JavaTM 2 Platform
Standard Ed. 5.0

javax.accessibility
Class AccessibleRole

java.lang.Object
  extended by javax.accessibility.AccessibleBundle
      extended by javax.accessibility.AccessibleRole

public class AccessibleRole
extends AccessibleBundle

Class AccessibleRole determines the role of a component. The role of a component describes its generic function. (E.G., "push button," "table," or "list.")

The toDisplayString method allows you to obtain the localized string for a locale independent key from a predefined ResourceBundle for the keys defined in this class.

The constants in this class present a strongly typed enumeration of common object roles. A public constructor for this class has been purposely omitted and applications should use one of the constants from this class. If the constants in this class are not sufficient to describe the role of an object, a subclass should be generated from this class and it should provide constants in a similar manner.


Field Summary
static AccessibleRole ALERT
          Object is used to alert the user about something.
static AccessibleRole AWT_COMPONENT
          An AWT component, but nothing else is known about it.
static AccessibleRole CANVAS
          Object that can be drawn into and is used to trap events.
static AccessibleRole CHECK_BOX
          A choice that can be checked or unchecked and provides a separate indicator for the current state.
static AccessibleRole COLOR_CHOOSER
          A specialized dialog that lets the user choose a color.
static AccessibleRole COLUMN_HEADER
          The header for a column of data.
static AccessibleRole COMBO_BOX
          A list of choices the user can select from.
static AccessibleRole DATE_EDITOR
          A DATE_EDITOR is a component that allows users to edit java.util.Date and java.util.Time objects
static AccessibleRole DESKTOP_ICON
          An iconified internal frame in a DESKTOP_PANE.
static AccessibleRole DESKTOP_PANE
          A pane that supports internal frames and iconified versions of those internal frames.
static AccessibleRole DIALOG
          A top level window with title bar and a border.
static AccessibleRole DIRECTORY_PANE
          A pane that allows the user to navigate through and select the contents of a directory.
static AccessibleRole EDITBAR
          A role indicating the object acts as a formula for calculating a value.
static AccessibleRole FILE_CHOOSER
          A specialized dialog that displays the files in the directory and lets the user select a file, browse a different directory, or specify a filename.
static AccessibleRole FILLER
          An object that fills up space in a user interface.
static AccessibleRole FONT_CHOOSER
          A FONT_CHOOSER is a component that lets the user pick various attributes for fonts.
static AccessibleRole FOOTER
          A text footer
static AccessibleRole FRAME
          A top level window with a title bar, border, menu bar, etc.
static AccessibleRole GLASS_PANE
          A pane that is guaranteed to be painted on top of all panes beneath it.
static AccessibleRole GROUP_BOX
          A GROUP_BOX is a simple container that contains a border around it and contains components inside it.
static AccessibleRole HEADER
          A text header
static AccessibleRole HYPERLINK
          A hypertext anchor
static AccessibleRole ICON
          A small fixed size picture, typically used to decorate components.
static AccessibleRole INTERNAL_FRAME
          A frame-like object that is clipped by a desktop pane.
static AccessibleRole LABEL
          An object used to present an icon or short string in an interface.
static AccessibleRole LAYERED_PANE
          A specialized pane that allows its children to be drawn in layers, providing a form of stacking order.
static AccessibleRole LIST
          An object that presents a list of objects to the user and allows the user to select one or more of them.
static AccessibleRole LIST_ITEM
          An object that presents an element in a list.
