AbstractPreferences
public abstract class Preferences extends Object
There are two separate trees of preference nodes, one for user preferences and one for system preferences. Each user has a separate user preference tree, and all users in a given system share the same system preference tree. The precise description of "user" and "system" will vary from implementation to implementation. Typical information stored in the user preference tree might include font choice, color choice, or preferred window location and size for a particular application. Typical information stored in the system preference tree might include installation configuration data for an application.
Nodes in a preference tree are named in a similar fashion to directories in a hierarchical file system. Every node in a preference tree has a node name (which is not necessarily unique), a unique absolute path name, and a path name relative to each ancestor including itself.
The root node has a node name of the empty string (""). Every other node has an arbitrary node name, specified at the time it is created. The only restrictions on this name are that it cannot be the empty string, and it cannot contain the slash character ('/').
The root node has an absolute path name of "/"
. Children of the root node have absolute path names of "/" +
<node name>. All other nodes have absolute path names of <parent's absolute path name> + "/" +
<node name>. Note that all absolute path names begin with the slash character.
A node n's path name relative to its ancestor a is simply the string that must be appended to a's absolute path name in order to form n's absolute path name, with the initial slash character (if present) removed. Note that:
Note finally that:
All of the methods that modify preferences data are permitted to operate asynchronously; they may return immediately, and changes will eventually propagate to the persistent backing store with an implementation-dependent delay. The flush
method may be used to synchronously force updates to the backing store. Normal termination of the Java Virtual Machine will not result in the loss of pending updates -- an explicit flush
invocation is not required upon termination to ensure that pending updates are made persistent.
All of the methods that read preferences from a Preferences
object require the invoker to provide a default value. The default value is returned if no value has been previously set or if the backing store is unavailable. The intent is to allow applications to operate, albeit with slightly degraded functionality, even if the backing store becomes unavailable. Several methods, like flush
, have semantics that prevent them from operating if the backing store is unavailable. Ordinary applications should have no need to invoke any of these methods, which can be identified by the fact that they are declared to throw BackingStoreException
.
The methods in this class may be invoked concurrently by multiple threads in a single JVM without the need for external synchronization, and the results will be equivalent to some serial execution. If this class is used concurrently by multiple JVMs that store their preference data in the same backing store, the data store will not be corrupted, but no other guarantees are made concerning the consistency of the preference data.
This class contains an export/import facility, allowing preferences to be "exported" to an XML document, and XML documents representing preferences to be "imported" back into the system. This facility may be used to back up all or part of a preference tree, and subsequently restore from the backup.
The XML document has the following DOCTYPE declaration:
<!DOCTYPE preferences SYSTEM "http://java.sun.com/dtd/preferences.dtd">
Note that the system URI (http://java.sun.com/dtd/preferences.dtd) is not accessed when exporting or importing preferences; it merely serves as a string to uniquely identify the DTD, which is:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!-- DTD for a Preferences tree. -->
<!-- The preferences element is at the root of an XML document
representing a Preferences tree. -->
<!ELEMENT preferences (root)>
<!-- The preferences element contains an optional version attribute,
which specifies version of DTD. -->
<!ATTLIST preferences EXTERNAL_XML_VERSION CDATA "0.0" >
<!-- The root element has a map representing the root's preferences
(if any), and one node for each child of the root (if any). -->
<!ELEMENT root (map, node*) >
<!-- Additionally, the root contains a type attribute, which
specifies whether it's the system or user root. -->
<!ATTLIST root
type (system|user) #REQUIRED >
<!-- Each node has a map representing its preferences (if any),
and one node for each child (if any). -->
<!ELEMENT node (map, node*) >
<!-- Additionally, each node has a name attribute -->
<!ATTLIST node
name CDATA #REQUIRED >
<!-- A map represents the preferences stored at a node (if any). -->
<!ELEMENT map (entry*) >
<!-- An entry represents a single preference, which is simply
a key-value pair. -->
<!ELEMENT entry EMPTY >
<!ATTLIST entry
key CDATA #REQUIRED
value CDATA #REQUIRED >
Every Preferences
implementation must have an associated PreferencesFactory
implementation. Every Java(TM) SE implementation must provide some means of specifying which PreferencesFactory
implementation is used to generate the root preferences nodes. This allows the administrator to replace the default preferences implementation with an alternative implementation.PreferencesFactory
implementation is located as follows: If the system property java.util.prefs.PreferencesFactory
is defined, then it is taken to be the fully-qualified name of a class implementing the PreferencesFactory
interface. The class is loaded and instantiated; if this process fails then an unspecified error is thrown.
