/docs/languages/en/modules/zend.console.getopt.rules.rst

.. _zend.console.getopt.rules:

Declaring Getopt Rules
======================

The constructor for the ``Zend\Console\Getopt`` class takes from one to three arguments. The first argument
declares which options are supported by your application. This class supports alternative syntax forms for
declaring the options. See the sections below for the format and usage of these syntax forms.

The constructor takes two more arguments, both of which are optional. The second argument may contain the
command-line arguments. This defaults to ``$_SERVER['argv']``.

The third argument of the constructor may contain an configuration options to customize the behavior of
``Zend\Console\Getopt``. See :ref:`Adding Configuration <zend.console.getopt.configuration.config>` for reference
on the options available.

.. _zend.console.getopt.rules.short:

Declaring Options with the Short Syntax
---------------------------------------

``Zend\Console\Getopt`` supports a compact syntax similar to that used by *GNU* Getopt (see
http://www.gnu.org/software/libc/manual/html_node/Getopt.html. This syntax supports only single-character flags.
In a single string, you type each of the letters that correspond to flags supported by your application. A letter
followed by a colon character (**:**) indicates a flag that requires a parameter.

.. _zend.console.getopt.rules.short.example:

Using the Short Syntax
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

.. code-block:: php
   :linenos:

   $opts = new Zend\Console\Getopt('abp:');

The example above shows using ``Zend\Console\Getopt`` to declare that options may be given as ``-a``, ``-b``, or
``-p``. The latter flag requires a parameter.

The short syntax is limited to flags of a single character. Aliases, parameter types, and help strings are not
supported in the short syntax.

.. _zend.console.getopt.rules.long:

Declaring Options with the Long Syntax
--------------------------------------

A different syntax with more features is also available. This syntax allows you to specify aliases for flags, types
of option parameters, and also help strings to describe usage to the user. Instead of the single string used in the
short syntax to declare the options, the long syntax uses an associative array as the first argument to the
constructor.

The key of each element of the associative array is a string with a format that names the flag, with any aliases,
separated by the pipe symbol ("**|**"). Following this series of flag aliases, if the option requires a parameter,
is an equals symbol ("**=**") with a letter that stands for the **type** of the parameter:

- "**=s**" for a string parameter

- "**=w**" for a word parameter (a string containing no whitespace)

- "**=i**" for an integer parameter

If the parameter is optional, use a dash ("**-**") instead of the equals symbol.

The value of each element in the associative array is a help string to describe to a user how to use your program.

.. _zend.console.getopt.rules.long.example:

Using the Long Syntax
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

.. code-block:: php
   :linenos:

   $opts = new Zend\Console\Getopt(
     array(
       'apple|a'    => 'apple option, with no parameter',
       'banana|b=i' => 'banana option, with required integer parameter',
       'pear|p-s'   => 'pear option, with optional string parameter'
     )
   );

In the example declaration above, there are three options. ``--apple`` and ``-a`` are aliases for each other, and
the option takes no parameter. ``--banana`` and ``-b`` are aliases for each other, and the option takes a mandatory
integer parameter. Finally, ``--pear`` and ``-p`` are aliases for each other, and the option may take an optional
string parameter.