CVS Update: xmlpull-api-v1/src/java/api/org/xmlpull/v1

Stefan Haustein <[email protected]>
Newsgroups gmane.text.xml.xmlpull.devel
Message-ID <[email protected]>
haustein    02/07/19 18:24:06

  Modified:    src/java/api/org/xmlpull/v1 XmlPullParser.java
  Log:
  tried to tidy up the javadoc. removed some redundancy and inconsistenies.
  
  Revision  Changes    Path
  1.62      +288 -254  xmlpull-api-v1/src/java/api/org/xmlpull/v1/XmlPullParser.java
  
  Index: XmlPullParser.java
  ===================================================================
  RCS file: /l/extreme/cvspub/xmlpull-api-v1/src/java/api/org/xmlpull/v1/XmlPullParser.java,v
  retrieving revision 1.61
  retrieving revision 1.62
  diff -u -b -t -w -r1.61 -r1.62
  --- XmlPullParser.java	2002/07/02 16:13:03	1.61
  +++ XmlPullParser.java	2002/07/19 23:24:06	1.62
  @@ -25,23 +25,30 @@
    * </ul>
    *
    *
  - * <p>There are only two key methods: next() and nextToken() that provides
  - * access to high level parsing events and to lower level tokens.
  - *
  - * <p>The parser is always in some event state and type of the current event
  - * can be determined by calling
  - * <a href="#getEventType()">getEventType()</a> mehod.
  - * Initially parser is in <a href="#START_DOCUMENT">START_DOCUMENT</a> state.
  - *
  - * <p>Method <a href="#next()">next()</a> return int that contains identifier of parsing event.
  - * This method can return following events (and will change parser state to the returned event):<dl>
  - * <dt><a href="#START_TAG">START_TAG</a><dd> XML start tag was read
  - * <dt><a href="#TEXT">TEXT</a><dd> element contents was read and is available via getText()
  - * <dt><a href="#END_TAG">END_TAG</a><dd> XML end tag was read
  - * <dt><a href="#END_DOCUMENT">END_DOCUMENT</a><dd> no more events is available
  + * <p>There are two key methods: next() and nextToken(). While next() provides
  + * access to high level parsing events, nextToken() allows access to lower 
  + * level tokens.
  + *
  + * <p>The current event state of the parser 
  + * can be determined by calling the
  + * <a href="#getEventType()">getEventType()</a> method.
  + * Initially, the parser is in the <a href="#START_DOCUMENT">START_DOCUMENT</a> 
  + * state.
  + *
  + * <p>The method <a href="#next()">next()</a> advances the parser to the 
  + * next event. The int value returned from next determines the current parser
  + * state and is identical to the value returned from following calls to
  + * getEventType ().
  + * 
  + * <p>Th following event types are seen by next()<dl>
  + * <dt><a href="#START_TAG">START_TAG</a><dd> An XML start tag was read.
  + * <dt><a href="#TEXT">TEXT</a><dd> Text content was read; 
  + * the text content can be retreived using the getText() method.
  + * <dt><a href="#END_TAG">END_TAG</a><dd> An end tag was read
  + * <dt><a href="#END_DOCUMENT">END_DOCUMENT</a><dd> No more events are available
    * </dl>
    *
  - * The minimal working example of use of API would be looking like this:
  + * A minimal example for using this API may look as follows:
    * <pre>
    * import java.io.IOException;
    * import java.io.StringReader;
  @@ -80,7 +87,7 @@
    * }
    * </pre>
    *
  - * <p>When run it will produce following output:
  + * <p>The above example will generate the following output:
    * <pre>
    * Start document
    * Start tag foo
  @@ -88,8 +95,8 @@
    * End tag foo
    * </pre>
    *
  - * <p>For more details on use of API please read
  - * Quick Introduction available at <a href="http://www.xmlpull.org">http://www.xmlpull.org</a>
  + * <p>For more details on API usage, please refer to the 
  + * quick Introduction available at <a href="http://www.xmlpull.org">http://www.xmlpull.org</a>
    *
    * @see XmlPullParserFactory
    * @see #defineEntityReplacementText
  @@ -107,22 +114,23 @@
    * @see #END_TAG
    * @see #END_DOCUMENT
    *
  - * @author Stefan Haustein
  + * @author <a href="http://www-ai.cs.uni-dortmund.de/PERSONAL/haustein.html">Stefan Haustein</a>
    * @author <a href="http://www.extreme.indiana.edu/~aslom/">Aleksander Slominski</a>
    */
   
   public interface XmlPullParser {
   
  -    /** This constant represents lack of or default namespace (empty string "") */
  +    /** This constant represents the default namespace (empty string "") */
       public static final String NO_NAMESPACE = "";
   
       // ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
       // EVENT TYPES as reported by next()
   
       /**
  -     * EVENT TYPE and TOKEN: signalize that parser is at the very beginning of the document
  -     * and nothing was read yet - the parser is before first call to next() or nextToken()
  -     * (available from <a href="#next()">next()</a> and <a href="#nextToken()">nextToken()</a>).
  +     * Signalize that parser is at the very beginning of the document
  +     * and nothing was read yet.
  +     * This event type can only be observed by calling getEvent() 
  +     * before the first call to next(), nextToken, or nextTag()</a>).
        *
        * @see #next
        * @see #nextToken
  @@ -130,9 +138,9 @@
       public final static int START_DOCUMENT = 0;
   
       /**
  -     * EVENT TYPE and TOKEN: logical end of xml document
  -     * (available from <a href="#next()">next()</a> and <a href="#nextToken()">nextToken()</a>).
  -     *
  +     * Logical end of the xml document. Returned from getEventType, next() 
  +     * and nextToken()
  +     * when the end of the input document has been reached.
        * <p><strong>NOTE:</strong> calling again
        * <a href="#next()">next()</a> or <a href="#nextToken()">nextToken()</a>
        * will result in exception being thrown.
  @@ -143,8 +151,9 @@
       public final static int END_DOCUMENT = 1;
   
       /**
  -     * EVENT TYPE and TOKEN: start tag was just read
  -     * (available from <a href="#next()">next()</a> and <a href="#nextToken()">nextToken()</a>).
  +     * Returned from getEventType(), 
  +     * <a href="#next()">next()</a>, <a href="#nextToken()">nextToken()</a> when
  +     * a start tag was read.
        * The name of start tag is available from getName(), its namespace and prefix are
        * available from getNamespace() and getPrefix()
        * if <a href='#FEATURE_PROCESS_NAMESPACES'>namespaces are enabled</a>.
  @@ -165,10 +174,11 @@
       public final static int START_TAG = 2;
   
       /**
  -     * EVENT TYPE and TOKEN: end tag was just read
  -     * (available from <a href="#next()">next()</a> and <a href="#nextToken()">nextToken()</a>).
  -     * The name of start tag is available from getName(), its namespace and prefix are
  -     * available from getNamespace() and getPrefix()
  +     * Returned from getEventType(), <a href="#next()">next()</a>, or 
  +     * <a href="#nextToken()">nextToken()</a> when an end tag was read.
  +     * The name of start tag is available from getName(), its 
  +     * namespace and prefix are
  +     * available from getNamespace() and getPrefix().
        *
        * @see #next
        * @see #nextToken
  @@ -181,15 +191,19 @@
   
   
       /**
  -     * EVENT TYPE and TOKEN: character data was read and will be available by call to getText()
  -     * (available from <a href="#next()">next()</a> and <a href="#nextToken()">nextToken()</a>).
  -     * <p><strong>NOTE:</strong> next() will (in contrast to nextToken ()) accumulate multiple
  +     * Character data was read and will is available by calling getText().
  +     * <p><strong>Please note:</strong> <a href="#next()">next()</a> will
  +     * accumulate multiple
        * events into one TEXT event, skipping IGNORABLE_WHITESPACE,
  -     * PROCESSING_INSTRUCTION and COMMENT events.
  -     * <p><strong>NOTE:</strong> if state was reached by calling next() the text value will
  -     * be normalized and if the token was returned by nextToken() then getText() will
  -     * return unnormalized content (no end-of-line normalization - it is content exactly as in
  -     * input XML)
  +     * PROCESSING_INSTRUCTION and COMMENT events, 
  +     * In contrast, <a href="#nextToken()">nextToken()</a> will stop reading 
  +     * text when any other event is observed.
  +     * Also, when the state was reached by calling next(), the text value will
  +     * be normalized, whereas getText() will
  +     * return unnormalized content in the case of nextToken(). This allows
  +     * an exact roundtrip without chnanging line ends when examining low
  +     * level events, whereas for high level applications the text is 
  +     * normalized apropriately.
        *
        * @see #next
        * @see #nextToken
  @@ -201,9 +215,11 @@
       // additional events exposed by lower level nextToken()
   
