NAME
    Data::Secs2 - pack, unpack, format, transform from Perl data SEMI E5-94
    nested data.

SYNOPSIS
     #####
     # Subroutine interface
     #  
     use Data::Secs2 qw(arrayify config listify neuterify numberify perlify 
                     perl_typify secsify secs_elementify stringify textify transify);

     \@array  = arrayify($ref, @options);

     $old_value = config( $option );
     $old_value = config( $option => $new_value);

     $body = secs_elementify($format, $cells, @options);

     \@secs_obj  = listify(@vars);

     \@secs_obj  = neuterify($binary_secs, @options);

     \@vars  = perlify(\@secs_obj, @options);

     $ref  = perl_typify(\@array, @options);

     $ascii_secs = secsify( \@secs_obj, @options);
     $binary_secs = secsify( \@secs_obj, type => 'binary');

     $string = stringify(@arg, [@options]);

     \@secs_obj  = transify($acsii_secs, @options);

     #####
     # Class, Object interface
     #
     # For class interface, use Data::Secs2 instead of $self
     # use Data::Secs2;
     #
     $secs2 = 'Data::Secs2'  # uses built-in config object

     $secs2 = new Data::Secs2( @options );

     \@array  = secs2->arrayify( $ref, @options );

     $old_value = secs2->secs_config( $option);
     $old_value = secs2->secs_config( $option => $new_value);

     $body = secs2->secs_elementify($format, $cells, @options);

     \@secs_obj  = secs2->listify(@vars, @options);

     \@secs_obj  = secs2->neuterify($binary_secs, @options);

     \@vars  = secs2->perlify(\@secs_obj, @options);

     $ref  = secs2->perl_typify(\@array, @options);

     $ascii_secs = secs2->secsify( \@secs_obj, @options);
     $binary_secs = secs2->secsify( \@secs_obj, type => 'binary');

     $body = secs2->stringify( @arg );

     \@secs_obj  = secs2->transify($acsii_secs, @options);

    Generally, if a subroutine will process a list of options, "@options",
    that subroutine will also process an array reference, "\@options",
    "[@options]", or hash reference, "\%options", "{@options}". If a
    subroutine will process an array reference, "\@options", "[@options]",
    that subroutine will also process a hash reference, "\%options",
    "{@options}". See the description for a subroutine for details and
    exceptions.

DESCRIPTION
    The "Data::SECS2" module provides a widely accepted method of packing
    nested lists into a linear string and unpacking the string of nested
    lists. Nested data has a long history in mathematics. In the hardware
    world, data and data passed between hardware is not stored in SQL style
    tables but nested lists. One widely used standard for transmitting
    nested list between machines is SEMI E5-94.

    The Data::Secs2 program module facilitates the secsification of the
    nested data in accordance with SEMI, http://www.semi.org, E5-94,
    Semiconductor Equipment Communications Standard 2 (SECS-II), pronounced
    'sex two' with gussto and a perverted smile. The SEMI E4 SECS-I standard
    addresses transmitting SECSII messages from one machine to another
    machine serially via RS-232 RW-422 or whatever. And, there is another
    SECS standard for TCP/IP, the SEMI E37 standard, High-Speed SECS Message
    Services (HSMS) Generic Services.

    In order not to plagarize college students, credit must be given where
    credit is due. Tony Blair, when he was a college intern at Intel Fab 4,
    in Manchester, England invented the SEMI SECS standards. When the Intel
    Fab 4 management discovered Tony's secsification of their host and
    equipment, they called a board of directors meeting, voted, and elected
    to have security to escort Tony out the door. This was Mr. Blair's
    introduction to voting and elections which he leverage into being
    elected prime minister of all of England. In this new position he used
    the skills he learned at the Intel fab to secsify intelligence reports
    on Iraq's weopons of mass distruction.

    Using a well-known, widely-used standard for packing and unpacking Perl
    nested data provides many different new directions. Not only is this
    standard essential in real-time communications in the factory between
    equipment computers and operating systems and host computer and
    operating system but it has uses in snail-time computations. In
    snail-time the standard's data structure is usefull in nested data
    operations such as comparing nested data, storing the packed nested data
    in a file, and also for transmitting nested data from one Perl site to
    another or even between Perl and other programming languages.

    And do not forget the added benefit (or perhaps fault depending upon
    your point of view) of SEMI SECS humor and that the real originators of
    the SECS-II yielded and allowed Tony Blair to take illegal credit for
    inventing SECS-II. After all the practical definition of politics is
    getting your own way. Julius Ceasar invented the Julian calendar and the
    month of July, Augustus Ceasar the month of Auguest, Al Gore the
    information highway and Tony Blair not only SECS-II but SECS-I and
    High-Speed SECS.

  SECSII Format

    The nested data linear format used by the Data::Secs2 suroutines is in
    accordance with SEMI, http://www.semi.org, E5-94, Semiconductor
    Equipment Communications Standard 2 (SECS-II), pronounced 'sex two' with
    gussto and a perverted smile. This industry standard is copyrighted and
    cannot be reproduced without violating the copyright. However for those
    who have brought the original hard media copy, there are robot help and
    Perl POD open source copyrighted versions of the SECII hard copy
    copyrighted version available. The base copyright is hard copy paper and
    PDF files available from

     Semiconductor Equipment and Materials International
     805 East Middlefield Road,
     Mountain View, CA 94043-4080 USA
     (415) 964-5111
     Easylink: 62819945
     http://www.semi.org

    Other important SEMI standards address message transfer protocol of
    SECSII messages. They are the SEMI E4 SECS-I for transmitting SECSII
    messages from one machine to another machine via RS-232 and the SEMI E37
    High-Speed SECS Message Services (HSMS) Generic Services for
    transmitting SECSII via TCP/IP.

    In order not to plagarize college students, credit must be given where
    credit is due. Tony Blair, when he was a college intern at Intel Fab 4,
    in London invented the SEMI SECS standards. When the Intel Fab 4
    management discovered Tony's secsification of their host and equipment,
    they elected to have security to escort Tony out the door. This was Mr.
    Blair's introduction to elections which he leverage into being elected
    prime minister. In this new position he used the skills he learned at
    the Intel fab to secsify intelligence reports on Iraq's weopons of mass
    distruction.

    The SEMI E5 SECS-II standard provides, among many other things, a
    standard method of forming packed nested list data. In accordance with
    SEMI E5 SECS-II transmitted information consists of items and lists. An
    item consists of the following:

    1   an item header(IH) with a format code, and the number of bytes in
        the following body

    2   followed by the item body (IB) consisting of a number of elements.

