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## org.eclipse.jface.preference
Class FieldEditor

    java.lang.Object
      org.eclipse.jface.preference.FieldEditor

Direct Known Subclasses:
  BooleanFieldEditor, ColorFieldEditor, FontFieldEditor, ListEditor, RadioGroupFieldEditor, ScaleFieldEditor, StringFieldEditor

public abstract class FieldEditor
extends Object

Abstract base class for all field editors.

A field editor presents the value of a preference to the end user. The value is loaded from a preference store; if modified by the end user, the value is validated and eventually stored back to the preference store. A field editor reports an event when the value, or the validity of the value, changes.

Field editors should be used in conjunction with a field editor preference page (`FieldEditorPreferencePage`) which coordinates everything and provides the message line which display messages emanating from the editor.

This package contains ready-to-use field editors for various types of preferences:

- `BooleanFieldEditor` - booleans
- `IntegerFieldEditor` - integers
- `StringFieldEditor` - text strings
- `RadioGroupFieldEditor` - enumerations
- `ColorFieldEditor` - RGB colors
- `FontFieldEditor` - fonts
- `DirectoryFieldEditor` - directories
- `FileFieldEditor` - files
- `PathEditor` - paths

Field Summary
`protected static int` | `HORIZONTAL_GAP` Gap between label and control.
`static String` | `IS_VALID` Property name constant (value `"field_editor_is_valid"`) to signal a change in the validity of the value of this field editor.
`static String` | `VALUE` Property name constant (value `"field_editor_value"`) to signal a change in the value of this field editor.

Constructor Summary
`protected` | `FieldEditor()` Creates a new field editor.
`protected` | `FieldEditor(String name, String labelText, Composite parent)` Creates a new field editor.

Method Summary
`protected abstract void` | `adjustForNumColumns(int numColumns)` Adjusts the horizontal span of this field editor's basic controls.
`protected void` | `applyFont()` Applies a font.
`protected void` | `checkParent(Control control, Composite parent)` Checks if the given parent is the current parent of the supplied control; throws an (unchecked) exception if they are not correctly related.
`protected void` | `clearErrorMessage()` Clears the error message from the message line.
`protected void` | `clearMessage()` Clears the normal message from the message line.
`protected int` | `convertHorizontalDLUsToPixels(Control control, int dlus)` Returns the number of pixels corresponding to the given number of horizontal dialog units.
`protected int` | `convertVerticalDLUsToPixels(Control control, int dlus)` Returns the number of pixels corresponding to the given number of vertical dialog units.
`protected void` | `createControl(Composite parent)` Creates this field editor's main control containing all of its basic controls.
`void` | `dispose()` Disposes the SWT resources used by this field editor.
`protected abstract void` | `doFillIntoGrid(Composite parent, int numColumns)` Fills this field editor's basic controls into the given parent.
`protected abstract void` | `doLoad()` Initializes this field editor with the preference value from the preference store.
`protected abstract void` | `doLoadDefault()` Initializes this field editor with the default preference value from the preference store.
`protected abstract void` | `doStore()` Stores the preference value from this field editor into the preference store.
`void` | `fillIntoGrid(Composite parent, int numColumns)` Fills this field editor's basic controls into the given parent.
`protected void` | `fireStateChanged(String property, boolean oldValue, boolean newValue)` Informs this field editor's listener, if it has one, about a change to one of this field editor's boolean-valued properties.
`protected void` | `fireValueChanged(String property, Object oldValue, Object newValue)` Informs this field editor's listener, if it has one, about a change to one of this field editor's properties.
`String` | `getFieldEditorFontName()` Returns the symbolic font name used by this field editor.
`protected Label` | `getLabelControl()` Returns the label control.
`Label` | `getLabelControl(Composite parent)` Returns this field editor's label component.
`String` | `getLabelText()` Returns this field editor's label text.
`abstract int` | `getNumberOfControls()` Returns the number of basic controls this field editor consists of.
`String` | `getPreferenceName()` Returns the name of the preference this field editor operates on.
`protected PreferencePage` | `getPreferencePage()` Returns the preference page in which this field editor appears.
`IPreferenceStore` | `getPreferenceStore()` Returns the preference store used by this field editor.
`protected void` | `init(String name, String text)` Initialize the field editor with the given preference name and label.
`boolean` | `isValid()` Returns whether this field editor contains a valid value.
`void` | `load()` Initializes this field editor with the preference value from the preference store.
`void` | `loadDefault()` Initializes this field editor with the default preference value from the preference store.
`boolean` | `presentsDefaultValue()` Returns whether this field editor currently presents the default value for its preference.
`protected void` | `refreshValidState()` Refreshes this field editor's valid state after a value change and fires an `IS_VALID` property change event if warranted.
`protected void` | `setButtonLayoutData(Button button)` Set the GridData on button to be one that is spaced for the current font.
`void` | `setEnabled(boolean enabled, Composite parent)` Set whether or not the controls in the field editor are enabled.
`void` | `setFocus()` Sets the focus to this field editor.
`void` | `setLabelText(String text)` Sets this field editor's label text.
`void` | `setPreferenceName(String name)` Sets the name of the preference this field editor operates on.
`void` | `setPreferencePage(PreferencePage preferencePage)` Sets the preference page in which this field editor appears.
`void` | `setPreferenceStore(IPreferenceStore store)` Sets the preference store used by this field editor.
`protected void` | `setPresentsDefaultValue(boolean booleanValue)` Sets whether this field editor is presenting the default value.
`void` | `setPropertyChangeListener(IPropertyChangeListener listener)` Sets or removes the property change listener for this field editor.
`protected void` | `showErrorMessage(String msg)` Shows the given error message in the page for this field editor if it has one.
`protected void` | `showMessage(String msg)` Shows the given message in the page for this field editor if it has one.
`void` | `store()` Stores this field editor's value back into the preference store.

