Module java.desktop
Package java.beans

Interface BeanInfo

All Known Subinterfaces:
BeanContextServiceProviderBeanInfo
All Known Implementing Classes:
SimpleBeanInfo
public interface BeanInfo
Use the BeanInfo interface to create a BeanInfo class and provide explicit information about the methods, properties, events, and other features of your beans.

When developing your bean, you can implement the bean features required for your application task omitting the rest of the BeanInfo features. They will be obtained through the automatic analysis by using the low-level reflection of the bean methods and applying standard design patterns. You have an opportunity to provide additional bean information through various descriptor classes.

See the SimpleBeanInfo class that is a convenient basic class for BeanInfo classes. You can override the methods and properties of the SimpleBeanInfo class to define specific information.

See also the Introspector class to learn more about bean behavior.

Since:
1.1

  • Field Summary

    Fields 
    Modifier and Type Field Description
    static int ICON_COLOR_16x16
    Constant to indicate a 16 x 16 color icon.
    static int ICON_COLOR_32x32
    Constant to indicate a 32 x 32 color icon.
    static int ICON_MONO_16x16
    Constant to indicate a 16 x 16 monochrome icon.
    static int ICON_MONO_32x32
    Constant to indicate a 32 x 32 monochrome icon.

  • Method Summary

    Modifier and Type Method Description
    BeanInfo[] getAdditionalBeanInfo()
    This method enables the current BeanInfo object to return an arbitrary collection of other BeanInfo objects that provide additional information about the current bean.
    BeanDescriptor getBeanDescriptor()
    Returns the bean descriptor that provides overall information about the bean, such as its display name or its customizer.
    int getDefaultEventIndex()
    A bean may have a default event typically applied when this bean is used.
    int getDefaultPropertyIndex()
    A bean may have a default property commonly updated when this bean is customized.
    EventSetDescriptor[] getEventSetDescriptors()
    Returns the event descriptors of the bean that define the types of events fired by this bean.
    Image getIcon​(int iconKind)
    Returns an image that can be used to represent the bean in toolboxes or toolbars.
    MethodDescriptor[] getMethodDescriptors()
    Returns the method descriptors of the bean that define the externally visible methods supported by this bean.
    PropertyDescriptor[] getPropertyDescriptors()
    Returns descriptors for all properties of the bean.

  • Field Details

  • Method Details

    • getBeanDescriptor

      BeanDescriptor getBeanDescriptor()
      Returns the bean descriptor that provides overall information about the bean, such as its display name or its customizer.
      Returns:
      a BeanDescriptor object, or null if the information is to be obtained through the automatic analysis

    • getEventSetDescriptors

      EventSetDescriptor[] getEventSetDescriptors()
      Returns the event descriptors of the bean that define the types of events fired by this bean.
      Returns:
      an array of EventSetDescriptor objects, or null if the information is to be obtained through the automatic analysis

    • getDefaultEventIndex

      int getDefaultEventIndex()
      A bean may have a default event typically applied when this bean is used.
      Returns:
      index of the default event in the EventSetDescriptor array returned by the getEventSetDescriptors method, or -1 if there is no default event

    • getPropertyDescriptors

      PropertyDescriptor[] getPropertyDescriptors()
      Returns descriptors for all properties of the bean.

      If a property is indexed, then its entry in the result array belongs to the IndexedPropertyDescriptor subclass of the PropertyDescriptor class. A client of the getPropertyDescriptors method can use the instanceof operator to check whether a given PropertyDescriptor is an IndexedPropertyDescriptor.

      Returns:
      an array of PropertyDescriptor objects, or null if the information is to be obtained through the automatic analysis

    • getDefaultPropertyIndex

      int getDefaultPropertyIndex()
      A bean may have a default property commonly updated when this bean is customized.
      Returns:
      index of the default property in the PropertyDescriptor array returned by the getPropertyDescriptors method, or -1 if there is no default property

    • getMethodDescriptors

      MethodDescriptor[] getMethodDescriptors()
      Returns the method descriptors of the bean that define the externally visible methods supported by this bean.
      Returns:
      an array of MethodDescriptor objects, or null if the information is to be obtained through the automatic analysis

    • getAdditionalBeanInfo

      BeanInfo[] getAdditionalBeanInfo()
      This method enables the current BeanInfo object to return an arbitrary collection of other BeanInfo objects that provide additional information about the current bean.

      If there are conflicts or overlaps between the information provided by different BeanInfo objects, the current BeanInfo object takes priority over the additional BeanInfo objects. Array elements with higher indices take priority over the elements with lower indices.

      Returns:
      an array of BeanInfo objects, or null if there are no additional BeanInfo objects

    • getIcon

      Image getIcon​(int iconKind)
      Returns an image that can be used to represent the bean in toolboxes or toolbars.

      There are four possible types of icons: 16 x 16 color, 32 x 32 color, 16 x 16 mono, and 32 x 32 mono. If you implement a bean so that it supports a single icon, it is recommended to use 16 x 16 color. Another recommendation is to set a transparent background for the icons.

      Parameters:
      iconKind - the kind of icon requested
      Returns:
      an image object representing the requested icon, or null if no suitable icon is available
      See Also:
      ICON_COLOR_16x16, ICON_COLOR_32x32, ICON_MONO_16x16, ICON_MONO_32x32