/*
 *                 Sun Public License Notice
 *
 * The contents of this file are subject to the Sun Public License
 * Version 1.0 (the "License"). You may not use this file except in
 * compliance with the License. A copy of the License is available at
 * http://www.sun.com/
 *
 * The Original Code is NetBeans. The Initial Developer of the Original
 * Code is Sun Microsystems, Inc. Portions Copyright 1997-2000 Sun
 * Microsystems, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
 */

package org.netbeans.editor.view.spi;

/**
 * Views that implement this interface
 * signal that they work in a mode when
 * they just estimate their size instead
 * of exact measurements that are likely
 * more expensive for computation.
 * 

 * By default the view should be in non-estimated mode
 * i.e. the exact measurements should be used
 * unless the estimated span flag is set.
 *
 * 

 * If a particular view does not implement this interface
 * then it is assumed that the view uses exact measurements.
 *
 * @author Miloslav Metelka
 * @version 1.00
 */

public interface EstimatedSpanView {
    
    /**
     * Check whether this view is currently
     * in a mode when it just estimates its span.
     *
     * @return true if the view estimates its preferred horizontal
     *   and vertical preferred, maximum and minimum spans.
     *   Returns false if the view measurements are exact.
     */
    public boolean isEstimatedSpan();
    
    /**
     * Set whether this view uses estimated span computation
     * instead of exact measurements.
     *
     * @param estimatedSpan whether view will estimate
     *  the spans or use exact measurements.
     */
    public void setEstimatedSpan(boolean estimatedSpan);
    
}