       /**
  -     * TOKEN: CDATA sections was just read
  -     * (this token is available only from <a href="#nextToken()">nextToken()</a>).
  -     * The value of text inside CDATA section is available  by callling getText().
  +     * A CDATA sections was just read;
  +     * this token is available only from calls to <a href="#nextToken()">nextToken()</a>.
  +     * A call to next() will accumulate various text events into a single event 
  +     * of type TEXT. The text contained in the CDATA section is available 
  +     * by callling getText().
        *
        * @see #nextToken
        * @see #getText
  @@ -211,10 +227,14 @@
       public final static int CDSECT = 5;
   
       /**
  -     * TOKEN: Entity reference was just read
  -     * (this token is available only from <a href="#nextToken()">nextToken()</a>).
  -     * The entity name is available by calling getText() and it is user responsibility
  -     * to resolve entity reference.
  +     * An entity reference was just read;
  +     * this token is available from <a href="#nextToken()">nextToken()</a>
  +     * only. The entity name is available by calling getName(). If available,
  +     * the replacement text can be obtained by calling getTextt(); otherwise,
  +     * the user is responsibile for resolving the entity reference.
  +     * This event type is never returned from next(); next() will 
  +     * accumulate the replacement text and other text 
  +     * events to a single TEXT event.
        *
        * @see #nextToken
        * @see #getText
  @@ -222,17 +242,21 @@
       public final static int ENTITY_REF = 6;
   
       /**
  -     * TOKEN: Ignorable whitespace was just read
  -     * (this token is available only from <a href="#nextToken()">nextToken()</a>).
  +     * Ignorable whitespace was just read.
  +     * This token is available only from <a href="#nextToken()">nextToken()</a>).
        * For non-validating
  -     * parsers, this event is only reported by nextToken() when
  -     * outside the root elment.
  +     * parsers, this event is only reported by nextToken() when outside 
  +     * the root element.
        * Validating parsers may be able to detect ignorable whitespace at
        * other locations.
  -     * The value of ignorable whitespace is available by calling getText()
  +     * The ignorable whitespace string is available by calling getText()
  +     *
  +     * <p><strong>NOTE:</strong> this is different from calling the
  +     *  isWhitespace() method, since text content 
  +     *  may be whitespace but not ignorable.
        *
  -     * <p><strong>NOTE:</strong> this is different than callinf isWhitespace() method
  -     *    as element content may be whitespace but may not be ignorable whitespace.
  +     * Ignorable whitespace is skipped by next() automatically; this event
  +     * type is never returned from next().
        *
        * @see #nextToken
        * @see #getText
  @@ -240,18 +264,21 @@
       public static final int IGNORABLE_WHITESPACE = 7;
   
       /**
  -     * TOKEN: XML processing instruction declaration was just read
  -     * and getText() will return text that is inside processing instruction
  -     * (this token is available only from <a href="#nextToken()">nextToken()</a>).
  -     *
  +     * An XML processing instruction declaration was just read. This
  +     * event type is available only via <a href="#nextToken()">nextToken()</a>.
  +     * getText() will return text that is inside the processing instruction.
  +     * Calls to next() will skip processing instructions automatically.
        * @see #nextToken
        * @see #getText
        */
       public static final int PROCESSING_INSTRUCTION = 8;
   
       /**
  -     * TOKEN: XML comment was just read and getText() will return value inside comment
  -     * (this token is available only from <a href="#nextToken()">nextToken()</a>).
  +     * An XML comment was just read. This event type is this token is 
  +     * available via <a href="#nextToken()">nextToken()</a> only;
  +     * calls to next() will skip comments automatically. 
  +     * The content of the comment can be accessed using the getText() 
  +     * method.
        *
        * @see #nextToken
        * @see #getText
  @@ -259,26 +286,26 @@
       public static final int COMMENT = 9;
   
