/*$************************************************************************************************
 **
 ** $Id: ParameterDescriptorGroup.java 831 2006-05-01 00:27:23Z Desruisseaux $
 **
 ** $URL: http://svn.code.sf.net/p/geoapi/code/branches/2.0.x/geoapi/src/main/java/org/opengis/parameter/ParameterDescriptorGroup.java $
 **
 ** Copyright (C) 2003-2005 Open GIS Consortium, Inc.
 ** All Rights Reserved. http://www.opengis.org/legal/
 **
 *************************************************************************************************/
package org.opengis.parameter;

// J2SE direct dependencies
import java.util.List;

// OpenGIS direct dependencies
import org.opengis.metadata.Identifier;  // For javadoc

// Annotations
import org.opengis.annotation.UML;
import org.opengis.annotation.Extension;
import static org.opengis.annotation.Obligation.*;
import static org.opengis.annotation.Specification.*;


/**
 * The definition of a group of related parameters used by an operation method.
 *  
 * @version Abstract specification 2.0
 * @author ISO/DIS 19111
 * @author Martin Desruisseaux (IRD)
 * @author Jody Garnett (Refractions Research)
 * @since GeoAPI 2.0
 *
 * @see ParameterValueGroup
 * @see ParameterDescriptor
 */
@UML(identifier="CC_OperationParameterGroup", specification=ISO_19111)
public interface ParameterDescriptorGroup extends GeneralParameterDescriptor {
    /**
     * Creates a new instance of {@linkplain ParameterValueGroup parameter value group}
     * initialized with the {@linkplain ParameterDescriptor#getDefaultValue default values}.
     * The {@linkplain ParameterValueGroup#getDescriptor parameter value descriptor}
     * for the created group will be {@code this} object.
     *
     * The number of {@link ParameterValue} objects included must be between the
     * {@linkplain ParameterDescriptor#getMinimumOccurs minimum} and 
     * {@linkplain ParameterDescriptor#getMaximumOccurs maximum occurences} required.
     * For example:
     * 

     * 
For {@link ParameterDescriptor} with cardinality 1:* a {@link ParameterValue} will
     *     be included with the {@linkplain ParameterDescriptor#getDefaultValue default value}
     *     (even if this default value is null).
     * 
For {@link ParameterDescriptor} with cardinality 0:* no entry is required.
     *     {@link ParameterValue} entries may be created only as needed.
     * 
     */
/// @Extension
/// ParameterValueGroup createValue();
 
    /**
     * Returns the parameters in this group.
     */
    @UML(identifier="includesParameter", obligation=MANDATORY, specification=ISO_19111)
    List descriptors();

    /**
     * Returns the parameter descriptor in this group for the specified
     * {@linkplain Identifier#getCode identifier code}.
     *
     * @param  name The case insensitive {@linkplain Identifier#getCode identifier code} of the
     *              parameter to search for.
     * @return The parameter for the given identifier code.
     * @throws ParameterNotFoundException if there is no parameter for the given identifier code.
     */
    @Extension
    GeneralParameterDescriptor descriptor(String name) throws ParameterNotFoundException;
}