path: root/bundles/org.eclipse.equinox.registry/src/org/eclipse/core/runtime/IConfigurationElement.java

/*******************************************************************************
 * Copyright (c) 2000, 2006 IBM Corporation and others.
 * All rights reserved. This program and the accompanying materials
 * are made available under the terms of the Eclipse Public License v1.0
 * which accompanies this distribution, and is available at
 * http://www.eclipse.org/legal/epl-v10.html
 * 
 * Contributors:
 *     IBM Corporation - initial API and implementation
 *******************************************************************************/
package org.eclipse.core.runtime;

import org.eclipse.core.runtime.CoreException;

/**
 * A configuration element, with its attributes and children, 
 * directly reflects the content and structure of the extension section
 * within the declaring plug-in's manifest (<code>plugin.xml</code>) file.
 * <p>
 * This interface also provides a way to create executable extension
 * objects.
 * </p>
 * <p>
 * These registry objects are intended for relatively short-term use. Clients that 
 * deal with these objects must be aware that they may become invalid if the 
 * declaring plug-in is updated or uninstalled. If this happens, all methods except
 * {@link #isValid()} will throw {@link InvalidRegistryObjectException}.
 * For configuration element objects, the most common case is code in a plug-in dealing
 * with extensions contributed to one of the extension points it declares.
 * Code in a plug-in that has declared that it is not dynamic aware (or not
 * declared anything) can safely ignore this issue, since the registry
 * would not be modified while it is active. However, code in a plug-in that
 * declares that it is dynamic aware must be careful when accessing the extension
 * and configuration element objects because they become invalid if the contributing
 * plug-in is removed. Similarly, tools that analyze or display the extension registry
 * are vulnerable. Client code can pre-test for invalid objects by calling {@link #isValid()},
 * which never throws this exception. However, pre-tests are usually not sufficient
 * because of the possibility of the extension or configuration element object becoming
 * invalid as a result of a concurrent activity. At-risk clients must treat 
 * <code>InvalidRegistryObjectException</code> as if it were a checked exception.
 * Also, such clients should probably register a listener with the extension registry
 * so that they receive notification of any changes to the registry.
 * </p>
 * <p>
 * This interface is not intended to be implemented by clients.
 * </p>
 */
public interface IConfigurationElement {
	/**
	 * Creates and returns a new instance of the executable extension 
	 * identified by the named attribute of this configuration element.
	 * The named attribute value must contain a fully qualified name
	 * of a Java class. The class can either refer to a class implementing 
	 * the executable extension or to a factory capable of returning the 
	 * executable extension.
	 * <p>
	 * The specified class is instantiated using its 0-argument public constructor.
	 * <p>
	 * Then the following checks are done:<br>
	 * If the specified class implements the {@link IExecutableExtension} 
	 * interface, the method {@link IExecutableExtension#setInitializationData(IConfigurationElement, String, Object)} 
	 * is called, passing to the object the configuration information that was used to create it. 
	 * <p>
	 * If the specified class implements {@link IExecutableExtensionFactory} 
	 * interface, the method {@link IExecutableExtensionFactory#create()} 
	 * is invoked.
	 * </p>
	 * <p>
	 * Unlike other methods on this object, invoking this method may activate 
	 * the plug-in.
	 * </p>
	 *
	 * @param propertyName the name of the property
	 * @return the executable instance
	 * @exception CoreException if an instance of the executable extension
	 *   could not be created for any reason
	 * @see IExecutableExtension#setInitializationData(IConfigurationElement, String, Object)
	 * @see IExecutableExtensionFactory
	 * @throws InvalidRegistryObjectException if this configuration element is no longer valid
	 */
	public Object createExecutableExtension(String propertyName) throws CoreException;

	/**
	 * Returns the named attribute of this configuration element, or
	 * <code>null</code> if none. 
	 * <p>
	 * The names of configuration element attributes
	 * are the same as the attribute names of the corresponding XML element.
	 * For example, the configuration markup 
	 * <pre>
	 * &lt;bg pattern="stripes"/&gt;
	 * </pre>
	 * corresponds to a configuration element named <code>"bg"</code>
	 * with an attribute named <code>"pattern"</code>
	 * with attribute value <code>"stripes"</code>.
	 * </p>
	 * <p> Note that any translation specified in the plug-in manifest
	 * file is automatically applied.
	 * </p>
	 *
	 * @param name the name of the attribute
	 * @return attribute value, or <code>null</code> if none
	 * @throws InvalidRegistryObjectException if this configuration element is no longer valid
	 */
	public String getAttribute(String name) throws InvalidRegistryObjectException;

