1 /*
   2  * Copyright (c) 2000, 2004, Oracle and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved.
   3  * DO NOT ALTER OR REMOVE COPYRIGHT NOTICES OR THIS FILE HEADER.
   4  *
   5  * This code is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it
   6  * under the terms of the GNU General Public License version 2 only, as
   7  * published by the Free Software Foundation.  Oracle designates this
   8  * particular file as subject to the "Classpath" exception as provided
   9  * by Oracle 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 Oracle, 500 Oracle Parkway, Redwood Shores, CA 94065 USA
  22  * or visit www.oracle.com if you need additional information or have any
  23  * 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 }