net.jini.lookup.ui

Interface MainUI

public interface MainUI

UI role interface implemented by Main UIs, which enable client programs to grant users general access to a service. If a UI descriptor's UI factory produces a UI that implements this interface (i.e., produces a Main UI), the UI descriptor's role field must reference a String with the value "net.jini.lookup.ui.MainUI".

The first parameter of any factory method declared in a UI factory type is an object called the "role object." Any factory method that produces an Main UI must accept as the role object the service item (the net.jini.core.lookup.ServiceItem) of the service with which the Main UI is associated.

Main UIs should allow clients to configure them before they begin. For example, Main UIs produced by FrameFactory, JFrameFactory, WindowFactory and JWindowFactory (all members of the net.jini.lookup.ui.factory package) should not be visible when they are returned from the factory method. This allows clients to set the UI's position and size, for example, before making the UI visible by invoking setVisible(true) on the UI.

A client should be able to invoke a Main UI factory method multiple times sequentially. In other words, if a user uses a service via a Main UI, then says exit, then double clicks once again on the service icon, the client can just simply invoke a UI factory method again, and get another Main UI for the same service. Main UIs, therefore, should be written so that they work no matter what state the service object happens to be in when the Main UI is created.

It is recommended that clients use multiple Main UIs for the same service only sequentially, and avoid creating multiple Main UIs for the same service that operate concurrently with one another. But because some clients may create and use multiple Main UIs at the same time for the same service, providers of services and main UIs should program defensively, to ensure that multiple Main UIs for the same service at the same time will all work together concurrently.

Author:

Bill Venners

Field Summary

Fields

Modifier and Type	Field and Description
static String	ROLE Convenience constant to use in the role field of UIDescriptors for MainUI role UIs.

Field Detail

ROLE

static final String ROLE

Convenience constant to use in the role field of UIDescriptors for MainUI role UIs. The value of this constant is "net.jini.lookup.ui.MainUI".

See Also:

Constant Field Values