NAME
    Convert::Scalar - convert between different representations of perl
    scalars

SYNOPSIS
     use Convert::Scalar;

DESCRIPTION
    This module exports various internal perl methods that change the
    internal representation or state of a perl scalar. All of these work
    in-place, that is, they modify their scalar argument. No functions are
    exported by default.

    The following export tags exist:

     :utf8   all functions with utf8 in their names
     :taint  all functions with taint in their names

    utf8_upgrade scalar
        Convert the string content of the scalar to its UTF8-encoded form.

    utf8_downgrade scalar[, fail_ok]
        Attempt to convert the string content of the scalar from
        UTF8-encoded to bytes.. This may not be possible if the string
        contains characters that cannot be represented in a single byte; if
        this is the case, either returns false or, if `fail_ok' is not true
        (the default), croaks.

    utf8_encode scalar
        Convert the string value of the scalar to UTF8-encoded, but then
        turn off the `SvUTF8' flag so that it looks like bytes to perl
        again. (Might be removed in future versions).

    utf8_length scalar
        Returns the number of characters in the string, counting wide UTF8
        bytes as a single character, idnependent of wether the scalar is
        marked as containing bytes or mulitbyte characters.

    unmagic scalar
        Removes magic from the scalar.

    weaken scalar
        Weaken a reference. (See also the WeakRef module (the WeakRef
        manpage).

    taint scalar
        Taint the scalar.

    untaint scalar, type
        Remove the specified magic from the scalar (DANGEROUS!), the
        perlguts manpage. Might be removed in future versions.

  CANDIDATES FOR FUTURE RELEASES

    The following API functions (the perlapi manpage) are considered for
    future inclusion in this module If you want them, write me.

     sv_grow
     sv_upgrade
     sv_pvn_force
     sv_pvutf8n_force
     the sv2xx family

BUGS
    This module has not yet been extensively tested.

AUTHOR
     Marc Lehmann <pcg@goof.com>
     http://www.goof.com/pcg/marc/