Tie::SortedHash version 1.00
===========================

INTRODUCTION
This module allows you to retrieve keys/values from a hash in a sorted
+ order.


COMPARISON
Q:  Is this module any different from Tie::IxHash or Tie::SortHash?
A:  Yes, let me explain

    *** Tie::IxHash vs Tie::SortedHash ***
1.  Preserves insertion order - maintains order regardless of insertio
+n
2.  Provides static simple sort on keys/values - provides dynamic arbi
+trary sort routine

    *** Tie::SortHash vs Tie::SortedHash ***
1.  Uses psuedo hashes - uses an array
2.  It uses eval string for sort - uses a code ref for sort
3.  Loops (keys^2 + keys)/2 times through hash - retrieves array value
4.  Inflexible calling syntax - flexible/expandable calling syntax
5.  Extremely slow - provides for optimization where applicable
   

WHAT IS THIS ABOUT POSSIBLE OPTIMIZATION?
There are two circumstances when you can safley enable optimizations
1.  You have a simple one-level hash
2.  You have a complex hash, but the sort routine only depends on the 
    keys/values of the root level
By enabling optimization, the array that stores the sorted order will
only be re-generated when a change to the hash is detected.  Unfortuna
+tely, 
it is not possible to detect when the hash changes below the root leve
+l, and
the sort routine may depend on it.


WHY I WROTE IT
Tie::SortHash was a perfect answer to a question on perlmonks (http://
+www.perlmonks.org)
Unfortunately it had a lot of issues with it and attempts to contact t
+he author went 
unanswered.  Originally, I had intended just to correct that module, b
+ut it became nearly
impossible to do that and maintain backwards compatability.


INSTALLATION

To install this module type the following:

   perl Makefile.PL
   make
   make test
   make install


COPYRIGHT

Copyright (c) 2003 Joshua Gatcomb. All rights reserved.
This program is free software; you can redistribute it
and/or modify it under the same terms as Perl itself.
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