Added FAQ/Cookbook entry on Stringification. Contributed by Marcello Romani.

diff --git a/lib/DBIx/Class/Manual/Cookbook.pod b/lib/DBIx/Class/Manual/Cookbook.pod
index a0bce5e..b18fb24 100644 (file)
--- a/lib/DBIx/Class/Manual/Cookbook.pod
+++ b/lib/DBIx/Class/Manual/Cookbook.pod
@@ -527,10 +527,43 @@ just looking for this.
 =head2 Stringification
 
 Employ the standard stringification technique by using the C<overload>
-module.  Replace C<foo> with the column/method of your choice.
+module.
+
+To make an object stringify itself as a single column, use something
+like this (replace C<foo> with the column/method of your choice):
 
   use overload '""' => 'foo', fallback => 1;
 
+For more complex stringification, you can use an anonymous subroutine:
+
+  use overload '""' => sub { $_[0]->name . ", " .
+                             $_[0]->address }, fallback => 1;
+
+=head3 Stringifcation Example
+
+Suppose we have two tables: C<Product> and C<Category>. The table
+specifications are:
+
+  Product(id, Description, category)
+  Category(id, Description)
+
+C<category> is a foreign key into the Category table.
+
+If you have a Product object C<$obj> and write something like
+
+  print $obj->category
+
+things will not work as expected.
+
+To obtain, for example, the category description, you should add this
+method to the class defining the Category table:
+
+  use overload "" => sub {
+      my $self = shift;
+
+      return $self->Description;
+  }
+
 =head2 Disconnecting cleanly
 
 If you find yourself quitting an app with Control-C a lot during

diff --git a/lib/DBIx/Class/Manual/FAQ.pod b/lib/DBIx/Class/Manual/FAQ.pod
index 8b8baed..0c2ba53 100644 (file)
--- a/lib/DBIx/Class/Manual/FAQ.pod
+++ b/lib/DBIx/Class/Manual/FAQ.pod
@@ -324,3 +324,15 @@ search again or relationship accessors. The SQL query is only run when
 you ask the resultset for an actual row object.
 
 =back
+
+=head2 Notes for CDBI users
+
+=over 4
+
+=item Is there a way to make an object auto-stringify itself as a
+particular column or group of columns (a-la cdbi Stringfy column
+group, or stringify_self method) ?
+
+See L<Cookbook/Stringification>
+
+=back