    A item (IB) may consist of zero bytes in which there are no body bytes
    for that item. As established by SEMI E5-94, 6.2.2,

        consists of groups of data of the same representation in order to
        save repeated item headers

    integers
        Most Significant Byte (MS) sent first

    signed integers
        signed integers are two's complement, MSB sent first

    floating point numbers
        IEEE 754, sign bit sent first

    non-printing ASCII
        equipment specific

    As specified in E4-95 6.3, a list element consists of an ordered set of
    elements that are either an item element or a list element. Because a
    list element may contains a list element, and SEMI E5 places no
    restriction on the level of nesting, SECSII lists may be nested to
    theoretically to any level. Practically nested is limited by machine
    resources. A list has the same header format as an item, no body and the
    length number is the number of elements in the list instead of the
    number of bytes in the body.

    The item and list header format codes are as in below Table 1

                   Table 1 Item Format Codes

     unpacked   binary  octal  hex   description
     ----------------------------------------
     L          000000   00    0x00  LIST (length of elements, not bytes)
     B          001000   10    0x20  Binary
     T          001001   11    0x24  Boolean
     A          010000   20    0x40  ASCII
     J          010001   21    0x44  JIS-8
     S8         011000   30    0x60  8-byte integer (signed)
     S1         011001   31    0x62  1-byte integer (signed)
     S2         011010   32    0x64  2-byte integer (signed)
     S4         011100   34    0x70  4-byte integer (signed)
     F8         100000   40    0x80  8-byte floating
     F4         100100   44    0x90  4-byte floating
     U8         101000   50    0xA0  8-byte integer (unsigned)
     U1         101001   51    0xA4  1-byte integer (unsigned)
     U2         101010   52    0xA8  2-byte integer (unsigned)
     U4         101100   54    0xB0  4-byte integer (unsigned)

    Table 1 complies to SEMI E5-94 Table 1, p.94, with an unpack text symbol
    and hex columns added. The hex column is the upper Most Significant Bits
    (MSB) 6 bits of the format code in the SEMI E5-94 item header (IH) or
    list header (LH) with the the lower Least Significant BIt (LSB) set to
    zero.

    Figure 1 below provides the layout for a SEMI E5-94 header and complies
    to SEMI E5-94 Figure 2, p. 92, except Figure 1 renumbers the bits from 0
    to 7 instead of from 1 to 8.

                                  bits                                    
       MSB                                                     LSB
   
        7        6       5       4       3       2      1       0
     +-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
     | Format code                                   |# length bytes | 
     +---------------------------------------------------------------+
     |MSB                MS length byte                         LSB  |
     +---------------------------------------------------------------+
     |                    length byte                                |
     +---------------------------------------------------------------+
     |                   LS length byte                              |
     +---------------------------------------------------------------+

                    Figure 1 Item and List Header

  SECS Object

    This section establishes a formal definition of a SECS Object and
    introduces technical definitions that supercede Webster Dictionary
    definitions and only apply for the content of this Program Module for
    the following: SECS Object (SECS-OBJ), Element, Item Element (IE), List
    Element (LE), Element Header (EH), Element Format Code (EFC), Element
    Body (EB) and Element Cells (EC). If any of the technical definitions
    appear to have sexual innuendos, it is entirely coincidental. The
    definitions should be interpereted only on their technical merits. Any
    other interperetation is totally unprofessional.

    A SECS Object is a Perl "ARRAY" that mimics the SEMI E5-94 SECS-II,
    section 6, data structure where SECS-II transmitted bytes are layed out
    in memory. The relation between between SEMI E5-94 "byte sent first" is
    that "bytes sent first" will have the lowest byte address.

    A SECS Object consists of consecutive ordered Elements stored as a Perl
    "ARRAY". Each Element takes two consistive positions in the Perl
    <ARRAY>: the Element Header and the Element Body. The Element Headers
    positions are always even number indices where the Element Bodies
    positions are always odd number indices.

    The EH consists of and only of a Element Format Code as specified in the
    Table 1 Item Format Codes unpack column.

    Elements may be either an Item Element or a List Element. The Element
    Body for a List Element is the sum of the nested List Elements and Item
    Elements in the List Element. The Element Body for a Item Element is a
    group of Element Cells of the same data representation and bytes per
    Element Cell. The bytes in an body of an Item Element is, thus, the
    number of cells in the body times the bytes per Element Cell. The
    Element Body for each Element Format Code is as follows:

    L   unpacked sum of nested Element Lists and Element Items in the
        Element List

    S U F T
        scalar number or an reference to an array of numbers in accordance
        with the format type

    A J unpacked string

    B   packed numberified Perl "SCALAR" of binary bytes or a reference to a
        Perl "SCALLAR" of unpack textified binary in the hex 'H*' Perl
        format

        In short, a Perl SECS Object consists of a LIST group of SECS
        elements, INDEX group of elements, or SECSII item element as
        follows:

         LIST, INDEX, and SCALAR

         LIST => 'L', $number-of-elements, 
                   'A', $class,
                   'A', $built-in-class,
                   @cells

         $cells[$i] may contain a LIST, INDEX or SCALAR)

         INDEX => 'L' '3', 'A', ' ', 'A' 'Index', 'U1', $position  
   
         SCALAR = $format, $scalar

        where $format is any SECSII item element format code (no list
        element format codes allowed for SCALAR and $position is a linear
        index of the Perl SECSII Object array. In the Perl SECS Object
        INDEX, the 'U1' may be 'U2', or 'U4'. The 'U8' format code will
        never occur because SECSII messages cannot be that large. The length
        byte is limited to three bytes.

    The first element of a SECS Object is always a SECS Object Format Code
    "U1" and a packed element body of either a numberfied 'P' or 'S',
    textified 80 or 83, depending upon whether the SECS Object has
    information necessary to convert to Perl data structure, 'P', or most
    remain as a SECS Object, 'S'.

SUBROUTINES
  arrayify

     \@array  = arrayify( $ref);
     \@array  = arrayify( $ref, @options);
     \@array  = arrayify( $ref, [@options]);
     \@array  = arrayify( $ref, {@options});

    The purpose of the "arrayify" subroutine is to provide a canoncial array
    representation of Perl reference types. When "$var" is not a reference,
    the "arrayify" subroutine passes "$var" through unchanged; otherewise,
    the ref($ref) is changed to a reference to a canoncial array where the
    first member is the the "$var" class, the second member the underlying
    data type. If ref($var) and the underlying type type are the same, then
    "$var" is classless and the first member is the empty string ''. The
    rest of the members of the canonical array, based on the underlying data
    type, are as follows:

    'HASH'
        hash key, value pairs, sorted by the key

    'ARRAY'
        members of the array

    'SCALAR'
        the scalar

    'REF'
        the reference

    'CODE'
        the reference

    'GLOB'
        values of the "GLOB" in the following order:

         *$var{SCALAR},
         *$var{ARRAY},
         *$var{HASH},
         *$var{CODE},
         *$var{IO},
         *$var{NAME},
         *$var{PACKAGE},
         "*$var"

    If the "arrayify" subroutine encounters an event where it cannot
    continue, it halts processing, and returns the event as a scalar string,
    with the subroutine name and version. If the reference of the "arrayify"
    subroutine return is a '"ARRAY"', the return is "\@array"; otherwise it
    is a scalar text event message.

