NAME Text::Phonetic - A module implementing various phonetic algorithms SYNOPSIS use Text::Phonetic; my $phonetic = Text::Phonetic::Metaphone->new(); $encoded_string = $phonetic->encode($string); @encoded_list = $phonetic->encode(@list); my $same = $phonetic->compare($string1,$string2); This module provides an easy and convinient way to encode names with various phonetic algorithms. It acts as a wrapper arround other phonetic algorithm modules like Text::Metaphone, Text::DoubleMetaphone, Text::Soundex and also implements some other algorithms such as Text::Phonetic::DaitchMokotoff, Text::Phonetic::Koeln, Text::Phonetic::Phonem and Text::Phonetic::Phonix. The module can easily be subclassed. DESCRIPTION new $obj = Text::Phonetic::SUBCLASS->new({ %PARAMETERS }) You can pass arbitrary attributes to the constructor. The only global attribute is "unidecode" which defaults to 1 if not set. This attribute controlls if non-latin characters should be transliterated to A-Z (see also Text::Unidecode). Additional attributes may be defined by the various implementation classes. encode $RETURN_STRING = $obj->encode($STRING); OR @RETURN_LIST = $obj->encode(@LIST); OR $RETURN_LIST_REF = $obj->encode(@LIST); Encodes the given string or list of strings. Returns a single value, array or array reference depending on the caller context and parameters. compare $RETURN_CODE = $obj->compare($STRING1,$STRING2); The return code is an integer between 100 and 0 indicating the likelihood that the to results are the same. 100 means that the strings are completely identical. 99 means that the strings match after all non-latin characters have been transliterated. Values in between 98 and 1 usually mean that the given strings match. 0 means that the used alogorithm couldn't match the two strings at all. "compare" is a shortcut to the "$obj->_do_compare($CODE1,$CODE2)" method. SUBLCASSING You can easily subclass Text::Phonetic and add your own phonetic algorithm. All subclasses must use Text::Phonetic as their base class, and the following methods need to be implemented: _do_encode $RESULT = $obj->_do_encode($STRING); This method does the actual encoding. It should return only one element. (eg. string or some kind of reference) _do_compare $RETURN_STRING = $obj->_do_compare($RESULT1,$RESULT2); If your "_do_encode" method doesn't return a single scalar value you also might need to implement a comparison method. It takes two results as returned by "_do_encode" and returns an integer value between 98 and 0 (see "compare"). Object structure The object is a simple Hash reference containing all parameters passed during construction. Helper class methods _is_inlist Text::Phonetic::_is_inlist($STRING,@LIST); OR Text::Phonetic::_is_inlist($STRING,$LIST_REF); Returns a true value if $STRING is in the supplied list. Otherwise returns false. _compare_list Text::Phonetic::_compare_list($LIST1_REF,$LIST2_REF); Compares the two arrays and returns true if at least one element is equal (ignoring the position) in both lists. SUPPORT Please report any bugs or feature requests to "text-phonetic@rt.cpan.org", or through the web interface at . I will be notified, and then you'll automatically be notified of progress on your bug as I make changes. AUTHOR Maroš Kollár CPAN ID: MAROS maros [at] k-1.com http://www.k-1.com COPYRIGHT Text::Phonetic is Copyright (c) 2006,2007 Maroš. Kollár. This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the same terms as Perl itself. The full text of the license can be found in the LICENSE file included with this module.