cascading-configuration-hash 1.4.1 → 1.5.0

data/spec/_private_/CascadingConfiguration/Hash/CompositingHash_spec.rb

@@ -0,0 +1,347 @@
+
+require_relative '../../../../lib/cascading-configuration-hash.rb'
+
+describe CascadingConfiguration::Hash::CompositingHash do
+
+  #########
+  #  []=  #
+  #########
+
+  it 'can add elements' do
+
+    module CascadingConfiguration::Hash::CompositingHash::CCHMock01
+      include CascadingConfiguration::Variable
+    end
+    
+    module CascadingConfiguration::Hash::CompositingHash::CIMock01A
+      include CascadingConfiguration::Hash::CompositingHash::CCHMock01
+    end
+    module CascadingConfiguration::Hash::CompositingHash::CIMock01B
+      include CascadingConfiguration::Hash::CompositingHash::CIMock01A
+    end
+    
+    ccv = CascadingConfiguration::Variable
+    ccm_hash = CascadingConfiguration::Hash::CompositingHash::CCHMock01
+    configuration_instance = CascadingConfiguration::Hash::CompositingHash::CIMock01A
+    sub_configuration_instance = CascadingConfiguration::Hash::CompositingHash::CIMock01B
+    configuration_name = :some_configuration
+    
+    # Without super or sub composites
+    cascading_composite_hash = ::CascadingConfiguration::Hash::CompositingHash.new( configuration_instance, configuration_name )
+    cascading_composite_hash[ :some_setting ] = :some_value
+    cascading_composite_hash.local_cascading_hash.should == { :some_setting => :some_value }
+    cascading_composite_hash.should == { :some_setting => :some_value }
+    cascading_composite_hash[ :other_setting ] = :some_value
+    cascading_composite_hash.local_cascading_hash.should == { :some_setting  => :some_value,
+                                                              :other_setting => :some_value }
+    cascading_composite_hash.should == { :some_setting  => :some_value,
+                                         :other_setting => :some_value }
+
+    # Super with a sub composite
+    sub_cascading_composite_hash = CascadingConfiguration::Hash::CompositingHash.new( sub_configuration_instance, configuration_name )
+    sub_cascading_composite_hash.local_cascading_hash.should == {}
+    sub_cascading_composite_hash.should == { :some_setting    => :some_value,
+                                             :other_setting   => :some_value }
+    sub_cascading_composite_hash[ :yet_another_setting ] = :some_value
+    sub_cascading_composite_hash.local_cascading_hash.should == { :yet_another_setting => :some_value }
+    sub_cascading_composite_hash.should == { :some_setting        => :some_value,
+                                             :other_setting       => :some_value,
+                                             :yet_another_setting => :some_value }
+
+  end
+
+  ###########
+  #  store  #
+  ###########
+
+  it 'can add elements' do
+
+    module CascadingConfiguration::Hash::CompositingHash::CCHMock02
+      include CascadingConfiguration::Variable
+    end
+    
+    module CascadingConfiguration::Hash::CompositingHash::CIMock02A
+      include CascadingConfiguration::Hash::CompositingHash::CCHMock02
+    end
+    module CascadingConfiguration::Hash::CompositingHash::CIMock02B
+      include CascadingConfiguration::Hash::CompositingHash::CIMock02A
+    end
+    
+    ccv = CascadingConfiguration::Variable
+    ccm_hash = CascadingConfiguration::Hash::CompositingHash::CCHMock02
+    configuration_instance = CascadingConfiguration::Hash::CompositingHash::CIMock02A
+    sub_configuration_instance = CascadingConfiguration::Hash::CompositingHash::CIMock02B
+    configuration_name = :some_configuration
+    
+    # Without super or sub composites