If a PreferencesFactory
implementation class file has been installed in a jar file that is visible to the system class loader
, and that jar file contains a provider-configuration file named java.util.prefs.PreferencesFactory
in the resource directory META-INF/services
, then the first class name specified in that file is taken. If more than one such jar file is provided, the first one found will be used. The class is loaded and instantiated; if this process fails then an unspecified error is thrown.
Finally, if neither the above-mentioned system property nor an extension jar file is provided, then the system-wide default PreferencesFactory
implementation for the underlying platform is loaded and instantiated.
Modifier and Type | Field | Description |
---|---|---|
static final int |
MAX_KEY_LENGTH |
Maximum length of string allowed as a key (80 characters). |
static final int |
MAX_NAME_LENGTH |
Maximum length of a node name (80 characters). |
static final int |
MAX_VALUE_LENGTH |
Maximum length of string allowed as a value (8192 characters). |
Modifier | Constructor | Description |
---|---|---|
protected |
Sole constructor. |
Modifier and Type | Method | Description |
---|---|---|
abstract String |
absolutePath() |
Returns this preference node's absolute path name. |
abstract void |
addNodeChangeListener |
Registers the specified listener to receive node change events for this node. |
abstract void |
addPreferenceChangeListener |
Registers the specified listener to receive preference change events for this preference node. |
abstract String[] |
childrenNames() |
Returns the names of the children of this preference node, relative to this node. |
abstract void |
clear() |
Removes all of the preferences (key-value associations) in this preference node. |
abstract void |
exportNode |
Emits on the specified output stream an XML document representing all of the preferences contained in this node (but not its descendants). |
abstract void |
exportSubtree |
Emits an XML document representing all of the preferences contained in this node and all of its descendants. |
abstract void |
flush() |
Forces any changes in the contents of this preference node and its descendants to the persistent store. |
abstract String |
get |
Returns the value associated with the specified key in this preference node. |
abstract boolean |
getBoolean |
Returns the boolean value represented by the string associated with the specified key in this preference node. |
abstract byte[] |
getByteArray |
Returns the byte array value represented by the string associated with the specified key in this preference node. |
abstract double |
getDouble |
Returns the double value represented by the string associated with the specified key in this preference node. |
abstract float |
getFloat |
Returns the float value represented by the string associated with the specified key in this preference node. |
abstract int |
getInt |
Returns the int value represented by the string associated with the specified key in this preference node. |
abstract long |
getLong |
Returns the long value represented by the string associated with the specified key in this preference node. |
static void |
importPreferences |
Imports all of the preferences represented by the XML document on the specified input stream. |
abstract boolean |
isUserNode() |
Returns true if this preference node is in the user preference tree, false if it's in the system preference tree. |
abstract String[] |
keys() |
Returns all of the keys that have an associated value in this preference node. |
abstract String |
name() |
Returns this preference node's name, relative to its parent. |
abstract Preferences |
node |
Returns the named preference node in the same tree as this node, creating it and any of its ancestors if they do not already exist. |
abstract boolean |
nodeExists |
Returns true if the named preference node exists in the same tree as this node. |
abstract Preferences |
parent() |
Returns the parent of this preference node, or null if this is the root. |
abstract void |
put |
Associates the specified value with the specified key in this preference node. |
abstract void |
putBoolean |
Associates a string representing the specified boolean value with the specified key in this preference node. |
abstract void |
putByteArray |
Associates a string representing the specified byte array with the specified key in this preference node. |
abstract void |
putDouble |
Associates a string representing the specified double value with the specified key in this preference node. |
abstract void |
putFloat |
