use Bio::EnsEMBL::External::SNPSQL::DBAdaptor;
  $snpdb = Bio::EnsEMBL::ExternalData::SNPSQL::DBAdaptor->new( -dbname => 'snp'
							  -user => 'root'
							  );

   # accessing sequence variations by id
   # $snp is a Bio::EnsEMBL::ExternalData::Variation object
   # the method call returns an array of Variation objects; 
   # one for each location
   my @snps = $snpdb->get_SNPAdaptor->fetch_by_refsnp_id("578");
   my $snp = pop @snps;

  my ($self, @args) = @_;
 
  $self->warn("get_Ensembl_SeqFetures_clone is deprecated. " .
      "Use:\$ db_adaptor->get_SNPAdaptor()->fetch_by_clone_" .
      "accession_version(\$acc,\$ ver) instead\n");
  
  return $self->get_SNPAdaptor()->fetch_by_clone_accession_version(@args);

  my ($self, @args) = @_;

  $self->warn("get_Ensembl_SeqFeatures_clone_web is deprecated. " .
       "To draw web features the Lite database should be used instead. " .
       "Try using: " .
       "\$lite_dbadaptor->get_SNPAdaptor()->fetch_by_Slice(\$slice)");

  my $self = shift;

  $self->throw("get_Ensembl_SeqFeatures_contig is deprecated\n");

  return ();

    my ($self) = @_;
    my $sth=$self->prepare("select count(*) from RefSNP");
    my $res=$sth->execute();

    my ($count) = $sth->fetchrow_array();
   
    return $count;

  my ($self, @args) = @_;

  $self->warn("get_SeqFeature_by_id is deprecated. " .
     "Use\$ db_adaptor->get_SNPAdaptor()->fetch_by_SNP_id(\$id) instead\n");

  return $self->get_SNPAdaptor()->fetch_by_SNP_id(@args);

  my %pairs = ("SNP", "Bio::EnsEMBL::ExternalData::SNPSQL::SNPAdaptor");
  return (\%pairs);
}


#######################################################################
#
#  BEGIN DEPRECATED FUNCTIONS
#
#######################################################################

    my ($self) = @_;
    my $sth=$self->prepare("select max(id) from RefSNP");
    my $res=$sth->execute();

    my ($count) = $sth->fetchrow_array();
   
    return $count;

  my ($self, @args) = @_;

  $self->warn("get_snp_info_between_two_internalids is deprecated. Use: " .
     "\$db_adaptor->get_SNPAdaptor()->fetch_between_refsnpids(\$id1,\$ id2)");

  return $self->get_SNPAdaptor()->fetch_between_refsnpids(@args);

  my($self, @args) = @_;
  
  $self->warn("get_snp_info_by_refsnpid is deprecated.  Use: " .
        "\$db_adaptor->get_SNPAdaptor()->fetch_by_refsnpid(\$id)");

  return $self->get_SNPAdaptor()->fetch_by_refsnpid(@args);
}

1;

  User feedback is an integral part of the evolution of this
  and other Ensebl modules. Send your comments and suggestions preferably
  to one of the Bioperl mailing lists.
  Your participation is much appreciated.

  vsns-bcd-perl@lists.uni-bielefeld.de          - General discussion
  vsns-bcd-perl-guts@lists.uni-bielefeld.de     - Technically-oriented discussion
  http://bio.perl.org/MailList.html             - About the mailing lists

  Report bugs to the Bioperl bug tracking system to help us keep track
  the bugs and their resolution.
  Bug reports can be submitted via email or the web:

  ensembl-dev@ebi.ac.uk                        - General discussion

  Email heikki@ebi.ac.uk

     EMBL Outstation, European Bioinformatics Institute
     Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Hinxton
     Cambs. CB10 1SD, United Kingdom