Methods inherited from class java.lang.Object
`clone, equals, finalize, getClass, hashCode, notify, notifyAll, toString, wait, wait, wait`

Field Detail

### IS_VALID

    public static final String IS_VALID

  Property name constant (value `"field_editor_is_valid"`) to signal a change in the validity of the value of this field editor.

  See Also:
    Constant Field Values

### VALUE

    public static final String VALUE

  Property name constant (value `"field_editor_value"`) to signal a change in the value of this field editor.

  See Also:
    Constant Field Values

### HORIZONTAL_GAP

    protected static final int HORIZONTAL_GAP

  Gap between label and control.

  See Also:
    Constant Field Values

Constructor Detail

### FieldEditor

    protected FieldEditor()

  Creates a new field editor.

### FieldEditor

    protected FieldEditor(String name,
                          String labelText,
                          Composite parent)

  Creates a new field editor.

Parameters:
  `name` - the name of the preference this field editor works on
  `labelText` - the label text of the field editor
  `parent` - the parent of the field editor's control

Method Detail

### adjustForNumColumns

    protected abstract void adjustForNumColumns(int numColumns)

  Adjusts the horizontal span of this field editor's basic controls.

  Subclasses must implement this method to adjust the horizontal span of controls so they appear correct in the given number of columns.

  The number of columns will always be equal to or greater than the value returned by this editor's `getNumberOfControls` method.

  Parameters:
    `numColumns` - the number of columns

### applyFont

    protected void applyFont()

  Applies a font.

  The default implementation of this framework method does nothing. Subclasses should override this method if they want to change the font of the SWT control to a value different than the standard dialog font.

### checkParent

    protected void checkParent(Control control,
                               Composite parent)

  Checks if the given parent is the current parent of the supplied control; throws an (unchecked) exception if they are not correctly related.

  Parameters:
    `control` - the control
    `parent` - the parent control

### clearErrorMessage

    protected void clearErrorMessage()

  Clears the error message from the message line.

