NAME
    Parse::Range - Parse text range definitions

SYNOPSIS
      use Parse::Range qw(parse_range);
  
      my @range = parse_range('1,3,5-7');
      # @range = qw(1 3 5 6 7);
  
      @range = parse_range('1-7,^2,^4');
      # @range = qw(1 3 5 6 7);
  
      @range = parse_range('1-7,^(2,4)');
      # @range = qw(1 3 5 6 7);
  
DESCRIPTION
    This module parses range definitions and returns an array of individual
    numbers.

    It is intended to be used in command line applications where the user
    should be able to select one or more options from a list or in any other
    application where such a situation occurs.

FUNCTIONS
    By default no functions are exported.

  parse_range
    The one and only function this module provides. It accepts one or more
    strings which are concatenated by a comma. Ranges, blocks and numbers
    are expected to be seperated by comma.

    Now the parsing takes place. Strings can be nested to any depth using
    parentheses. Not matching parentheses are being repaired if possible.
    Ranges can be expressed using the minus sign `-'. Use `^' to exclude
    numbers or ranges from the current range. Negative numbers are expressed
    using the minus sign. This is a valid expression `-4--2' which will
    result in an array from minus four to minus two. `(-4)-(-2)' works as
    well. The string is parsed from left to right.

EXAMPLES
      parse_range('1-7,^(2,4)');
  
    This will first add the numbers from one to seven to the range and then
    exclude the numbers two and 4. The result is `1 3 5 6 7'.

      parse_range('^(2,4),1-7');

     This is the same example as above except that it is the other way round. The exception of two and four
     is a noop in this case because there is no range from which to exclude the numbers. The result is
     therefore C<1 2 3 4 5 6 7>.
 
       parse_range('1-9,^(5-9,^(8-9))');
 
     This is a more advanced example. From a range from one to nine we exclude a block which consists
     of a range from five to nine from which eight and nine are excluded.
     The result is C<1 2 3 4 8 9>.
 
AUTHOR
    Moritz Onken, `<onken at netcubed.de>'

BUGS
    Please report any bugs or feature requests to `bug-Parse-Range at
    rt.cpan.org', or through the web interface at
    http://rt.cpan.org/NoAuth/ReportBug.html?Queue=Parse-Range. I will be
    notified, and then you'll automatically be notified of progress on your
    bug as I make changes.

SUPPORT
    You can find documentation for this module with the perldoc command.

        perldoc Parse::Range

    You can also look for information at:

    * RT: CPAN's request tracker
        http://rt.cpan.org/NoAuth/Bugs.html?Dist=Parse-Range

    * AnnoCPAN: Annotated CPAN documentation
        http://annocpan.org/dist/Parse-Range

    * CPAN Ratings
        http://cpanratings.perl.org/d/Parse-Range

    * Search CPAN
        http://search.cpan.org/dist/Parse-Range/

COPYRIGHT & LICENSE
    Copyright 2009 Moritz Onken, all rights reserved.

