vaadin-framework/src/com/vaadin/data/Container.java

/* 
@VaadinApache2LicenseForJavaFiles@
 */

package com.vaadin.data;

import java.io.Serializable;
import java.util.Collection;

import com.vaadin.data.util.filter.SimpleStringFilter;
import com.vaadin.data.util.filter.UnsupportedFilterException;

/**
 * <p>
 * A specialized set of identified Items. Basically the Container is a set of
 * {@link Item}s, but it imposes certain constraints on its contents. These
 * constraints state the following:
 * </p>
 * 
 * <ul>
 * <li>All Items in the Container must have the same number of Properties.
 * <li>All Items in the Container must have the same Property ID's (see
 * {@link Item#getItemPropertyIds()}).
 * <li>All Properties in the Items corresponding to the same Property ID must
 * have the same data type.
 * <li>All Items within a container are uniquely identified by their non-null
 * IDs.
 * </ul>
 * 
 * <p>
 * The Container can be visualized as a representation of a relational database
 * table. Each Item in the Container represents a row in the table, and all
 * cells in a column (identified by a Property ID) have the same data type. Note
 * that as with the cells in a database table, no Property in a Container may be
 * empty, though they may contain <code>null</code> values.
 * </p>
 * 
 * <p>
 * Note that though uniquely identified, the Items in a Container are not
 * necessarily {@link Container.Ordered ordered} or {@link Container.Indexed
 * indexed}.
 * </p>
 * 
 * <p>
 * Containers can derive Item ID's from the item properties or use other,
 * container specific or user specified identifiers.
 * </p>
 * 
 * <p>
 * If a container is {@link Filterable filtered} or {@link Sortable sorted},
 * most of the the methods of the container interface and its subinterfaces
 * (container size, {@link #containsId(Object)}, iteration and indices etc.)
 * relate to the filtered and sorted view, not to the full container contents.
 * See individual method javadoc for exceptions to this (adding and removing
 * items).
 * </p>
 * 
 * <p>
 * <img src=doc-files/Container_full.gif>
 * </p>
 * 
 * <p>
 * The Container interface is split to several subinterfaces so that a class can
 * implement only the ones it needs.
 * </p>
 * 
 * @author Vaadin Ltd
 * @version
 * @VERSION@
 * @since 3.0
 */
public interface Container extends Serializable {

    /**
     * Gets the {@link Item} with the given Item ID from the Container. If the
     * Container does not contain the requested Item, <code>null</code> is
     * returned.
     * 
     * Containers should not return Items that are filtered out.
     * 
     * @param itemId
     *            ID of the {@link Item} to retrieve
     * @return the {@link Item} with the given ID or <code>null</code> if the
     *         Item is not found in the Container
     */
    public Item getItem(Object itemId);

    /**
     * Gets the ID's of all Properties stored in the Container. The ID's cannot
     * be modified through the returned collection.
     * 
     * @return unmodifiable collection of Property IDs
     */
    public Collection<?> getContainerPropertyIds();

    /**
     * Gets the ID's of all visible (after filtering and sorting) Items stored
     * in the Container. The ID's cannot be modified through the returned
     * collection.
     * 
     * If the container is {@link Ordered}, the collection returned by this
     * method should follow that order. If the container is {@link Sortable},
     * the items should be in the sorted order.
     * 
     * Calling this method for large lazy containers can be an expensive
     * operation and should be avoided when practical.
     * 
     * @return unmodifiable collection of Item IDs
     */
    public Collection<?> getItemIds();

    /**
     * Gets the Property identified by the given itemId and propertyId from the
     * Container. If the Container does not contain the item or it is filtered
     * out, or the Container does not have the Property, <code>null</code> is
     * returned.
     * 
     * @param itemId
     *            ID of the visible Item which contains the Property
     * @param propertyId
     *            ID of the Property to retrieve
     * @return Property with the given ID or <code>null</code>
     */
    public Property<?> getContainerProperty(Object itemId, Object propertyId);

    /**
     * Gets the data type of all Properties identified by the given Property ID.
     * 
     * @param propertyId
     *            ID identifying the Properties
     * @return data type of the Properties
     */
    public Class<?> getType(Object propertyId);

