/*
 * ============================================================================
 * GNU Lesser General Public License
 * ============================================================================
 *
 * JasperReports - Free Java report-generating library.
 * Copyright (C) 2001-2006 JasperSoft Corporation http://www.jaspersoft.com
 * 
 * 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., 59 Temple Place, Suite 330, Boston, MA  02111-1307, USA.
 * 
 * JasperSoft Corporation
 * 303 Second Street, Suite 450 North
 * San Francisco, CA 94107
 * http://www.jaspersoft.com
 */
package net.sf.jasperreports.engine.fill;

import java.util.Set;

import net.sf.jasperreports.engine.JRPrintElement;

/**
 * Interface implemented by print elements that can record field/variable values.
 * <p/>
 * An element having {@link net.sf.jasperreports.engine.JRExpression#EVALUATION_TIME_AUTO Auto evaluation time}
 * will generate an instance of this type as print element.
 * This instance will be responsible of storing field/variable values until the element can be evaluated.
 * 
 * @author Lucian Chirita (lucianc@users.sourceforge.net)
 * @version $Id: JRRecordedValuesPrintElement.java 1229 2006-04-19 13:27:35 +0300 (Wed, 19 Apr 2006) teodord $
 * @see net.sf.jasperreports.engine.JRExpression#EVALUATION_TIME_AUTO
 */
public interface JRRecordedValuesPrintElement extends JRPrintElement
{
	/**
	 * Initializes the recorded values set.
	 * 
	 * @param evaluationTimes future times when the values will be recorded
	 */
	void initRecordedValues(Set evaluationTimes);
	
	/**
	 * Returns the recorded values set.
	 * 
	 * @return the recorded values set
	 */
	JRRecordedValues getRecordedValues();
	
	
	/**
	 * Releases the recorded values set.
	 * <p/>
	 * This is called when all the recorded values are available and the element has been evaluated.
	 */
	void deleteRecordedValues();
}