    The events are as follows:

     "Unknown underlying data type\n"

  config

     $old_value = config( $option );
     $old_value = config( $option => $new_value);
     (@all_options) = config( );

    When Perl loads the "Data::Secs2" program module, Perl creates a
    "$Data::Secs2::default_options" object using the "new" method which
    inherits Data::Startup.

    Using the "config" as a subroutine

     config(@_) 

    writes and reads the "$Data::Secs2::default_options" object directly
    using the Data::Startup::config method. Avoided the "config" and in
    multi-threaded environments where separate threads are using
    "Data::Secs2". All other subroutines are multi-thread safe. They use
    "override" to obtain a copy of the "$Data::Secs2::default_options" and
    apply any option changes to the copy keeping the original intact.

    Using the "config" as a method,

     $options->config(@_)

    writes and reads the "$options" object using the Data::Startup::config
    method. It goes without saying that that object should have been created
    using one of the following or equivalent:

     $default_options = $class->Data::Secs2::new(@_);
     $default_options = new Data::Secs2(@_);
     $options = $default_options->override(@_);

    The underlying object data for the "Data::Secs2" class of objects is a
    hash. For object oriented conservative purist, the "config" subroutine
    is the accessor function for the underlying object hash.

    Since the data are all options whose names and usage is frozen as part
    of the "Data::Secs2" interface, the more liberal minded, may avoid the
    "config" accessor function layer, and access the object data directly.

    The options are as follows: values subroutine option default 1sts
    ---------------------------------------------------------- die warn

     arrayify
     listify

     neuterify          obj_format_code      '', 'S','P'
                        add_obj_format_code  0
                        scalar               0 1
       unpack_num       'Data::SecsPack'     {}  

     perlify            
     perl_typify

     secsify            spaces               '  ', (' ' x n)
                        type                 'ascii','binary

     secs_elementify    type                 'ascii','binary
                        scalar               0 1
       pack_num         'Data::SecsPack'     {}  

     stringify

     transify           obj_format_code      '', 'S','P' 
                        add_obj_format_code  0

    The "secs_elementify" subroutine undef the "binary" option uses the
    "&Data::SecsPack::pack_num" subroutine and "neuterify" subroutine uses
    the "&Data::SecsPack::unpack_num" routine. The "'Data::SecsPack'" hash
    passes options to these two "Data::SecsPack" program module subroutine.
    See Data::SecsPack for a description of the available options.

    The "die" and "warn" options causes all subroutines to issue warnings or
    die when an event occurs.

    The "config" subroutine has no events or errors.

  listify

     \@secs_obj  = listify(@vars);

    The "listify" subroutine takes a list of Perl variables, "@arg" that may
    contain references to nested data and converts it to a <SECS Object that
    mimics a SECSII data structure of a linearized list of items. The Secs
    Object has Secs Object format code P' since it contains all the
    information necessary to contruct a Perl data structure.

    Information is included to recontruct Perl hashes, arrays and objects by
    provided two item header for each Perl data type. The first item is the
    object class which is empty for Perl hashes and arrays and the second
    item is the Perl underlying data type. Valid Perl underlying data types
    are: HASH ARRAY SCALAR REF GLOB.

    The "listify" subroutine walks the Perl data structure. Undefineds are
    converted to a SECS-II to empty list element L[0]. Scalars are tested
    for numbers. If the "listify" subroutine finds a scalar is a number, it
    converts it to a SECS-II U1 U2 U4 U8 S1 S2 S4 S8 F4 F8 item element with
    the preference in the order the formats are listed; otherwise the scalar
    is converted to a A SECS-II item element. When the "listify" subroutine
    finds a reference it applies the "arrayify" subroutine and converts it
    to a SECS-II list element with the array members as item or list
    elements of the SECS-II list element.

    The output for the "listify" subroutine is a Secs Object that complies
    to the SECS Object established herein above.

    The "listify" subroutine has no events or errors.

  neuterify

     \@secs_obj  = neuterify($binary_secs);
     \@secs_obj  = neuterify($binary_secs, @options);
     \@secs_obj  = neuterify($binary_secs, [@options]);
     \@secs_obj  = neuterify($binary_secs, {@options});

    The "neuterify" subroutine produces a "@secs_obj" from a SEMI E5-94
    packed data structure "$binary_secs" and produces a SECS object
    "@secs_obj".

    The "neuterify" subroutine uses option "{obj_format_code =" 'P'}>, or
    "{obj_format_code =" 'S'}> as the value for the leading SECS Object U1
    format byte. SEMI E5-94 SECII item. If the "neuterify" subroutine
    receives the option "{add_obj_format_code}", "neuterify" will add the
    byte to the beginning of the packed data; otherwise, "neuterify" probes
    the leading byte of the packed data. If the probes shows the leading
    byte is a "Secs Object Format Code", "neuterify" modifies the packed
    data byte; otherweise it adds the byte to the beginning of the packed
    data.

    The return is either a reference to a SECS Object or case of an error an
    error message. To determine an error from a SECS Object , check if the
    return is a reference or a reference to an ARRAY.

    The "neuterify" subroutine takes a "scalar" option and unpacks
    non-compliant SEMI E5-94, 6.2.1 and 6.3.1 which states:

     A zero-length in the format byte is illegal and produces an error.

    This is a Bill Gates so use with discretion.

    The "neuterify" unpacks numeric formats with zero-length for the bytes
    per length field in the format byte and no length bytes with one byte
    cell as a "SESC Object" numeric scalar. Examples of numeric scalars and
    numeric arrays follow:

     U4        # scalar numeric item element
     10000

     U4        # array numeric item element
     [10000]

    Without the "scalar" option, the "neuterify" subroutine complies to SEMI
    E5-94, 6.2.1 and 6.3.1 and produces an error.

    If the "neuterify" subroutine encounters an event where it cannot
    continue, it halts processing, and returns the event as a scalar string,
    with the subroutine name and version. If the reference of the
    "neuterify" subroutine return is a '"ARRAY"', the return is
    "\@secs_obj"; otherwise it is a scalar text event message.