Associates a string representing the specified float value with the specified key in this preference node. |
abstract void |
putInt |
Associates a string representing the specified int value with the specified key in this preference node. |
abstract void |
putLong |
Associates a string representing the specified long value with the specified key in this preference node. |
abstract void |
remove |
Removes the value associated with the specified key in this preference node, if any. |
abstract void |
removeNode() |
Removes this preference node and all of its descendants, invalidating any preferences contained in the removed nodes. |
abstract void |
removeNodeChangeListener |
Removes the specified NodeChangeListener , so it no longer receives change events. |
abstract void |
removePreferenceChangeListener |
Removes the specified preference change listener, so it no longer receives preference change events. |
abstract void |
sync() |
Ensures that future reads from this preference node and its descendants reflect any changes that were committed to the persistent store (from any VM) prior to the sync invocation. |
static Preferences |
systemNodeForPackage |
Returns the preference node from the system preference tree that is associated (by convention) with the specified class's package. |
static Preferences |
systemRoot() |
Returns the root preference node for the system. |
abstract String |
toString() |
Returns a string representation of this preferences node, as if computed by the expression: (this.isUserNode() ? "User" :
"System") + " Preference Node: " + this.absolutePath() . |
static Preferences |
userNodeForPackage |
Returns the preference node from the calling user's preference tree that is associated (by convention) with the specified class's package. |
static Preferences |
userRoot() |
Returns the root preference node for the calling user. |
public static final int MAX_KEY_LENGTH
public static final int MAX_VALUE_LENGTH
public static final int MAX_NAME_LENGTH
protected Preferences()
public static Preferences userNodeForPackage(Class<?> c)
'/'
), and with each period ('.'
) replaced by a slash. For example the absolute path name of the node associated with the class com.acme.widget.Foo
is /com/acme/widget
. This convention does not apply to the unnamed package, whose associated preference node is <unnamed>
. This node is not intended for long term use, but for convenience in the early development of programs that do not yet belong to a package, and for "throwaway" programs. Valuable data should not be stored at this node as it is shared by all programs that use it.
A class Foo
wishing to access preferences pertaining to its package can obtain a preference node as follows:
static Preferences prefs = Preferences.userNodeForPackage(Foo.class);This idiom obviates the need for using a string to describe the preferences node and decreases the likelihood of a run-time failure. (If the class name is misspelled, it will typically result in a compile-time error.)
Invoking this method will result in the creation of the returned node and its ancestors if they do not already exist. If the returned node did not exist prior to this call, this node and any ancestors that were created by this call are not guaranteed to become permanent until the flush
method is called on the returned node (or one of its ancestors or descendants).
c
- the class for whose package a user preference node is desired.c
is a member.NullPointerException
- if c
is null
.SecurityException
- if a security manager is present and it denies RuntimePermission("preferences")
.public static Preferences systemNodeForPackage(Class<?> c)
'/'
), and with each period ('.'
) replaced by a slash. For example the absolute path name of the node associated with the class com.acme.widget.Foo
is /com/acme/widget
. This convention does not apply to the unnamed package, whose associated preference node is <unnamed>
. This node is not intended for long term use, but for convenience in the early development of programs that do not yet belong to a package, and for "throwaway" programs. Valuable data should not be stored at this node as it is shared by all programs that use it.
A class Foo
wishing to access preferences pertaining to its package can obtain a preference node as follows:
static Preferences prefs = Preferences.systemNodeForPackage(Foo.class);This idiom obviates the need for using a string to describe the preferences node and decreases the likelihood of a run-time failure. (If the class name is misspelled, it will typically result in a compile-time error.)
