org.apache.commons.jxpath
Interface CompiledExpression

All Known Implementing Classes:

JXPathCompiledExpression

public interface CompiledExpression

Represents a compiled XPath. The interpretation of compiled XPaths may be faster, because it bypasses the compilation step. The reference implementation of JXPathContext also globally caches some of the results of compilation, so the direct use of JXPathContext is not always less efficient than the use of CompiledExpression.

Use CompiledExpression only when there is a need to evaluate the same expression multiple times and the CompiledExpression can be conveniently cached.

To acqure a CompiledExpression, call JXPathContext.compile

Version:

$Revision: 1.6 $ $Date: 2004/02/29 14:17:42 $

Author:

Dmitri Plotnikov

Method Summary

Pointer	createPath(JXPathContext context) Creates intermediate elements of the path by invoking an AbstractFactory, which should first be installed on the context by calling "setFactory".
Pointer	createPathAndSetValue(JXPathContext context, java.lang.Object value) The same as setValue, except it creates intermediate elements of the path by invoking an AbstractFactory, which should first be installed on the context by calling "setFactory".
Pointer	getPointer(JXPathContext context, java.lang.String xpath) Traverses the xpath and returns a Pointer.
java.lang.Object	getValue(JXPathContext context) Evaluates the xpath and returns the resulting object.
java.lang.Object	getValue(JXPathContext context, java.lang.Class requiredType) Evaluates the xpath, converts the result to the specified class and returns the resulting object.
java.util.Iterator	iterate(JXPathContext context) Traverses the xpath and returns a Iterator of all results found for the path.
java.util.Iterator	iteratePointers(JXPathContext context) Traverses the xpath and returns an Iterator of Pointers.
void	removeAll(JXPathContext context) Remove all graph elements described by this expression
void	removePath(JXPathContext context) Remove the graph element described by this expression
void	setValue(JXPathContext context, java.lang.Object value) Modifies the value of the property described by the supplied xpath.

Method Detail

getValue

public java.lang.Object getValue(JXPathContext context)

Evaluates the xpath and returns the resulting object. Primitive types are wrapped into objects.

getValue

public java.lang.Object getValue(JXPathContext context,
                                 java.lang.Class requiredType)

Evaluates the xpath, converts the result to the specified class and returns the resulting object.

setValue

public void setValue(JXPathContext context,
                     java.lang.Object value)

Modifies the value of the property described by the supplied xpath. Will throw an exception if one of the following conditions occurs:

• The xpath does not in fact describe an existing property
• The property is not writable (no public, non-static set method)

createPath

public Pointer createPath(JXPathContext context)

Creates intermediate elements of the path by invoking an AbstractFactory, which should first be installed on the context by calling "setFactory".

createPathAndSetValue

public Pointer createPathAndSetValue(JXPathContext context,
                                     java.lang.Object value)

The same as setValue, except it creates intermediate elements of the path by invoking an AbstractFactory, which should first be installed on the context by calling "setFactory".

Will throw an exception if one of the following conditions occurs:

• Elements of the xpath aleady exist, by the path does not in fact describe an existing property
• The AbstractFactory fails to create an instance for an intermediate element.
• The property is not writable (no public, non-static set method)

iterate

public java.util.Iterator iterate(JXPathContext context)

Traverses the xpath and returns a Iterator of all results found for the path. If the xpath matches no properties in the graph, the Iterator will not be null.

getPointer

public Pointer getPointer(JXPathContext context,
                          java.lang.String xpath)

Traverses the xpath and returns a Pointer. A Pointer provides easy access to a property. If the xpath matches no properties in the graph, the pointer will be null.

iteratePointers

public java.util.Iterator iteratePointers(JXPathContext context)

Traverses the xpath and returns an Iterator of Pointers. A Pointer provides easy access to a property. If the xpath matches no properties in the graph, the Iterator be empty, but not null.

removePath

public void removePath(JXPathContext context)

Remove the graph element described by this expression

removeAll

public void removeAll(JXPathContext context)

Remove all graph elements described by this expression