org.eclipse.birt.report.model.api.metadata
Interface IMetaDataDictionary

public interface IMetaDataDictionary

Global, shared dictionary of design meta data. Meta-data describes each design element and its properties. The information is shared because all designs share the same BIRT-provided set of design elements. See the IElementDefnclass for more detailed information.

Meta-data Information

The application must first populate the elements from a meta-data XML file using a parser. The meta-data defined here includes:

Property Types

The set of data types supported for properties. BIRT supports a rich variety of property types that include the basics such as strings and numbers, as well as specialized types such as dimensions, points and colors. See the PropertyTypeclass.

Element Definitions

Describes the BIRT-defined elements. The element definition includes the list of properties defined on that type, and optional properties "inherited" from the style. See the IElementDefnclass.

Standard Styles

BIRT defines a set of standard styles. The set of styles goes along with the set of elements. For example, a list header has a standard style as does a list footer.

Class Definitions

Describes the object types that are defined by JavaScript and BIRT. The class definition includes constructor, members and methods. See the IClassInfoclass.

Method Summary

void	enableElementID() Deprecated.
IChoiceSet	getChoiceSet(java.lang.String choiceSetName) Finds a choice set by name.
IClassInfo	getClass(java.lang.String name) Returns the class definition given the class name.
java.util.List	getClasses() Returns the class list.
IElementDefn	getElement(java.lang.String name) Finds the element definition by its internal name.
java.util.List	getElements() Returns the element list.
IElementDefn	getExtension(java.lang.String name) Returns the extension definition given the extension name.
java.util.List	getExtensions() Returns the extension list.
java.util.List	getPredefinedStyles() Gets the predefined style list.
org.eclipse.birt.report.model.metadata.PropertyType	getPropertyType(int type) Gets the metadata for a property type.
org.eclipse.birt.report.model.metadata.PropertyType	getPropertyType(java.lang.String xmlName) Gets the metadata for a property type given the type's XML name.
java.util.List	getPropertyTypes() Gets a list of rom-defined property types.
IStructureDefn	getStructure(java.lang.String name) Finds a structure definition by name.
java.util.List	getStructures() Returns the structure list.
IElementDefn	getStyle() Returns the meta-data element that defines the style element.
boolean	isEmpty() Determines if the meta data dictionary is empty (uninitialized).
boolean	useID() Reports whether element IDs are in use.

Method Detail

getElement

public IElementDefn getElement(java.lang.String name)

Finds the element definition by its internal name.

Parameters:

name - The internal element definition name.

Returns:

The element definition, or null if the name was not found in the dictionary.

getPropertyType

public org.eclipse.birt.report.model.metadata.PropertyType getPropertyType(int type)

Gets the metadata for a property type.

Parameters:

type - numeric type code

Returns:

property type definition

getPropertyType

public org.eclipse.birt.report.model.metadata.PropertyType getPropertyType(java.lang.String xmlName)

Gets the metadata for a property type given the type's XML name.

Parameters:

xmlName - XML name for the property type

Returns:

property type definition

getStyle

public IElementDefn getStyle()

Returns the meta-data element that defines the style element.

Returns:

the definition of the style element

enableElementID

public void enableElementID()

Deprecated.

Enables the use of element IDs.

useID

public boolean useID()

Reports whether element IDs are in use.

Returns:

True if new elements should use element IDs.

isEmpty

public boolean isEmpty()

Determines if the meta data dictionary is empty (uninitialized).

Returns:

true if empty, false if it contains content

getChoiceSet

public IChoiceSet getChoiceSet(java.lang.String choiceSetName)

Finds a choice set by name.

Parameters:

choiceSetName - the name of the choice set

Returns:

the choice set, or null if the choice set was not found

getStructure

public IStructureDefn getStructure(java.lang.String name)

Finds a structure definition by name.

Parameters:

name - the structure name

Returns:

the structure, or null if the structure is not found

getElements

public java.util.List getElements()

Returns the element list. Each one is the instance of IElementDefn.

Returns:

the element list.

getStructures

public java.util.List getStructures()

Returns the structure list. Each one is the instance of IStructureDefn.

Returns:

the structure list.

getPredefinedStyles

public java.util.List getPredefinedStyles()

Gets the predefined style list. Each one is the instance of IPredefinedStyle;

Returns:

the predefined style list.

getClasses

public java.util.List getClasses()

Returns the class list. Each one is the instance of IClassInfo.

Returns:

the class list.

getClass

public IClassInfo getClass(java.lang.String name)

Returns the class definition given the class name.

Parameters:

name - name of the class to get.

Returns:

the class definition if found.

getExtensions

public java.util.List getExtensions()

Returns the extension list. Each one is the instance of IElementDefn.

Returns:

the extension definition list. Return empty list if no extension is found.

getExtension

public IElementDefn getExtension(java.lang.String name)

Returns the extension definition given the extension name.

Parameters:

name - name of the extension to get

Returns:

the extension definition if found

getPropertyTypes

public java.util.List getPropertyTypes()

Gets a list of rom-defined property types.

Returns:

a list of rom-defined property types.