    /**
     * Gets the number of visible Items in the Container.
     * 
     * Filtering can hide items so that they will not be visible through the
     * container API.
     * 
     * @return number of Items in the Container
     */
    public int size();

    /**
     * Tests if the Container contains the specified Item.
     * 
     * Filtering can hide items so that they will not be visible through the
     * container API, and this method should respect visibility of items (i.e.
     * only indicate visible items as being in the container) if feasible for
     * the container.
     * 
     * @param itemId
     *            ID the of Item to be tested
     * @return boolean indicating if the Container holds the specified Item
     */
    public boolean containsId(Object itemId);

    /**
     * Creates a new Item with the given ID in the Container.
     * 
     * <p>
     * The new Item is returned, and it is ready to have its Properties
     * modified. Returns <code>null</code> if the operation fails or the
     * Container already contains a Item with the given ID.
     * </p>
     * 
     * <p>
     * This functionality is optional.
     * </p>
     * 
     * @param itemId
     *            ID of the Item to be created
     * @return Created new Item, or <code>null</code> in case of a failure
     * @throws UnsupportedOperationException
     *             if adding an item with an explicit item ID is not supported
     *             by the container
     */
    public Item addItem(Object itemId) throws UnsupportedOperationException;

    /**
     * Creates a new Item into the Container, and assign it an automatic ID.
     * 
     * <p>
     * The new ID is returned, or <code>null</code> if the operation fails.
     * After a successful call you can use the {@link #getItem(Object ItemId)
     * <code>getItem</code>}method to fetch the Item.
     * </p>
     * 
     * <p>
     * This functionality is optional.
     * </p>
     * 
     * @return ID of the newly created Item, or <code>null</code> in case of a
     *         failure
     * @throws UnsupportedOperationException
     *             if adding an item without an explicit item ID is not
     *             supported by the container
     */
    public Object addItem() throws UnsupportedOperationException;

    /**
     * Removes the Item identified by <code>ItemId</code> from the Container.
     * 
     * <p>
     * Containers that support filtering should also allow removing an item that
     * is currently filtered out.
     * </p>
     * 
     * <p>
     * This functionality is optional.
     * </p>
     * 
     * @param itemId
     *            ID of the Item to remove
     * @return <code>true</code> if the operation succeeded, <code>false</code>
     *         if not
     * @throws UnsupportedOperationException
     *             if the container does not support removing individual items
     */
    public boolean removeItem(Object itemId)
            throws UnsupportedOperationException;

    /**
     * Adds a new Property to all Items in the Container. The Property ID, data
     * type and default value of the new Property are given as parameters.
     * 
     * This functionality is optional.
     * 
     * @param propertyId
     *            ID of the Property
     * @param type
     *            Data type of the new Property
     * @param defaultValue
     *            The value all created Properties are initialized to
     * @return <code>true</code> if the operation succeeded, <code>false</code>
     *         if not
     * @throws UnsupportedOperationException
     *             if the container does not support explicitly adding container
     *             properties
     */
    public boolean addContainerProperty(Object propertyId, Class<?> type,
            Object defaultValue) throws UnsupportedOperationException;

    /**
     * Removes a Property specified by the given Property ID from the Container.
     * Note that the Property will be removed from all Items in the Container.
     * 
     * This functionality is optional.
     * 
     * @param propertyId
     *            ID of the Property to remove
     * @return <code>true</code> if the operation succeeded, <code>false</code>
     *         if not
     * @throws UnsupportedOperationException
     *             if the container does not support removing container
     *             properties
     */
    public boolean removeContainerProperty(Object propertyId)
            throws UnsupportedOperationException;

    /**
     * Removes all Items from the Container.
     * 
     * <p>
     * Note that Property ID and type information is preserved. This
     * functionality is optional.
     * </p>
     * 
     * @return <code>true</code> if the operation succeeded, <code>false</code>
     *         if not
     * @throws UnsupportedOperationException
     *             if the container does not support removing all items
     */
    public boolean removeAllItems() throws UnsupportedOperationException;