Invoking this method will result in the creation of the returned node and its ancestors if they do not already exist. If the returned node did not exist prior to this call, this node and any ancestors that were created by this call are not guaranteed to become permanent until the flush
method is called on the returned node (or one of its ancestors or descendants).
c
- the class for whose package a system preference node is desired.c
is a member.NullPointerException
- if c
is null
.SecurityException
- if a security manager is present and it denies RuntimePermission("preferences")
.public static Preferences userRoot()
SecurityException
- If a security manager is present and it denies RuntimePermission("preferences")
.public static Preferences systemRoot()
SecurityException
- If a security manager is present and it denies RuntimePermission("preferences")
.public abstract void put(String key, String value)
key
- key with which the specified value is to be associated.value
- value to be associated with the specified key.NullPointerException
- if key or value is null
.IllegalArgumentException
- if key.length()
exceeds MAX_KEY_LENGTH
or if value.length
exceeds MAX_VALUE_LENGTH
.IllegalStateException
- if this node (or an ancestor) has been removed with the removeNode()
method.IllegalArgumentException
- if either key or value contain the null control character, code point U+0000.public abstract String get(String key, String def)
Some implementations may store default values in their backing stores. If there is no value associated with the specified key but there is such a stored default, it is returned in preference to the specified default.
key
- key whose associated value is to be returned.def
- the value to be returned in the event that this preference node has no value associated with key
.key
, or def
if no value is associated with key
, or the backing store is inaccessible.IllegalStateException
- if this node (or an ancestor) has been removed with the removeNode()
method.NullPointerException
- if key
is null
. (A null
value for def
is permitted.)IllegalArgumentException
- if key contains the null control character, code point U+0000.public abstract void remove(String key)
If this implementation supports stored defaults, and there is such a default for the specified preference, the stored default will be "exposed" by this call, in the sense that it will be returned by a succeeding call to get
.
key
- key whose mapping is to be removed from the preference node.NullPointerException
- if key
is null
.IllegalStateException
- if this node (or an ancestor) has been removed with the removeNode()
method.IllegalArgumentException
- if key contains the null control character, code point U+0000.public abstract void clear() throws BackingStoreException
If this implementation supports stored defaults, and this node in the preferences hierarchy contains any such defaults, the stored defaults will be "exposed" by this call, in the sense that they will be returned by succeeding calls to get
.
BackingStoreException
- if this operation cannot be completed due to a failure in the backing store, or inability to communicate with it.IllegalStateException
- if this node (or an ancestor) has been removed with the removeNode()
method.public abstract void putInt(String key, int value)
Integer.toString(int)
. This method is intended for use in conjunction with getInt(java.lang.String, int)
.key
- key with which the string form of value is to be associated.value
- value whose string form is to be associated with key.NullPointerException
- if key
is null
.IllegalArgumentException
- if key.length()
exceeds MAX_KEY_LENGTH
.IllegalStateException
- if this node (or an ancestor) has been removed with the removeNode()
method.IllegalArgumentException
- if key contains the null control character, code point U+0000.public abstract int getInt(String key, int def)
Integer.parseInt(String)
. Returns the specified default if there is no value associated with the key, the backing store is inaccessible, or if Integer.parseInt(String)
would throw a NumberFormatException
if the associated value were passed. This method is intended for use in conjunction with putInt(java.lang.String, int)
. If the implementation supports stored defaults and such a default exists, is accessible, and could be converted to an int with Integer.parseInt
, this int is returned in preference to the specified default.
key
- key whose associated value is to be returned as an int.def
- the value to be returned in the event that this preference node has no value associated with key
or the associated value cannot be interpreted as an int, or the backing store is inaccessible.key
in this preference node, or def
if the associated value does not exist or cannot be interpreted as an int.IllegalStateException
- if this node (or an ancestor) has been removed with the removeNode()
method.NullPointerException
- if key
is null
.IllegalArgumentException
- if key contains the null control character, code point U+0000.public abstract void putLong(String key, long value)
Long.toString(long)
. This method is intended for use in conjunction with getLong(java.lang.String, long)
.key
- key with which the string form of value is to be associated.value
- value whose string form is to be associated with key.NullPointerException
- if key
is null
.IllegalArgumentException
- if key.length()
exceeds MAX_KEY_LENGTH
.IllegalStateException
- if this node (or an ancestor) has been removed with the removeNode()
method.IllegalArgumentException
- if key contains the null control character, code point U+0000.public abstract long getLong(String key, long def)
Long.parseLong(String)
. Returns the specified default if there is no value associated with the key, the backing store is inaccessible, or if Long.parseLong(String)
would throw a NumberFormatException
if the associated value were passed. This method is intended for use in conjunction with putLong(java.lang.String, long)
. If the implementation supports stored defaults and such a default exists, is accessible, and could be converted to a long with Long.parseLong
, this long is returned in preference to the specified default.
