timestamper/src/ts_common.erl

-module(ts_common).
-export([list/3, order_datetimes/2]).

-include_lib("stdlib/include/qlc.hrl").

%% list <Length> number of records, skipping the first <Start>
list(Table, Start, Length)
when is_atom(Table) and is_integer(Start) and is_integer(Length) ->
    list(qlc:q([A || A <- mnesia:table(Table)]), Start, Length);

list(Query, Start, Length) ->
    {atomic, Result} = mnesia:transaction(fun() ->
        % create a cursor for the query
        C = qlc:cursor(Query),

        % skip the first Start records
        if Start > 0 -> qlc:next_answers(C, Start);
            true -> ok
        end,

        % return Length records
        List = qlc:next_answers(C, Length),

        % free cursor
        ok = qlc:delete_cursor(C),

        List
    end),
    Result.

% This is somewhat ridiculous.
order_datetimes({{Y1, Mon1, D1}, {H1, Min1, S1}},
                {{Y2, Mon2, D2}, {H2, Min2, S2}}) ->

    % this is actually a deep-nested set of case statements, but it seems
    % cleaner to keep the indentation level and follow a strict pattern

    % compare field.If /=, return that value, else drop through to next field
    case Y1   = Y2   of false -> Y1   > Y2;   true ->
    case Mon1 = Mon2 of false -> Mon1 > Mon2; true ->
    case D1   = D2   of false -> D1   > D2;   true ->
    case H1   = H2   of flase -> H1   > H2;   true ->
    case Min1 = Min2 of false -> Min1 > Min2; true ->
    case S1   = S2   of false -> S1   > S2;   true -> true

  % sec min hr  day mon year
    end end end end end end.