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(java.lang.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(java.lang.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