    /**
     * Interface for Container classes whose {@link Item}s can be traversed in
     * order.
     * 
     * <p>
     * If the container is filtered or sorted, the traversal applies to the
     * filtered and sorted view.
     * </p>
     * <p>
     * The <code>addItemAfter()</code> methods should apply filters to the added
     * item after inserting it, possibly hiding it immediately. If the container
     * is being sorted, they may add items at the correct sorted position
     * instead of the given position. See also {@link Filterable} and
     * {@link Sortable} for more information.
     * </p>
     */
    public interface Ordered extends Container {

        /**
         * Gets the ID of the Item following the Item that corresponds to
         * <code>itemId</code>. If the given Item is the last or not found in
         * the Container, <code>null</code> is returned.
         * 
         * @param itemId
         *            ID of a visible Item in the Container
         * @return ID of the next visible Item or <code>null</code>
         */
        public Object nextItemId(Object itemId);

        /**
         * Gets the ID of the Item preceding the Item that corresponds to
         * <code>itemId</code>. If the given Item is the first or not found in
         * the Container, <code>null</code> is returned.
         * 
         * @param itemId
         *            ID of a visible Item in the Container
         * @return ID of the previous visible Item or <code>null</code>
         */
        public Object prevItemId(Object itemId);

        /**
         * Gets the ID of the first Item in the Container.
         * 
         * @return ID of the first visible Item in the Container
         */
        public Object firstItemId();

        /**
         * Gets the ID of the last Item in the Container..
         * 
         * @return ID of the last visible Item in the Container
         */
        public Object lastItemId();

        /**
         * Tests if the Item corresponding to the given Item ID is the first
         * Item in the Container.
         * 
         * @param itemId
         *            ID of an Item in the Container
         * @return <code>true</code> if the Item is first visible item in the
         *         Container, <code>false</code> if not
         */
        public boolean isFirstId(Object itemId);

        /**
         * Tests if the Item corresponding to the given Item ID is the last Item
         * in the Container.
         * 
         * @return <code>true</code> if the Item is last visible item in the
         *         Container, <code>false</code> if not
         */
        public boolean isLastId(Object itemId);

        /**
         * Adds a new item after the given item.
         * <p>
         * Adding an item after null item adds the item as first item of the
         * ordered container.
         * </p>
         * 
         * @see Ordered Ordered: adding items in filtered or sorted containers
         * 
         * @param previousItemId
         *            Id of the visible item in ordered container after which to
         *            insert the new item.
         * @return item id the the created new item or null if the operation
         *         fails.
         * @throws UnsupportedOperationException
         *             if the operation is not supported by the container
         */
        public Object addItemAfter(Object previousItemId)
                throws UnsupportedOperationException;

        /**
         * Adds a new item after the given item.
         * <p>
         * Adding an item after null item adds the item as first item of the
         * ordered container.
         * </p>
         * 
         * @see Ordered Ordered: adding items in filtered or sorted containers
         * 
         * @param previousItemId
         *            Id of the visible item in ordered container after which to
         *            insert the new item.
         * @param newItemId
         *            Id of the new item to be added.
         * @return new item or null if the operation fails.
         * @throws UnsupportedOperationException
         *             if the operation is not supported by the container
         */
        public Item addItemAfter(Object previousItemId, Object newItemId)
                throws UnsupportedOperationException;

    }

    /**
     * Interface for Container classes whose {@link Item}s can be sorted.
     * <p>
     * When an {@link Ordered} or {@link Indexed} container is sorted, all
     * relevant operations of these interfaces should only use the filtered and
     * sorted contents and the filtered indices to the container. Indices or
     * item identifiers in the public API refer to the visible view unless
     * otherwise stated. However, the <code>addItem*()</code> methods may add
     * items that will be filtered out after addition or moved to another
     * position based on sorting.
     * </p>
     * <p>
     * How sorting is performed when a {@link Hierarchical} container implements
     * {@link Sortable} is implementation specific and should be documented in
     * the implementing class. However, the recommended approach is sorting the
     * roots and the sets of children of each item separately.
     * </p>
     * <p>
     * Depending on the container type, sorting a container may permanently
     * change the internal order of items in the container.
     * </p>
     */
    public interface Sortable extends Ordered {