### clearMessage

    protected void clearMessage()

  Clears the normal message from the message line.

### convertHorizontalDLUsToPixels

    protected int convertHorizontalDLUsToPixels(Control control,
                                                int dlus)

  Returns the number of pixels corresponding to the given number of horizontal dialog units.

  Clients may call this framework method, but should not override it.

  Parameters:
    `control` - the control being sized
    `dlus` - the number of horizontal dialog units
  Returns:
    the number of pixels

### convertVerticalDLUsToPixels

    protected int convertVerticalDLUsToPixels(Control control,
                                              int dlus)

  Returns the number of pixels corresponding to the given number of vertical dialog units.

  Clients may call this framework method, but should not override it.

  Parameters:
    `control` - the control being sized
    `dlus` - the number of vertical dialog units
  Returns:
    the number of pixels

### createControl

    protected void createControl(Composite parent)

  Creates this field editor's main control containing all of its basic controls.

  Parameters:
    `parent` - the parent control

### dispose

    public void dispose()

  Disposes the SWT resources used by this field editor.

### doFillIntoGrid

    protected abstract void doFillIntoGrid(Composite parent,
                                           int numColumns)

  Fills this field editor's basic controls into the given parent.

  Subclasses must implement this method to create the controls for this field editor.

  Parameters:
    `parent` - the composite used as a parent for the basic controls; the parent's layout must be a `GridLayout`
    `numColumns` - the number of columns

### doLoad

    protected abstract void doLoad()

  Initializes this field editor with the preference value from the preference store.

  Subclasses must implement this method to properly initialize the field editor.

### doLoadDefault

    protected abstract void doLoadDefault()

  Initializes this field editor with the default preference value from the preference store.

  Subclasses must implement this method to properly initialize the field editor.

### doStore

    protected abstract void doStore()

  Stores the preference value from this field editor into the preference store.

  Subclasses must implement this method to save the entered value into the preference store.

### fillIntoGrid

    public void fillIntoGrid(Composite parent,
                             int numColumns)

  Fills this field editor's basic controls into the given parent.

  Parameters:
    `parent` - the composite used as a parent for the basic controls; the parent's layout must be a `GridLayout`
    `numColumns` - the number of columns

### fireStateChanged

    protected void fireStateChanged(String property,
                                    boolean oldValue,
                                    boolean newValue)

  Informs this field editor's listener, if it has one, about a change to one of this field editor's boolean-valued properties. Does nothing if the old and new values are the same.

  Parameters:
    `property` - the field editor property name, such as `VALUE` or `IS_VALID`
    `oldValue` - the old value
    `newValue` - the new value

### fireValueChanged

    protected void fireValueChanged(String property,
                                    Object oldValue,
                                    Object newValue)

  Informs this field editor's listener, if it has one, about a change to one of this field editor's properties.

  Parameters:
    `property` - the field editor property name, such as `VALUE` or `IS_VALID`
    `oldValue` - the old value object, or `null`
    `newValue` - the new value, or `null`

### getFieldEditorFontName

    public String getFieldEditorFontName()

  Returns the symbolic font name used by this field editor.

  Returns:
    the symbolic font name

### getLabelControl

    protected Label getLabelControl()

  Returns the label control.

  Returns:
    the label control, or `null` if no label control has been created

### getLabelControl

    public Label getLabelControl(Composite parent)

  Returns this field editor's label component.

  The label is created if it does not already exist

  Parameters:
    `parent` - the parent
  Returns:
    the label control

### getLabelText

    public String getLabelText()

  Returns this field editor's label text.

  Returns:
    the label text

### getNumberOfControls

    public abstract int getNumberOfControls()

  Returns the number of basic controls this field editor consists of.

  Returns:
    the number of controls

### getPreferenceName

    public String getPreferenceName()

  Returns the name of the preference this field editor operates on.

  Returns:
    the name of the preference

### getPreferencePage

    protected PreferencePage getPreferencePage()

  Returns the preference page in which this field editor appears.

