guts($ptree, $q_expr, $qarry, $anarry)
  Function: traverses the parse tree returned from QRY::_parse_q, checking
            syntax and creating HIVQuery-compliant query structures
  Example :
  Returns : 
  Args    : $parse_tree (hashref), $query_expression (scalar string ref),
            $query_array (array ref : stack for returning query structures),
            $annotation_array (array ref : stack for returning annotation
            fields)
 
 

QRY _parse_q

  Title   : _parse_q 
  Usage   : QRY::_parse_q($query_string)
  Function: perform first pass parse of a query string with some syntax 
            checking, return a parse tree suitable for QRY::_make_q
  Example : QRY::_parse_q(" to[be] OR (not to)[be] ");
  Returns : hashref
  Args    : query string
 
 

QRY CONSTRUCTOR

QRY Constructor

  Title   : QRY constructor
  Usage   : $QRY = new QRY()
  Function:
  Example :
  Returns : 
  Args    : array of R objects, optional
 
 

QRY INSTANCE METHODS

QRY requests

  Title   : requests
  Usage   : $QRY->requests
  Function: get/set array of requests comprising this QRY object
  Example :
  Returns : 
  Args    : array of class R objects
 
 

QRY put_requests

  Title   : put_requests
  Usage   : $QRY->put_request(@R)
  Function: add object of class R to $QRY
  Example :
  Returns : 
  Args    : [an array of] of class R object[s]
 
 

QRY isnull

  Title   : isnull
  Usage   : $QRY->isnull
  Function: test if QRY object is null
  Example :
  Returns : 1 if null, 0 otherwise
  Args    :
 
 

QRY A

  Title   : A
  Usage   : print $QRY->A
  Function: get a string representation of QRY object
  Example :
  Returns : string scalar
  Args    :
 
 

QRY len

  Title   : len
  Usage   : $QRY->len
  Function: get number of class R objects contained by QRY object
  Example :
  Returns : scalar
  Args    :
 
 

QRY clone

  Title   : clone
  Usage   : $QRY2 = $QRY1->clone;
  Function: create and return a clone of the object
  Example :
  Returns : object of class QRY
  Args    :
 
 

QRY CLASS METHODS

QRY Or

  Title   : Or 
  Usage   : $QRY3 = QRY::Or($QRY1, $QRY2)
  Function: logical OR for QRY objects
  Example :
  Returns : a QRY object
  Args    : two class QRY objects
 
 

QRY And

  Title   : And 
  Usage   : $QRY3 = QRY::And($QRY1, $QRY2)
  Function: logical AND for QRY objects
  Example :
  Returns : a QRY object
  Args    : two class QRY objects
 
 

QRY Bool

  Title   : Bool 
  Usage   : QRY::Bool($QRY1)
  Function: allows symbolic testing of QRY object when bool overloaded
  Example : do {stuff} if $QRY1 *same as* do {stuff} if !$QRY1->isnull
  Returns : 
  Args    : a class QRY object
 
 

QRY Eq

  Title   : Eq 
  Usage   : QRY::Eq($QRY1, $QRY2)
  Function: test if R objects in two QRY objects are the same
            (irrespective of order)
  Example : 
  Returns : 1 if equal, 0 otherwise
  Args    : two class QRY objects
 
 

Class R - request objects for QRY algebra

R SYNOPSIS
   $R = new R( $q1, $q2 );
   $R->put_atoms($q3);
   $R->del_atoms('coreceptor', 'phenotype');
   return $R->clone;
   $R1 = new R( new Q('subtype', 'B') );
   $R2 = new R( new Q('subtype', 'B C'), 
                new Q('country', 'US') );
   R::Eq( (R::And($R1, $R2))[0], 
          new R( new Q('subtype', 'B' ), 
                 new Q('country', 'US') ));                 # returns 1
   QRY::Eq( new QRY(R::Or($R1, $R2)), new QRY($R1, $R2) );  # returns 1
   R::In( (R::And($R1, $R2))[0], $R1 );                     # returns 1
 
 

R DESCRIPTION

Class R objects contain a list of atomic queries (class Q objects). Each class R object represents a single HTTP request to the LANL DB. When converted to a DB query, the class Q objects contained by an R object are effectively "AND"ed.