key
- key whose associated value is to be returned as a long.def
- the value to be returned in the event that this preference node has no value associated with key
or the associated value cannot be interpreted as a long, or the backing store is inaccessible.key
in this preference node, or def
if the associated value does not exist or cannot be interpreted as a long.IllegalStateException
- if this node (or an ancestor) has been removed with the removeNode()
method.NullPointerException
- if key
is null
.IllegalArgumentException
- if key contains the null control character, code point U+0000.public abstract void putBoolean(String key, boolean value)
"true"
if the value is true, and "false"
if it is false. This method is intended for use in conjunction with getBoolean(java.lang.String, boolean)
.key
- key with which the string form of value is to be associated.value
- value whose string form is to be associated with key.NullPointerException
- if key
is null
.IllegalArgumentException
- if key.length()
exceeds MAX_KEY_LENGTH
.IllegalStateException
- if this node (or an ancestor) has been removed with the removeNode()
method.IllegalArgumentException
- if key contains the null control character, code point U+0000.public abstract boolean getBoolean(String key, boolean def)
"true"
, which represents true, and "false"
, which represents false. Case is ignored, so, for example, "TRUE"
and "False"
are also valid. This method is intended for use in conjunction with putBoolean(java.lang.String, boolean)
. Returns the specified default if there is no value associated with the key, the backing store is inaccessible, or if the associated value is something other than "true"
or "false"
, ignoring case.
If the implementation supports stored defaults and such a default exists and is accessible, it is used in preference to the specified default, unless the stored default is something other than "true"
or "false"
, ignoring case, in which case the specified default is used.
key
- key whose associated value is to be returned as a boolean.def
- the value to be returned in the event that this preference node has no value associated with key
or the associated value cannot be interpreted as a boolean, or the backing store is inaccessible.key
in this preference node, or def
if the associated value does not exist or cannot be interpreted as a boolean.IllegalStateException
- if this node (or an ancestor) has been removed with the removeNode()
method.NullPointerException
- if key
is null
.IllegalArgumentException
- if key contains the null control character, code point U+0000.public abstract void putFloat(String key, float value)
Float.toString(float)
. This method is intended for use in conjunction with getFloat(java.lang.String, float)
.key
- key with which the string form of value is to be associated.value
- value whose string form is to be associated with key.NullPointerException
- if key
is null
.IllegalArgumentException
- if key.length()
exceeds MAX_KEY_LENGTH
.IllegalStateException
- if this node (or an ancestor) has been removed with the removeNode()
method.IllegalArgumentException
- if key contains the null control character, code point U+0000.public abstract float getFloat(String key, float def)
Float.parseFloat(String)
. Returns the specified default if there is no value associated with the key, the backing store is inaccessible, or if Float.parseFloat(String)
would throw a NumberFormatException
if the associated value were passed. This method is intended for use in conjunction with putFloat(java.lang.String, float)
. If the implementation supports stored defaults and such a default exists, is accessible, and could be converted to a float with Float.parseFloat
, this float is returned in preference to the specified default.