       /**
  -     * TOKEN: XML DOCTYPE declaration was just read
  -     * and getText() will return text that is inside DOCDECL
  -     * (this token is available only from <a href="#nextToken()">nextToken()</a>).
  +     * An XML document type declaration was just read. This token is 
  +     * available from <a href="#nextToken()">nextToken()</a> only.
  +     * The unparsed text inside the doctype is available via 
  +     * the getText() method.
        *
        * @see #nextToken
        * @see #getText
        */
       public static final int DOCDECL = 10;
   
  -
  -
       /**
  -     * Use this array to convert event type number (such as START_TAG) to
  -     * to string giving event name, ex: "START_TAG" == TYPES[START_TAG]
  -     *
  -     * This array contains all event types and token types and represents them
  -     * as concise strings. However due to limitations in Java it is possible
  -     * to do modify table, ex: TYPES[START_TAG] = "foo" but it should not be done
  -     * as it will impede diagnostic messages that uses TYPES[],
  -     * such as getPositionDescription().
  +     * This array can be used to convert the event type integer constants 
  +     * such as START_TAG or TEXT to
  +     * to a string. For example, the value of TYPES[START_TAG] is
  +     * the string "START_TAG".
  +     *
  +     * This array is intended for diagnostic output only. Relying
  +     * on the contents of the array may be dangerous since malicous
  +     * applications may alter the array, although it is final, due 
  +     * to limitations of the Java language. 
        */
       public static final String [] TYPES = {
           "START_DOCUMENT",
  @@ -299,8 +326,10 @@
       // namespace related features
   
       /**
  -     * FEATURE: Processing of namespaces is by default set to false.
  -     * <p><strong>NOTE:</strong> can not be changed during parsing!
  +     * This feature determines whether the parser processes
  +     * namespaces. As for all features, the default value is false.
  +     * <p><strong>NOTE:</strong> The value can not be changed during 
  +     * parsing an must be set before parsing.
        *
        * @see #getFeature
        * @see #setFeature
  @@ -309,10 +338,10 @@
           "http://xmlpull.org/v1/doc/features.html#process-namespaces";
   
       /**
  -     * FEATURE: Report namespace attributes also - they can be distinguished
  -     * looking for prefix == "xmlns" or prefix == null and name == "xmlns
  -     * it is off by default and only meaningful when FEATURE_PROCESS_NAMESPACES feature is on.
  -     * <p><strong>NOTE:</strong> can not be changed during parsing!
  +     * This feature determines whether namespace attributes are
  +     * exposed via the attribute access methods. Like all features,
  +     * the default value is false. This feature cannot be changed
  +     * during parsing.
        *
        * @see #getFeature
        * @see #setFeature
  @@ -321,16 +350,19 @@
           "http://xmlpull.org/v1/doc/features.html#report-namespace-prefixes";
   
       /**
  -     * FEATURE: Processing of DOCDECL is by default set to false
  -     * and if DOCDECL is encountered it is reported by nextToken()
  +     * This feature determines whether the document declaration
  +     * is processed. If set to false, 
  +     * the DOCDECL event type is reported by nextToken()
        * and ignored by next().
        *
  -     * If processing is set to true then DOCDECL must be processed by parser.
  +     * If this featue is activated, then the document declaration
  +     * must be processed by the parser.
        *
  -     * <p><strong>NOTE:</strong> if the DOCDECL was ignored
  -     * further in parsing there may be fatal exception when undeclared
  -     * entity is encountered!
  -     * <p><strong>NOTE:</strong> can not be changed during parsing!
  +     * <p><strong>Please note:</strong> If the document type declaration
  +     * was ignored, entity references may cause exceptions 
  +     * later in the parsing process. 
  +     * The default value of this feature is false. It cannot be changed 
  +     * during parsing.
        *
        * @see #getFeature
        * @see #setFeature
  @@ -339,10 +371,12 @@
           "http://xmlpull.org/v1/doc/features.html#process-docdecl";
   
