uk.ac.starlink.connect
Interface Branch

All Superinterfaces:
Node
All Known Implementing Classes:
FileBranch

public interface Branch
extends Node

Represents a directory-like node in a (possibly remote) filesystem. A branch may contain child items.

Since:
18 Feb 2005

Method Summary
 Node createNode(String name)
          Attempts to construct a new node in the context of this one.
 Node[] getChildren()
          Returns the array of child nodes belonging to this branch.
 
Methods inherited from interface uk.ac.starlink.connect.Node
getName, getParent
 

Method Detail

getChildren

Node[] getChildren()
Returns the array of child nodes belonging to this branch. All the returned values represent file objects which actuallly exist in the filesystem.

Returns:
child nodes of this one

createNode

Node createNode(String name)
Attempts to construct a new node in the context of this one. The new item may represent a new or an existing node in the filesystem. This call should not in itself perform any write operations on the filesystem (such as creating a node which doesn't currently exist), though a subsequent Leaf.getOutputStream() call may do so.

The returned node will typically be a child of this branch, but need not be, for instance if name is interpreted as an absolute path.

If the named node cannot be created, null may be returned.

Parameters:
name - name of a node in the context of this branch
Returns:
node representing the location of an existing or new node

Copyright © 2004 CLRC: Central Laboratory of the Research Councils. All rights reserved.