* python/package.py:

  - added Record class that can be accessed like a dictionary
    and return it in candidateRecord and installedRecord
    (thanks to Alexander Sack for discussing this with me)
* doc/examples/records.py:
  - added example how to use the new Records class

3 files changed, 42 insertions, 2 deletions

diff --git a/apt/package.py b/apt/package.py
index b82f1aa0..4524a47d 100644
--- a/apt/package.py
+++ b/apt/package.py
@@ -40,6 +40,23 @@ class Dependency(object):
     def __init__(self, alternatives):
         self.or_dependencies = alternatives
 
+class Record(object):
+    """ represents a pkgRecord, can be accessed like a
+        dictionary and gives the original package record
+        if accessed as a string """
+    def __init__(self, s):
+        self._str = s
+        self._rec = apt_pkg.ParseSection(s)
+    def __str__(self):
+        return self._str
+    def __getitem__(self, key):
+        k = self._rec.get(key)
+        if k is None:
+            raise KeyError
+        return k
+    def has_key(self, key):
+        return self._rec.has_key(key)
+
 class Package(object):
     """ This class represents a package in the cache
     """
@@ -244,14 +261,14 @@ class Package(object):
         " return the full pkgrecord as string of the candidate version "
         if not self._lookupRecord(True):
             return None
-        return self._records.Record
+        return Record(self._records.Record)
     candidateRecord = property(candidateRecord)
 
     def installedRecord(self):
         " return the full pkgrecord as string of the installed version "
         if not self._lookupRecord(False):
             return None
-        return self._records.Record
+        return Record(self._records.Record)
     installedRecord = property(installedRecord)
 
     # depcache states
diff --git a/debian/changelog b/debian/changelog
index 5536d8e1..8861ce26 100644
--- a/debian/changelog
+++ b/debian/changelog
@@ -1,3 +1,14 @@
+python-apt (0.7.3) unstable; urgency=low
+
+  * python/package.py:
+    - added Record class that can be accessed like a dictionary
+      and return it in candidateRecord and installedRecord
+      (thanks to Alexander Sack for discussing this with me)
+  * doc/examples/records.py:
+    - added example how to use the new Records class
+
+ --
+
 python-apt (0.7.2) unstable; urgency=low
 
   * build against the new apt
diff --git a/doc/examples/records.py b/doc/examples/records.py
new file mode 100755
index 00000000..ef04b555
--- /dev/null
+++ b/doc/examples/records.py
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python
+
+import apt
+
+cache = apt.Cache()
+
+for pkg in cache:
+   if not pkg.candidateRecord:
+      continue
+   if pkg.candidateRecord.has_key("Task"):
+      print "Pkg %s is part of '%s'" % (pkg.name, pkg.candidateRecord["Task"].split())
+      #print pkg.candidateRecord