       /**
  -     * FEATURE: Report all validation errors as defined by XML 1.0 sepcification
  -     * (implies that FEATURE_PROCESS_DOCDECL is true and both internal and external DOCDECL
  -     * will be processed).
  -     * <p><strong>NOTE:</strong> can not be changed during parsing!
  +     * If this feature is activated, all validation errors as 
  +     * defined in the XML 1.0 sepcification are reported. 
  +     * This implies that FEATURE_PROCESS_DOCDECL is true and both, the
  +     * internal and external document type declaration will be processed.
  +     * <p><strong>Please Note:</strong> This feature can not be changed 
  +     * during parsing. The default value is false. 
        *
        * @see #getFeature
        * @see #setFeature
  @@ -354,24 +388,25 @@
        * Use this call to change the general behaviour of the parser,
        * such as namespace processing or doctype declaration handling.
        * This method must be called before the first call to next or
  -     * nextToken. Otherwise, an exception is trown.
  +     * nextToken. Otherwise, an exception is thrown.
        * <p>Example: call setFeature(FEATURE_PROCESS_NAMESPACES, true) in order
  -     * to switch on namespace processing. Default settings correspond
  -     * to properties requested from the XML Pull Parser factory
  -     * (if none were requested then all feautures are by default false).
  +     * to switch on namespace processing. The initial settings correspond
  +     * to the properties requested from the XML Pull Parser factory.
  +     * If none were requested, all feautures are deactivated by default.
        *
  -     * @exception XmlPullParserException if feature is not supported or can not be set
  -     * @exception IllegalArgumentException if feature string is null
  +     * @exception XmlPullParserException If the feature is not supported or can not be set
  +     * @exception IllegalArgumentException If the feature string is null
        */
       public void setFeature(String name,
                              boolean state) throws XmlPullParserException;
   
       /**
  -     * Return the current value of the feature with given name.
  -     * <p><strong>NOTE:</strong> unknown features are <string>always</strong> returned as false
  +     * Returns the current value of the given feature.
  +     * <p><strong>Please note:</strong> unknown features are 
  +     * <strong>always</strong> returned as false.
        *
        * @param name The name of feature to be retrieved.
  -     * @return The value of named feature.
  +     * @return The value of the feature.
        * @exception IllegalArgumentException if feature string is null
        */
   
  @@ -389,7 +424,8 @@
        * Look up the value of a property.
        *
        * The property name is any fully-qualified URI. I
  -     * <p><strong>NOTE:</strong> unknown properties are <string>always</strong> returned as null
  +     * <p><strong>NOTE:</strong> unknown properties are <string>always</strong> 
  +     * returned as null
        *
        * @param name The name of property to be retrieved.
        * @return The value of named property.
  @@ -398,56 +434,49 @@
   
   
       /**
  -     * Set the input for parser. Parser event state is set to START_DOCUMENT.
  -     * Using null parameter will stop parsing and reset parser state
  -     * allowing parser to free internal resources (such as parsing buffers).
  -     * No character will be read from input reader until first call to one of next() methods.
  +     * Set the input source for parser to the given reader and
  +     * resets the parser. The event type is set to the initial value
  +     * START_DOCUMENT.
  +     * Setting the reader to null will just stop parsing and 
  +     * reset parser state,
  +     * allowing the parser to free internal resources 
  +     * such as parsing buffers.
        */
  +
       public void setInput(Reader in) throws XmlPullParserException;
   
  +
       /**
  -     * Set the input stream for parser. Parser event state is set to START_DOCUMENT.
  -     * This call will stop parsing and reset parser state.
  -     *
  -     * <p><strong>NOTE:</strong> calling this function will not result in reading any input
  -     * bytes even when parser have to determine input encoding
  -     * including byte order marks and detection &lt;? xml encoding
  -     * (in case when inputEncoding is null).
  -     * The XMLPULL implementation MUST postpone reading of input bytes until
  -     * first call to one of next() methods.
  -     *
  -     * <p><strong>NOTE:</strong> if inputEncoding is passed it MUST be used otherwise
  -     *  if inputEncoding is null the parser SHOULD try to determine input encoding
  -     *  following XML 1.0 specification (see below) but it is not required
  -     *  (for example when parser is constrained by memory footprint such as in J2ME environments)
  +     * Sets the input stream the parser is going to process. 
  +     * This call resets the parser state and sets the event type
  +     * to the initial value START_DOCUMENT.
  +     *
  +     * <p><strong>NOTE:</strong> If an input encoding string is passed,
  +     *  it MUST be used. Otherwise,
  +     *  if inputEncoding is null, the parser SHOULD try to determine 
  +     *  input encoding following XML 1.0 specification (see below). 
        *  If encoding detection is supported then following feature
        *  <a href="http://xmlpull.org/v1/doc/features.html#detect-encoding">http://xmlpull.org/v1/doc/features.html#detect-encoding</a>
  -     *  MUST be true otherwise it must be false
  +     *  MUST be true amd otherwise it must be false
  +     *
  +     * @param inputStream contains a raw byte input stream of possibly
  +     *     unknown encoding (when inputEncoding is null). 
        *
  -     * @param inputStream contains raw byte input stream of possibly
  -     *     unknown encoding (when inputEncoding is null) and in such case the parser
  -     *     must derive encoding from &lt;?xml declaration or assume UTF8 or UTF16 as
  -     *     described in <a href="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-xml#sec-guessing-no-ext-info">XML 1.0
  -     *                      Appendix F.1 Detection Without External Encoding Information</a>
  -     *     otherwise if inputEncoding is present then it must be used
  -     *     (this is consistent with
  -     *     <a href="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-xml#sec-guessing-with-ext-info">XML 1.0
  -     *             Appendix F.2 Priorities in the Presence of External Encoding Information</a>
  -     *      that allows for exception only for files and in such cases inputEncoding should
  -     *      be null to trigger autodetecting.
  -     *      if inputStream is null the IllegalArgumentException must be thrown
        * @param inputEncoding if not null it MUST be used as encoding for inputStream
        */
  +
       public void setInput(InputStream inputStream, String inputEncoding)
           throws XmlPullParserException;
   
