1 files changed, 70 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/src/uk/org/ury/database/DatabaseItem.java b/src/uk/org/ury/database/DatabaseItem.java
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+++ b/src/uk/org/ury/database/DatabaseItem.java
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+package uk.org.ury.database;
+
+import java.util.Map;
+
+import uk.org.ury.database.exceptions.MissingPropertyException;
+
+
+/**
+ * An abstract class presenting a template for objects serving as 
+ * a data structure for collections of properties retrieved from 
+ * a SQL database.
+ *
+ * @param E  The enumeration type used as the property list.
+ * 
+ * @param T  The type of datum stored for each property.
+ * 
+ * @author   Matt Windsor
+ */
+
+public abstract class DatabaseItem<E, T>
+{
+  private Map<E, T> properties;
+  
+  /**
+   * Construct a new item from an existing list of properties.
+   * 
+   * @param properties  The map of properties that the new item will 
+   *                    inherit.
+   */
+  
+  public
+  DatabaseItem (Map<E, T> properties)
+  {
+    this.properties = properties;
+  }
+  
+  
+  /**
+   * Check whether a property has been set in the item.
+   * 
+   * @return  true if the property has been set; false otherwise.
+   */
+  
+  public boolean
+  has (E property)
+  {
+    return properties.containsKey (property);
+  }
+  
+  
+  /**
+   * Query this item for a property.
+   * 
+   * @param property  The property to query.
+   * 
+   * @return          The property, if it exists.
+   * 
+   * @throws          MissingPropertyException if the property does 
+   *                  not exist.
+   */
+  
+  public T
+  get (E property) throws MissingPropertyException
+  {
+    if (properties.containsKey (property))
+      return properties.get (property);
+    else
+      throw new MissingPropertyException (property.toString ());
+  }
+}