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package java.awt.im.spi;

import java.awt.AWTException;
import java.awt.Image;
import java.util.Locale;

Defines methods that provide sufficient information about an input method to enable selection and loading of that input method. The input method itself is only loaded when it is actually used.
Since:1.3
/** * Defines methods that provide sufficient information about an input method * to enable selection and loading of that input method. * The input method itself is only loaded when it is actually used. * * @since 1.3 */
public interface InputMethodDescriptor {
Returns the locales supported by the corresponding input method. The locale may describe just the language, or may also include country and variant information if needed. The information is used to select input methods by locale (InputContext.selectInputMethod(Locale)). It may also be used to sort input methods by locale in a user-visible list of input methods.

Only the input method's primary locales should be returned. For example, if a Japanese input method also has a pass-through mode for Roman characters, typically still only Japanese would be returned. Thus, the list of locales returned is typically a subset of the locales for which the corresponding input method's implementation of InputMethod.setLocale returns true.

If hasDynamicLocaleList returns true, this method is called each time the information is needed. This gives input methods that depend on network resources the chance to add or remove locales as resources become available or unavailable.

Throws:
  • AWTException – if it can be determined that the input method is inoperable, for example, because of incomplete installation.
Returns:the locales supported by the input method
/** * Returns the locales supported by the corresponding input method. * The locale may describe just the language, or may also include * country and variant information if needed. * The information is used to select input methods by locale * ({@link java.awt.im.InputContext#selectInputMethod(Locale)}). It may also * be used to sort input methods by locale in a user-visible * list of input methods. * <p> * Only the input method's primary locales should be returned. * For example, if a Japanese input method also has a pass-through * mode for Roman characters, typically still only Japanese would * be returned. Thus, the list of locales returned is typically * a subset of the locales for which the corresponding input method's * implementation of {@link java.awt.im.spi.InputMethod#setLocale} returns true. * <p> * If {@link #hasDynamicLocaleList} returns true, this method is * called each time the information is needed. This * gives input methods that depend on network resources the chance * to add or remove locales as resources become available or * unavailable. * * @return the locales supported by the input method * @exception AWTException if it can be determined that the input method * is inoperable, for example, because of incomplete installation. */
Locale[] getAvailableLocales() throws AWTException;
Returns whether the list of available locales can change at runtime. This may be the case, for example, for adapters that access real input methods over the network.
Returns:whether the list of available locales can change at runtime
/** * Returns whether the list of available locales can change * at runtime. This may be the case, for example, for adapters * that access real input methods over the network. * @return whether the list of available locales can change at * runtime */
boolean hasDynamicLocaleList();
Returns the user-visible name of the corresponding input method for the given input locale in the language in which the name will be displayed.

The inputLocale parameter specifies the locale for which text is input. This parameter can only take values obtained from this descriptor's getAvailableLocales method or null. If it is null, an input locale independent name for the input method should be returned.

If a name for the desired display language is not available, the method may fall back to some other language.

Params:
  • inputLocale – the locale for which text input is supported, or null
  • displayLanguage – the language in which the name will be displayed
Returns:the user-visible name of the corresponding input method for the given input locale in the language in which the name will be displayed
/** * Returns the user-visible name of the corresponding * input method for the given input locale in the language in which * the name will be displayed. * <p> * The inputLocale parameter specifies the locale for which text * is input. * This parameter can only take values obtained from this descriptor's * {@link #getAvailableLocales} method or null. If it is null, an * input locale independent name for the input method should be * returned. * <p> * If a name for the desired display language is not available, the * method may fall back to some other language. * * @param inputLocale the locale for which text input is supported, or null * @param displayLanguage the language in which the name will be displayed * @return the user-visible name of the corresponding input method * for the given input locale in the language in which the name * will be displayed */
String getInputMethodDisplayName(Locale inputLocale, Locale displayLanguage);
Returns an icon for the corresponding input method. The icon may be used by a user interface for selecting input methods.

The inputLocale parameter specifies the locale for which text is input. This parameter can only take values obtained from this descriptor's getAvailableLocales method or null. If it is null, an input locale independent icon for the input method should be returned.

The icon's size should be 16×16 pixels.

Params:
  • inputLocale – the locale for which text input is supported, or null
Returns:an icon for the corresponding input method, or null
/** * Returns an icon for the corresponding input method. * The icon may be used by a user interface for selecting input methods. * <p> * The inputLocale parameter specifies the locale for which text * is input. * This parameter can only take values obtained from this descriptor's * {@link #getAvailableLocales} method or null. If it is null, an * input locale independent icon for the input method should be * returned. * <p> * The icon's size should be 16&times;16 pixels. * * @param inputLocale the locale for which text input is supported, or null * @return an icon for the corresponding input method, or null */
Image getInputMethodIcon(Locale inputLocale);
Creates a new instance of the corresponding input method.
Throws:
  • Exception – any exception that may occur while creating the input method instance
Returns:a new instance of the corresponding input method
/** * Creates a new instance of the corresponding input method. * * @return a new instance of the corresponding input method * @exception Exception any exception that may occur while creating the * input method instance */
InputMethod createInputMethod() throws Exception; }