javax.activation

Class DataHandler

java.lang.Object

javax.activation.DataHandler

All Implemented Interfaces:

Transferable

public class DataHandler
extends Object
implements Transferable

The DataHandler class provides a consistent interface to data available in many different sources and formats. It manages simple stream to string conversions and related operations using DataContentHandlers. It provides access to commands that can operate on the data. The commands are found using a CommandMap.

DataHandler and the Transferable Interface

DataHandler implements the Transferable interface so that data can be used in AWT data transfer operations, such as cut and paste and drag and drop. The implementation of the Transferable interface relies on the availability of an installed DataContentHandler object corresponding to the MIME type of the data represented in the specific instance of the DataHandler.

DataHandler and CommandMaps

The DataHandler keeps track of the current CommandMap that it uses to service requests for commands (getCommand, getAllCommands, getPreferredCommands). Each instance of a DataHandler may have a CommandMap associated with it using the setCommandMap method. If a CommandMap was not set, DataHandler calls the getDefaultCommandMap method in CommandMap and uses the value it returns. See CommandMap for more information.

DataHandler and URLs

The current DataHandler implementation creates a private instance of URLDataSource when it is constructed with a URL.

Since:

1.6

See Also:

CommandMap, DataContentHandler, DataSource, URLDataSource

Constructor Summary

Constructors

Constructor and Description
DataHandler(DataSource ds) Create a DataHandler instance referencing the specified DataSource.
DataHandler(Object obj, String mimeType) Create a DataHandler instance representing an object of this MIME type.
DataHandler(URL url) Create a DataHandler instance referencing a URL.

Method Summary

Methods

Modifier and Type	Method and Description
CommandInfo[]	getAllCommands() Return all the commands for this type of data.
Object	getBean(CommandInfo cmdinfo) A convenience method that takes a CommandInfo object and instantiates the corresponding command, usually a JavaBean component.
CommandInfo	getCommand(String cmdName) Get the command cmdName.
Object	getContent() Return the data in its preferred Object form.
String	getContentType() Return the MIME type of this object as retrieved from the source object.
DataSource	getDataSource() Return the DataSource associated with this instance of DataHandler.
InputStream	getInputStream() Get the InputStream for this object.
String	getName() Return the name of the data object.
OutputStream	getOutputStream() Get an OutputStream for this DataHandler to allow overwriting the underlying data.
CommandInfo[]	getPreferredCommands() Return the preferred commands for this type of data.
Object	getTransferData(DataFlavor flavor) Returns an object that represents the data to be transferred.
DataFlavor[]	getTransferDataFlavors() Return the DataFlavors in which this data is available.
boolean	isDataFlavorSupported(DataFlavor flavor) Returns whether the specified data flavor is supported for this object.
void	setCommandMap(CommandMap commandMap) Set the CommandMap for use by this DataHandler.
static void	setDataContentHandlerFactory(DataContentHandlerFactory newFactory) Sets the DataContentHandlerFactory.
void