static AccessibleRole MENU
          An object usually found inside a menu bar that contains a list of actions the user can choose from.
static AccessibleRole MENU_BAR
          An object usually drawn at the top of the primary dialog box of an application that contains a list of menus the user can choose from.
static AccessibleRole MENU_ITEM
          An object usually contained in a menu that presents an action the user can choose.
static AccessibleRole OPTION_PANE
          A specialized pane whose primary use is inside a DIALOG
static AccessibleRole PAGE_TAB
          An object that is a child of a page tab list.
static AccessibleRole PAGE_TAB_LIST
          An object that presents a series of panels (or page tabs), one at a time, through some mechanism provided by the object.
static AccessibleRole PANEL
          A generic container that is often used to group objects.
static AccessibleRole PARAGRAPH
          A text paragraph
static AccessibleRole PASSWORD_TEXT
          A text object used for passwords, or other places where the text contents is not shown visibly to the user
static AccessibleRole POPUP_MENU
          A temporary window that is usually used to offer the user a list of choices, and then hides when the user selects one of those choices.
static AccessibleRole PROGRESS_BAR
          An object used to indicate how much of a task has been completed.
static AccessibleRole PROGRESS_MONITOR
          A role indicating the object monitors the progress of some operation.
static AccessibleRole PUSH_BUTTON
          An object the user can manipulate to tell the application to do something.
static AccessibleRole RADIO_BUTTON
          A specialized check box that will cause other radio buttons in the same group to become unchecked when this one is checked.
static AccessibleRole ROOT_PANE
          A specialized pane that has a glass pane and a layered pane as its children.
static AccessibleRole ROW_HEADER
          The header for a row of data.
static AccessibleRole RULER
          A ruler is an object used to measure distance
static AccessibleRole SCROLL_BAR
          An object usually used to allow a user to incrementally view a large amount of data.
static AccessibleRole SCROLL_PANE
          An object that allows a user to incrementally view a large amount of information.
static AccessibleRole SEPARATOR
          An object usually contained in a menu to provide a visual and logical separation of the contents in a menu.
static AccessibleRole SLIDER
          An object that allows the user to select from a bounded range.
static AccessibleRole SPIN_BOX
          A SPIN_BOX is a simple spinner component and its main use is for simple numbers.
static AccessibleRole SPLIT_PANE
          A specialized panel that presents two other panels at the same time.
static AccessibleRole STATUS_BAR
          A STATUS_BAR is an simple component that can contain multiple labels of status information to the user.
static AccessibleRole SWING_COMPONENT
          A Swing component, but nothing else is known about it.
static AccessibleRole TABLE
          An object used to present information in terms of rows and columns.
static AccessibleRole TEXT
          An object that presents text to the user.
static AccessibleRole TOGGLE_BUTTON
          A specialized push button that can be checked or unchecked, but does not provide a separate indicator for the current state.
static AccessibleRole TOOL_BAR
          A bar or palette usually composed of push buttons or toggle buttons.
static AccessibleRole TOOL_TIP
          An object that provides information about another object.
static AccessibleRole TREE
          An object used to present hierarchical information to the user.
static AccessibleRole UNKNOWN
          The object contains some Accessible information, but its role is not known.
static AccessibleRole VIEWPORT
          An object usually used in a scroll pane.
static AccessibleRole WINDOW
          A top level window with no title or border.
 
