Eclipse Platform
Release 3.1

org.eclipse.ui.part
Class WorkbenchPart

java.lang.Object
  extended byorg.eclipse.ui.part.WorkbenchPart
All Implemented Interfaces:
IAdaptable, IExecutableExtension, IWorkbenchPart, IWorkbenchPart2, IWorkbenchPartOrientation
Direct Known Subclasses:
EditorPart, ViewPart

public abstract class WorkbenchPart
extends Object
implements IWorkbenchPart2, IExecutableExtension, IWorkbenchPartOrientation

Abstract base implementation of all workbench parts.

This class is not intended to be subclassed by clients outside this package; clients should instead subclass ViewPart or EditorPart.

See Also:
ViewPart, EditorPart

Field Summary
 
Fields inherited from interface org.eclipse.ui.IWorkbenchPart
PROP_TITLE
 
Constructor Summary
protected WorkbenchPart()
          Creates a new workbench part.
 
Method Summary
 void addPropertyListener(IPropertyListener l)
          Adds a listener for changes to properties of this workbench part.
protected  void checkSite(IWorkbenchPartSite site)
          Checks that the given site is valid for this type of part.
abstract  void createPartControl(Composite parent)
          Creates the SWT controls for this workbench part.
 void dispose()
          The WorkbenchPart implementation of this IWorkbenchPart method disposes the title image loaded by setInitializationData.
protected  void firePropertyChange(int propertyId)
          Fires a property changed event.
 Object getAdapter(Class adapter)
          Returns an object which is an instance of the given class associated with this object. Returns null if no such object can be found. Subclasses may override this method (however, if they do so, they should invoke the method on their superclass to ensure that the Platform's adapter manager is consulted).
protected  IConfigurationElement getConfigurationElement()
          Returns the configuration element for this part.
 String getContentDescription()
          Returns the content description of this part. The content description is an optional user-readable string that describes what is currently being displayed in the part. By default, the workbench will display the content description in a line near the top of the view or editor. An empty string indicates no content description text. If this value changes the part must fire a property listener event with IWorkbenchPartConstants.PROP_CONTENT_DESCRIPTION. It is considered bad practise to overload or extend this method.
protected  Image getDefaultImage()
          Returns the default title image.
 int getOrientation()
          Return the orientation of this part.
 String getPartName()
          Returns the name of this part. If this value changes the part must fire a property listener event with IWorkbenchPartConstants.PROP_PART_NAME. It is considered bad practise to overload or extend this method.
 IWorkbenchPartSite getSite()
          Returns the site for this workbench part.
 String getTitle()
          Returns the title of this workbench part. If this value changes the part must fire a property listener event with PROP_TITLE.

The title is used to populate the title bar of this part's visual container.

It is considered bad practise to overload or extend this method.
 Image getTitleImage()
          Returns the title image of this workbench part.
 String getTitleToolTip()
          Returns the title tool tip text of this workbench part.
 void removePropertyListener(IPropertyListener l)
          Removes the given property listener from this workbench part.
protected  void setContentDescription(String description)
          Sets the content description for this part.
abstract  void setFocus()
          Asks this part to take focus within the workbench.
 void setInitializationData(IConfigurationElement cfig, String propertyName, Object data)
          This method is called by the implementation of the method IConfigurationElement.createExecutableExtension on a newly constructed extension, passing it its relevant configuration information. Most executable extensions only make use of the first two call arguments.

Regular executable extensions specify their Java implementation class name as an attribute of the configuration element for the extension. For example

     <action run="com.example.BaseAction"/>
 
In the above example, this method would be called with a reference to the <action> element (first argument), and "run" as the name of the attribute that defined this executable extension (second argument).

The last parameter is for the specific use of extension adapters and is typically not used by regular executable extensions.