    The events are as follows:

     "Unknown SECSII format, $format\n"
     'Number ' . (join ' ',@$number) . "not a scalar\n" # option scalar => 1
     "Format byte length size field is zero.\n" # option scalar => 0
     "Bad length\n"

    In addition, to these events, the "neuterify" subroutine passes along
    any events from the Data::SecsPack::unpack_num subroutine.

  new

     $secs2 = new Data::Secs2();
     $secs2 = new Data::Secs2( @options );
     $secs2 = new Data::Secs2( [@options] );
     $secs2 = new Data::Secs2( {options} );

    The "new" subroutine provides a method set local options once for any of
    the other subroutines. The options may be modified at any time by
    "$secs2-"config($option => $new_value)>. Calling any of the subroutines
    as a "$secs2" method will perform that subroutine with the options saved
    in "secs2".

  perlify subroutine

     \@vars = perlify( \@secs_obj);
     \@vars = perlify( \@secs_obj, @options);
     \@vars = perlify( \@secs_obj, [@options]);
     \@vars = perlify( \@secs_obj, {@options});

    The "perlify" subroutine converts a SECS Object with a SECS Object
    Format Code of 'P' into Perl variables. SECS Objests a format code 'P'
    should contain all the information necessary to reconstruct listified
    Perl Data Structure.

    If the "perlify" subroutine encounters an event where it cannot
    continue, it halts processing, and returns the event as a scalar string,
    with the subroutine name and version. If the reference of the "perlify"
    subroutine return is a '"ARRAY"', the return is "\@vars"; otherwise it
    is a scalar text event message.

    The events are as follows:

     "Not a Perl SECS object\n"
     "Wrong format for Perl reference class, $type" 
     "Wrong format type for Perl reference underlying data type, $type"
     "No body for Perl reference.\n"
     "Perl index item has wrong format code, $format\n"
     "Perl Index body must have only one cell\n"
     "Unknown format type, $format\n"

    In addition, to these events, the "perlify" subroutine passes along any
    events from the perl_typify subroutine.

  perl_typify

     $ref = perl_typify(\@array);
     $ref = perl_typify(\@array, @options);
     $ref = perl_typify(\@array, [@options]);
     $ref = perl_typify(\@array, {@options});

    The "perl_typify" subroutine converts an "@array" produced by the
    "arrayify" subroutine from a "$ref" back to a "$ref".

    If the "perl_typify" subroutine encounters an event where it cannot
    continue, it halts processing, and returns the event as a scalar string,
    with the subroutine name and version. If the reference of the
    "perl_typify" subroutine return exists, the return is " $ref"; otherwise
    it is a scalar text event message.

    The events are as follows:

     "Bad scalar body\n"
     "Bad ref body\n"
     "Bad code body.\n"
     "Bad glob body\n"
     "Unknown underlying data type, $type\n"

  secsify subroutine

     $ascii_secs = secsify( \@secs_obj);
     $ascii_secs = secsify( \@secs_obj, @options);
     $ascii_secs = secsify( \@secs_obj, [@options]);
     $ascii_secs = secsify( \@secs_obj, {@options});

     $binary_secs = secsify( \@secs_obj, type => 'binary');
     $binary_secs = secsify( \@secs_obj, type => 'binary', @options);
     $binary_secs = secsify( \@secs_obj, [type => 'binary',@options]);
     $binary_secs = secsify( \@secs_obj, {type => 'binary',@options});

    The "secsify" subroutine processes each element in a SECS Object
    producing either an "$ascii_sec" text string or a SEMI E5 packed
    "$binary_secs" text string. The "secsify" subroutine does not care if
    the "@secs_obj" is a Perl SECS Object or just a plain or SECS Object.
    For the "$ascii_sec" output, the "secsify" subroutine produces one line
    of text for each SECS element, indenting the line "$options-"{spaces}>
    consist with each level of list nesting.

    The "secsify" subroutine uses the "secs_elementify" subroutine to form
    the SECSII elements and passes its options to the "secs_elementify"
    subroutine.

    If the "secsify" subroutine encounters an event where it cannot
    continue, it halts processing, and returns the event as a reference to a
    scalar string, with the subroutine name and version. If the reference of
    the "secsify" subroutine return does not exists, the return is either
    "$ascii_secs" or "$binary_secs"; otherwise it is a reference to a scalar
    text event message.

    The events are as follows:

      "Unknown format $format\n"

    In addition, to these events, the "secs_elementify" subroutine passes
    along any events from the perl_typify subroutine.

  secs_elementify

     $body = secs_elementify($format, $cells);
     $body = secs_elementify($format, $cells, @options);
     $body = secs_elementify($format, $cells, [@options]);
     $body = secs_elementify($format, $cells, {options});

    The "secs_elementify" subroutine is the low-level work horse for the
    "secsify" subroutine that produces a SEMI SECSII item "$body" from a
    Perl SECS Object item header "$format" and item body "@cells".

    The "secs_elementify" subroutine returns a "$body" based on the
    "$format" and "$cells" as follows:

    option "type =" 'ascii'>
        a text representation of the packed SEMI E5-94 element.

    option "type =" 'binary'>
        in accordance with a SEMI E5-94 SECII.

    option "type =" 'binary', scalar =1>
        SEMI E5-94 SECII except that scalar numbers are packed with no
        length bytes and the length byte size bits set to 0 in the format
        byte. This is non-compliant with SEMI E5-94, 6.2.1 and 6.3.1 which
        states:

         A zero-length in the format byte is illegal and produces an error.

        This is a Bill Gates so use with discretion.

    If the "secs_elementify" subroutine encounters an event where it cannot
    continue, it halts processing, and returns the event as a reference to a
    scalar string, with the subroutine name and version. If the reference of
    the "secs_elementify" subroutine return does not exists, the return is
    "$body"; otherwise, it is a reference to a scalar text event message.

     "Unknown format, $format\n
     "Could not pack number.\n"
     "Element length number is not unsigned integer\n"
     "Number of cells in the item is too big\n"

    In addition, to these events, for the "binary" option, the
    "secs_elementify" subroutine passes along any events from the
    Data::SecsPack::pack_num subroutine.

  stringify subroutine

    The "stringify" subroutined stringifies a Perl data structure by
    applying the "listify" and "secify" subroutines.

  transify

     \@secs_obj  = transify($acsii_secs);
     \@secs_obj  = transify($acsii_secs, @options);
     \@secs_obj  = transify($acsii_secs, [@options]);
     \@secs_obj  = transify($acsii_secs, {@options});

    The "transify" subroutine takes a free style text consisting of list of
    secsii items and converts it to SECS Object. The "transify" subroutine
    is very liberal in what it accepts as valid input.

    The number of body elements may be supplied either as enclosed in
    brackets of a "comma" after the unpacked format code. Text strings may
    be enclosed in parentheses, brackets, or any other character.

    The enclosing ending character may be escaped with the backslash '\'.
    List may be counted by suppling a count in either brackets or following
    a comma after the 'L' format character or by enclosing parentheseses,
    bracketers or any other character.