+    cascading_composite_hash = ::CascadingConfiguration::Hash::CompositingHash.new( configuration_instance, configuration_name )
+    cascading_composite_hash.store( :some_setting, :some_value )
+    cascading_composite_hash.local_cascading_hash.should == { :some_setting => :some_value }
+    cascading_composite_hash.should == { :some_setting => :some_value }
+    cascading_composite_hash.store( :other_setting, :some_value )
+    cascading_composite_hash.local_cascading_hash.should == { :some_setting  => :some_value,
+                                                              :other_setting => :some_value }
+    cascading_composite_hash.should == { :some_setting  => :some_value,
+                                         :other_setting => :some_value }
+
+    # Super with a sub composite
+    sub_cascading_composite_hash = CascadingConfiguration::Hash::CompositingHash.new( sub_configuration_instance, configuration_name )
+    sub_cascading_composite_hash.local_cascading_hash.should == {}
+    sub_cascading_composite_hash.should == { :some_setting    => :some_value,
+                                             :other_setting   => :some_value }
+    sub_cascading_composite_hash.store( :yet_another_setting, :some_value )
+    sub_cascading_composite_hash.local_cascading_hash.should == { :yet_another_setting => :some_value }
+    sub_cascading_composite_hash.should == { :some_setting        => :some_value,
+                                             :other_setting       => :some_value,
+                                             :yet_another_setting => :some_value }
+
+  end
+
+  ############
+  #  delete  #
+  ############
+
+  it 'can exclude elements' do
+
+    module CascadingConfiguration::Hash::CompositingHash::CCHMock03
+      include CascadingConfiguration::Variable
+    end
+    
+    module CascadingConfiguration::Hash::CompositingHash::CIMock03A
+      include CascadingConfiguration::Hash::CompositingHash::CCHMock03
+    end
+    module CascadingConfiguration::Hash::CompositingHash::CIMock03B
+      include CascadingConfiguration::Hash::CompositingHash::CIMock03A
+    end
+    
+    ccv = CascadingConfiguration::Variable
+    ccm_hash = CascadingConfiguration::Hash::CompositingHash::CCHMock03
+    configuration_instance = CascadingConfiguration::Hash::CompositingHash::CIMock03A
+    sub_configuration_instance = CascadingConfiguration::Hash::CompositingHash::CIMock03B
+    configuration_name = :some_configuration
+    
+    # Without super or sub composites
+    cascading_composite_hash = ::CascadingConfiguration::Hash::CompositingHash.new( configuration_instance, configuration_name )
+    cascading_composite_hash.store( :some_setting, :some_value )
+    cascading_composite_hash.local_cascading_hash.should == { :some_setting => :some_value }
+    cascading_composite_hash.should == { :some_setting => :some_value }
+    cascading_composite_hash.store( :other_setting, :some_value )
+    cascading_composite_hash.local_cascading_hash.should == { :some_setting  => :some_value,
+                                                              :other_setting => :some_value }
+    cascading_composite_hash.should == { :some_setting  => :some_value,
+                                         :other_setting => :some_value }
+    cascading_composite_hash.delete( :some_setting )
+    cascading_composite_hash.local_cascading_hash.should == { :other_setting => :some_value }
+    cascading_composite_hash.should == { :other_setting => :some_value }
+
+    # Super with a sub composite
+    sub_cascading_composite_hash = CascadingConfiguration::Hash::CompositingHash.new( sub_configuration_instance, configuration_name )