There are two supported ways of associating additional adapter-specific data with the configuration in a way that is transparent to the extension point implementor:

(1) by specifying adapter data as part of the implementation class attribute value. The Java class name can be followed by a ":" separator, followed by any adapter data in string form. For example, if the extension point specifies an attribute "run" to contain the name of the extension implementation, an adapter can be configured as

     <action run="com.example.ExternalAdapter:./cmds/util.exe -opt 3"/>
 

(2) by converting the attribute used to specify the executable extension to a child element of the original configuration element, and specifying the adapter data in the form of xml markup. Using this form, the example above would become

     <action>
         <run class="com.xyz.ExternalAdapter">
             <parameter name="exec" value="./cmds/util.exe"/>
             <parameter name="opt"  value="3"/>
         </run>
     </action>
 

Form (2) will typically only be used for extension points that anticipate the majority of extensions configured into it will in fact be in the form of adapters.

In either case, the specified adapter class is instantiated using its 0-argument public constructor. The adapter data is passed as the last argument of this method. The data argument is defined as Object. It can have the following values:

  • null, if no adapter data was supplied
  • in case (1), the initialization data string is passed as a String
  • in case (2), the initialization data is passed as a Hashtable containing the actual parameter names and values (both Strings)

The WorkbenchPart implementation of this IExecutableExtension records the configuration element in and internal state variable (accessible via getConfigElement).
protected  void setPartName(String partName)
          Sets the name of this part.
protected  void setSite(IWorkbenchPartSite site)
          Sets the part site.
protected  void setTitle(String title)
          Deprecated. new code should use setPartName and setContentDescription
protected  void setTitleImage(Image titleImage)
          Sets or clears the title image of this part.
protected  void setTitleToolTip(String toolTip)
          Sets or clears the title tool tip text of this part.
 void showBusy(boolean busy)
          Show that this part is busy due to a Job running that it is listening to.
 
Methods inherited from class java.lang.Object
clone, equals, finalize, getClass, hashCode, notify, notifyAll, toString, wait, wait, wait
 

Constructor Detail

WorkbenchPart

protected WorkbenchPart()
Creates a new workbench part.

Method Detail

addPropertyListener

public void addPropertyListener(IPropertyListener l)
Description copied from interface: IWorkbenchPart
Adds a listener for changes to properties of this workbench part. Has no effect if an identical listener is already registered.

The property ids are defined in IWorkbenchPartConstants.

Specified by:
addPropertyListener in interface IWorkbenchPart
Parameters:
l - a property listener

createPartControl

public abstract void createPartControl(Composite parent)
Description copied from interface: IWorkbenchPart
Creates the SWT controls for this workbench part.

Clients should not call this method (the workbench calls this method when it needs to, which may be never).

For implementors this is a multi-step process:

  1. Create one or more controls within the parent.
  2. Set the parent layout as needed.
  3. Register any global actions with the site's IActionBars.
  4. Register any context menus with the site.
  5. Register a selection provider with the site, to make it available to the workbench's ISelectionService (optional).

Specified by:
createPartControl in interface IWorkbenchPart
Parameters:
parent - the parent control

dispose

public void dispose()
The WorkbenchPart implementation of this IWorkbenchPart method disposes the title image loaded by setInitializationData. Subclasses may extend.

Specified by:
dispose in interface IWorkbenchPart

firePropertyChange

protected void firePropertyChange(int propertyId)
Fires a property changed event.

Parameters:
propertyId - the id of the property that changed

getAdapter

public Object getAdapter(Class adapter)
Returns an object which is an instance of the given class associated with this object. Returns null if no such object can be found. Subclasses may override this method (however, if they do so, they should invoke the method on their superclass to ensure that the Platform's adapter manager is consulted).

Specified by:
getAdapter in interface IAdaptable
Parameters:
adapter - the adapter class to look up
Returns:
a object castable to the given class, or null if this object does not have an adapter for the given class

getConfigurationElement

protected IConfigurationElement getConfigurationElement()
Returns the configuration element for this part. The configuration element comes from the plug-in registry entry for the extension defining this part.

Returns:
the configuration element for this part

getDefaultImage

protected Image getDefaultImage()
Returns the default title image.

Returns:
the default image

getSite

public IWorkbenchPartSite getSite()
Description copied from interface: IWorkbenchPart
Returns the site for this workbench part. The site can be null while the workbench part is being initialized. After the initialization is complete, this value must be non-null for the remainder of the part's life cycle.

