org.apache.env
Class WhichClass

java.lang.Object
  |
  +--org.apache.env.WhichClass

public abstract class WhichClass

extends java.lang.Object

Class finding service.

This effectively replaces all Class.forName() calls in this package. Similar to code in javax.xml.*.FactoryFinder. Options included for future use; they could specify something like LOCAL_CLASSLOADER_ONLY for servlet environments, etc.

This class detects JDKs 1.1.x versus 1.2+ and may attempt to either use the current classLoader or may use a contextClassLoader. Note that in some servlet environments or in IDE environments like Eclipse that the difference between classloaders is very important! Changes in the JAXP FactoryFinder classes should be actively evaluated for inclusion/copying here.

Version:

$Id: WhichClass.html,v 1.4 2003/12/30 03:55:19 crossley Exp $

Author:

shane_curcuru@us.ibm.com

Constructor Summary

WhichClass()

Method Summary

static java.lang.Class	findClass(java.lang.String className, java.lang.String options) Worker method to load a class.
protected static java.lang.ClassLoader	findClassLoader(java.lang.String options) Worker method to figure out which ClassLoader to use.

Methods inherited from class java.lang.Object

clone, equals, finalize, getClass, hashCode, notify, notifyAll, toString, wait, wait, wait

Constructor Detail

WhichClass

public WhichClass()

Method Detail

findClass

public static java.lang.Class findClass(java.lang.String className,
                                        java.lang.String options)
                                 throws java.lang.ClassNotFoundException

Worker method to load a class. Factor out loading classes for future use and JDK differences. Similar to javax.xml.*.FactoryFinder

Parameters:

className - name of class to load from an appropriate classLoader

options - currently unused

Returns:

the class asked for

Throws:

java.lang.ClassNotFoundException

findClassLoader

protected static java.lang.ClassLoader findClassLoader(java.lang.String options)
                                                throws java.lang.ClassNotFoundException

Worker method to figure out which ClassLoader to use. For JDK 1.2 and later use the context ClassLoader. Similar to javax.xml.*.FactoryFinder

Parameters:

options - currently unused

Returns:

the appropriate ClassLoader

Throws:

java.lang.ClassNotFoundException