        /**
         * Sort method.
         * 
         * Sorts the container items.
         * 
         * Sorting a container can irreversibly change the order of its items or
         * only change the order temporarily, depending on the container.
         * 
         * @param propertyId
         *            Array of container property IDs, whose values are used to
         *            sort the items in container as primary, secondary, ...
         *            sorting criterion. All of the item IDs must be in the
         *            collection returned by
         *            {@link #getSortableContainerPropertyIds()}
         * @param ascending
         *            Array of sorting order flags corresponding to each
         *            property ID used in sorting. If this array is shorter than
         *            propertyId array, ascending order is assumed for items
         *            where the order is not specified. Use <code>true</code> to
         *            sort in ascending order, <code>false</code> to use
         *            descending order.
         */
        void sort(Object[] propertyId, boolean[] ascending);

        /**
         * Gets the container property IDs which can be used to sort the items.
         * 
         * @return the IDs of the properties that can be used for sorting the
         *         container
         */
        Collection<?> getSortableContainerPropertyIds();

    }

    /**
     * Interface for Container classes whose {@link Item}s can be accessed by
     * their position in the container.
     * <p>
     * If the container is filtered or sorted, all indices refer to the filtered
     * and sorted view. However, the <code>addItemAt()</code> methods may add
     * items that will be filtered out after addition or moved to another
     * position based on sorting.
     * </p>
     */
    public interface Indexed extends Ordered {

        /**
         * Gets the index of the Item corresponding to the itemId. The following
         * is <code>true</code> for the returned index: 0 <= index < size(), or
         * index = -1 if there is no visible item with that id in the container.
         * 
         * @param itemId
         *            ID of an Item in the Container
         * @return index of the Item, or -1 if (the filtered and sorted view of)
         *         the Container does not include the Item
         */
        public int indexOfId(Object itemId);

        /**
         * Gets the ID of an Item by an index number.
         * 
         * @param index
         *            Index of the requested id in (the filtered and sorted view
         *            of) the Container
         * @return ID of the Item in the given index
         */
        public Object getIdByIndex(int index);

        /**
         * Adds a new item at given index (in the filtered view).
         * <p>
         * The indices of the item currently in the given position and all the
         * following items are incremented.
         * </p>
         * <p>
         * This method should apply filters to the added item after inserting
         * it, possibly hiding it immediately. If the container is being sorted,
         * the item may be added at the correct sorted position instead of the
         * given position. See {@link Indexed}, {@link Ordered},
         * {@link Filterable} and {@link Sortable} for more information.
         * </p>
         * 
         * @param index
         *            Index (in the filtered and sorted view) to add the new
         *            item.
         * @return item id of the created item or null if the operation fails.
         * @throws UnsupportedOperationException
         *             if the operation is not supported by the container
         */
        public Object addItemAt(int index) throws UnsupportedOperationException;

        /**
         * Adds a new item at given index (in the filtered view).
         * <p>
         * The indexes of the item currently in the given position and all the
         * following items are incremented.
         * </p>
         * <p>
         * This method should apply filters to the added item after inserting
         * it, possibly hiding it immediately. If the container is being sorted,
         * the item may be added at the correct sorted position instead of the
         * given position. See {@link Indexed}, {@link Filterable} and
         * {@link Sortable} for more information.
         * </p>
         * 
         * @param index
         *            Index (in the filtered and sorted view) at which to add
         *            the new item.
         * @param newItemId
         *            Id of the new item to be added.
         * @return new {@link Item} or null if the operation fails.
         * @throws UnsupportedOperationException
         *             if the operation is not supported by the container
         */
        public Item addItemAt(int index, Object newItemId)
                throws UnsupportedOperationException;

    }

    /**
     * <p>
     * Interface for <code>Container</code> classes whose Items can be arranged
     * hierarchically. This means that the Items in the container belong in a
     * tree-like structure, with the following quirks:
     * </p>
     * 
     * <ul>
     * <li>The Item structure may have more than one root elements
     * <li>The Items in the hierarchy can be declared explicitly to be able or
     * unable to have children.
     * </ul>
     */
    public interface Hierarchical extends Container {