Fields inherited from class javax.accessibility.AccessibleBundle
key
 
Constructor Summary
protected AccessibleRole(String key)
          Creates a new AccessibleRole using the given locale independent key.
 
Method Summary
 
Methods inherited from class javax.accessibility.AccessibleBundle
toDisplayString, toDisplayString, toDisplayString, toString
 
Methods inherited from class java.lang.Object
clone, equals, finalize, getClass, hashCode, notify, notifyAll, wait, wait, wait
 

Field Detail

ALERT

public static final AccessibleRole ALERT
Object is used to alert the user about something.


COLUMN_HEADER

public static final AccessibleRole COLUMN_HEADER
The header for a column of data.


CANVAS

public static final AccessibleRole CANVAS
Object that can be drawn into and is used to trap events.

See Also:
FRAME, GLASS_PANE, LAYERED_PANE

COMBO_BOX

public static final AccessibleRole COMBO_BOX
A list of choices the user can select from. Also optionally allows the user to enter a choice of their own.


DESKTOP_ICON

public static final AccessibleRole DESKTOP_ICON
An iconified internal frame in a DESKTOP_PANE.

See Also:
DESKTOP_PANE, INTERNAL_FRAME

INTERNAL_FRAME

public static final AccessibleRole INTERNAL_FRAME
A frame-like object that is clipped by a desktop pane. The desktop pane, internal frame, and desktop icon objects are often used to create multiple document interfaces within an application.

See Also:
DESKTOP_ICON, DESKTOP_PANE, FRAME

DESKTOP_PANE

public static final AccessibleRole DESKTOP_PANE
A pane that supports internal frames and iconified versions of those internal frames.

See Also:
DESKTOP_ICON, INTERNAL_FRAME

OPTION_PANE

public static final AccessibleRole OPTION_PANE
A specialized pane whose primary use is inside a DIALOG

See Also:
DIALOG

WINDOW

public static final AccessibleRole WINDOW
A top level window with no title or border.

See Also:
FRAME, DIALOG

FRAME

public static final AccessibleRole FRAME
A top level window with a title bar, border, menu bar, etc. It is often used as the primary window for an application.

See Also:
DIALOG, CANVAS, WINDOW

DIALOG

public static final AccessibleRole DIALOG
A top level window with title bar and a border. A dialog is similar to a frame, but it has fewer properties and is often used as a secondary window for an application.

See Also:
FRAME, WINDOW

COLOR_CHOOSER

public static final AccessibleRole COLOR_CHOOSER
A specialized dialog that lets the user choose a color.


DIRECTORY_PANE

public static final AccessibleRole DIRECTORY_PANE
A pane that allows the user to navigate through and select the contents of a directory. May be used by a file chooser.

See Also:
FILE_CHOOSER

FILE_CHOOSER

public static final AccessibleRole FILE_CHOOSER
A specialized dialog that displays the files in the directory and lets the user select a file, browse a different directory, or specify a filename. May use the directory pane to show the contents of a directory.

See Also:
DIRECTORY_PANE

FILLER

public static final AccessibleRole FILLER
An object that fills up space in a user interface. It is often used in interfaces to tweak the spacing between components, but serves no other purpose.


HYPERLINK

public static final AccessibleRole HYPERLINK
A hypertext anchor


ICON

public static final AccessibleRole ICON
A small fixed size picture, typically used to decorate components.


LABEL

public static final AccessibleRole LABEL
An object used to present an icon or short string in an interface.


ROOT_PANE

public static final AccessibleRole ROOT_PANE
A specialized pane that has a glass pane and a layered pane as its children.

See Also:
GLASS_PANE, LAYERED_PANE

GLASS_PANE

public static final AccessibleRole GLASS_PANE
A pane that is guaranteed to be painted on top of all panes beneath it.

See Also:
ROOT_PANE, CANVAS

LAYERED_PANE

public static final AccessibleRole LAYERED_PANE
A specialized pane that allows its children to be drawn in layers, providing a form of stacking order. This is usually the pane that holds the menu bar as well as the pane that contains most of the visual components in a window.

See Also:
GLASS_PANE, ROOT_PANE

LIST

public static final AccessibleRole LIST
An object that presents a list of objects to the user and allows the user to select one or more of them. A list is usually contained within a scroll pane.

See Also:
SCROLL_PANE, LIST_ITEM

LIST_ITEM

public static final AccessibleRole LIST_ITEM
An object that presents an element in a list. A list is usually contained within a scroll pane.

See Also:
SCROLL_PANE, LIST

MENU_BAR

public static final AccessibleRole MENU_BAR
An object usually drawn at the top of the primary dialog box of an application that contains a list of menus the user can choose from. For example, a menu bar might contain menus for "File," "Edit," and "Help."

See Also:
MENU, POPUP_MENU, LAYERED_PANE

POPUP_MENU

public static final AccessibleRole POPUP_MENU
A temporary window that is usually used to offer the user a list of choices, and then hides when the user selects one of those choices.

