ec.util

Class Parameter

java.lang.Object

ec.util.Parameter

All Implemented Interfaces:

Serializable

public class Parameter
extends Object
implements Serializable

A Parameter is an object which the ParameterDatabase class uses as a key to associate with strings, forming a key-value pair. Parameters are designed to be hierarchical in nature, consisting of "path items" separated by a path separator. Parameters are created either from a single path item, from an array of path items, or both. For example, a parameter with the path foo.bar.baz might be created from new Parameter(new String[] {"foo","bar","baz"})

Parameters are not mutable -- but once a parameter is created, path items may be pushed an popped from it, forming a new parameter. For example, if a parameter p consists of the path foo.bar.baz, p.pop() results in a new parameter whose path is foo.bar This pushing and popping isn't cheap, so be sparing.

Because this system internally uses "." as its path separator, you should not use that character in parts of the path that you provide; however if you need some other path separator, you can change the delimiter in the code trivially. In fact, you can create a new Parameter with a path foo.bar.baz simply by calling new Parameter("foo.bar.baz") but you'd better know what you're doing.

Additionally, parameters must not contain "#", "=", non-ascii values, or whitespace. Yes, a parameter path item may be empty.

Version:

1.0

Author:

Sean Luke

See Also:

Serialized Form

Field Summary

Fields

Modifier and Type	Field and Description
static char	delimiter
String	param

Constructor Summary

Constructors

Constructor and Description
Parameter(String s) Creates a new parameter from the single path item in s.
Parameter(String[] s) Creates a new parameter by joining the path items in s into a single path.
Parameter(String s, String[] s2) Creates a new parameter from the path item in s, plus the path items in s2.

Method Summary

Modifier and Type	Method and Description
Parameter	pop() Returns a new parameter with one path item popped off the end.
Parameter	popn(int n) Returns a new parameter with n path items popped off the end.
Parameter	push(String s) Returns a new parameter with s added to the end of the current path items.
Parameter	push(String[] s) Returns a new parameter with the path items in s added to the end of the current path items.
String	top() Returns the path item at the far end of the parameter.
String	toString()

Methods inherited from class java.lang.Object

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

Field Detail

param

public String param

delimiter

public static final char delimiter

See Also:

Constant Field Values

Constructor Detail

Parameter

public Parameter(String[] s)
          throws BadParameterException

Creates a new parameter by joining the path items in s into a single path.

Throws:

BadParameterException

Parameter

public Parameter(String s)
          throws BadParameterException

Creates a new parameter from the single path item in s.

Throws:

BadParameterException

Parameter

public Parameter(String s,
                 String[] s2)

Creates a new parameter from the path item in s, plus the path items in s2. s2 may be null or empty, but not s

Method Detail

push

public Parameter push(String s)

Returns a new parameter with s added to the end of the current path items. If s is empty, nothing is pushed on (and no delimiter is added to the end).

push

public Parameter push(String[] s)

Returns a new parameter with the path items in s added to the end of the current path items.

pop

public Parameter pop()

Returns a new parameter with one path item popped off the end. If this would result in a parameter with an empty collection of path items, null is returned.

popn

public Parameter popn(int n)

Returns a new parameter with n path items popped off the end. If this would result in a parameter with an empty collection of path items, null is returned.

top

public String top()

Returns the path item at the far end of the parameter.

toString

public String toString()

Overrides:

toString in class Object