01 /*
02 * Copyright 2000-2004 Sun Microsystems, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
03 * DO NOT ALTER OR REMOVE COPYRIGHT NOTICES OR THIS FILE HEADER.
04 *
05 * This code is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it
06 * under the terms of the GNU General Public License version 2 only, as
07 * published by the Free Software Foundation. Sun designates this
08 * particular file as subject to the "Classpath" exception as provided
09 * by Sun in the LICENSE file that accompanied this code.
10 *
11 * This code is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT
12 * ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or
13 * FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the GNU General Public License
14 * version 2 for more details (a copy is included in the LICENSE file that
15 * accompanied this code).
16 *
17 * You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License version
18 * 2 along with this work; if not, write to the Free Software Foundation,
19 * Inc., 51 Franklin St, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA 02110-1301 USA.
20 *
21 * Please contact Sun Microsystems, Inc., 4150 Network Circle, Santa Clara,
22 * CA 95054 USA or visit www.sun.com if you need additional information or
23 * have any questions.
24 */
25
26 package javax.print.attribute;
27
28 import java.io.Serializable;
29
30 /**
31 * Interface Attribute is the base interface implemented by any and every
32 * printing attribute class to indicate that the class represents a
33 * printing attribute. All printing attributes are serializable.
34 * <P>
35 *
36 * @author David Mendenhall
37 * @author Alan Kaminsky
38 */
39 public interface Attribute extends Serializable {
40
41 /**
42 * Get the printing attribute class which is to be used as the "category"
43 * for this printing attribute value when it is added to an attribute set.
44 *
45 * @return Printing attribute class (category), an instance of class
46 * {@link java.lang.Class java.lang.Class}.
47 */
48 public Class<? extends Attribute> getCategory();
49
50 /**
51 * Get the name of the category of which this attribute value is an
52 * instance.
53 * <P>
54 * <I>Note:</I> This method is intended to provide a default, nonlocalized
55 * string for the attribute's category. If two attribute objects return the
56 * same category from the <CODE>getCategory()</CODE> method, they should
57 * return the same name from the <CODE>getName()</CODE> method.
58 *
59 * @return Attribute category name.
60 */
61 public String getName();
62
63 }
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