	/**
	 * Returns the named attribute of this configuration element, or
	 * <code>null</code> if none. 
	 * <p>
	 * The names of configuration element attributes
	 * are the same as the attribute names of the corresponding XML element.
	 * For example, the configuration markup 
	 * <pre>
	 * &lt;bg pattern="stripes"/&gt;
	 * </pre>
	 * corresponds to a configuration element named <code>"bg"</code>
	 * with an attribute named <code>"pattern"</code>
	 * with attribute value <code>"stripes"</code>.
	 * </p>
	 * <p>
	 * Note that any translation specified in the plug-in manifest
	 * file for this attribute is <b>not</b> automatically applied.
	 * </p>
	 *
	 * @param name the name of the attribute
	 * @return attribute value, or <code>null</code> if none
	 * @throws InvalidRegistryObjectException if this configuration element is no longer valid
	 * @deprecated The method is equivalent to the {@link #getAttribute(String)}. Contrary to its description,
	 * this method returns a translated value. Use the {@link #getAttribute(String)} method instead.
	 */
	public String getAttributeAsIs(String name) throws InvalidRegistryObjectException;

	/**
	 * Returns the names of the attributes of this configuration element.
	 * Returns an empty array if this configuration element has no attributes.
	 * <p>
	 * The names of configuration element attributes
	 * are the same as the attribute names of the corresponding XML element.
	 * For example, the configuration markup 
	 * <pre>
	 * &lt;bg color="blue" pattern="stripes"/&gt;
	 * </pre>
	 * corresponds to a configuration element named <code>"bg"</code>
	 * with attributes named <code>"color"</code>
	 * and <code>"pattern"</code>.
	 * </p>
	 *
	 * @return the names of the attributes 
	 * @throws InvalidRegistryObjectException if this configuration element is no longer valid
	 */
	public String[] getAttributeNames() throws InvalidRegistryObjectException;

	/**
	 * Returns all configuration elements that are children of this
	 * configuration element. 
	 * Returns an empty array if this configuration element has no children.
	 * <p>
	 * Each child corresponds to a nested
	 * XML element in the configuration markup.
	 * For example, the configuration markup 
	 * <pre>
	 * &lt;view&gt;
	 * &nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&lt;verticalHint&gt;top&lt;/verticalHint&gt;
	 * &nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&lt;horizontalHint&gt;left&lt;/horizontalHint&gt;
	 * &lt;/view&gt;
	 * </pre>
	 * corresponds to a configuration element, named <code>"view"</code>,
	 * with two children.
	 * </p>
	 *
	 * @return the child configuration elements
	 * @throws InvalidRegistryObjectException if this configuration element is no longer valid
	 * @see #getChildren(String)
	 */
	public IConfigurationElement[] getChildren() throws InvalidRegistryObjectException;

	/**
	 * Returns all child configuration elements with the given name. 
	 * Returns an empty array if this configuration element has no children
	 * with the given name.
	 *
	 * @param name the name of the child configuration element
	 * @return the child configuration elements with that name
	 * @throws InvalidRegistryObjectException if this configuration element is no longer valid
	 * @see #getChildren()
	 */
	public IConfigurationElement[] getChildren(String name) throws InvalidRegistryObjectException;

	/** 
	 * Returns the extension that declares this configuration element.
	 *
	 * @return the extension
	 * @throws InvalidRegistryObjectException if this configuration element is no longer valid
	 */
	public IExtension getDeclaringExtension() throws InvalidRegistryObjectException;

	/**
	 * Returns the name of this configuration element. 
	 * The name of a configuration element is the same as
	 * the XML tag of the corresponding XML element. 
	 * For example, the configuration markup 
	 * <pre>
	 * &lt;wizard name="Create Project"/&gt; 
	 * </pre>
	 * corresponds to a configuration element named <code>"wizard"</code>.
	 *
	 * @return the name of this configuration element
	 * @throws InvalidRegistryObjectException if this configuration element is no longer valid
	 */
	public String getName() throws InvalidRegistryObjectException;

	/**
	 * Returns the element which contains this element.  If this element
	 * is an immediate child of an extension, the
	 * returned value can be downcast to <code>IExtension</code>.
	 * Otherwise the returned value can be downcast to 
	 * <code>IConfigurationElement</code>.
	 *
	 * @return the parent of this configuration element
	 *  or <code>null</code>
	 * @throws InvalidRegistryObjectException if this configuration element is no longer valid
	 * @since 3.0
	 */
	public Object getParent() throws InvalidRegistryObjectException;

	/**
	 * Returns the text value of this configuration element.
	 * For example, the configuration markup 
	 * <pre>
	 * &lt;script lang="javascript"&gt;.\scripts\cp.js&lt;/script&gt;
	 * </pre>
	 * corresponds to a configuration element <code>"script"</code>
	 * with value <code>".\scripts\cp.js"</code>.
	 * <p> Values may span multiple lines (i.e., contain carriage returns
	 * and/or line feeds).
	 * <p> Note that any translation specified in the plug-in manifest
	 * file is automatically applied.
	 * </p>
	 *
	 * @return the text value of this configuration element or <code>null</code>
	 * @throws InvalidRegistryObjectException if this configuration element is no longer valid
	 */
	public String getValue() throws InvalidRegistryObjectException;