R CONSTRUCTOR

R constructor

  Title   : R constructor
  Usage   : $R = new R()
  Function: create a new R (request) object
  Example :
  Returns : class R (request) object
  Args    : optional, array of class Q objects
 
 

R INSTANCE METHODS

R len

  Title   : len
  Usage   : $R->len
  Function: get number of class Q objects contained in R object
  Example :
  Returns : scalar
  Args    :
 
 

R atoms

  Title   : atoms
  Usage   : $R->atoms( [optional $field])
  Function: get array of class Q (atomic query) objects in class R object
  Example : $R->atoms(); $R->atoms('coreceptor')
  Returns : array of class Q objects (all Qs or those corresponding to $field 
            if present)
  Args    : optional, scalar string
 
 

R fields

  Title   : fields
  Usage   : $R->fields
  Function: get array of fields of all Q objects contained in $R
  Example :
  Returns : array of scalars
  Args    :
 
 

R put_atoms

  Title   : put_atoms
  Usage   : $R->put_atoms( @q )
  Function: AND an atomic query (class Q object) to the class R object's list
  Example :
  Returns : void
  Args    : an [array of] class Q object[s]
 
 

R del_atoms

  Title   : del_atoms
  Usage   : $R->del_atoms( @qfields )
  Function: removes class Q objects from R object's list according to the
            field names given in arguments
  Example :
  Returns : the class Q objects deleted
  Args    : scalar array of field names
 
 

R isnull

  Title   : isnull
  Usage   : $R->isnull
  Function: test if class R object is null
  Example :
  Returns : 1 if null, 0 otherwise
  Args    :
 
 

R A

  Title   : A
  Usage   : print $R->A
  Function: get a string representation of class R object
  Example :
  Returns : string scalar
  Args    :
 
 

R clone

  Title   : clone
  Usage   : $R2 = $R1->clone;
  Function: create and return a clone of the object
  Example :
  Returns : object of class R
  Args    :
 
 

R CLASS METHODS

R In

  Title   : In 
  Usage   : R::In($R1, $R2)
  Function: tests whether the query represented by $R1 would return a subset
            of items returned by the query represented by $R2
  Example : print "R2 gets those and more" if R::In($R1, $R2);
  Returns : 1 if R1 is subset of R2, 0 otherwise
  Args    : two class R objects
 
 

R And

  Title   : And 
  Usage   : @Rresult = R::And($R1, $R2)
  Function: logical AND for R objects
  Example :
  Returns : an array containing class R objects
  Args    : two class R objects
 
 

R Or

  Title   : Or 
  Usage   : @Rresult = R::Or($R1, $R2)
  Function: logical OR for R objects
  Example :
  Returns : an array containing class R objects
  Args    : two class R objects
 
 

R Eq

  Title   : Eq 
  Usage   : R::Eq($R1, $R2)
  Function: test if class Q objects in two R objects are the same
            (irrespective of order)
  Example : 
  Returns : 1 if equal, 0 otherwise
  Args    : two class R objects
 
 

Class Q - atomic query objects for QRY algebra

Q SYNOPSIS
     $q = new Q('coreceptor', 'CXCR4 CCR5');
     $u = new Q('coreceptor', 'CXCR4');
     $q->fld;                                 # returns 'coreceptor'
     $q->dta;                                 # returns 'CXCR4 CCR5'
     print $q->A;                             # prints '(CXCR4 CCR5)[coreceptor]
     Q::qeq($q, $u);                          # returns 0
     Q::qeq( Q::qor($q, $q), $q );            # returns 1
     Q::qin($u, $q)                           # returns 1
     Q::qeq(Q::qand($u, $q), $u );            # returns 1
 
 

Q DESCRIPTION

Class Q objects represent atomic queries, that can be described by a single LANL cgi parameter=value pair. Class R objects (requests) are built from class Qs. The logical operations at the higher levels ("QRY, R") ultimately depend on the lower level operations on Qs: "qeq, qin, qand, qor".