        /**
         * Gets the IDs of all Items that are children of the specified Item.
         * The returned collection is unmodifiable.
         * 
         * @param itemId
         *            ID of the Item whose children the caller is interested in
         * @return An unmodifiable {@link java.util.Collection collection}
         *         containing the IDs of all other Items that are children in
         *         the container hierarchy
         */
        public Collection<?> getChildren(Object itemId);

        /**
         * Gets the ID of the parent Item of the specified Item.
         * 
         * @param itemId
         *            ID of the Item whose parent the caller wishes to find out.
         * @return the ID of the parent Item. Will be <code>null</code> if the
         *         specified Item is a root element.
         */
        public Object getParent(Object itemId);

        /**
         * Gets the IDs of all Items in the container that don't have a parent.
         * Such items are called <code>root</code> Items. The returned
         * collection is unmodifiable.
         * 
         * @return An unmodifiable {@link java.util.Collection collection}
         *         containing IDs of all root elements of the container
         */
        public Collection<?> rootItemIds();

        /**
         * <p>
         * Sets the parent of an Item. The new parent item must exist and be
         * able to have children. (
         * <code>{@link #areChildrenAllowed(Object)} == true</code> ). It is
         * also possible to detach a node from the hierarchy (and thus make it
         * root) by setting the parent <code>null</code>.
         * </p>
         * 
         * <p>
         * This operation is optional.
         * </p>
         * 
         * @param itemId
         *            ID of the item to be set as the child of the Item
         *            identified with <code>newParentId</code>
         * @param newParentId
         *            ID of the Item that's to be the new parent of the Item
         *            identified with <code>itemId</code>
         * @return <code>true</code> if the operation succeeded,
         *         <code>false</code> if not
         */
        public boolean setParent(Object itemId, Object newParentId)
                throws UnsupportedOperationException;

        /**
         * Tests if the Item with given ID can have children.
         * 
         * @param itemId
         *            ID of the Item in the container whose child capability is
         *            to be tested
         * @return <code>true</code> if the specified Item exists in the
         *         Container and it can have children, <code>false</code> if
         *         it's not found from the container or it can't have children.
         */
        public boolean areChildrenAllowed(Object itemId);

        /**
         * <p>
         * Sets the given Item's capability to have children. If the Item
         * identified with <code>itemId</code> already has children and
         * <code>{@link #areChildrenAllowed(Object)}</code> is false this method
         * fails and <code>false</code> is returned.
         * </p>
         * <p>
         * The children must be first explicitly removed with
         * {@link #setParent(Object itemId, Object newParentId)}or
         * {@link com.vaadin.data.Container#removeItem(Object itemId)}.
         * </p>
         * 
         * <p>
         * This operation is optional. If it is not implemented, the method
         * always returns <code>false</code>.
         * </p>
         * 
         * @param itemId
         *            ID of the Item in the container whose child capability is
         *            to be set
         * @param areChildrenAllowed
         *            boolean value specifying if the Item can have children or
         *            not
         * @return <code>true</code> if the operation succeeded,
         *         <code>false</code> if not
         */
        public boolean setChildrenAllowed(Object itemId,
                boolean areChildrenAllowed)
                throws UnsupportedOperationException;

        /**
         * Tests if the Item specified with <code>itemId</code> is a root Item.
         * The hierarchical container can have more than one root and must have
         * at least one unless it is empty. The {@link #getParent(Object itemId)}
         * method always returns <code>null</code> for root Items.
         * 
         * @param itemId
         *            ID of the Item whose root status is to be tested
         * @return <code>true</code> if the specified Item is a root,
         *         <code>false</code> if not
         */
        public boolean isRoot(Object itemId);

        /**
         * <p>
         * Tests if the Item specified with <code>itemId</code> has child Items
         * or if it is a leaf. The {@link #getChildren(Object itemId)} method
         * always returns <code>null</code> for leaf Items.
         * </p>
         * 
         * <p>
         * Note that being a leaf does not imply whether or not an Item is
         * allowed to have children.
         * </p>
         * .
         * 
         * @param itemId
         *            ID of the Item to be tested
         * @return <code>true</code> if the specified Item has children,
         *         <code>false</code> if not (is a leaf)
         */
        public boolean hasChildren(Object itemId);