key
- key whose associated value is to be returned as a float.def
- the value to be returned in the event that this preference node has no value associated with key
or the associated value cannot be interpreted as a float, or the backing store is inaccessible.key
in this preference node, or def
if the associated value does not exist or cannot be interpreted as a float.IllegalStateException
- if this node (or an ancestor) has been removed with the removeNode()
method.NullPointerException
- if key
is null
.IllegalArgumentException
- if key contains the null control character, code point U+0000.public abstract void putDouble(String key, double value)
Double.toString(double)
. This method is intended for use in conjunction with getDouble(java.lang.String, double)
.key
- key with which the string form of value is to be associated.value
- value whose string form is to be associated with key.NullPointerException
- if key
is null
.IllegalArgumentException
- if key.length()
exceeds MAX_KEY_LENGTH
.IllegalStateException
- if this node (or an ancestor) has been removed with the removeNode()
method.IllegalArgumentException
- if key contains the null control character, code point U+0000.public abstract double getDouble(String key, double def)
Double.parseDouble(String)
. Returns the specified default if there is no value associated with the key, the backing store is inaccessible, or if Double.parseDouble(String)
would throw a NumberFormatException
if the associated value were passed. This method is intended for use in conjunction with putDouble(java.lang.String, double)
. If the implementation supports stored defaults and such a default exists, is accessible, and could be converted to a double with Double.parseDouble
, this double is returned in preference to the specified default.
key
- key whose associated value is to be returned as a double.def
- the value to be returned in the event that this preference node has no value associated with key
or the associated value cannot be interpreted as a double, or the backing store is inaccessible.key
in this preference node, or def
if the associated value does not exist or cannot be interpreted as a double.IllegalStateException
- if this node (or an ancestor) has been removed with the removeNode()
method.NullPointerException
- if key
is null
.IllegalArgumentException
- if key contains the null control character, code point U+0000.public abstract void putByteArray(String key, byte[] value)
MAX_VALUE_LENGTH
so that the length of the Base64 encoded String does not exceed MAX_VALUE_LENGTH
. This method is intended for use in conjunction with getByteArray(java.lang.String, byte[])
.key
- key with which the string form of value is to be associated.value
- value whose string form is to be associated with key.NullPointerException
- if key or value is null
.IllegalArgumentException
- if key.length() exceeds MAX_KEY_LENGTH or if value.length exceeds MAX_VALUE_LENGTH*3/4.IllegalStateException
- if this node (or an ancestor) has been removed with the removeNode()
method.IllegalArgumentException
- if key contains the null control character, code point U+0000.public abstract byte[] getByteArray(String key, byte[] def)
putByteArray(java.lang.String, byte[])
. Returns the specified default if there is no value associated with the key, the backing store is inaccessible, or if the associated value is not a valid Base64 encoded byte array (as defined above).
If the implementation supports stored defaults and such a default exists and is accessible, it is used in preference to the specified default, unless the stored default is not a valid Base64 encoded byte array (as defined above), in which case the specified default is used.
key
- key whose associated value is to be returned as a byte array.def
- the value to be returned in the event that this preference node has no value associated with key
or the associated value cannot be interpreted as a byte array, or the backing store is inaccessible.key
in this preference node, or def
if the associated value does not exist or cannot be interpreted as a byte array.IllegalStateException
- if this node (or an ancestor) has been removed with the removeNode()
method.NullPointerException
- if key
is null
. (A null
value for def
is permitted.)IllegalArgumentException
- if key contains the null control character, code point U+0000.public abstract String[] keys() throws BackingStoreException
If the implementation supports stored defaults and there are any such defaults at this node that have not been overridden, by explicit preferences, the defaults are returned in the array in addition to any explicit preferences.
BackingStoreException
- if this operation cannot be completed due to a failure in the backing store, or inability to communicate with it.IllegalStateException
- if this node (or an ancestor) has been removed with the removeNode()
method.public abstract String[] childrenNames() throws BackingStoreException
BackingStoreException
- if this operation cannot be completed due to a failure in the backing store, or inability to communicate with it.IllegalStateException
- if this node (or an ancestor) has been removed with the removeNode()
method.public abstract Preferences parent()
null
if this is the root.IllegalStateException
- if this node (or an ancestor) has been removed with the removeNode()
method.public abstract Preferences node(String pathName)
('/')
) are interpreted relative to this preference node. If the returned node did not exist prior to this call, this node and any ancestors that were created by this call are not guaranteed to become permanent until the flush
method is called on the returned node (or one of its ancestors or descendants).