       /**
  -     * Return input encoding if known or null if unknown.
  -     * If setInput(InputStream, inputEncoding) was called with not null inpuEncoding
  -     * it must be returned by this function. Otherwise if inputEncoding is null and parser suppports
  -     * feature http://xmlpull.org/v1/doc/features.html#detect-encoding
  -     * then it must return detected encoding.
  -     * If setInput(Reader) was called returned encoding name is null.
  +     * Returns the input encoding if known, null otherwise.
  +     * If setInput(InputStream, inputEncoding) was called with an inputEncoding
  +     * value other than null, this value must be returned
  +     * from this method. Otherwise, if inputEncoding is null and 
  +     * the parser suppports the encoding detection feature 
  +     * (http://xmlpull.org/v1/doc/features.html#detect-encoding),
  +     * it must return the detected encoding.
  +     * If setInput(Reader) was called, null is returned.
        */
       public String getInputEncoding();
   
  @@ -455,24 +484,20 @@
        * Set new value for entity replacement text as defined in
        * <a href="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-xml#intern-replacement">XML 1.0 Section 4.5
        * Construction of Internal Entity Replacement Text</a>.
  -     * If FEATURE_PROCESS_DOCDECL or FEATURE_VALIDATION are set then calling this
  -     * function will reulst in exception because when processing of DOCDECL is enabled
  -     * there is no need to set manually entity replacement text.
  -     *
  -     * <p>The motivation for this function is to allow very small implementations of XMLPULL
  -     * that will work in J2ME environments and though may not be able to process DOCDECL
  -     * but still can be made to work with predefined DTDs by using this function to
  -     * define well known in advance entities.
  -     * Additionally as XML Schemas are replacing DTDs by allowing parsers not to process DTDs
  -     * it is possible to create more efficient parser implementations
  -     * that can be used as underlying layer to do XML schemas validation.
  -     *
  -     *
  -     * <p><b>NOTE:</b> this is replacement text and it is not allowed
  -     *  to contain any other entity reference
  -     * <p><b>NOTE:</b> list of pre-defined entites will always contain standard XML
  -     * entities (such as &amp;amp; &amp;lt; &amp;gt; &amp;quot; &amp;apos;)
  -     * and they cannot be replaced!
  +     * If FEATURE_PROCESS_DOCDECL or FEATURE_VALIDATION are set, calling this
  +     * function will result in an exception -- when processing of DOCDECL is 
  +     * enabled, there is no need to the entity replacement text manually.
  +     *
  +     * <p>The motivation for this function is to allow very small 
  +     * implementations of XMLPULL that will work in J2ME environments.
  +     * Though these implementations may not be able to process the document type
  +     * declaration, they still can work with known DTDs by using this function.
  +     * 
  +     * <p><b>Please notes:</b> The given value is the replacement text and must not 
  +     * contain any other entity reference. The list of pre-defined entites will 
  +     * always contain standard XML entities such as 
  +     * &amp;amp; &amp;lt; &amp;gt; &amp;quot; &amp;apos;. Those 
  +     * cannot be replaced!
        *
        * @see #setInput
        * @see #FEATURE_PROCESS_DOCDECL
  @@ -482,12 +507,10 @@
                                               String replacementText ) throws XmlPullParserException;
   