        /**
         * <p>
         * Removes the Item identified by <code>ItemId</code> from the
         * Container.
         * </p>
         * 
         * <p>
         * Note that this does not remove any children the item might have.
         * </p>
         * 
         * @param itemId
         *            ID of the Item to remove
         * @return <code>true</code> if the operation succeeded,
         *         <code>false</code> if not
         */
        @Override
        public boolean removeItem(Object itemId)
                throws UnsupportedOperationException;
    }

    /**
     * Interface that is implemented by containers which allow reducing their
     * visible contents based on a set of filters. This interface has been
     * renamed from {@link Filterable}, and implementing the new
     * {@link Filterable} instead of or in addition to {@link SimpleFilterable}
     * is recommended. This interface might be removed in future Vaadin
     * versions.
     * <p>
     * When a set of filters are set, only items that match all the filters are
     * included in the visible contents of the container. Still new items that
     * do not match filters can be added to the container. Multiple filters can
     * be added and the container remembers the state of the filters. When
     * multiple filters are added, all filters must match for an item to be
     * visible in the container.
     * </p>
     * <p>
     * When an {@link Ordered} or {@link Indexed} container is filtered, all
     * operations of these interfaces should only use the filtered contents and
     * the filtered indices to the container.
     * </p>
     * <p>
     * How filtering is performed when a {@link Hierarchical} container
     * implements {@link SimpleFilterable} is implementation specific and should
     * be documented in the implementing class.
     * </p>
     * <p>
     * Adding items (if supported) to a filtered {@link Ordered} or
     * {@link Indexed} container should insert them immediately after the
     * indicated visible item. The unfiltered position of items added at index
     * 0, at index {@link com.vaadin.data.Container#size()} or at an undefined
     * position is up to the implementation.
     * </p>
     * <p>
     * The functionality of SimpleFilterable can be implemented using the
     * {@link Filterable} API and {@link SimpleStringFilter}.
     * </p>
     * 
     * @since 5.0 (renamed from Filterable to SimpleFilterable in 6.6)
     */
    public interface SimpleFilterable extends Container, Serializable {

        /**
         * Add a filter for given property.
         * 
         * The API {@link Filterable#addContainerFilter(Filter)} is recommended
         * instead of this method. A {@link SimpleStringFilter} can be used with
         * the new API to implement the old string filtering functionality.
         * 
         * The filter accepts items for which toString() of the value of the
         * given property contains or starts with given filterString. Other
         * items are not visible in the container when filtered.
         * 
         * If a container has multiple filters, only items accepted by all
         * filters are visible.
         * 
         * @param propertyId
         *            Property for which the filter is applied to.
         * @param filterString
         *            String that must match the value of the property
         * @param ignoreCase
         *            Determine if the casing can be ignored when comparing
         *            strings.
         * @param onlyMatchPrefix
         *            Only match prefixes; no other matches are included.
         */
        public void addContainerFilter(Object propertyId, String filterString,
                boolean ignoreCase, boolean onlyMatchPrefix);

        /**
         * Remove all filters from all properties.
         */
        public void removeAllContainerFilters();

        /**
         * Remove all filters from the given property.
         * 
         * @param propertyId
         *            for which to remove filters
         */
        public void removeContainerFilters(Object propertyId);
    }

    /**
     * Filter interface for container filtering.
     * 
     * If a filter does not support in-memory filtering,
     * {@link #passesFilter(Item)} should throw
     * {@link UnsupportedOperationException}.
     * 
     * Lazy containers must be able to map filters to their internal
     * representation (e.g. SQL or JPA 2.0 Criteria).
     * 
     * An {@link UnsupportedFilterException} can be thrown by the container if a
     * particular filter is not supported by the container.
     * 
     * An {@link Filter} should implement {@link #equals(Object)} and
     * {@link #hashCode()} correctly to avoid duplicate filter registrations
     * etc.
     * 
     * @see Filterable
     * 
     * @since 6.6
     */
    public interface Filter extends Serializable {