+    sub_cascading_composite_hash.local_cascading_hash.should == {}
+    sub_cascading_composite_hash.should == { :other_setting   => :some_value }
+    sub_cascading_composite_hash.store( :yet_another_setting, :some_value )
+    sub_cascading_composite_hash.local_cascading_hash.should == { :yet_another_setting => :some_value }
+    sub_cascading_composite_hash.should == { :other_setting       => :some_value,
+                                             :yet_another_setting => :some_value }
+    sub_cascading_composite_hash.delete( :other_setting )
+    sub_cascading_composite_hash.local_cascading_hash.should == { :yet_another_setting => :some_value }
+    sub_cascading_composite_hash.should == { :yet_another_setting => :some_value }
+    cascading_composite_hash.should == { :other_setting => :some_value }
+
+  end
+
+  ############
+  #  merge!  #
+  ############
+  
+  it 'can merge from another hash' do
+
+    module CascadingConfiguration::Hash::CompositingHash::CCHMock04
+      include CascadingConfiguration::Variable
+    end
+    
+    module CascadingConfiguration::Hash::CompositingHash::CIMock04A
+      include CascadingConfiguration::Hash::CompositingHash::CCHMock04
+    end
+    module CascadingConfiguration::Hash::CompositingHash::CIMock04B
+      include CascadingConfiguration::Hash::CompositingHash::CIMock04A
+    end
+    
+    ccv = CascadingConfiguration::Variable
+    ccm_hash = CascadingConfiguration::Hash::CompositingHash::CCHMock04
+    configuration_instance = CascadingConfiguration::Hash::CompositingHash::CIMock04A
+    sub_configuration_instance = CascadingConfiguration::Hash::CompositingHash::CIMock04B
+    configuration_name = :some_configuration
+    
+    # Without super or sub composites
+    cascading_composite_hash = ::CascadingConfiguration::Hash::CompositingHash.new( configuration_instance, configuration_name )
+    cascading_composite_hash.merge!( :some_setting => :some_value )
+    cascading_composite_hash.local_cascading_hash.should == { :some_setting => :some_value }
+    cascading_composite_hash.should == { :some_setting => :some_value }
+    cascading_composite_hash.merge!( :other_setting => :some_value )
+    cascading_composite_hash.local_cascading_hash.should == { :some_setting  => :some_value,
+                                                              :other_setting => :some_value }
+    cascading_composite_hash.should == { :some_setting  => :some_value,
+                                         :other_setting => :some_value }
+
+    # Super with a sub composite
+    sub_cascading_composite_hash = CascadingConfiguration::Hash::CompositingHash.new( sub_configuration_instance, configuration_name )
+    sub_cascading_composite_hash.local_cascading_hash.should == {}
+    sub_cascading_composite_hash.should == { :some_setting    => :some_value,
+                                             :other_setting   => :some_value }
+    sub_cascading_composite_hash.merge!( :yet_another_setting => :some_value )
+    sub_cascading_composite_hash.local_cascading_hash.should == { :yet_another_setting => :some_value }
+    sub_cascading_composite_hash.should == { :some_setting        => :some_value,
+                                             :other_setting       => :some_value,
+                                             :yet_another_setting => :some_value }
+
+  end
+  
+  #############
+  #  replace  #
+  #############
+  
+  it 'can replace existing elements with others' do
+
+    module CascadingConfiguration::Hash::CompositingHash::CCHMock05
+      include CascadingConfiguration::Variable
+    end
+    