       /**
  -     * Return position in stack of first namespace slot for element at passed depth.
  -     * If namespaces are not enabled it returns always 0.
  -     * <p><b>NOTE:</b> default namespace is included in namespace table and
  -     *  is available by using null string as in getNamespace(null)
  -     * (it may return null if xmlns="..." is not present)
  -     * and as well by calling getNamespace() (that will never return null but "").
  +     * Returns the numbers of elements in the namespace stack for the given 
  +     * depth.
  +     * If namespaces are not enabled, 0 is returned.
  +
        * <p><b>NOTE:</b> when parser is on END_TAG then it is allowed to call
        *  this function with getDepth()+1 argument to retrieve position of namespace
        *  prefixes and URIs that were declared on corresponding START_TAG.
  @@ -500,31 +523,36 @@
       public int getNamespaceCount(int depth) throws XmlPullParserException;
   
       /**
  -     * Return namespace prefixes for position pos in namespace stack
  -     * If pos is out of range it throw exception.
  -     * <p><b>NOTE:</b> when parser is on END_TAG then namespace prefixes that were declared
  -     *  in corresponding START_TAG are still accessible even though they are not in scope.
  +     * Returns the namespace prefixe for the given position 
  +     * in the namespace stack. 
  +     * If the given index is out of range, an exception is thrown.
  +     * <p><b>Please note:</b> when the parser is on an END_TAG, 
  +     * namespace prefixes that were declared
  +     * in the corresponding START_TAG are still accessible 
  +     * although they are no longer in scope.
        */
  +
       public String getNamespacePrefix(int pos) throws XmlPullParserException;
   
       /**
  -     * Return namespace URIs for position pos in namespace stack
  -     * If pos is out of range it throw exception.
  +     * Returns the namespace URI for the given position in the
  +     * namespace stack
  +     * If the position is out of range, an exception is thrown.
        * <p><b>NOTE:</b> when parser is on END_TAG then namespace prefixes that were declared
        *  in corresponding START_TAG are still accessible even though they are not in scope
        */
       public String getNamespaceUri(int pos) throws XmlPullParserException;
   
       /**
  -     * Return uri for the given prefix.
  -     * It is depending on current state of parser to find
  -     * what namespace uri is mapped from namespace prefix.
  -     * For example for 'xsi' if xsi namespace prefix
  -     * was declared to 'urn:foo' it will return 'urn:foo'.
  +     * Returns the URI corresponding to the given prefix, 
  +     * depending on current state of the parser.
        *
  -     * <p>It will return null if namespace could not be found.
  +     * <p>If the prefix was not declared in the current scope,
  +     * null is returned. The default namespace is included 
  +     * in the namespace table and is available via 
  +     * getNamespace (null).
        *
  -     * <p>Convenience method for
  +     * <p>This method is a convenience method for
        *
        * <pre>
        *  for (int i = getNamespaceCount (getDepth ())-1; i >= 0; i--) {
  @@ -535,17 +563,13 @@
        *  return null;
        * </pre>
        *
  -     * <p><strong>NOTE:</strong> parser implementation
  -     * can do more efifcient lookup (using Hashtable for exmaple).
  -     *
  -     * <p><strong>NOTE:</strong>The 'xml' prefix is bound as defined in
  +     * <p><strong>Please note:</strong> parser implementations
  +     * may provide more efifcient lookup, e.g. using a Hashtable.
  +     * The 'xml' prefix is bound to "http://www.w3.org/XML/1998/namespace", as 
  +     * defined in the 
        * <a href="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-xml-names/#ns-using">Namespaces in XML</a>
  -     * specification to "http://www.w3.org/XML/1998/namespace".
  -     *
  -     * <p><strong>NOTE:</strong> The 'xmlns' prefix must be resolved to following namespace
  +     * specification. Analogous, the 'xmlns' prefix is resolved to 
        * <a href="http://www.w3.org/2000/xmlns/">http://www.w3.org/2000/xmlns/</a>
  -     * (visit this URL for description!).
  -     *
        *
        * @see #getNamespaceCount
        * @see #getNamespacePrefix
  @@ -578,31 +602,31 @@
       public int getDepth();
   