    The "transify" subroutine uses option "{obj_format_code =" 'P'}>, or
    "{obj_format_code =" 'S'}> as the value for the leading SECS Object U1
    format byte. SEMI E5-94 SECII item. If the "transify" subroutine
    receives the option "{add_obj_format_code}", "transify" will add the a
    "Secs Object Format Code" to the beginning of the "@secs_obj";
    otherwise, "transify" probes the leading "@secs_obj". If the probes
    shows the leading byte is a "Secs Object Format Code", "transify"
    modifies the code; otherweise it a "Secs Object Format Code" to the
    beginning of the "@secs_obj"

    If the "secs_elementify" subroutine encounters an event where it cannot
    continue, it halts processing, and returns the event as a scalar string,
    with the subroutine name and version, the "$ascii_secs" and <@secs_obj>
    at the time of the event. If the reference of the "secs_elementify"
    subroutine return exists, the return is "\@secs_obj"; otherwise, it is a
    text event message.

     "Unkown format $format\n"
     "Wrong number of numbers."
     "No matching $close_char for $open_char\n"
     "No format code\n"
     "open lists: \n" . Dumper(@open_lists)  # post processing check

    The format of the "@open_lists" members is as folows:

    position
        The index in "@secs_obj" the a list was started

    close character
        The character that closes the list. This empty for counted lists.
        The counted_list item is 0 if this member contains a character suchs
        as ')', ']', '"', '\'' or '}'.

    count
        The number of elements processed for the open lists

    counted_list
        non-zero if a counted list.

REQUIREMENTS
    The requirements are coming.

DEMONSTRATION
     #########
     # perl Secs2.d
     ###

    ~~~~~~ Demonstration overview ~~~~~

    The results from executing the Perl Code follow on the next lines as
    comments. For example,

     2 + 2
     # 4

    ~~~~~~ The demonstration follows ~~~~~

         use File::Package;
         my $fp = 'File::Package';

         use Data::Secs2 qw(arrayify config listify neuterify numberify perlify 
              perl_typify secsify secs_elementify stringify textify transify);

         my $uut = 'Data::Secs2';
         my ($loaded, $event, $big_secs2);

     my $test_data1 =
     'U1[1] 80
     L[5]
       A[0]
       A[5] ARRAY
       N 2
       A[5] hello
       N 4
     ';

     my $test_data2 =
     'U1[1] 80
     L[6]
       A[0]
       A[4] HASH
       A[4] body
       A[5] hello
       A[6] header
       A[9] To: world
     ';

     my $test_data3 =
     'U1[1] 80
     N 2
     L[4]
       A[0]
       A[5] ARRAY
       A[5] hello
       A[5] world
     N 512
     ';

     my $test_data4 =
     'U1[1] 80
     N 2
     L[6]
       A[0]
       A[4] HASH
       A[6] header
       L[6]
         A[11] Class::None
         A[4] HASH
         A[4] From
         A[6] nobody
         A[2] To
         A[6] nobody
       A[3] msg
       L[4]
         A[0]
         A[5] ARRAY
         A[5] hello
         A[5] world
     ';

     my $test_data5 =
     'U1[1] 80
     L[6]
       A[0]
       A[4] HASH
       A[6] header
       L[6]
         A[11] Class::None
         A[4] HASH
         A[4] From
         A[6] nobody
         A[2] To
         A[6] nobody
       A[3] msg
       L[4]
         A[0]
         A[5] ARRAY
         A[5] hello
         A[5] world
     L[6]
       A[0]
       A[4] HASH
       A[6] header
       L[3]
         A[0]
         A[5] Index
         N 10
       A[3] msg
       L[3]
         A[0]
         A[5] ARRAY
         A[4] body
     ';

     my $test_data6 = [ [78,45,25], [512,1024], 100000 ];

     my $test_data7 = 'a50150010541004105' . unpack('H*','ARRAY') . 
                      'a5034e2d19' .  'a90402000400' . 'b104000186a0';

     my $test_data17 = 'a50150010541004105' . unpack('H*','ARRAY') . 
                      'a5034e2d19' .  'a90402000400' . 'b0000186a0';

     ##################
     # stringify an array
     # 

     stringify( '2', 'hello', 4 )

     # 'U1[1] 80
     #N 2
     #A[5] hello
     #N 4
     #'
     #

     ##################
     # stringify a hash reference
     # 

     stringify( {header => 'To: world', body => 'hello'})

     # 'U1[1] 80
     #L[6]
     #  A[0]
     #  A[4] HASH
     #  A[4] body
     #  A[5] hello
     #  A[6] header
     #  A[9] To: world
     #'
     #

     ##################
     # ascii secsify lisfication of test_data1 an array reference
     # 

     secsify( listify( ['2', 'hello', 4, 0, undef] ) )

     # 'U1[1] 80
     #L[7]
     #  A[0]
     #  A[5] ARRAY
     #  N 2
     #  A[5] hello
     #  N 4
     #  N 0
     #  L[0]
     #'
     #

     ##################
     # ascii secsify lisfication of test_data3 - array with an array ref
     # 

     secsify( listify( '2', ['hello', 'world'], 512 ) )

     # 'U1[1] 80
     #N 2
     #L[4]
     #  A[0]
     #  A[5] ARRAY
     #  A[5] hello
     #  A[5] world
     #N 512
     #'
     #
     my $obj = bless { To => 'nobody', From => 'nobody'}, 'Class::None'

     # bless( {
     #                 'From' => 'nobody',
     #                 'To' => 'nobody'
     #               }, 'Class::None' )
     #

     ##################
     # ascii secsify lisfication of test_data5 - hash with nested hashes, arrays, common objects
     # 

         secsify( listify( {msg => ['hello', 'world'] , header => $obj }, 
          {msg => [ 'body' ], header => $obj} ) )

     # 'U1[1] 80
     #L[6]
     #  A[0]
     #  A[4] HASH
     #  A[6] header
     #  L[6]
     #    A[11] Class::None
     #    A[4] HASH
     #    A[4] From
     #    A[6] nobody
     #    A[2] To
     #    A[6] nobody
     #  A[3] msg
     #  L[4]
     #    A[0]
     #    A[5] ARRAY
     #    A[5] hello
     #    A[5] world
     #L[6]
     #  A[0]
     #  A[4] HASH
     #  A[6] header
     #  L[3]
     #    A[0]
     #    A[5] Index
     #    N 10
     #  A[3] msg
     #  L[3]
     #    A[0]
     #    A[5] ARRAY
     #    A[4] body
     #'
     #

     ##################
     # ascii secsify listifcation perilification transfication of test_data4
     # 

     secsify( listify(perlify( transify($test_data4 ))) )

     # 'U1[1] 80
     #L[4]
     #  A[0]
     #  A[5] ARRAY
     #  N 2
     #  L[6]
     #    A[0]
     #    A[4] HASH
     #    A[6] header
     #    L[6]
     #      A[11] Class::None
     #      A[4] HASH
     #      A[4] From
     #      A[6] nobody
     #      A[2] To
     #      A[6] nobody
     #    A[3] msg
     #    L[4]
     #      A[0]
     #      A[5] ARRAY
     #      A[5] hello
     #      A[5] world
     #'
     #