+    module CascadingConfiguration::Hash::CompositingHash::CIMock05A
+      include CascadingConfiguration::Hash::CompositingHash::CCHMock05
+    end
+    module CascadingConfiguration::Hash::CompositingHash::CIMock05B
+      include CascadingConfiguration::Hash::CompositingHash::CIMock05A
+    end
+    
+    ccv = CascadingConfiguration::Variable
+    ccm_hash = CascadingConfiguration::Hash::CompositingHash::CCHMock05
+    configuration_instance = CascadingConfiguration::Hash::CompositingHash::CIMock05A
+    sub_configuration_instance = CascadingConfiguration::Hash::CompositingHash::CIMock05B
+    configuration_name = :some_configuration
+    
+    # Without super or sub composites
+    cascading_composite_hash = ::CascadingConfiguration::Hash::CompositingHash.new( configuration_instance, configuration_name )
+    cascading_composite_hash.replace( :some_setting => :some_value )
+    cascading_composite_hash.local_cascading_hash.should == { :some_setting => :some_value }
+    cascading_composite_hash.should == { :some_setting => :some_value }
+    cascading_composite_hash.replace( :other_setting => :some_value )
+    cascading_composite_hash.local_cascading_hash.should == { :other_setting => :some_value }
+    cascading_composite_hash.should == { :other_setting => :some_value }
+
+    # Super with a sub composite
+    sub_cascading_composite_hash = CascadingConfiguration::Hash::CompositingHash.new( sub_configuration_instance, configuration_name )
+    sub_cascading_composite_hash.local_cascading_hash.should == {}
+    sub_cascading_composite_hash.should == { :other_setting   => :some_value }
+    sub_cascading_composite_hash.replace( :yet_another_setting => :some_value )
+    sub_cascading_composite_hash.local_cascading_hash.should == { :yet_another_setting => :some_value }
+    sub_cascading_composite_hash.should == { :yet_another_setting => :some_value }
+
+  end
+
+  ###########
+  #  shift  #
+  ###########
+  
+  it 'can shift the first element' do
+
+    module CascadingConfiguration::Hash::CompositingHash::CCHMock06
+      include CascadingConfiguration::Variable
+    end
+    
+    module CascadingConfiguration::Hash::CompositingHash::CIMock06A
+      include CascadingConfiguration::Hash::CompositingHash::CCHMock06
+    end
+    module CascadingConfiguration::Hash::CompositingHash::CIMock06B
+      include CascadingConfiguration::Hash::CompositingHash::CIMock06A
+    end
+    
+    ccv = CascadingConfiguration::Variable
+    ccm_hash = CascadingConfiguration::Hash::CompositingHash::CCHMock06
+    configuration_instance = CascadingConfiguration::Hash::CompositingHash::CIMock06A
+    sub_configuration_instance = CascadingConfiguration::Hash::CompositingHash::CIMock06B
+    configuration_name = :some_configuration
+    
+    # Without super or sub composites
+    cascading_composite_hash = ::CascadingConfiguration::Hash::CompositingHash.new( configuration_instance, configuration_name )
+    cascading_composite_hash.store( :some_setting, :some_value )
+    cascading_composite_hash.local_cascading_hash.should == { :some_setting => :some_value }
+    cascading_composite_hash.should == { :some_setting => :some_value }
+    cascading_composite_hash.store( :other_setting, :some_value )
+    cascading_composite_hash.local_cascading_hash.should == { :some_setting  => :some_value,
+                                                              :other_setting => :some_value }
+    cascading_composite_hash.should == { :some_setting  => :some_value,
+                                         :other_setting => :some_value }
+    cascading_composite_hash.shift
+    cascading_composite_hash.local_cascading_hash.should == { :other_setting => :some_value }
