/* ===========================================================

 * JFreeChart : a free chart library for the Java(tm) platform

 * ===========================================================

 *

 * (C) Copyright 2000-2004, by Object Refinery Limited and Contributors.

 *

 * Project Info:  http://www.jfree.org/jfreechart/index.html

 *

 * 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.

 *

 * [Java is a trademark or registered trademark of Sun Microsystems, Inc. 

 * in the United States and other countries.]

 *

 * -----------------------

 * CombinationDataset.java

 * -----------------------

 * (C) Copyright 2001-2004, by Bill Kelemen.

 *

 * Original Author:  Bill Kelemen;

 * Contributor(s):   -;

 *

 * $Id: CombinationDataset.java,v 1.1 2004/08/31 15:27:03 mungady Exp $

 *

 * Changes

 * -------

 * 06-Dec-2001 : Version 1 (BK);

 *

 */



package org.jfree.data.general;



/**

 * Interface that describes the new methods that any combined dataset needs to

 * implement. A combined dataset object will combine one or more datasets and

 * expose a sub-set or union of the combined datasets.

 *

 * @author Bill Kelemenm (bill@kelemen-usa.com)

 */

public interface CombinationDataset {



    ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

    // New methods from CombinationDataset

    ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////



    /**

     * Returns the parent Dataset of this combination. If there is more than

     * one parent, or a child is found that is not a combination, then returns

     * <code>null</code>.

     *

     * @return the parent Dataset of this combination.

     */

    public SeriesDataset getParent();



    /**

     * Returns a map or indirect indexing form our series into parent's series.

     *

     * @return a map or indirect indexing form our series into parent's series.

     */

    public int[] getMap();



}

