AttributeValueFactory.java

/*
Copyright 2008-2010 Gephi
Authors : Mathieu Bastian <mathieu.bastian@gephi.org>
Website : http://www.gephi.org

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*/
package org.gephi.data.attributes.api;

/**
 * Factory which is building exclusively {@link AttributeValue}. It can be get
 * from the {@link AttributeModel#valueFactory()}.
 *
 * @author Mathieu Bastian
 */
public interface AttributeValueFactory {

    /**
     * Returns a new cell value for the given <code>column</code> and
     * <code>value</code>. The <code>value</code> can be <code>null</code>.
     * <p>
     * The <code>value</code> type should be compatible with the column type.
     *
     * @param column    the column where the cell belongs
     * @param row       the row where the cell belongs
     * @param value     a compatible value, or <code>null</code>
     * @return          the new value for the given column
     */
    public AttributeValue newValue(AttributeColumn column, AttributeRow row, Object value);
}