Q CONSTRUCTOR

Q constructor

  Title   : Q constructor
  Usage   : $q = new Q($field, $data)
  Function: create a new Q (atomic query) object
  Example :
  Returns : class Q object
  Args    : optional $field, $data strings
 
 

Q INSTANCE METHODS

Q isnull

  Title   : isnull
  Usage   : $q->isnull
  Function: test if class Q object is null
  Example :
  Returns : 1 if null, 0 otherwise
  Args    :
 
 

Q fld

  Title   : fld
  Usage   : $q->fld($field)
  Function: get/set fld (field name) property
  Example :
  Returns : scalar 
  Args    : scalar
 
 

Q dta

  Title   : dta
  Usage   : $q->dta($data)
  Function: get/set dta (whsp-separated data string) property
  Example :
  Returns : scalar 
  Args    : scalar
 
 

Q A

  Title   : A
  Usage   : print $q->A
  Function: get a string representation of class Q object
  Example :
  Returns : string scalar
  Args    :
 
 

Q clone

  Title   : clone
  Usage   : $q2 = $q1->clone;
  Function: create and return a clone of the object
  Example :
  Returns : object of class Q
  Args    :
 
 

Q CLASS METHODS

Q qin

  Title   : qin 
  Usage   : Q::qin($q1, $q2)
  Function: tests whether the query represented by $q1 would return a subset
            of items returned by the query represented by $q2
  Example : print "q2 gets those and more" if Q::qin($q1, $q2);
  Returns : 1 if q1 is subset of q2, 0 otherwise
  Args    : two class Q objects
 
 

Q qeq

  Title   : qeq 
  Usage   : Q::qeq($q1, $q2)
  Function: test if fld and dta properties in two class Q objects are the same
            (irrespective of order)
  Example : 
  Returns : 1 if equal, 0 otherwise
  Args    : two class Q objects
 
 

Q qor

  Title   : qor 
  Usage   : @qresult = Q::qor($q1, $q2)
  Function: logical OR for Q objects
  Example :
  Returns : an array of class Q objects 
  Args    : two class Q objects
 
 

Q qand

  Title   : qand 
  Usage   : @qresult = Q::And($q1, $q2)
  Function: logical AND for R objects
  Example :
  Returns : an array of class Q objects
  Args    : two class Q objects
 
 

Q INTERNALS

Q unique

  Title   : unique
  Usage   : @ua = unique(@a)
  Function: return contents of @a with duplicates removed
  Example :
  Returns : 
  Args    : an array
 
 

Additional tools for Bio::AnnotationCollectionI

Bio::AnnotationCollectionI SYNOPSIS (additional methods)
     $seq->annotation->put_value('patient_id', 1401)
     $seq->annotation->get_value('patient_ids')                   # returns 1401
     $seq->annotation->put_value('patient_group', 'MassGenH')
     $seq->annotation->put_value(['clinical', 'cd4count'], 503);
     $seq->annotation->put_value(['clinical', 'virus_load'], 150805);
     foreach ( qw( cd4count virus_load ) ) {
         $blood_readings{$_} = $seq->annonation->get_value(['clinical', $_]);
     }
 
 

Bio::AnnotationCollectionI DESCRIPTION (additional methods)

"get_value()" and "put_value" allow easy creation of and access to an annotation collection tree with nodes of Bio::Annotation::SimpleValue. These methods obiviate direct accession of the SimpleValue objects.

get_value

  Title   : get_value
  Usage   : $ac->get_value($tagname) -or-
            $ac->get_value( $tag_level1, $tag_level2,... )
  Function: access the annotation value assocated with the given tags
  Example :
  Returns : a scalar
  Args    : an array of tagnames that descend into the annotation tree
 
 

put_value

  Title   : put_value
  Usage   : $ac->put_value($tagname, $value) -or-
            $ac->put_value([$tag_level1, $tag_level2, ...], $value) -or-
            $ac->put_value( [$tag_level1, $tag_level2, ...] )
  Function: create a node in an annotation tree, and assign a scalar value to it
            if a value is specified
  Example :
  Returns : scalar or a Bio::AnnotationCollection object
  Args    : $tagname, $value scalars (can be specified as -KEYS=>$tagname,
            -VALUE=>$value) -or- 
            \@tagnames, $value (or as -KEYS=>\@tagnames, -VALUE=>$value )
  Note    : If intervening nodes do not exist, put_value creates them, replacing 
            existing nodes. So if $ac->put_value('x', 10) was done, then later,
            $ac->put_value(['x', 'y'], 20), the original value of 'x' is trashed,
            and $ac->get_value('x') will now return the annotation collection
            with tagname 'y'.
 
 

get_keys

  Title   : get_keys
  Usage   : $ac->get_keys($tagname_level_1, $tagname_level_2,...)
  Function: Get an array of tagnames underneath the named tag nodes
  Example : # prints the values of the members of Category 1...
            print map { $ac->get_value($_) } $ac->get_keys('Category 1') ;
  Returns : array of tagnames or empty list if the arguments represent a leaf
  Args    : [array of] tagname[s]