/* ===========================================================
 * JFreeChart : a free chart library for the Java(tm) platform
 * ===========================================================
 *
 * (C) Copyright 2000-2007, by Object Refinery Limited and Contributors.
 *
 * Project Info:  http://www.jfree.org/jfreechart/index.html
 *
 * This library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it 
 * under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License as published by 
 * the Free Software Foundation; either version 2.1 of the License, or 
 * (at your option) any later version.
 *
 * This library is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but 
 * WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY 
 * or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the GNU Lesser General Public 
 * License for more details.
 *
 * You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser General Public
 * License along with this library; if not, write to the Free Software
 * Foundation, Inc., 51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA  02110-1301, 
 * USA.  
 *
 * [Java is a trademark or registered trademark of Sun Microsystems, Inc. 
 * in the United States and other countries.]
 *
 * ------------
 * Dataset.java
 * ------------
 * (C) Copyright 2000-2007, by Object Refinery Limited.
 *
 * Original Author:  David Gilbert (for Object Refinery Limited);
 * Contributor(s):   -;
 *
 * Changes (from 18-Sep-2001)
 * --------------------------
 * 18-Sep-2001 : Added standard header and fixed DOS encoding problem (DG);
 * 15-Oct-2001 : Moved to a new package (com.jrefinery.data.*) (DG);
 * 22-Oct-2001 : Changed name to Dataset.java (DG);
 * 17-Nov-2001 : Added getLegendItemCount() and getLegendItemLabels() methods, 
 *               created SeriesDataset interface and transferred series related
 *               methods out (DG);
 * 22-Jan-2002 : Reconsidered (and removed) the getLegendItemCount() and 
 *               getLegendItemLabels() methods...leave this to client code (DG);
 * 27-Sep-2002 : Added get/setDatasetGroup() methods (DG);
 * 10-Jan-2003 : Updated Javadocs (DG);
 *
 */

package org.jfree.data.general;

/**
 * The base interface for data sets.
 * <P>
 * All datasets are required to support the {@link DatasetChangeEvent} 
 * mechanism by allowing listeners to register and receive notification of any 
 * changes to the dataset.
 * <P>
 * In addition, all datasets must belong to one (and only one) 
 * {@link DatasetGroup}.  The group object maintains a reader-writer lock 
 * which provides synchronised access to the datasets in multi-threaded code.
 */
public interface Dataset {

    /**
     * Registers an object for notification of changes to the dataset.
     *
     * @param listener  the object to register.
     */
    public void addChangeListener(DatasetChangeListener listener);

    /**
     * Deregisters an object for notification of changes to the dataset.
     *
     * @param listener  the object to deregister.
     */
    public void removeChangeListener(DatasetChangeListener listener);

    /**
     * Returns the dataset group.
     *
     * @return The dataset group.
     */
    public DatasetGroup getGroup();

    /**
     * Sets the dataset group.
     *
     * @param group  the dataset group.
     */
    public void setGroup(DatasetGroup group);

}