     ##################
     # ascii secsify listifcation perilification transfication of test_data5
     # 

     secsify( listify(perlify( transify($test_data5))) )

     # 'U1[1] 80
     #L[4]
     #  A[0]
     #  A[5] ARRAY
     #  L[6]
     #    A[0]
     #    A[4] HASH
     #    A[6] header
     #    L[6]
     #      A[11] Class::None
     #      A[4] HASH
     #      A[4] From
     #      A[6] nobody
     #      A[2] To
     #      A[6] nobody
     #    A[3] msg
     #    L[4]
     #      A[0]
     #      A[5] ARRAY
     #      A[5] hello
     #      A[5] world
     #  L[6]
     #    A[0]
     #    A[4] HASH
     #    A[6] header
     #    L[3]
     #      A[0]
     #      A[5] Index
     #      N 16
     #    A[3] msg
     #    L[3]
     #      A[0]
     #      A[5] ARRAY
     #      A[4] body
     #'
     #

     ##################
     # binary secsify an array reference
     # 

     unpack('H*',secsify( listify( ['2', 'hello', 4] ), {type => 'binary'}))

     # '0101500105010001054152524159010102010568656c6c6f010104'
     #

     ##################
     # binary secsify numeric arrays
     # 

     unpack('H*',secsify( listify( $test_data6 ), [type => 'binary']))

     # '010150010501000105415252415901034e2d190104020004000104000186a0'
     #

     ##################
     # scalar binary secsify an array reference
     # 

     unpack('H*',secsify( listify( ['2', 'hello', 4] ), {type => 'binary', scalar => 1}))

     # '01015001050100010541525241590002010568656c6c6f0004'
     #

     ##################
     # scalar binary secsify numeric arrays
     # 

     unpack('H*',secsify( listify( $test_data6 ), type => 'binary', scalar => 1))

     # '010150010501000105415252415901034e2d1901040200040000000186a0'
     #

     ##################
     # binary secsify array with nested hashes, arrays, objects
     # 

     $big_secs2 = 
     'a501' . '50' .                       # U1[1] 80  Perl format code 
     'a501' . '02' .                       # U1[1] 2
     '0106' .                              # L[6]
     '4100' .                              #   A[0]
     '4104' . unpack('H*','HASH') .        #   A[4] HASH
     '4106' . unpack('H*','header') .      #   A[6] header
     '0106' .                              #   L[6]
     '410b' . unpack('H*','Class::None') . #     A[11] Class::None
     '4104' . unpack('H*','HASH') .        #     A[4] HASH
     '4104' . unpack('H*','From') .        #     A[4] From
     '4106' . unpack('H*','nobody') .      #     A[6] nobody
     '4102' . unpack('H*','To') .          #     A[2] To
     '4106' . unpack('H*','nobody') .      #     A[6] nobody
     '4103' . unpack('H*','msg') .         #   A[3] msg
     '0104' .                              #   L[4]
     '4100' .                              #     A[0]
     '4105' . unpack('H*','ARRAY') .       #     A[5] ARRAY
     '4105' . unpack('H*','hello') .       #     A[5] hello 
     '4105' . unpack('H*','world');        #     A[5] world

     ##################
     # neuterify a big secsii
     # 

     secsify(neuterify (pack('H*',$big_secs2)))

     # ''
     #

     ##################
     # neuterify binary secsii
     # 

     secsify(neuterify (pack('H*',$test_data7)))

     # ''
     #

     ##################
     # neuterify scalar binary secsii, length size error
     # 

        $event = neuterify (pack('H*',$test_data17));
        $event =~ s/\n\t.*?$//;
        while(chomp($event)) { };
     $event

     # 'Unknown SECSII format, '
     #

     ##################
     # neuterify scalar binary secsii, no error
     # 

     $event = neuterify (pack('H*',$test_data17), scalar => 1)
     ref($event)

     # ''
     #

     ##################
     # neuterify scalar binary secsii
     # 

     secsify($event)

     # ''
     #

     ##################
     # transify a free for all secsii input
     # 

         my $ascii_secsii =
     '
     L
     (
       A \'\' A \'HASH\' A \'header\'
       L [ A "Class::None"  A "HASH" 
           A  "From" A "nobody"
           A  "To" A "nobody"
         ]
       A "msg"
       L,4 A[0] A[5] ARRAY
         A  "hello" A "world"
     )

     L 
     (
       A[0] A "HASH"  A /header/
       L[3] A[0] A \'Index\' U1 10
       A  \'msg\'
       L < A[0] A \'ARRAY\' A  \'body\' >
     )

     '
     my $list = transify ($ascii_secsii, obj_format_code => 'P');
     ref($list)

     # 'ARRAY'
     #

     ##################
     # secsify transified free style secs text
     # 

     ref($list) ? secsify( $list ) : ''

     # 'U1[1] 80
     #L[6]
     #  A[0]
     #  A[4] HASH
     #  A[6] header
     #  L[6]
     #    A[11] Class::None
     #    A[4] HASH
     #    A[4] From
     #    A[6] nobody
     #    A[2] To
     #    A[6] nobody
     #  A[3] msg
     #  L[4]
     #    A[0]
     #    A[5] ARRAY
     #    A[5] hello
     #    A[5] world
     #L[6]
     #  A[0]
     #  A[4] HASH
     #  A[6] header
     #  L[3]
     #    A[0]
     #    A[5] Index
     #    U1 10
     #  A[3] msg
     #  L[3]
     #    A[0]
     #    A[5] ARRAY
     #    A[4] body
     #'
     #

     ##################
     # transify a bad free for all secsii input
     # 

         $ascii_secsii =
     '
     L
     ( 
       A "msg"
       L,4 A[0] A[5] world
     '
     $list = transify ($ascii_secsii);
     ref(\$list)

     # 'SCALAR'
     #
     $list

     # 'open lists: 
     #[
     #          1,
     #          ')',
     #          2,
     #          0
     #        ]
     #[
     #          5,
     #          '',
     #          2,
     #          4
     #        ]
     #      ascii_secs:
     #      SECS object:
     #'L'
     #0
     #'A'
     #'msg'
     #'L'
     #'4'
     #'A'
     #''
     #'A'
     #'world'
     #      Subroutine: Data::Secs2::transify 1.22
     #'
     #

     ##################
     # Perl listify numeric arrays
     # 

     ref(my $number_list = Data::Secs2->new(perl_secs_numbers => 'strict')->listify( $test_data6 ))

     # 'ARRAY'
     #

     ##################
     # secify Perl  listified numberic arrays
     # 

     secsify($number_list)

