arrays as input parameters in plperl

Hi,

I'd like to improve the way PL/Perl handles arrays as function input parameters. In PL/Perl arrays are passed as plain
textstrings, and getting a value of an array element requires additional perl code to parse that string. I'd like to
makethis easier by converting each postgresq array passed as an input parameter to the reference to the corresponding
perlarray. The patch in attachment illustrates this. it's limited to one-dimensional array output. The list  of
upcomingimprovements is: 

-  convert n-dimensional array to the perl equivalent (a reference to a list of references)
-  proper support for arrays of composite types
-  compatibility with existing plperl functions by introducing a new custom variable, i.e. plperl.pass_array_refs that
triggersthe new behavior. I think it should be disabled by default. 
 - documentation and additional tests

The patch adds a new attribute to the plperl_proc_desc struct, that records whether Nth argument is an array. The
functionplperl_ref_from_pg_array does the actual job of converting array input parameter to the perl array reference. I
consideredwriting a perl routine instead of a C function, although I though it would be less readable, more complex and
slowerdue to double conversion of input. The disadvantage of a C function is a code duplication with array_out, on
whichmy function is based, although it can be avoided by putting a relevant part of array_out into a separate function.


The patch is attached.

Anybody interested in this feature ? Ideas, improvements, suggestions ?

Regards,
--
Alexey Klyukin                    http://www.CommandPrompt.com/
The PostgreSQL Company - Command Prompt, Inc