Specified by:
getSite in interface IWorkbenchPart
Returns:
The part site; this value may be null if the part has not yet been initialized

getTitle

public String getTitle()
Returns the title of this workbench part. If this value changes the part must fire a property listener event with PROP_TITLE.

The title is used to populate the title bar of this part's visual container.

It is considered bad practise to overload or extend this method. Parts should set their title by calling setPartName and/or setContentDescription.

Specified by:
getTitle in interface IWorkbenchPart
Returns:
the workbench part title (not null)

getTitleImage

public Image getTitleImage()
Description copied from interface: IWorkbenchPart
Returns the title image of this workbench part. If this value changes the part must fire a property listener event with PROP_TITLE.

The title image is usually used to populate the title bar of this part's visual container. Since this image is managed by the part itself, callers must not dispose the returned image.

Specified by:
getTitleImage in interface IWorkbenchPart
Returns:
the title image

getTitleToolTip

public String getTitleToolTip()
Description copied from interface: IWorkbenchPart
Returns the title tool tip text of this workbench part. An empty string result indicates no tool tip. If this value changes the part must fire a property listener event with PROP_TITLE.

The tool tip text is used to populate the title bar of this part's visual container.

Specified by:
getTitleToolTip in interface IWorkbenchPart
Returns:
the workbench part title tool tip (not null)

removePropertyListener

public void removePropertyListener(IPropertyListener l)
Description copied from interface: IWorkbenchPart
Removes the given property listener from this workbench part. Has no affect if an identical listener is not registered.

Specified by:
removePropertyListener in interface IWorkbenchPart
Parameters:
l - a property listener

setFocus

public abstract void setFocus()
Description copied from interface: IWorkbenchPart
Asks this part to take focus within the workbench.

Clients should not call this method (the workbench calls this method at appropriate times). To have the workbench activate a part, use IWorkbenchPage.activate(IWorkbenchPart) instead.

Specified by:
setFocus in interface IWorkbenchPart

setInitializationData

public void setInitializationData(IConfigurationElement cfig,
                                  String propertyName,
                                  Object data)
This method is called by the implementation of the method IConfigurationElement.createExecutableExtension on a newly constructed extension, passing it its relevant configuration information. Most executable extensions only make use of the first two call arguments.

Regular executable extensions specify their Java implementation class name as an attribute of the configuration element for the extension. For example

     <action run="com.example.BaseAction"/>
 
In the above example, this method would be called with a reference to the <action> element (first argument), and "run" as the name of the attribute that defined this executable extension (second argument).

The last parameter is for the specific use of extension adapters and is typically not used by regular executable extensions.

There are two supported ways of associating additional adapter-specific data with the configuration in a way that is transparent to the extension point implementor:

(1) by specifying adapter data as part of the implementation class attribute value. The Java class name can be followed by a ":" separator, followed by any adapter data in string form. For example, if the extension point specifies an attribute "run" to contain the name of the extension implementation, an adapter can be configured as

     <action run="com.example.ExternalAdapter:./cmds/util.exe -opt 3"/>
 

(2) by converting the attribute used to specify the executable extension to a child element of the original configuration element, and specifying the adapter data in the form of xml markup. Using this form, the example above would become

     <action>
         <run class="com.xyz.ExternalAdapter">
             <parameter name="exec" value="./cmds/util.exe"/>
             <parameter name="opt"  value="3"/>
         </run>
     </action>
 

Form (2) will typically only be used for extension points that anticipate the majority of extensions configured into it will in fact be in the form of adapters.

In either case, the specified adapter class is instantiated using its 0-argument public constructor. The adapter data is passed as the last argument of this method. The data argument is defined as Object. It can have the following values:

The WorkbenchPart implementation of this IExecutableExtension records the configuration element in and internal state variable (accessible via getConfigElement). It also loads the title image, if one is specified in the configuration element. Subclasses may extend. Should not be called by clients. It is called by the core plugin when creating this executable extension.

