org.apache.poi.poifs.dev
Interface POIFSViewable

All Known Implementing Classes:

POIFSDocument, DirectoryNode, DocumentNode, POIFSFileSystem, Property

public interface POIFSViewable

Interface for a drill-down viewable object. Such an object has content that may or may not be displayed, at the discretion of the viewer. The content is returned to the viewer as an array or as an Iterator, and the object provides a clue as to which technique the viewer should use to get its content. A POIFSViewable object is also expected to provide a short description of itself, that can be used by a viewer when the viewable object is collapsed.

Author:

Marc Johnson (mjohnson at apache dot org)

Method Summary

java.lang.String	getShortDescription() Provides a short description of the object, to be used when a POIFSViewable object has not provided its contents.
java.lang.Object[]	getViewableArray() Get an array of objects, some of which may implement POIFSViewable
java.util.Iterator	getViewableIterator() Get an Iterator of objects, some of which may implement POIFSViewable
boolean	preferArray() Give viewers a hint as to whether to call getViewableArray or getViewableIterator

Method Detail

getViewableArray

public java.lang.Object[] getViewableArray()

Get an array of objects, some of which may implement POIFSViewable

Returns:

an array of Object; may not be null, but may be empty

getViewableIterator

public java.util.Iterator getViewableIterator()

Get an Iterator of objects, some of which may implement POIFSViewable

Returns:

an Iterator; may not be null, but may have an empty back end store

preferArray

public boolean preferArray()

Give viewers a hint as to whether to call getViewableArray or getViewableIterator

Returns:

true if a viewer should call getViewableArray, false if a viewer should call getViewableIterator

getShortDescription

public java.lang.String getShortDescription()

Provides a short description of the object, to be used when a POIFSViewable object has not provided its contents.

Returns:

short description