See Also:
MENU, MENU_ITEM

MENU

public static final AccessibleRole MENU
An object usually found inside a menu bar that contains a list of actions the user can choose from. A menu can have any object as its children, but most often they are menu items, other menus, or rudimentary objects such as radio buttons, check boxes, or separators. For example, an application may have an "Edit" menu that contains menu items for "Cut" and "Paste."

See Also:
MENU_BAR, MENU_ITEM, SEPARATOR, RADIO_BUTTON, CHECK_BOX, POPUP_MENU

MENU_ITEM

public static final AccessibleRole MENU_ITEM
An object usually contained in a menu that presents an action the user can choose. For example, the "Cut" menu item in an "Edit" menu would be an action the user can select to cut the selected area of text in a document.

See Also:
MENU_BAR, SEPARATOR, POPUP_MENU

SEPARATOR

public static final AccessibleRole SEPARATOR
An object usually contained in a menu to provide a visual and logical separation of the contents in a menu. For example, the "File" menu of an application might contain menu items for "Open," "Close," and "Exit," and will place a separator between "Close" and "Exit" menu items.

See Also:
MENU, MENU_ITEM

PAGE_TAB_LIST

public static final AccessibleRole PAGE_TAB_LIST
An object that presents a series of panels (or page tabs), one at a time, through some mechanism provided by the object. The most common mechanism is a list of tabs at the top of the panel. The children of a page tab list are all page tabs.

See Also:
PAGE_TAB

PAGE_TAB

public static final AccessibleRole PAGE_TAB
An object that is a child of a page tab list. Its sole child is the panel that is to be presented to the user when the user selects the page tab from the list of tabs in the page tab list.

See Also:
PAGE_TAB_LIST

PANEL

public static final AccessibleRole PANEL
A generic container that is often used to group objects.


PROGRESS_BAR

public static final AccessibleRole PROGRESS_BAR
An object used to indicate how much of a task has been completed.


PASSWORD_TEXT

public static final AccessibleRole PASSWORD_TEXT
A text object used for passwords, or other places where the text contents is not shown visibly to the user


PUSH_BUTTON

public static final AccessibleRole PUSH_BUTTON
An object the user can manipulate to tell the application to do something.

See Also:
CHECK_BOX, TOGGLE_BUTTON, RADIO_BUTTON

TOGGLE_BUTTON

public static final AccessibleRole TOGGLE_BUTTON
A specialized push button that can be checked or unchecked, but does not provide a separate indicator for the current state.

See Also:
PUSH_BUTTON, CHECK_BOX, RADIO_BUTTON

CHECK_BOX

public static final AccessibleRole CHECK_BOX
A choice that can be checked or unchecked and provides a separate indicator for the current state.

See Also:
PUSH_BUTTON, TOGGLE_BUTTON, RADIO_BUTTON

RADIO_BUTTON

public static final AccessibleRole RADIO_BUTTON
A specialized check box that will cause other radio buttons in the same group to become unchecked when this one is checked.

See Also:
PUSH_BUTTON, TOGGLE_BUTTON, CHECK_BOX

ROW_HEADER

public static final AccessibleRole ROW_HEADER
The header for a row of data.


SCROLL_PANE

public static final AccessibleRole SCROLL_PANE
An object that allows a user to incrementally view a large amount of information. Its children can include scroll bars and a viewport.

See Also:
SCROLL_BAR, VIEWPORT

SCROLL_BAR

public static final AccessibleRole SCROLL_BAR
An object usually used to allow a user to incrementally view a large amount of data. Usually used only by a scroll pane.

See Also:
SCROLL_PANE

VIEWPORT

public static final AccessibleRole VIEWPORT
An object usually used in a scroll pane. It represents the portion of the entire data that the user can see. As the user manipulates the scroll bars, the contents of the viewport can change.

See Also:
SCROLL_PANE

SLIDER

public static final AccessibleRole SLIDER
An object that allows the user to select from a bounded range. For example, a slider might be used to select a number between 0 and 100.