Specified by:
setInitializationData in interface IExecutableExtension
Parameters:
cfig - the configuration element used to trigger this execution. It can be queried by the executable extension for specific configuration properties
propertyName - the name of an attribute of the configuration element used on the createExecutableExtension(String) call. This argument can be used in the cases where a single configuration element is used to define multiple executable extensions.
data - adapter data in the form of a String, a Hashtable, or null.
See Also:
IConfigurationElement.createExecutableExtension(String)

setSite

protected void setSite(IWorkbenchPartSite site)
Sets the part site.

Subclasses must invoke this method from IEditorPart.init and IViewPart.init.

Parameters:
site - the workbench part site

checkSite

protected void checkSite(IWorkbenchPartSite site)
Checks that the given site is valid for this type of part. The default implementation does nothing.

Parameters:
site - the site to check
Since:
3.1

setTitle

protected void setTitle(String title)
Deprecated. new code should use setPartName and setContentDescription

Sets or clears the title of this part. Clients should call this method instead of overriding getTitle.

This may change a title that was previously set using setPartName or setContentDescription.

Parameters:
title - the title, or null to clear

setTitleImage

protected void setTitleImage(Image titleImage)
Sets or clears the title image of this part.

Parameters:
titleImage - the title image, or null to clear

setTitleToolTip

protected void setTitleToolTip(String toolTip)
Sets or clears the title tool tip text of this part. Clients should call this method instead of overriding getTitleToolTip

Parameters:
toolTip - the new tool tip text, or null to clear

showBusy

public void showBusy(boolean busy)
Show that this part is busy due to a Job running that it is listening to.

Parameters:
busy - boolean to indicate that the busy state has started or ended.
Since:
3.0
See Also:
IWorkbenchSiteProgressService.showBusyForFamily(Object)

getPartName

public String getPartName()
Returns the name of this part. If this value changes the part must fire a property listener event with IWorkbenchPartConstants.PROP_PART_NAME.

It is considered bad practise to overload or extend this method. Parts should call setPartName to change their part name.

Specified by:
getPartName in interface IWorkbenchPart2
Returns:
the name of this view, or the empty string if the name is being managed by the workbench (not null)

setPartName

protected void setPartName(String partName)
Sets the name of this part. The name will be shown in the tab area for the part. Clients should call this method instead of overriding getPartName. Setting this to the empty string will cause a default part name to be used.

setPartName and setContentDescription are intended to replace setTitle. This may change a value that was previously set using setTitle.

Parameters:
partName - the part name, as it should be displayed in tabs.
Since:
3.0

getContentDescription

public String getContentDescription()
Returns the content description of this part. The content description is an optional user-readable string that describes what is currently being displayed in the part. By default, the workbench will display the content description in a line near the top of the view or editor. An empty string indicates no content description text. If this value changes the part must fire a property listener event with IWorkbenchPartConstants.PROP_CONTENT_DESCRIPTION.

It is considered bad practise to overload or extend this method. Parts should call setContentDescription to change their content description.

Specified by:
getContentDescription in interface IWorkbenchPart2
Returns:
the content description of this part (not null)

setContentDescription

protected void setContentDescription(String description)
Sets the content description for this part. The content description is typically a short string describing the current contents of the part. Setting this to the empty string will cause a default content description to be used. Clients should call this method instead of overriding getContentDescription(). For views, the content description is shown (by default) in a line near the top of the view. For editors, the content description is shown beside the part name when showing a list of editors. If the editor is open on a file, this typically contains the path to the input file, without the filename or trailing slash.

This may overwrite a value that was previously set in setTitle

Parameters:
description - the content description
Since:
3.0

getOrientation

public int getOrientation()
Description copied from interface: IWorkbenchPartOrientation
Return the orientation of this part.

Specified by:
getOrientation in interface IWorkbenchPartOrientation
Returns:
int SWT#RIGHT_TO_LEFT or SWT#LEFT_TO_RIGHT
See Also:
Window.getDefaultOrientation(), SWT.RIGHT_TO_LEFT, SWT.LEFT_TO_RIGHT, Window.getDefaultOrientation()

Eclipse Platform
Release 3.1

Guidelines for using Eclipse APIs.

Copyright (c) IBM Corp. and others 2000, 2005. All rights reserved.