/*
 * Copyright (c) 2003,2009 Declarative Engineering LLC.
 * All rights reserved.  This program and the accompanying materials
 * are made available under the terms of the Declarative Engineering LLC
 * verson 1 which accompanies this distribution, and is available at
 * http://declarativeengineering.com/legal/DE_Developer_License_v1.txt
 */
package com.foundation.view;

public interface IAttributeAssociation extends IEventAssociation {
/**
 * Gets the attribute value for the associated object.
 * <p>This method should only be called if the association <b>is</b> value holder associated.</p>
 * @return The value assigned to the attribute.
 * @see #getIsValueHolderAssociated()
 */
public Object getAttributeValue();
/**
 * Gets the attribute value for the associated object.
 * <p>This method should only be called if the association <b>is not</b> value holder associated.</p>
 * @param object The object whose attribute value is desired.
 * @return The value assigned to the attribute.
 * @see #getIsValueHolderAssociated()
 */
public Object getAttributeValue(Object object);
/**
 * Sets the attribute value for the associated object.
 * <p>This method should only be called if the association <b>is</b> value holder associated.</p>
 * @param value The value to be assigned to the attribute.
 * @see #getIsValueHolderAssociated()
 */
public void setAttributeValue(Object value);
/**
 * Sets the attribute value for the associated object.
 * <p>This method should only be called if the association <b>is not</b> value holder associated.</p>
 * @param object The object whose attribute value is desired.
 * @param value The value to be assigned to the attribute.
 * @see #getIsValueHolderAssociated()
 */
public void setAttributeValue(Object object, Object value);
/**
 * Registers the attribute association to begin receiving updates.
 */
public void register();
/**
 * Unregisters the attribute association to stop receiving updates.
 */
public void unregister();
/**
 * Gets the attribute name.
 * @return The name of the attribute being associated.
 */
public String getAttributeName();
/**
 * Gets whether the association is connected via a value holder.
 * @return Whether there is a value holder connection for this association.
 */
public boolean getIsValueHolderAssociated();
/**
 * Sets the change listener to something other than the component that created the association.
 * @param listener The listener which will be notified of attribute value changes.
 */
public void setChangeListener(IAttributeAssociationChangeListener listener);
}//IAttributeAssociation//