+    cascading_composite_hash.should == { :other_setting => :some_value }
+
+    # Super with a sub composite
+    sub_cascading_composite_hash = CascadingConfiguration::Hash::CompositingHash.new( sub_configuration_instance, configuration_name )
+    sub_cascading_composite_hash.local_cascading_hash.should == {}
+    sub_cascading_composite_hash.should == { :other_setting   => :some_value }
+    sub_cascading_composite_hash.store( :yet_another_setting, :some_value )
+    sub_cascading_composite_hash.local_cascading_hash.should == { :yet_another_setting => :some_value }
+    sub_cascading_composite_hash.should == { :other_setting       => :some_value,
+                                             :yet_another_setting => :some_value }
+    sub_cascading_composite_hash.shift
+    sub_cascading_composite_hash.local_cascading_hash.should == { :yet_another_setting => :some_value }
+    sub_cascading_composite_hash.should == { :yet_another_setting => :some_value }
+    cascading_composite_hash.should == { :other_setting => :some_value }
+
+  end
+
+  ###########
+  #  clear  #
+  ###########
+  
+  it 'can clear, causing present elements to be excluded' do
+
+    module CascadingConfiguration::Hash::CompositingHash::CCHMock07
+      include CascadingConfiguration::Variable
+    end
+    
+    module CascadingConfiguration::Hash::CompositingHash::CIMock07A
+      include CascadingConfiguration::Hash::CompositingHash::CCHMock07
+    end
+    module CascadingConfiguration::Hash::CompositingHash::CIMock07B
+      include CascadingConfiguration::Hash::CompositingHash::CIMock07A
+    end
+    
+    ccv = CascadingConfiguration::Variable
+    ccm_hash = CascadingConfiguration::Hash::CompositingHash::CCHMock07
+    configuration_instance = CascadingConfiguration::Hash::CompositingHash::CIMock07A
+    sub_configuration_instance = CascadingConfiguration::Hash::CompositingHash::CIMock07B
+    configuration_name = :some_configuration
+    
+    # Without super or sub composites
+    cascading_composite_hash = ::CascadingConfiguration::Hash::CompositingHash.new( configuration_instance, configuration_name )
+    cascading_composite_hash.store( :some_setting, :some_value )
+    cascading_composite_hash.local_cascading_hash.should == { :some_setting => :some_value }
+    cascading_composite_hash.should == { :some_setting => :some_value }
+    cascading_composite_hash.store( :other_setting, :some_value )
+    cascading_composite_hash.local_cascading_hash.should == { :some_setting  => :some_value,
+                                                              :other_setting => :some_value }
+    cascading_composite_hash.should == { :some_setting  => :some_value,
+                                         :other_setting => :some_value }
+    cascading_composite_hash.clear
+    cascading_composite_hash.local_cascading_hash.should == { }
+    cascading_composite_hash.should == { }
+    cascading_composite_hash.store( :other_setting, :some_value )
+    cascading_composite_hash.should == { :other_setting => :some_value }
+
+    # Super with a sub composite
+    sub_cascading_composite_hash = CascadingConfiguration::Hash::CompositingHash.new( sub_configuration_instance, configuration_name )
+    sub_cascading_composite_hash.local_cascading_hash.should == {}
+    sub_cascading_composite_hash.should == { :other_setting   => :some_value }
+    sub_cascading_composite_hash.store( :yet_another_setting, :some_value )
+    sub_cascading_composite_hash.local_cascading_hash.should == { :yet_another_setting => :some_value }
+    sub_cascading_composite_hash.should == { :other_setting       => :some_value,