     # 'U1[1] 80
     #L[5]
     #  A[0]
     #  A[5] ARRAY
     #  N[3] 78 45 25
     #  N[2] 512 1024
     #  N 100000
     #'
     #

     ##################
     # read configuration
     # 

     [config('type')]

     # [
     #          'type',
     #          'ascii'
     #        ]
     #

     ##################
     # write configuration
     # 

     [config('type','binary')]

     # [
     #          'type',
     #          'ascii'
     #        ]
     #

     ##################
     # verify write configuration
     # 

     [config('type')]

     # [
     #          'type',
     #          'binary'
     #        ]
     #

     ##################
     # restore configuration
     # 

     [config('type','ascii')]

     # [
     #          'type',
     #          'binary'
     #        ]
     #

QUALITY ASSURANCE
    Running the test script "Secs2.t" verifies the requirements for this
    module. The "tmake.pl" cover script for Test::STDmaker automatically
    generated the "secs2.t" test script, "secs2.d" demo script, and
    "t::Data::Secs2" STD program module POD, from the "t::Data::Secs2"
    program module contents. The "t::Data::Secs2" program module is in the
    distribution file Data-Secs2-$VERSION.tar.gz.

NOTES
  AUTHOR

    The holder of the copyright and maintainer is

    <support@SoftwareDiamonds.com>

  COPYRIGHT NOTICE

    Copyright © 2003 2004 Software Diamonds

    All Rights Reserved

  BINDING REQUIREMENTS NOTICE

    Binding requirements are indexed with the pharse 'shall[dd]' where dd is
    an unique number for each header section. This conforms to standard
    federal government practices, US DOD 490A 3.2.3.6. In accordance with
    the License, Software Diamonds is not liable for any requirement,
    binding or otherwise.

  LICENSE

    Software Diamonds permits the redistribution and use in source and
    binary forms, with or without modification, provided that the following
    conditions are met:

    1   Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright
        notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.

    2   Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright
        notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the
        documentation and/or other materials provided with the distribution.

    3   Commercial installation of the binary or source must visually
        present to the installer the above copyright notice, this list of
        conditions intact, that the original source is available at
        http://softwarediamonds.com and provide means for the installer to
        actively accept the list of conditions; otherwise, a license fee
        must be paid to Softwareware Diamonds.

    SOFTWARE DIAMONDS, http://www.softwarediamonds.com, PROVIDES THIS
    SOFTWARE 'AS IS' AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT
    NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS
    FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL SOFTWARE
    DIAMONDS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL,
    SPECIAL,EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED
    TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE,DATA, OR
    PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF
    LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING USE
    OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN
    ANY WAY OUT OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.

SEE ALSO
    Data::SecsPack
    SEMI, http://www.semi.org,
    Docs::Site_SVD::Data_Secs2
    Test::STDmaker
NAME
    Docs::Site_SVD::Data_Secs2 - pack, unpack, format between Perl data and
    SEMI E5-94 nested data

Title Page
     Software Version Description

     for

     Docs::Site_SVD::Data_Secs2 - pack, unpack, format between Perl data and SEMI E5-94 nested data

     Revision: G

     Version: 0.09

     Date: 2004/05/20

     Prepared for: General Public 

     Prepared by:  SoftwareDiamonds.com E<lt>support@SoftwareDiamonds.comE<gt>

     Copyright: copyright 2003 2004 Software Diamonds

     Classification: NONE

1.0 SCOPE
    This paragraph identifies and provides an overview of the released
    files.

  1.1 Identification

    This release, identified in 3.2, is a collection of Perl modules that
    extend the capabilities of the Perl language.

  1.2 System overview

    The 'Data::Strify' module provides a canoncial string for data no matter
    how many nests of arrays and hashes it contains.

  1.3 Document overview.

    This document releases Data::Secs2 version 0.09 providing a description
    of the inventory, installation instructions and other information
    necessary to utilize and track this release.

3.0 VERSION DESCRIPTION
    All file specifications in this SVD use the Unix operating system file
    specification.

  3.1 Inventory of materials released.

    This document releases the file

     Data-Secs2-0.09.tar.gz

    found at the following repository(s):

      http://www.softwarediamonds/packages/
      http://www.perl.com/CPAN/authors/id/S/SO/SOFTDIA/

    Restrictions regarding duplication and license provisions are as
    follows:

    Copyright.
        copyright 2003 2004 Software Diamonds

    Copyright holder contact.
         603 882-0846 E<lt> support@SoftwareDiamonds.com E<gt>

    License.
        Software Diamonds permits the redistribution and use in source and
        binary forms, with or without modification, provided that the
        following conditions are met:

        1   Redistributions of source code, modified or unmodified must
            retain the above copyright notice, this list of conditions and
            the following disclaimer.

        2   Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above
            copyright notice, this list of conditions and the following
            disclaimer in the documentation and/or other materials provided
            with the distribution.

        3   Commercial installation of the binary or source must visually
            present to the installer the above copyright notice, this list
            of conditions intact, that the original source is available at
            http://softwarediamonds.com and provide means for the installer
            to actively accept the list of conditions; otherwise, a license
            fee must be paid to Softwareware Diamonds.

        SOFTWARE DIAMONDS, http://www.SoftwareDiamonds.com, PROVIDES THIS
        SOFTWARE 'AS IS' AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING,
        BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND
        FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL
        SOFTWARE DIAMONDS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL,
        SPECIAL,EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT
        LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF
        USE,DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND
        ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY,
        OR TORT (INCLUDING USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF
        NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE POSSIBILITY
        OF SUCH DAMAGE.

  3.2 Inventory of software contents

    The content of the released, compressed, archieve file, consists of the
    following files:

     file                                                         version date       comment
     ------------------------------------------------------------ ------- ---------- ------------------------
     lib/Docs/Site_SVD/Data_Secs2.pm                              0.09    2004/05/20 revised 0.08
     MANIFEST                                                     0.09    2004/05/20 generated, replaces 0.08
     Makefile.PL                                                  0.09    2004/05/20 generated, replaces 0.08
     README                                                       0.09    2004/05/20 generated, replaces 0.08
     lib/Data/Secs2.pm                                            1.25    2004/05/20 revised 1.23
     t/Data/Secs2.d                                               0.06    2004/05/11 unchanged
     t/Data/Secs2.pm                                              0.06    2004/05/11 unchanged
     t/Data/Secs2.t                                               0.07    2004/05/11 unchanged
     t/Data/File/Package.pm                                       1.17    2004/05/20 unchanged
     t/Data/File/SmartNL.pm                                       1.16    2004/05/20 revised 1.15
     t/Data/Text/Scrub.pm                                         1.14    2004/05/20 revised 1.13
     t/Data/Test/Tech.pm                                          1.26    2004/05/20 revised 1.25
     t/Data/Data/SecsPack.pm                                      0.08    2004/05/20 revised 0.07
     t/Data/Data/Str2Num.pm                                       0.06    2004/05/20 new
     t/Data/Data/Startup.pm                                       0.07    2004/05/20 revised 0.06

  3.3 Changes

    Changes to past revisions are as follows:

    Data-Strify-0.01
        Originated

    Data-Secs2-0.01
        Abandoned Data::Dumper in favor of SEMI E35, SECS-II standard for
        stringifying Perl data.