        /**
         * Check if an item passes the filter (in-memory filtering).
         * 
         * @param itemId
         *            identifier of the item being filtered; may be null when
         *            the item is being added to the container
         * @param item
         *            the item being filtered
         * @return true if the item is accepted by this filter
         * @throws UnsupportedOperationException
         *             if the filter cannot be used for in-memory filtering
         */
        public boolean passesFilter(Object itemId, Item item)
                throws UnsupportedOperationException;

        /**
         * Check if a change in the value of a property can affect the filtering
         * result. May always return true, at the cost of performance.
         * 
         * If the filter cannot determine whether it may depend on the property
         * or not, should return true.
         * 
         * @param propertyId
         * @return true if the filtering result may/does change based on changes
         *         to the property identified by propertyId
         */
        public boolean appliesToProperty(Object propertyId);

    }

    /**
     * Interface that is implemented by containers which allow reducing their
     * visible contents based on a set of filters.
     * <p>
     * When a set of filters are set, only items that match all the filters are
     * included in the visible contents of the container. Still new items that
     * do not match filters can be added to the container. Multiple filters can
     * be added and the container remembers the state of the filters. When
     * multiple filters are added, all filters must match for an item to be
     * visible in the container.
     * </p>
     * <p>
     * When an {@link Ordered} or {@link Indexed} container is filtered, all
     * operations of these interfaces should only use the filtered and sorted
     * contents and the filtered indices to the container. Indices or item
     * identifiers in the public API refer to the visible view unless otherwise
     * stated. However, the <code>addItem*()</code> methods may add items that
     * will be filtered out after addition or moved to another position based on
     * sorting.
     * </p>
     * <p>
     * How filtering is performed when a {@link Hierarchical} container
     * implements {@link Filterable} is implementation specific and should be
     * documented in the implementing class.
     * </p>
     * <p>
     * Adding items (if supported) to a filtered {@link Ordered} or
     * {@link Indexed} container should insert them immediately after the
     * indicated visible item. However, the unfiltered position of items added
     * at index 0, at index {@link com.vaadin.data.Container#size()} or at an
     * undefined position is up to the implementation.
     * </p>
     * 
     * <p>
     * This API replaces the old Filterable interface, renamed to
     * {@link SimpleFilterable} in Vaadin 6.6.
     * </p>
     * 
     * @since 6.6
     */
    public interface Filterable extends Container, Serializable {
        /**
         * Adds a filter for the container.
         * 
         * If a container has multiple filters, only items accepted by all
         * filters are visible.
         * 
         * @throws UnsupportedFilterException
         *             if the filter is not supported by the container
         */
        public void addContainerFilter(Filter filter)
                throws UnsupportedFilterException;

        /**
         * Removes a filter from the container.
         * 
         * This requires that the equals() method considers the filters as
         * equivalent (same instance or properly implemented equals() method).
         */
        public void removeContainerFilter(Filter filter);

        /**
         * Remove all active filters from the container.
         */
        public void removeAllContainerFilters();

    }

    /**
     * Interface implemented by viewer classes capable of using a Container as a
     * data source.
     */
    public interface Viewer extends Serializable {

        /**
         * Sets the Container that serves as the data source of the viewer.
         * 
         * @param newDataSource
         *            The new data source Item
         */
        public void setContainerDataSource(Container newDataSource);

        /**
         * Gets the Container serving as the data source of the viewer.
         * 
         * @return data source Container
         */
        public Container getContainerDataSource();

    }

    /**
     * <p>
     * Interface implemented by the editor classes supporting editing the
     * Container. Implementing this interface means that the Container serving
     * as the data source of the editor can be modified through it.
     * </p>
     * <p>
     * Note that not implementing the <code>Container.Editor</code> interface
     * does not restrict the class from editing the Container contents
     * internally.
     * </p>
     */
    public interface Editor extends Container.Viewer, Serializable {

    }

    /* Contents change event */

    /**
     * An <code>Event</code> object specifying the Container whose Item set has
     * changed (items added, removed or reordered).
     * 
     * A simple property value change is not an item set change.
     */
    public interface ItemSetChangeEvent extends Serializable {

