/*
 * The contents of this file are subject to the terms of the Common Development and
 * Distribution License (the License). You may not use this file except in compliance with the
 * License.
 *
 * You can obtain a copy of the License at legal/CDDLv1.0.txt. See the License for the
 * specific language governing permission and limitations under the License.
 *
 * When distributing Covered Software, include this CDDL Header Notice in each file and include
 * the License file at legal/CDDLv1.0.txt. If applicable, add the following below the CDDL
 * Header, with the fields enclosed by brackets [] replaced by your own identifying
 * information: "Portions Copyright [year] [name of copyright owner]".
 *
 * Copyright 2008-2009 Sun Microsystems, Inc.
 */
package org.opends.server.admin;



/**
 * A strategy for serializing managed object paths.
 * <p>
 * This interface provides a generic means for serializing managed
 * object paths into application specific forms. For example, a JNDI
 * client would use this interface to construct <code>LdapName</code>
 * objects from a path. Similarly, on the server side, a serialization
 * strategy is used to construct <code>DN</code> instances from a
 * path.
 * <p>
 * During serialization the serializer is invoked for each element in
 * the managed object path in big-endian order, starting from the root
 * and proceeding down to the leaf element.
 */
public interface ManagedObjectPathSerializer {

  /**
   * Append a managed object path element identified by an
   * instantiable relation and an instance name.
   *
   * @param <C>
   *          The type of client managed object configuration that
   *          this path element references.
   * @param <S>
   *          The type of server managed object configuration that
   *          this path element references.
   * @param r
   *          The instantiable relation.
   * @param d
   *          The managed object definition.
   * @param name
   *          The instance name.
   */
  <C extends ConfigurationClient, S extends Configuration>
      void appendManagedObjectPathElement(
      InstantiableRelationDefinition<? super C, ? super S> r,
      AbstractManagedObjectDefinition<C, S> d, String name);



  /**
   * Append a managed object path element identified by an optional
   * relation.
   *
   * @param <C>
   *          The type of client managed object configuration that
   *          this path element references.
   * @param <S>
   *          The type of server managed object configuration that
   *          this path element references.
   * @param r
   *          The optional relation.
   * @param d
   *          The managed object definition.
   */
  <C extends ConfigurationClient, S extends Configuration>
      void appendManagedObjectPathElement(
      OptionalRelationDefinition<? super C, ? super S> r,
      AbstractManagedObjectDefinition<C, S> d);



  /**
   * Append a managed object path element identified by a singleton
   * relation.
   *
   * @param <C>
   *          The type of client managed object configuration that
   *          this path element references.
   * @param <S>
   *          The type of server managed object configuration that
   *          this path element references.
   * @param r
   *          The singleton relation.
   * @param d
   *          The managed object definition.
   */
  <C extends ConfigurationClient, S extends Configuration>
      void appendManagedObjectPathElement(
      SingletonRelationDefinition<? super C, ? super S> r,
      AbstractManagedObjectDefinition<C, S> d);



  /**
   * Append a managed object path element identified by a
   * set relation.
   *
   * @param <C>
   *          The type of client managed object configuration that
   *          this path element references.
   * @param <S>
   *          The type of server managed object configuration that
   *          this path element references.
   * @param r
   *          The set relation.
   * @param d
   *          The managed object definition.
   */
  <C extends ConfigurationClient, S extends Configuration>
      void appendManagedObjectPathElement(
      SetRelationDefinition<? super C, ? super S> r,
      AbstractManagedObjectDefinition<C, S> d);

}