org.springframework.beans
Interface Mergeable

All Known Implementing Classes:
ManagedArray, ManagedList, ManagedMap, ManagedProperties, ManagedSet

public interface Mergeable

Interface representing an object whose value set can be merged with that of a parent object.

Since:
2.0
Author:
Rob Harrop
See Also:
ManagedSet, ManagedList, ManagedMap, ManagedProperties

Method Summary
 boolean isMergeEnabled()
          Is merging enabled for this particular instance?
 java.lang.Object merge(java.lang.Object parent)
          Merge the current value set with that of the supplied object.
 

Method Detail

isMergeEnabled

boolean isMergeEnabled()
Is merging enabled for this particular instance?


merge

java.lang.Object merge(java.lang.Object parent)
Merge the current value set with that of the supplied object.

The supplied object is considered the parent, and values in the callee's value set must override those of the supplied object.

Parameters:
parent - the object to merge with
Returns:
the result of the merge operation
Throws:
java.lang.IllegalArgumentException - if the supplied parent is null
java.lang.IllegalStateException - if merging is not enabled for this instance (i.e. mergeEnabled equals false).