#ifndef __FLDBASE_H__

#define __FLDBASE_H__

#include <e32std.h>

#include <e32base.h>

#include <s32stor.h>

// Classes defined:

class CTextField;

class MTextFieldFactory;

class CTextField : public CBase

/** 

Abstract class: derive from this to instantiate a particular type of field (eg date etc)

Abstract base class for all field types.

A field contains information which relates to a text object and can be automatically 

updated, e.g. page number or current date and time. Fields must implement 

the pure virtual functions defined in this class, including Value() which 

should calculate and return the field's new value, and Type() which returns 

the field's type UID. The type UID identifies the field type to the field 

factory (see class MTextFieldFactory). 

@publishedAll

@released

*/

	{

public:

	IMPORT_C virtual TStreamId StoreL(CStreamStore& aStore)const; // calls ExternalizeL()

	IMPORT_C virtual void RestoreL(const CStreamStore& aStore,TStreamId aId); // calls InternalizeL()

	//

	// Should be replaced by concrete derived classes.

	IMPORT_C virtual void ExternalizeL(RWriteStream& aStream)const; // Externalize state info for the field

    /** Internalises the field data. Called by RestoreL().

	@param aStream Stream from which the field data should be internalised. */

	virtual void InternalizeL(RReadStream& aStream)=0;

	//

	/** Sets aValueText to the current field value if the buffer is large enough. If 

	not, aValueText is not changed, and the function returns the length which 

	is required to hold the field's value.

	@param aValueText Descriptor which on return contains the field's updated 

	value. 

	@return Zero on success, otherwise, the length of the buffer which is required 

	to hold the field's updated value. */

	virtual TInt Value(TPtr& aValueText)=0; 

	//	

	/** Returns the field's type UID.

	@return The field's type UID. */

	virtual TUid Type()const=0;

	};

class MTextFieldFactory

/** 

Abstract class that should be derived from by any application that wishes to support fields

Abstract base class for field factories.

To use fields in editable text,

1) Define a field factory class (derived from MTextFieldFactory) that implements 

NewFieldL().

2) Create an instance of the field factory and set this to be the editable 

text object's field factory (see CPlainText::SetFieldFactory(), or you can 

specify a field factory in the text object 's NewL()).

3) Create a new field (CPlainText::NewTextFieldL()), specifying the field 

type UID (the built in field type UID values are defined in flddef.h). This 

calls the factory's NewFieldL() function.

4) Insert the field into the text object (CPlainText::InsertFieldL()).

5) Evaluate the field (CPlainText::UpdateFieldL()) and then re-evaluate when 

required. 

@publishedAll

@released

*/

	{

public:

	/** Implementations of this function should create a field of the type specified, 

	returning NULL if the field type is not recognised or supported.

	@param aFieldType The field's type UID. 

	@return Pointer to the new text field, or NULL if the factory does not recognise 

	or support the field type. */

	virtual CTextField* NewFieldL(TUid aFieldType)=0; 

	// Creates a field of the type specified

	// Returns NULL if it does not recognise/support the field type

	};

#endif