/*
 * Copyright 2003,2004 The Apache Software Foundation.
 * 
 * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
 * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
 * You may obtain a copy of the License at
 * 
 *      http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
 * 
 * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
 * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
 * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
 * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
 * limitations under the License.
 */
package org.apache.pluto.spi;

import java.util.Map;

import javax.portlet.PortletMode;
import javax.portlet.WindowState;

/**
 * Defines the interface used by the portlet container to create Portal URLs.
 * This provider must be implemented by the Portal and provided via the
 * container services upon initialization of the container.
 * 
 * @author <a href="mailto:ddewolf@apache.org">David H. DeWolf</a>
 * @author <a href="mailto:zheng@apache.org">ZHENG Zhong</a>
 * @version 1.0
 */
public interface PortletURLProvider {


    /**
     * Sets the new portlet mode at the URL. If no mode is set at the URL the
     * currently active mode is used.
     * @param mode the new portlet mode
     */
    public void setPortletMode(PortletMode mode);

    /**
     * Sets the new window state at the URL. If no state is set at the URL the
     * currently active state is used.
     * @param state the new window state
     */
    public void setWindowState(WindowState state);

    /**
     * Specifies whether or not this request should be considered an action
     * request. If the value specified is false, a render request will be
     * assumed.
     */
    public void setAction(boolean action);

    /**
     * By calling this method the URL is defined as a secure URL.
     */
    public void setSecure();

    /**
     * Removes all pre-existing parameters in this URL
     */
    public void clearParameters();

    /**
     * Sets the given parameters as parameters into the URL, Removes all
     * previously set parameters.
     * @param parameters a map containing the name [java.lang.String] and value
     *                   [java.lang.String[]] of the parameters.
     */
    public void setParameters(Map parameters);


    /**
     * Returns the URL in string format. This method should only be called
     * once.
     * @return the URL
     */
    public String toString();
}