pathName
- the path name of the preference node to return.IllegalArgumentException
- if the path name is invalid (i.e., it contains multiple consecutive slash characters, or ends with a slash character and is more than one character long).NullPointerException
- if path name is null
.IllegalStateException
- if this node (or an ancestor) has been removed with the removeNode()
method.public abstract boolean nodeExists(String pathName) throws BackingStoreException
('/')
) are interpreted relative to this preference node. If this node (or an ancestor) has already been removed with the removeNode()
method, it is legal to invoke this method, but only with the path name ""
; the invocation will return false
. Thus, the idiom p.nodeExists("")
may be used to test whether p
has been removed.
pathName
- the path name of the node whose existence is to be checked.BackingStoreException
- if this operation cannot be completed due to a failure in the backing store, or inability to communicate with it.IllegalArgumentException
- if the path name is invalid (i.e., it contains multiple consecutive slash characters, or ends with a slash character and is more than one character long).NullPointerException
- if path name is null
.IllegalStateException
- if this node (or an ancestor) has been removed with the removeNode()
method and pathName
is not the empty string (""
).public abstract void removeNode() throws BackingStoreException
name()
, absolutePath()
, isUserNode()
, flush()
or nodeExists("")
on the corresponding Preferences
instance will fail with an IllegalStateException
. (The methods defined on Object
can still be invoked on a node after it has been removed; they will not throw IllegalStateException
.) The removal is not guaranteed to be persistent until the flush
method is called on this node (or an ancestor).
If this implementation supports stored defaults, removing a node exposes any stored defaults at or below this node. Thus, a subsequent call to nodeExists
on this node's path name may return true
, and a subsequent call to node
on this path name may return a (different) Preferences
instance representing a non-empty collection of preferences and/or children.
BackingStoreException
- if this operation cannot be completed due to a failure in the backing store, or inability to communicate with it.IllegalStateException
- if this node (or an ancestor) has already been removed with the removeNode()
method.UnsupportedOperationException
- if this method is invoked on the root node.public abstract String name()
public abstract String absolutePath()
public abstract boolean isUserNode()
true
if this preference node is in the user preference tree, false
if it's in the system preference tree.true
if this preference node is in the user preference tree, false
if it's in the system preference tree.public abstract String toString()
(this.isUserNode() ? "User" :
"System") + " Preference Node: " + this.absolutePath()
.public abstract void flush() throws BackingStoreException
Implementations are free to flush changes into the persistent store at any time. They do not need to wait for this method to be called.
When a flush occurs on a newly created node, it is made persistent, as are any ancestors (and descendants) that have yet to be made persistent. Note however that any preference value changes in ancestors are not guaranteed to be made persistent.
If this method is invoked on a node that has been removed with the removeNode()
method, flushSpi() is invoked on this node, but not on others.
BackingStoreException
- if this operation cannot be completed due to a failure in the backing store, or inability to communicate with it.public abstract void sync() throws BackingStoreException
sync
invocation. As a side-effect, forces any changes in the contents of this preference node and its descendants to the persistent store, as if the flush
method had been invoked on this node.BackingStoreException
- if this operation cannot be completed due to a failure in the backing store, or inability to communicate with it.IllegalStateException
- if this node (or an ancestor) has been removed with the removeNode()
method.public abstract void addPreferenceChangeListener(PreferenceChangeListener pcl)
removeNode()
method, which generates a node change event. Preference change events are generated by the clear
method.) Events are only guaranteed for changes made within the same JVM as the registered listener, though some implementations may generate events for changes made outside this JVM. Events may be generated before the changes have been made persistent. Events are not generated when preferences are modified in descendants of this node; a caller desiring such events must register with each descendant.
pcl
- The preference change listener to add.NullPointerException
- if pcl
is null.IllegalStateException
- if this node (or an ancestor) has been removed with the removeNode()
method.public abstract void removePreferenceChangeListener(PreferenceChangeListener pcl)
pcl
- The preference change listener to remove.IllegalArgumentException
- if pcl
was not a registered preference change listener on this node.IllegalStateException
- if this node (or an ancestor) has been removed with the removeNode()
method.public abstract void addNodeChangeListener(NodeChangeListener ncl)
removeNode()
invocation results in multiple node change events, one for every node in the subtree rooted at the removed node.) Events are only guaranteed for changes made within the same JVM as the registered listener, though some implementations may generate events for changes made outside this JVM. Events may be generated before the changes have become permanent. Events are not generated when indirect descendants of this node are added or removed; a caller desiring such events must register with each descendant.
