- Query objects now have a "parameter_type" attribute to indicate what type
of value should be given to the associated Python method parameter. The
query doc string methods now include this information.
- A database parameter has been added to the Records allowing for any record
object to have a default database to fetch additional content from. This
allows for more interactive methods to be developed. The database value
is automatically set to a record when using database.get_record operations.
NOTE: This may require Record subclasses to add database to their init
methods.
- Base Record now has a tar attribute that provides an open TarFile object for
the record's associated tar archive. When first accessed, this will use the
database to retrieve the tar contents. Subsequent calls then interact with
the already downloaded content.
- Base Record also has a new get_file() method that retrieves a file from the
record's associated tar file simply by giving the file name. This builds on
the tar attribute above, so getting files in this way is both convenient and
efficient.