/*
 * Copyright (c) 2002-2007 JGoodies Karsten Lentzsch. All Rights Reserved.
 *
 * Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without 
 * modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions are met:
 * 
 *  o Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright notice, 
 *    this list of conditions and the following disclaimer. 
 *     
 *  o Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright notice, 
 *    this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the documentation 
 *    and/or other materials provided with the distribution. 
 *     
 *  o Neither the name of JGoodies Karsten Lentzsch nor the names of 
 *    its contributors may be used to endorse or promote products derived 
 *    from this software without specific prior written permission. 
 *     
 * THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS "AS IS" 
 * AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, 
 * THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR 
 * PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT OWNER OR 
 * CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, 
 * EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, 
 * PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; 
 * OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, 
 * WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE 
 * OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, 
 * EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE. 
 */

package com.jgoodies.forms.layout;

import java.awt.Container;
import java.util.List;

/**
 * An interface that describes sizes as used by the {@link FormLayout}:
 * component measuring sizes, constant sizes with value and unit, 
 * and bounded sizes that provide lower and upper bounds for a size.<p>
 * 
 * You can find a motivation for the different <code>Size</code> types in
 * the Forms whitepaper that is part of the product documentation and that is
 * available online too, see
 * <a href="http://www.jgoodies.com/articles/forms.pdf" >
 * http://www.jgoodies.com/articles/forms.pdf</a>.
 *
 * @author Karsten Lentzsch
 * @version $Revision: 1.4 $
 * 
 * @see	Sizes
 * @see	ConstantSize
 */
public interface Size {
    
    /**
     * Computes and returns this Size's maximum pixel size applied to 
     * the given list of components using the specified measures.<p>
     * 
     * Invoked by {@link com.jgoodies.forms.layout.FormSpec} to determine 
     * the size of a column or row. This method is not intended to be called 
     * by API users, and it uses API invisible parameter types.
     * 
     * @param container       the layout container
     * @param components      the list of components used to compute the size
     * @param minMeasure      the measure that determines the minimum sizes
     * @param prefMeasure     the measure that determines the preferred sizes
     * @param defaultMeasure  the measure that determines the default sizes
     * @return the maximum size in pixels for the given list of components
     */
    int maximumSize(Container container,
                    List components, 
                    FormLayout.Measure minMeasure,
                    FormLayout.Measure prefMeasure,
                    FormLayout.Measure defaultMeasure);
    
    
    /**
     * Describes if this Size can be compressed, if container space gets scarce.
     * Used by the FormLayout size computations in <code>#compressedSizes</code>
     * to check whether a column or row can be compressed or not.<p>
     * 
     * The ComponentSize <em>default</em> is compressible, as well as 
     * BoundedSizes that are based on the <em>default</em> size.
     * 
     * @return <code>true</code> for compressible Sizes 
     * 
     * @since 1.1
     */
    boolean compressible();

    
}