Few guarantees can be made regarding node creation. Because nodes are created implicitly upon access, it may not be feasible for an implementation to determine whether a child node existed in the backing store prior to access (for example, because the backing store is unreachable or cached information is out of date). Under these circumstances, implementations are neither required to generate node change events nor prohibited from doing so.
ncl
- The NodeChangeListener
to add.NullPointerException
- if ncl
is null.IllegalStateException
- if this node (or an ancestor) has been removed with the removeNode()
method.public abstract void removeNodeChangeListener(NodeChangeListener ncl)
NodeChangeListener
, so it no longer receives change events.ncl
- The NodeChangeListener
to remove.IllegalArgumentException
- if ncl
was not a registered NodeChangeListener
on this node.IllegalStateException
- if this node (or an ancestor) has been removed with the removeNode()
method.public abstract void exportNode(OutputStream os) throws IOException, BackingStoreException
The XML document will have the following DOCTYPE declaration:
<!DOCTYPE preferences SYSTEM "http://java.sun.com/dtd/preferences.dtd">
The UTF-8 character encoding will be used. This method is an exception to the general rule that the results of concurrently executing multiple methods in this class yields results equivalent to some serial execution. If the preferences at this node are modified concurrently with an invocation of this method, the exported preferences comprise a "fuzzy snapshot" of the preferences contained in the node; some of the concurrent modifications may be reflected in the exported data while others may not.
os
- the output stream on which to emit the XML document.IOException
- if writing to the specified output stream results in an IOException
.BackingStoreException
- if preference data cannot be read from backing store.IllegalStateException
- if this node (or an ancestor) has been removed with the removeNode()
method.public abstract void exportSubtree(OutputStream os) throws IOException, BackingStoreException
The XML document will have the following DOCTYPE declaration:
<!DOCTYPE preferences SYSTEM "http://java.sun.com/dtd/preferences.dtd">
The UTF-8 character encoding will be used. This method is an exception to the general rule that the results of concurrently executing multiple methods in this class yields results equivalent to some serial execution. If the preferences or nodes in the subtree rooted at this node are modified concurrently with an invocation of this method, the exported preferences comprise a "fuzzy snapshot" of the subtree; some of the concurrent modifications may be reflected in the exported data while others may not.
os
- the output stream on which to emit the XML document.IOException
- if writing to the specified output stream results in an IOException
.BackingStoreException
- if preference data cannot be read from backing store.IllegalStateException
- if this node (or an ancestor) has been removed with the removeNode()
method.public static void importPreferences(InputStream is) throws IOException, InvalidPreferencesFormatException
The XML document must have the following DOCTYPE declaration:
<!DOCTYPE preferences SYSTEM "http://java.sun.com/dtd/preferences.dtd">
(This method is designed for use in conjunction with exportNode(OutputStream)
and exportSubtree(OutputStream)
. This method is an exception to the general rule that the results of concurrently executing multiple methods in this class yields results equivalent to some serial execution. The method behaves as if implemented on top of the other public methods in this class, notably node(String)
and put(String, String)
.
is
- the input stream from which to read the XML document.IOException
- if reading from the specified input stream results in an IOException
.InvalidPreferencesFormatException
- Data on input stream does not constitute a valid XML document with the mandated document type.SecurityException
- If a security manager is present and it denies RuntimePermission("preferences")
.
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Documentation extracted from Debian's OpenJDK Development Kit package.
Licensed under the GNU General Public License, version 2, with the Classpath Exception.
Various third party code in OpenJDK is licensed under different licenses (see Debian package).
Java and OpenJDK are trademarks or registered trademarks of Oracle and/or its affiliates.
https://docs.oracle.com/en/java/javase/21/docs/api/java.prefs/java/util/prefs/Preferences.html