  Returns:
    the preference page, or `null` if none

### getPreferenceStore

    public IPreferenceStore getPreferenceStore()

  Returns the preference store used by this field editor.

  Returns:
    the preference store, or `null` if none
  See Also:
    `setPreferenceStore(org.eclipse.jface.preference.IPreferenceStore)`

### init

    protected void init(String name,
                        String text)

  Initialize the field editor with the given preference name and label.

  Parameters:
    `name` - the name of the preference this field editor works on
    `text` - the label text of the field editor

### isValid

    public boolean isValid()

  Returns whether this field editor contains a valid value.

  The default implementation of this framework method returns `true`. Subclasses wishing to perform validation should override both this method and `refreshValidState`.

  Returns:
    `true` if the field value is valid, and `false` if invalid
  See Also:
    `refreshValidState()`

### load

    public void load()

  Initializes this field editor with the preference value from the preference store.

### loadDefault

    public void loadDefault()

  Initializes this field editor with the default preference value from the preference store.

### presentsDefaultValue

    public boolean presentsDefaultValue()

  Returns whether this field editor currently presents the default value for its preference.

  Returns:
    `true` if the default value is presented, and `false` otherwise

### refreshValidState

    protected void refreshValidState()

  Refreshes this field editor's valid state after a value change and fires an `IS_VALID` property change event if warranted.

  The default implementation of this framework method does nothing. Subclasses wishing to perform validation should override both this method and `isValid`.

  See Also:
    `isValid()`

### setFocus

    public void setFocus()

  Sets the focus to this field editor.

  The default implementation of this framework method does nothing. Subclasses may reimplement.

### setLabelText

    public void setLabelText(String text)

  Sets this field editor's label text. The label is typically presented to the left of the entry field.

  Parameters:
    `text` - the label text

### setPreferenceName

    public void setPreferenceName(String name)

  Sets the name of the preference this field editor operates on.

  The ability to change this allows the same field editor object to be reused for different preferences.

  For example:

       	...
        editor.setPreferenceName("font");
       	editor.load();

  Parameters:
    `name` - the name of the preference

### setPreferencePage

    public void setPreferencePage(PreferencePage preferencePage)

  Sets the preference page in which this field editor appears.

  Parameters:
    `preferencePage` - the preference page, or `null` if none

### setPreferenceStore

    public void setPreferenceStore(IPreferenceStore store)

  Sets the preference store used by this field editor.

  Parameters:
    `store` - the preference store, or `null` if none
  See Also:
    `getPreferenceStore()`

### setPresentsDefaultValue

    protected void setPresentsDefaultValue(boolean booleanValue)

  Sets whether this field editor is presenting the default value.

  Parameters:
    `booleanValue` - `true` if the default value is being presented, and `false` otherwise

### setPropertyChangeListener

    public void setPropertyChangeListener(IPropertyChangeListener listener)

  Sets or removes the property change listener for this field editor.

  Note that field editors can support only a single listener.

  Parameters:
    `listener` - a property change listener, or `null` to remove

### showErrorMessage

    protected void showErrorMessage(String msg)

  Shows the given error message in the page for this field editor if it has one.

  Parameters:
    `msg` - the error message

### showMessage

    protected void showMessage(String msg)

  Shows the given message in the page for this field editor if it has one.

  Parameters:
    `msg` - the message

### store

    public void store()

  Stores this field editor's value back into the preference store.

### setButtonLayoutData

    protected void setButtonLayoutData(Button button)

  Set the GridData on button to be one that is spaced for the current font.

  Parameters:
    `button` - the button the data is being set on.

### setEnabled

    public void setEnabled(boolean enabled,
                           Composite parent)

  Set whether or not the controls in the field editor are enabled.

  Parameters:
    `enabled` - The enabled state.
    `parent` - The parent of the controls in the group. Used to create the controls if required.

Overview | Package | Class | Use | Tree | Deprecated | Index | Help
| Eclipse Platform Release 3.0
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