SPLIT_PANE

public static final AccessibleRole SPLIT_PANE
A specialized panel that presents two other panels at the same time. Between the two panels is a divider the user can manipulate to make one panel larger and the other panel smaller.


TABLE

public static final AccessibleRole TABLE
An object used to present information in terms of rows and columns. An example might include a spreadsheet application.


TEXT

public static final AccessibleRole TEXT
An object that presents text to the user. The text is usually editable by the user as opposed to a label.

See Also:
LABEL

TREE

public static final AccessibleRole TREE
An object used to present hierarchical information to the user. The individual nodes in the tree can be collapsed and expanded to provide selective disclosure of the tree's contents.


TOOL_BAR

public static final AccessibleRole TOOL_BAR
A bar or palette usually composed of push buttons or toggle buttons. It is often used to provide the most frequently used functions for an application.


TOOL_TIP

public static final AccessibleRole TOOL_TIP
An object that provides information about another object. The accessibleDescription property of the tool tip is often displayed to the user in a small "help bubble" when the user causes the mouse to hover over the object associated with the tool tip.


AWT_COMPONENT

public static final AccessibleRole AWT_COMPONENT
An AWT component, but nothing else is known about it.

See Also:
SWING_COMPONENT, UNKNOWN

SWING_COMPONENT

public static final AccessibleRole SWING_COMPONENT
A Swing component, but nothing else is known about it.

See Also:
AWT_COMPONENT, UNKNOWN

UNKNOWN

public static final AccessibleRole UNKNOWN
The object contains some Accessible information, but its role is not known.

See Also:
AWT_COMPONENT, SWING_COMPONENT

STATUS_BAR

public static final AccessibleRole STATUS_BAR
A STATUS_BAR is an simple component that can contain multiple labels of status information to the user.


DATE_EDITOR

public static final AccessibleRole DATE_EDITOR
A DATE_EDITOR is a component that allows users to edit java.util.Date and java.util.Time objects


SPIN_BOX

public static final AccessibleRole SPIN_BOX
A SPIN_BOX is a simple spinner component and its main use is for simple numbers.


FONT_CHOOSER

public static final AccessibleRole FONT_CHOOSER
A FONT_CHOOSER is a component that lets the user pick various attributes for fonts.


GROUP_BOX

public static final AccessibleRole GROUP_BOX
A GROUP_BOX is a simple container that contains a border around it and contains components inside it.


HEADER

public static final AccessibleRole HEADER
A text header

Since:
1.5

FOOTER

public static final AccessibleRole FOOTER
A text footer

Since:
1.5

PARAGRAPH

public static final AccessibleRole PARAGRAPH
A text paragraph

Since:
1.5

RULER

public static final AccessibleRole RULER
A ruler is an object used to measure distance

Since:
1.5

EDITBAR

public static final AccessibleRole EDITBAR
A role indicating the object acts as a formula for calculating a value. An example is a formula in a spreadsheet cell.

Since:
1.5

PROGRESS_MONITOR

public static final AccessibleRole PROGRESS_MONITOR
A role indicating the object monitors the progress of some operation.

Since:
1.5
Constructor Detail

AccessibleRole

protected AccessibleRole(String key)
Creates a new AccessibleRole using the given locale independent key. This should not be a public method. Instead, it is used to create the constants in this file to make it a strongly typed enumeration. Subclasses of this class should enforce similar policy.

The key String should be a locale independent key for the role. It is not intended to be used as the actual String to display to the user. To get the localized string, use toDisplayString.

Parameters:
key - the locale independent name of the role.
See Also:
AccessibleBundle.toDisplayString(java.lang.String, java.util.Locale)

JavaTM 2 Platform
Standard Ed. 5.0

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For further API reference and developer documentation, see Java 2 SDK SE Developer Documentation. That documentation contains more detailed, developer-targeted descriptions, with conceptual overviews, definitions of terms, workarounds, and working code examples.

Copyright 2004 Sun Microsystems, Inc. All rights reserved. Use is subject to license terms. Also see the documentation redistribution policy.