	/**
	 * Returns the untranslated text value of this configuration element.
	 * For example, the configuration markup 
	 * <pre>
	 * &lt;script lang="javascript"&gt;.\scripts\cp.js&lt;/script&gt;
	 * </pre>
	 * corresponds to a configuration element <code>"script"</code>
	 * with value <code>".\scripts\cp.js"</code>.
	 * <p> Values may span multiple lines (i.e., contain carriage returns
	 * and/or line feeds).
	 * <p>
	 * Note that translation specified in the plug-in manifest
	 * file is <b>not</b> automatically applied.
	 * For example, the configuration markup 
	 * <pre>
	 * &lt;tooltip&gt;#hattip&lt;/tooltip&gt;
	 * </pre>
	 * corresponds to a configuration element, named <code>"tooltip"</code>,
	 * with value <code>"#hattip"</code>.
	 * </p>
	 *
	 * @return the untranslated text value of this configuration element or <code>null</code>
	 * @throws InvalidRegistryObjectException if this configuration element is no longer valid
	 * @deprecated The method is equivalent to the {@link #getValue()}. Contrary to its description,
	 * this method returns a translated value. Use the {@link #getValue()} method instead.
	 */
	public String getValueAsIs() throws InvalidRegistryObjectException;

	/**
	 * Returns the namespace for this configuration element. This value can be used
	 * in various global facilities to discover this configuration element's contributor.
	 * 
	 * @return the namespace for this configuration element
	 * @throws InvalidRegistryObjectException if this configuration element is no longer valid
	 * @see IExtensionRegistry
	 * @since 3.1
	 * @deprecated As namespace is no longer restricted to the contributor name, 
	 * 	use {@link #getNamespaceIdentifier()} to obtain namespace name or {@link #getContributor()}
	 * 	to get the name of the contributor of this registry element.
	 * <p>
	 * In the past namespace was dictated by the name of the bundle. If bundle <code>org.abc</code> 
	 * contributed registry element with Id of <code>MyId</code>, the namespace of 
	 * the element was always set to <code>org.abc</code>, producing the qualified name of 
	 * <code>org.abc.MyId</code>.
	 * </p><p>
	 * The namespace used to be the same as the bundle name. As a result, the {@link #getNamespace()} 
	 * method was used both to obtain the name of the bundle and to obtain the namespace of a registry 
	 * element.
	 * </p><p>
	 * Since 3.2, the extension registry allows elements to specify qualified name. The extension point 
	 * of the plug-in <code>org.abc</code> could specify <code>org.zzz.MyExtPoint</code> as 
	 * an Id. In this case, namespace name is <code>org.zzz</code>, but the contributor 
	 * name is <code>org.abc</code>.  
	 * </p><p>
	 * (The use of a simple Id is still a preferred way. Whenever possible, specify only the simple 
	 * Id and let runtime take care of the rest.)
	 * </p><p>
	 * If your code used the {@link #getNamespace()} to obtain the name of the contributing bundle, 
	 * use {@link #getContributor()}. The typical usage pattern here is to find a bundle name to obtain 
	 * some information from the corresponding OSGi bundle. For example, deducing the file location 
	 * specified as a relative path to the bundle install location would fall into this group.
	 * </p><p>
	 * If your code used the {@link #getNamespace()} to obtain the namespace of the registry element, 
	 * use {@link #getNamespaceIdentifier()}. Typically, this is the case when code is trying to process 
	 * registry elements belonging to some logical group. For example, processing notifications for all 
	 * elements belonging to the <code>org.abc</code> namespace would fall into this category.
	 * </p>
	 */
	public String getNamespace() throws InvalidRegistryObjectException;

	/**
	 * Returns the namespace name for this configuration element.
	 * 
	 * @return the namespace name for this configuration element
	 * @throws InvalidRegistryObjectException if this configuration element is no longer valid
	 * @since org.eclipse.equinox.registry 3.2	 
	 */
	public String getNamespaceIdentifier() throws InvalidRegistryObjectException;

	/**
	 * Returns the contributor of this configuration element.
	 * 
	 * @return the contributor for this configuration element
	 * @throws InvalidRegistryObjectException if this configuration element is no longer valid
	 * @since org.eclipse.equinox.registry 3.2	 
	 */
	public IContributor getContributor() throws InvalidRegistryObjectException;

	/* (non-javadoc) 
	 * @see Object#equals(java.lang.Object)
	 */
	public boolean equals(Object o);

	/**
	 * Returns whether this configuration element object is valid.
	 * 
	 * @return <code>true</code> if the object is valid, and <code>false</code>
	 * if it is no longer valid
	 * @since 3.1
	 */
	public boolean isValid();
}