        /**
         * Gets the Property where the event occurred.
         * 
         * @return source of the event
         */
        public Container getContainer();
    }

    /**
     * Container Item set change listener interface.
     * 
     * An item set change refers to addition, removal or reordering of items in
     * the container. A simple property value change is not an item set change.
     */
    public interface ItemSetChangeListener extends Serializable {

        /**
         * Lets the listener know a Containers visible (filtered and/or sorted,
         * if applicable) Item set has changed.
         * 
         * @param event
         *            change event text
         */
        public void containerItemSetChange(Container.ItemSetChangeEvent event);
    }

    /**
     * The interface for adding and removing <code>ItemSetChangeEvent</code>
     * listeners. By implementing this interface a class explicitly announces
     * that it will generate a <code>ItemSetChangeEvent</code> when its contents
     * are modified.
     * 
     * An item set change refers to addition, removal or reordering of items in
     * the container. A simple property value change is not an item set change.
     * 
     * <p>
     * Note: The general Java convention is not to explicitly declare that a
     * class generates events, but to directly define the
     * <code>addListener</code> and <code>removeListener</code> methods. That
     * way the caller of these methods has no real way of finding out if the
     * class really will send the events, or if it just defines the methods to
     * be able to implement an interface.
     * </p>
     */
    public interface ItemSetChangeNotifier extends Serializable {

        /**
         * Adds an Item set change listener for the object.
         * 
         * @param listener
         *            listener to be added
         */
        public void addListener(Container.ItemSetChangeListener listener);

        /**
         * Removes the Item set change listener from the object.
         * 
         * @param listener
         *            listener to be removed
         */
        public void removeListener(Container.ItemSetChangeListener listener);
    }

    /* Property set change event */

    /**
     * An <code>Event</code> object specifying the Container whose Property set
     * has changed.
     * 
     * A property set change means the addition, removal or other structural
     * changes to the properties of a container. Changes concerning the set of
     * items in the container and their property values are not property set
     * changes.
     */
    public interface PropertySetChangeEvent extends Serializable {

        /**
         * Retrieves the Container whose contents have been modified.
         * 
         * @return Source Container of the event.
         */
        public Container getContainer();
    }

    /**
     * The listener interface for receiving <code>PropertySetChangeEvent</code>
     * objects.
     * 
     * A property set change means the addition, removal or other structural
     * change of the properties (supported property IDs) of a container. Changes
     * concerning the set of items in the container and their property values
     * are not property set changes.
     */
    public interface PropertySetChangeListener extends Serializable {

        /**
         * Notifies this listener that the set of property IDs supported by the
         * Container has changed.
         * 
         * @param event
         *            Change event.
         */
        public void containerPropertySetChange(
                Container.PropertySetChangeEvent event);
    }

    /**
     * <p>
     * The interface for adding and removing <code>PropertySetChangeEvent</code>
     * listeners. By implementing this interface a class explicitly announces
     * that it will generate a <code>PropertySetChangeEvent</code> when the set
     * of property IDs supported by the container is modified.
     * </p>
     * 
     * <p>
     * A property set change means the addition, removal or other structural
     * changes to the properties of a container. Changes concerning the set of
     * items in the container and their property values are not property set
     * changes.
     * </p>
     * 
     * <p>
     * Note that the general Java convention is not to explicitly declare that a
     * class generates events, but to directly define the
     * <code>addListener</code> and <code>removeListener</code> methods. That
     * way the caller of these methods has no real way of finding out if the
     * class really will send the events, or if it just defines the methods to
     * be able to implement an interface.
     * </p>
     */
    public interface PropertySetChangeNotifier extends Serializable {

        /**
         * Registers a new Property set change listener for this Container.
         * 
         * @param listener
         *            The new Listener to be registered
         */
        public void addListener(Container.PropertySetChangeListener listener);

        /**
         * Removes a previously registered Property set change listener.
         * 
         * @param listener
         *            Listener to be removed
         */
        public void removeListener(Container.PropertySetChangeListener listener);
    }
}