Module java.desktop
Package java.beans

Class FeatureDescriptor

java.lang.Object
java.beans.FeatureDescriptor
Direct Known Subclasses:
BeanDescriptor, EventSetDescriptor, MethodDescriptor, ParameterDescriptor, PropertyDescriptor
public class FeatureDescriptor extends Object
The FeatureDescriptor class is the common baseclass for PropertyDescriptor, EventSetDescriptor, and MethodDescriptor, etc.

It supports some common information that can be set and retrieved for any of the introspection descriptors.

In addition it provides an extension mechanism so that arbitrary attribute/value pairs can be associated with a design feature.

Since:
1.1

  • Constructor Summary

    Constructors
    Constructor
    Description
    FeatureDescriptor()
    Constructs a FeatureDescriptor.

  • Method Summary

    Modifier and Type
    Method
    Description
    Enumeration<String>
    attributeNames()
    Gets an enumeration of the locale-independent names of this feature.
    String
    getDisplayName()
    Gets the localized display name of this feature.
    String
    getName()
    Gets the programmatic name of this feature.
    String
    getShortDescription()
    Gets the short description of this feature.
    Object
    getValue(String attributeName)
    Retrieve a named attribute with this feature.
    boolean
    isExpert()
    The "expert" flag is used to distinguish between those features that are intended for expert users from those that are intended for normal users.
    boolean
    isHidden()
    The "hidden" flag is used to identify features that are intended only for tool use, and which should not be exposed to humans.
    boolean
    isPreferred()
    The "preferred" flag is used to identify features that are particularly important for presenting to humans.
    void
    setDisplayName(String displayName)
    Sets the localized display name of this feature.
    void
    setExpert(boolean expert)
    The "expert" flag is used to distinguish between features that are intended for expert users from those that are intended for normal users.
    void
    setHidden(boolean hidden)
    The "hidden" flag is used to identify features that are intended only for tool use, and which should not be exposed to humans.
    void
    setName(String name)
    Sets the programmatic name of this feature.
    void
    setPreferred(boolean preferred)
    The "preferred" flag is used to identify features that are particularly important for presenting to humans.
    void
    setShortDescription(String text)
    You can associate a short descriptive string with a feature.
    void
    setValue(String attributeName, Object value)
    Associate a named attribute with this feature.
    String
    toString()
    Returns a string representation of the object.

    Methods declared in class java.lang.Object

    clone, equals, finalize, getClass, hashCode, notify, notifyAll, wait, wait, wait

  • Constructor Details

    • FeatureDescriptor

      public FeatureDescriptor()
      Constructs a FeatureDescriptor.

  • Method Details

    • getName

      public String getName()
      Gets the programmatic name of this feature.
      Returns:
      The programmatic name of the property/method/event

    • setName

      public void setName(String name)
      Sets the programmatic name of this feature.
      Parameters:
      name - The programmatic name of the property/method/event

    • getDisplayName

      public String getDisplayName()
      Gets the localized display name of this feature.
      Returns:
      The localized display name for the property/method/event. This defaults to the same as its programmatic name from getName.

    • setDisplayName

      public void setDisplayName(String displayName)
      Sets the localized display name of this feature.
      Parameters:
      displayName - The localized display name for the property/method/event.

    • isExpert

      public boolean isExpert()
      The "expert" flag is used to distinguish between those features that are intended for expert users from those that are intended for normal users.
      Returns:
      True if this feature is intended for use by experts only.

    • setExpert

      public void setExpert(boolean expert)
      The "expert" flag is used to distinguish between features that are intended for expert users from those that are intended for normal users.
      Parameters:
      expert - True if this feature is intended for use by experts only.

    • isHidden

      public boolean isHidden()
      The "hidden" flag is used to identify features that are intended only for tool use, and which should not be exposed to humans.
      Returns:
      True if this feature should be hidden from human users.

    • setHidden

      public void setHidden(boolean hidden)
      The "hidden" flag is used to identify features that are intended only for tool use, and which should not be exposed to humans.
      Parameters:
      hidden - True if this feature should be hidden from human users.

    • isPreferred

      public boolean isPreferred()
      The "preferred" flag is used to identify features that are particularly important for presenting to humans.
      Returns:
      True if this feature should be preferentially shown to human users.
      Since:
      1.2

    • setPreferred

      public void setPreferred(boolean preferred)
      The "preferred" flag is used to identify features that are particularly important for presenting to humans.
      Parameters:
      preferred - True if this feature should be preferentially shown to human users.
      Since:
      1.2

    • getShortDescription

      public String getShortDescription()
      Gets the short description of this feature.
      Returns:
      A localized short description associated with this property/method/event. This defaults to be the display name.

    • setShortDescription

      public void setShortDescription(String text)
      You can associate a short descriptive string with a feature. Normally these descriptive strings should be less than about 40 characters.
      Parameters:
      text - A (localized) short description to be associated with this property/method/event.

    • setValue

      public void setValue(String attributeName, Object value)
      Associate a named attribute with this feature.
      Parameters:
      attributeName - The locale-independent name of the attribute
      value - The value.

    • getValue

      public Object getValue(String attributeName)
      Retrieve a named attribute with this feature.
      Parameters:
      attributeName - The locale-independent name of the attribute
      Returns:
      The value of the attribute. May be null if the attribute is unknown.

    • attributeNames

      public Enumeration<String> attributeNames()
      Gets an enumeration of the locale-independent names of this feature.
      Returns:
      An enumeration of the locale-independent names of any attributes that have been registered with setValue.

    • toString

      public String toString()
      Returns a string representation of the object.
      Overrides:
      toString in class Object
      Returns:
      a string representation of the object
      Since:
      1.7