[Bioperl-l] EUtilities term handling

[Chris Fields]

On Oct 5, 2006, at 10:30 AM, Sendu Bala wrote:

> Chris Fields wrote:
>>>> I use URI for building the URL with the parameters.  URI  
>>>> specifically encodes all of this for you, so spaces convert to  
>>>> '+' and '+' converts to %2B.
>>>
>>> Well, yes. This causes what I thought of as a bug. It prevents me  
>>> from submitting a /correct/ eutils term. However it isn't a bug  
>>> if you explain to users they shouldn't be submitting valid eutils  
>>> terms, but only valid /entrez/ terms.
>> I can specify in POD that URI encoding is in effect if that  
>> placates you, and maybe add a bit about how terms are to be built  
>> (based on the website).  I also noticed that the esearch POD  
>> doesn't have a demo in the SYNOPSIS yet (my fault).
>> However, I think this is all a bit silly.  This is something most  
>> people already realize and take for granted (it's standard for any  
>> CGI interface to use URI encoding).
>> Also, most Entrez users do not use a term like 'BRCA2+Human 
>> [ORGANISM]'.  They use 'BRCA2 AND Human[ORGANISM]' or 'BRCA2 Human 
>> [ORGANISM]', the latter which is implicit.  All of this is on the  
>> Entrez website.
>
> Exactly. You're assuming an entrez user and expecting an entrez  
> query. I don't think its silly given the name of the modules for  
> the user to assume the code needs an eutils query, which is a  
> different thing with different behaviour /independent/ of URI  
> encoding.

It's a silly distinction.  The POD for Bio::DB::EUtilities states:

Bio::DB::EUtilities - interface for handling web queries and data  
retrieval from NCBI's Entrez Utilities.

My question is this : why would anyone (particularly the everyday  
bioperl user) want to use URL-encoded parameters for a query?  That  
seems to be your main argument here.  If so, wouldn't I just paste  
them together then send them off NCBI eutils?  Would I devote ~ 10  
classes to that?  I could do that in a short program using an array,  
join, and LWP::Simple.

The purpose is quite clearly stated, but if you feel that by  
badgering me to add something to POD I consider common sense, then  
you're right.  You've succeeded.  Bravo.

Christopher Fields
Postdoctoral Researcher
Lab of Dr. Robert Switzer
Dept of Biochemistry
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign