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Class java.text.ChoiceFormat

java.lang.Object
   |
   +----java.text.Format
           |
           +----java.text.NumberFormat
                   |
                   +----java.text.ChoiceFormat

public class ChoiceFormat
extends NumberFormat
A ChoiceFormat allows you to attach a format to a range of numbers. It is generally used in a MessageFormat for handling plurals. The choice is specified with an ascending list of doubles, where each item specifies a half-open interval up to the next item:
 X matches j if and only if limit[j] <= X < limit[j+1]
 
If there is no match, then either the first or last index is used, depending on whether the number (X) is too low or too high.

Note: ChoiceFormat differs from the other Format classes in that you create a ChoiceFormat object with a constructor (not with a getInstance style factory method). The factory methods aren't necessary because ChoiceFormat doesn't require any complex setup for a given locale. In fact, ChoiceFormat doesn't implement any locale specific behavior.

When creating a ChoiceFormat, you must specify an array of formats and an array of limits. The length of these arrays must be the same. For example,

Here is a simple example that shows formatting and parsing:

 double[] limits = {1,2,3,4,5,6,7};
 String[] monthNames = {"Sun","Mon","Tue","Wed","Thur","Fri","Sat"};
 ChoiceFormat form = new ChoiceFormat(limits, monthNames);
 ParsePosition status = new ParsePosition(0);
 for (double i = 0.0; i <= 8.0; ++i) {
     status.setIndex(0);
     System.out.println(i + " -> " + form.format(i) + " -> "
                              + form.parse(form.format(i),status));
 }
 
Here is a more complex example, with a pattern format:
 double[] filelimits = {0,1,2};
 String[] filepart = {"are no files","is one file","are {2} files"};
 ChoiceFormat fileform = new ChoiceFormat(filelimits, filepart);
 Format[] testFormats = {fileform, null, NumberFormat.getInstance()};
 MessageFormat pattform = new MessageFormat("There {0} on {1}");
 pattform.setFormats(testFormats);
 Object[] testArgs = {null, "ADisk", null};
 for (int i = 0; i < 4; ++i) {
     testArgs[0] = new Integer(i);
     testArgs[2] = testArgs[0];
     System.out.println(pattform.format(testArgs));
 }
 

See Also:
DecimalFormat, MessageFormat

Constructor Index

 o ChoiceFormat(double[], String[])
Constructs with the limits and the corresponding formats.
 o ChoiceFormat(String)
Constructs with limits and corresponding formats based on the pattern.

Method Index

 o applyPattern(String)
Sets the pattern.
 o clone()
Overrides Cloneable
 o equals(Object)
Equality comparision between two
 o format(double, StringBuffer, FieldPosition)
Specialization of format.
 o format(long, StringBuffer, FieldPosition)
Specialization of format.
 o getFormats()
Get the formats passed in the constructor.
 o getLimits()
Get the limits passed in the constructor.
 o hashCode()
Generates a hash code for the message format object.
 o nextDouble(double)
Finds the least double greater than d.
 o nextDouble(double, boolean)
 o parse(String, ParsePosition)
Returns a Long if possible (e.g., within the range [Long.MIN_VALUE, Long.MAX_VALUE] and with no decimals), otherwise a Double.
 o previousDouble(double)
Finds the greatest double less than d.
 o setChoices(double[], String[])
Set the choices to be used in formatting.
 o toPattern()
Gets the pattern.

Constructors

 o ChoiceFormat
 public ChoiceFormat(String newPattern)
Constructs with limits and corresponding formats based on the pattern.

 o ChoiceFormat
 public ChoiceFormat(double limits[],
                     String formats[])
Constructs with the limits and the corresponding formats.

See Also:
setChoices

Methods

 o applyPattern
 public void applyPattern(String newPattern)
Sets the pattern.

Parameters:
newPattern - See the class description.
 o toPattern
 public String toPattern()
Gets the pattern.

 o setChoices
 public void setChoices(double limits[],
                        String formats[])
Set the choices to be used in formatting.

Parameters:
limits - contains the top value that you want parsed with that format,and should be in ascending sorted order. When formatting X, the choice will be the i, where limit[i] <= X < limit[i+1].
formats - are the formats you want to use for each limit. They can be either Format objects or Strings. When formatting with object Y, if the object is a NumberFormat, then ((NumberFormat) Y).format(X) is called. Otherwise Y.toString() is called.
 o getLimits
 public double[] getLimits()
Get the limits passed in the constructor.

Returns:
the limits.
 o getFormats
 public Object[] getFormats()
Get the formats passed in the constructor.

Returns:
the formats.
 o format
 public StringBuffer format(long number,
                            StringBuffer toAppendTo,
                            FieldPosition status)
Specialization of format. This method really calls format(double, StringBuffer, FieldPosition) thus the range of longs that are supported is only equal to the range that can be stored by double. This will never be a practical limitation.

Overrides:
format in class NumberFormat
 o format
 public StringBuffer format(double number,
                            StringBuffer toAppendTo,
                            FieldPosition status)
Specialization of format.

Overrides:
format in class NumberFormat
 o parse
 public Number parse(String text,
                     ParsePosition status)
Returns a Long if possible (e.g., within the range [Long.MIN_VALUE, Long.MAX_VALUE] and with no decimals), otherwise a Double.

Overrides:
parse in class NumberFormat
 o nextDouble
 public static final double nextDouble(double d)
Finds the least double greater than d. If NaN, returns same value.

Used to make half-open intervals.

See Also:
previousDouble
 o previousDouble
 public static final double previousDouble(double d)
Finds the greatest double less than d. If NaN, returns same value.

See Also:
nextDouble
 o clone
 public Object clone()
Overrides Cloneable

Overrides:
clone in class NumberFormat
 o hashCode
 public int hashCode()
Generates a hash code for the message format object.

Overrides:
hashCode in class NumberFormat
 o equals
 public boolean equals(Object obj)
Equality comparision between two

Overrides:
equals in class NumberFormat
 o nextDouble
 public static double nextDouble(double d,
                                 boolean positive)

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