Package org.eclipse.jface.viewers

Class ContentViewer

java.lang.Object
org.eclipse.jface.viewers.Viewer
org.eclipse.jface.viewers.ContentViewer
All Implemented Interfaces:
IInputProvider, IInputSelectionProvider, ISelectionProvider
Direct Known Subclasses:
ContentMergeViewer, StructuredViewer
public abstract class ContentViewer extends Viewer
A content viewer is a model-based adapter on a widget which accesses its model by means of a content provider and a label provider.

A viewer's model consists of elements, represented by objects. A viewer defines and implements generic infrastructure for handling model input, updates, and selections in terms of elements. Input is obtained by querying an IContentProvider which returns elements. The elements themselves are not displayed directly. They are mapped to labels, containing text and/or an image, using the viewer's ILabelProvider.

Implementing a concrete content viewer typically involves the following steps:

  • create SWT controls for viewer (in constructor) (optional)
  • initialize SWT controls from input (inputChanged)
  • define viewer-specific update methods
  • support selections (setSelection, getSelection)

  • Constructor Details

    • ContentViewer

      protected ContentViewer()
      Creates a content viewer with no input, no content provider, and a default label provider.

  • Method Details

    • getContentProvider

      public IContentProvider getContentProvider()
      Returns the content provider used by this viewer, or null if this view does not yet have a content provider.

      The ContentViewer implementation of this method returns the content provider recorded is an internal state variable. Overriding this method is generally not required; however, if overriding in a subclass, super.getContentProvider must be invoked.

      Returns:
      the content provider, or null if none

    • getInput

      public Object getInput()
      The ContentViewer implementation of this IInputProvider method returns the current input of this viewer, or null if none. The viewer's input provides the "model" for the viewer's content.
      Specified by:
      getInput in interface IInputProvider
      Specified by:
      getInput in class Viewer
      Returns:
      the input object

    • getLabelProvider

      public IBaseLabelProvider getLabelProvider()
      Returns the label provider used by this viewer.

      The ContentViewer implementation of this method returns the label provider recorded in an internal state variable; if none has been set (with setLabelProvider) a default label provider will be created, remembered, and returned. Overriding this method is generally not required; however, if overriding in a subclass, super.getLabelProvider must be invoked.

      Returns:
      a label provider

    • handleDispose

      protected void handleDispose(DisposeEvent event)
      Handles a dispose event on this viewer's control.

      The ContentViewer implementation of this method disposes of this viewer's label provider and content provider (if it has one). Subclasses should override this method to perform any additional cleanup of resources; however, overriding methods must invoke super.handleDispose.

      Parameters:
      event - a dispose event

    • handleLabelProviderChanged

      protected void handleLabelProviderChanged(LabelProviderChangedEvent event)
      Handles a label provider changed event.

      The ContentViewer implementation of this method calls labelProviderChanged() to cause a complete refresh of the viewer. Subclasses may reimplement or extend.

      Parameters:
      event - the change event

    • hookControl

      protected void hookControl(Control control)
      Adds event listener hooks to the given control.

      All subclasses must call this method when their control is first established.

      The ContentViewer implementation of this method hooks dispose events for the given control. Subclasses may override if they need to add other control hooks; however, super.hookControl must be invoked.

      Parameters:
      control - the control

    • labelProviderChanged

      protected void labelProviderChanged()
      Notifies that the label provider has changed.

      The ContentViewer implementation of this method calls refresh(). Subclasses may reimplement or extend.

    • setContentProvider

      public void setContentProvider(IContentProvider contentProvider)
      Sets the content provider used by this viewer.

      The ContentViewer implementation of this method records the content provider in an internal state variable. Overriding this method is generally not required; however, if overriding in a subclass, super.setContentProvider must be invoked.

      Parameters:
      contentProvider - the content provider
      See Also:

    • setInput

      public void setInput(Object input)
      The ContentViewer implementation of this Viewer method invokes inputChanged on the content provider and then the inputChanged hook method. This method fails if this viewer does not have a content provider. Subclassers are advised to override inputChanged rather than this method, but may extend this method if required.
      Specified by:
      setInput in class Viewer
      Parameters:
      input - the input of this viewer, or null if none

    • setLabelProvider

      public void setLabelProvider(IBaseLabelProvider labelProvider)
      Sets the label provider for this viewer.

      The ContentViewer implementation of this method ensures that the given label provider is connected to this viewer and the former label provider is disconnected from this viewer. Overriding this method is generally not required; however, if overriding in a subclass, super.setLabelProvider must be invoked.

      Parameters:
      labelProvider - the label provider, or null if none