+
+ # Count the number of rows in the "shares" table. Used only for
+ # testing.
+ #
+ # @return [Fixnum] the number of rows in the "shares" table.
+ #
+ def count_shares()
+ count = nil
+ connection = PG::Connection.new(@db_hash)
+
+ sql_query = 'SELECT count(*) FROM shares;'
+ begin
+ connection.query(sql_query) do |result|
+ count = result.getvalue(0,0).to_i()
+ end
+ ensure
+ # Make sure the connection gets closed even if the query explodes.
+ connection.close()
+ end
+
+ return count
+ end
+