+                                             :yet_another_setting => :some_value }
+    sub_cascading_composite_hash.clear
+    sub_cascading_composite_hash.local_cascading_hash.should == { }
+    sub_cascading_composite_hash.should == { }
+    cascading_composite_hash.should == { :other_setting => :some_value }
+
+  end
+  
+end

metadata

@@ -1,12 +1,8 @@
 --- !ruby/object:Gem::Specification 
 name: cascading-configuration-hash
 version: !ruby/object:Gem::Version 
-  prerelease: false
-  segments: 
-  - 1
-  - 4
-  - 1
-  version: 1.4.1
+  prerelease: 
+  version: 1.5.0
 platform: ruby
 authors: 
 - Asher
@@ -14,8 +10,7 @@ autorequire:
 bindir: bin
 cert_chain: []
 
-date: 2011-08-08 00:00:00 -04:00
-default_executable: 
+date: 2012-01-16 00:00:00 Z
 dependencies: 
 - !ruby/object:Gem::Dependency 
   name: module-cluster
@@ -25,8 +20,6 @@ dependencies:
     requirements: 
     - - ">="
       - !ruby/object:Gem::Version 
-        segments: 
-        - 0
         version: "0"
   type: :runtime
   version_requirements: *id001
@@ -38,8 +31,6 @@ dependencies:
     requirements: 
     - - ">="
       - !ruby/object:Gem::Version 
-        segments: 
-        - 0
         version: "0"
   type: :runtime
   version_requirements: *id002
@@ -52,23 +43,18 @@ extensions: []
 extra_rdoc_files: []
 
 files: 
-- lib/cascading-configuration-hash/CascadingConfiguration/_private_/CompositingHash.rb
-- lib/cascading-configuration-hash/CascadingConfiguration/_private_/LocalConfigurationHash.rb
-- lib/cascading-configuration-hash/CascadingConfiguration/CompositingHash/Instance.rb
-- lib/cascading-configuration-hash/CascadingConfiguration/CompositingHash.rb
-- lib/cascading-configuration-hash/CascadingConfiguration/Hash/AccessorDefinitionMethods.rb
-- lib/cascading-configuration-hash/CascadingConfiguration/Hash/Interface/Instance.rb
+- lib/cascading-configuration-hash/_private_/CascadingConfiguration/Hash/CompositingHash/LocalConfigurationHash.rb
+- lib/cascading-configuration-hash/_private_/CascadingConfiguration/Hash/CompositingHash.rb
+- lib/cascading-configuration-hash/_private_/CascadingConfiguration/Hash/Interface/GettersSetters.rb
+- lib/cascading-configuration-hash/_private_/CascadingConfiguration/Hash/ModuleSupportMethods.rb
 - lib/cascading-configuration-hash/CascadingConfiguration/Hash/Interface.rb
 - lib/cascading-configuration-hash/CascadingConfiguration/Hash.rb
-- lib/cascading-configuration-hash/CascadingConfiguration/LocalConfigurationHash.rb
 - lib/cascading-configuration-hash.rb
-- spec/CascadingConfiguration/CascadingCompositeHash_spec.rb
-- spec/CascadingConfiguration/Hash/AccessorDefinitionMethods_spec.rb
+- spec/_private_/CascadingConfiguration/Hash/CompositingHash/LocalConfigurationHash_spec.rb
+- spec/_private_/CascadingConfiguration/Hash/CompositingHash_spec.rb
 - spec/CascadingConfiguration/Hash_spec.rb
-- spec/CascadingConfiguration/LocalConfigurationHash_spec.rb
 - README.md
 - README.rdoc
-has_rdoc: true
 homepage: http://rubygems.org/gems/cascading-configuration-hash
 licenses: []
 
@@ -82,21 +68,17 @@ required_ruby_version: !ruby/object:Gem::Requirement
   requirements: 
   - - ">="
     - !ruby/object:Gem::Version 
-      segments: 
-      - 0
       version: "0"
 required_rubygems_version: !ruby/object:Gem::Requirement 
   none: false
   requirements: 
   - - ">="
     - !ruby/object:Gem::Version 
-      segments: 
-      - 0
       version: "0"
 requirements: []
 
 rubyforge_project: cascading-configuration-hash
-rubygems_version: 1.3.7
+rubygems_version: 1.8.10
 signing_key: 
 specification_version: 3
 summary: Support package for cascading-configuration.