    Data-Secs2-0.02
        Added arrayification of REF and GLOB references. Thus, the
        'Data::Secs2' module will nest into REF and GLOB references.

    Data-Secs2-0.03
        The lastest build of Test::STDmaker expects the test library in the
        same directory as the test script. Coordiated with the lastest
        Test::STDmaker by moving the test library from tlib to t/Data, the
        same directory as the test script and deleting the test library
        File::TestPath program module.

    Data-Secs2-0.04
        Greater expanded the subroutines to the following: arrayify,
        itemify, listify, neuterify, scalarize, secsify, stringify,
        transify, vectorize. Added descriptions and tests for the new
        functions.

    Data-Secs2-0.05
        Change Perlify to allow translation packed multi-cell number item
        elements as number arrays. Single cell number item elements are
        still translated as a number scalar. This situation exists because
        SEMI E5 treats a single text character and a single number as a
        cell, while Perl treats multiple characters and a single number as a
        scalar. Granted there is the Perl function "vec" that allows some
        manipulation of multicell data. But it is stretch to say that
        because of the "vec" function that multicell integers are an
        underlying Perl data type.

        Added "new" and "config" subroutine to supply the default, (startup)
        options for each subroutine in the "Data::Secs2" program module. The
        default options may be overriden with a subroutine input for most
        subroutines.

        The Perl undef was not finding a home in the SECS2 Object. Found a
        home as a SEMI E5-94 empty list L[0].

        Added support for the "CODE" underlying Perl data type.

    Data-Secs2-0.06
        Changed the definition of a "SECS Object", eliminating the option of
        have numbers packed or unpacked to unpack only. Replaced the slot
        for packed with a new encoding of a 'Numeric Scalar'. Perl does not
        support 'Test Scalars' while the SEMI E5-94 standard does not
        support neither scalars. Other languages, such as APL, support
        nested array, 'Text Scalars' and 'Numeric Scalars'.

        BEFORE: (Data-Secs2-0.05)

         U1
         [1 2 3] # unpacked

         U1
         $*%  # packed

        AFTER: (Data-Secs2-0.06)

         U1
         [1 2 3]  # numeric array

         U1
         1  # numeric scalar

         A
         'hello'  # text array

         A
         'h' # text scalar

        Note that altough text scalars are possible and exist in other
        languages, the "Data::Secs2" program module does not provide support
        for them. In Perl what other languages consider text arrays are text
        scalars. Since underlying Perl language does not support them, they
        are not part of common Perl practices, and turning Perl text arrays
        into text scalars and introducing text arrays require extensive
        gyrations to Perl.

        Added a new format type to "SECS Object" with unspecified bytes per
        cell, format 'N', where the 'N' stands for number. Eliminated the
        "textify" and "numerify" subroutines that packed and unpacked "SECS
        Object" numeric data. It is always unpacked for "Data-Secs2".
        Eliminated the "perl_secs_numbers" for the "listify" subroutine.
        Since have a crystal clear encoding of scalar numberics and scalar
        arrays (lists), Perl numeric arrays will always be encoded as
        'multicell' when going form Perl nested lists to "SECS Object".

        Changed the output of the "perlify" subroutine from a list of
        variables to a reference to a list of variables and introduced a
        scalar as an error message. This allows another way to output error
        messages beside optional "warns" and "dies".

    Data-Secs2-0.07
        The "secs_elementify" subroutine did not handle a numeric zero
        properly. Added test for numeric zero and undef.

    Data-Secs2-0.08
        Documentation woes. The SEMI link does not work on. Changed to SEMI,
        http://www.semi.org. The new SVD =head1 NAME is masking out the code
        program module. Changed the SVD =head1 NAME so not same as code
        program module =head1 NAME

    Data-Secs2-0.09
        Change "use Data::SecsPack" to "require Data::SecsPack" so that it
        is not loaded unless using "Data::Secs2" to pack and unpack SEMI E5
        numbers.

        Move "str2float" and "str2int" from "Data::SecsPack" to
        "Data::Str2Num" so that the "Data::Secs2" package and other packages
        may load them without loading the subroutines to pack and unpack
        numbers in the "Data::SecsPack" subroutine.

  3.4 Adaptation data.

    This installation requires that the installation site has the Perl
    programming language installed. There are no other additional
    requirements or tailoring needed of configurations files, adaptation
    data or other software needed for this installation particular to any
    installation site.

  3.5 Related documents.

    There are no related documents needed for the installation and test of
    this release.

  3.6 Installation instructions.

    Instructions for installation, installation tests and installation
    support are as follows:

    Installation Instructions.
        To installed the release file, use the CPAN module pr PPM module in
        the Perl release or the INSTALL.PL script at the following web site:

         http://packages.SoftwareDiamonds.com

        Follow the instructions for the the chosen installation software.

        If all else fails, the file may be manually installed. Enter one of
        the following repositories in a web browser:

          http://www.softwarediamonds/packages/
          http://www.perl.com/CPAN/authors/id/S/SO/SOFTDIA/

        Right click on 'Data-Secs2-0.09.tar.gz' and download to a temporary
        installation directory. Enter the following where $make is 'nmake'
        for microsoft windows; otherwise 'make'.

         gunzip Data-Secs2-0.09.tar.gz
         tar -xf Data-Secs2-0.09.tar
         perl Makefile.PL
         $make test
         $make install

        On Microsoft operating system, nmake, tar, and gunzip must be in the
        exeuction path. If tar and gunzip are not install, download and
        install unxutils from

         http://packages.softwarediamonds.com

    Prerequistes.
         'Data::SecsPack' => '0.06',
         'Data::Str2Num' => '0.05',
         'Data::Startup' => '0.02'

    Security, privacy, or safety precautions.
        None.

    Installation Tests.
        Most Perl installation software will run the following test
        script(s) as part of the installation:

         t/Data/Secs2.t

    Installation support.
        If there are installation problems or questions with the
        installation contact

         603 882-0846 E<lt> support@SoftwareDiamonds.com E<gt>

  3.7 Possible problems and known errors

    None.

4.0 NOTES
    The following are useful acronyms:

    .d  extension for a Perl demo script file

    .pm extension for a Perl Library Module

    .t  extension for a Perl test script file

    POD Plain Old Documentation

2.0 SEE ALSO
    Data::Secs2
    Data::SecsPack
    Data::Startup
    Docs::US_DOD::SVD
    Docs::US_DOD::STD