data/lib/cascading-configuration-hash/CascadingConfiguration/CompositingHash/Instance.rb

@@ -1,31 +0,0 @@
-
-module CascadingConfiguration::CompositingHash::Instance
-
-  extend ModuleCluster
-
-	extend CascadingConfiguration::InternalModuleStub
-
-  include_also_extends( self )
-
-  ################################################
-  #  composite_hash_for_cascading_configuration  #
-  ################################################
-
-  def composite_hash_for_cascading_configuration( cascading_name )
-    
-    composite_hash = nil
-
-		klass = ( is_a?( Module ) ? self : self.class )
-		self_instance = self
-		accessor_module_support.instance_eval do
-			unless composite_hash = ( ( @composite_hashes ||= Hash.new )[ cascading_name ] ||= Hash.new )[ self_instance ]
-	      composite_hash = ::CascadingConfiguration::CompositingHash.new( cascading_name, self_instance )
-				@composite_hashes[ cascading_name ][ self_instance ] = composite_hash
-			end
-		end
-
-    return composite_hash
-    
-  end
-
-end

data/lib/cascading-configuration-hash/CascadingConfiguration/CompositingHash.rb

@@ -1,135 +0,0 @@
-
-class CascadingConfiguration::CompositingHash < Hash
-
-  attr_accessor  :working_instance, :local_cascading_hash
-
-  ################
-  #  initialize  #
-  ################
-  
-  def initialize( cascading_name, working_instance )
-    @cascading_name     = cascading_name
-		@working_class = ( working_instance.is_a?( Module ) ? working_instance : working_instance.class )
-    @working_instance   = working_instance
-    # if first ancestor can have a composite array, register self with it in case it gets updated in the future
-    if ( first_ancestor = @working_instance.first_ancestor ).respond_to?( :composite_hash_for_cascading_configuration )
-      @parent_composite_hash = first_ancestor.composite_hash_for_cascading_configuration( @cascading_name )
-      @parent_composite_hash.register_child_composite_hash( self )
-    end
-    # get local cascading array (not included in parent composite)
-    @local_cascading_hash = ::CascadingConfiguration::LocalConfigurationHash.new
-    # we may later have our own child composites
-    @child_composite_hashes = ::Array.new
-    # initialize self status for parent and local
-    update_self_as_cascading_composite
-  end
-
-  ###################################
-  #  register_child_composite_hash  #
-  ###################################
-
-  def register_child_composite_hash( child_composite_hash )
-    @child_composite_hashes.push( child_composite_hash )
-    return self
-  end
-
-  #####################################
-  #  unregister_child_composite_hash  #
-  #####################################
-
-  def unregister_child_composite_hash( child_composite_hash )
-    @child_composite_hashes.delete( child_composite_hash )
-    return self
-  end
-
-  #########
-  #  []=  #
-  #########
-
-  def []=( key, value )
-    @local_cascading_hash[ key ] = value
-    update_adding_composite_elements( key => value )
-  end
-  alias_method :store, :[]=
-
-  ############
-  #  delete  #
-  ############
-
-  alias_method :super_delete, :delete
-  def delete( key )
-    value = self[ key ]
-    @local_cascading_hash.delete( key )
-    update_removing_composite_elements( key )
-    return value
-  end
-
-  ############
-  #  merge!  #
-  ############
-  
-  alias_method :super_merge!, :merge!
-  def merge!( other_hash )
-    @local_cascading_hash.merge!( other_hash )
-    update_adding_composite_elements( other_hash )
-    return self
-  end
-  
-  #############
-  #  replace  #
-  #############
-  
-  alias_method :super_replace, :replace
-  def replace( other_hash )
-    # clear current values
-    clear
-    # merge replacement settings
-    merge!( other_hash )
-		update_self_as_cascading_composite
-    return self
-  end
-
-  ###########
-  #  shift  #
-  ###########
-  
-  def shift
-    element = super
-    key = element[ 0 ]
-    @local_cascading_hash.delete( key )
-    update_removing_composite_elements( key )
-    return element
-  end
-
-  ###########
-  #  clear  #
-  ###########
-  
-  alias_method :super_clear, :clear
-  def clear
-    # add all existing values to exclude array
-    keys.each do |this_key|
-      delete( this_key )
-    end
-    update_removing_composite_elements( *self.keys )
-    return self
-  end
-  
-  #############
-  #  freeze!  #
-  #############
-
-  # freezes configuration and prevents ancestors from changing this configuration in the future
-  def freeze!
-    
-    # move current configuration into local configuration
-    @local_cascading_hash.replace( self )
-    
-    # unregister with parent composite so we don't get future updates from it
-    @parent_composite_hash.unregister_child_composite_hash( self ) if @parent_composite_hash
-    
-    return self
-    
-  end
-  
-end