       /**
  -     * Short text describing parser position, including a
  -     * description of the current event and data source if known
  -     * and if possible what parser was seeing lastly in input.
  -     * This method is especially useful to give more meaningful error messages.
  +     * Returns a short text describing the current parser state, including
  +     * the position, a
  +     * description of the current event and the data source if known.
  +     * This method is especially useful to provide meaningful 
  +     * error messages and for debugging purposes.
        */
   
       public String getPositionDescription ();
   
   
       /**
  -     * Current line number: numebering starts from 1.
  -     * It must return -1 if parser does not know current line number
  -     * or can not determine it (for example in case of WBXML)
  +     * Returns the current line number, starting from 1.
  +     * When the parser does not know the current line number
  +     * or can not determine it,  -1 is returned (e.g. for WBXML).
        *
  -     * @return current column number or -1 of unknown
  +     * @return current line number or -1 if unknown.
        */
       public int getLineNumber();
   
       /**
  -     * Current column: numbering starts from 0
  -     * (zero should be returned when parser is in START_DOCUMENT state!)
  -     * It must return -1 if parser does not know current line number
  -     * or can not determine it (for example in case of WBXML)
  +     * Returns the current column number, starting from 0.
  +     * When the parser does not know the current column number
  +     * or can not determine it,  -1 is returned (e.g. for WBXML).
        *
  -     * @return current column number or -1 of unknown
  +     * @return current column number or -1 if unknown.
        */
       public int getColumnNumber();
   
  @@ -611,53 +635,55 @@
       // TEXT related methods
   
       /**
  -     * Check if current TEXT event contains only whitespace characters.
  +     * Checks whether the current TEXT event contains only whitespace 
  +     * characters.
        * For IGNORABLE_WHITESPACE, this is always true.
  -     * For TEXT and CDSECT if the current event text contains at lease one non white space
  -     * character then false is returned. For any other event type exception is thrown.
  -     *
  -     * <p><b>NOTE:</b>  non-validating parsers are not
  -     * able to distinguish whitespace and ignorable whitespace
  -     * except from whitespace outside the root element. ignorable
  -     * whitespace is reported as separate event which is exposed
  +     * For TEXT and CDSECT, false is returned when the current event text 
  +     * contains at lease one non-white space character. For any other 
  +     * event type an exception is thrown.
  +     *
  +     * <p><b>Please note:</b> Non-validating parsers are not
  +     * able to distinguish whitespace and ignorable whitespace,
  +     * except from whitespace outside the root element. Ignorable
  +     * whitespace is reported as separate event, which is exposed
        * via nextToken only.
        *
  -     * <p><b>NOTE:</b> this function can be only called for element content related events
  -     * (TEXT, CDSECT or IGNORABLE_WHITESPACE) otherwise
  -     * exception will be thrown!
        */
   
       public boolean isWhitespace() throws XmlPullParserException;
   
       /**
  -     * Read text content of the current event as String.
  -     * <p><strong>NOTE:</strong> in case of ENTITY_REF this method returns
  -     * entity replacement text (or null if not available) and it is the only case when
  -     * getText() and getTextCharacters() returns different values.
  +     * Returns the text content of the current event as String.
  +     * <p><strong>NOTE:</strong> in case of ENTITY_REF, this method returns
  +     * the entity replacement text (or null if not available). This is
  +     * the only case where
  +     * getText() and getTextCharacters() return different values.
        */
       public String getText ();
   
   
       /**
  -     * Get the buffer that contains text of the current event and
  -     * start offset of text is passed in first slot of input int array
  -     * and its length is in second slot.
  -     *
  -     * <p><strong>NOTE:</strong> this buffer must not
  -     * be modified and its content MAY change after call to next() or nextToken().
  -     *
  -     * <p><b>NOTE:</b> this method must return always the same value as getText()
  -     *  except in case of ENTITY_REF (where getText() is replacement text and
  -     * this method returns actual input buffer with entity name the same as getName()).
  -     * If getText() returns null then this method returns null as well and
  -     * values returned in holder MUST be -1 (both start and length).
  +     * Returns the buffer that contains the text of the current event,
  +     * as well as the start offset and length relevant for the current
  +     * event. 
  +     *
  +     * <p><strong>Please note:</strong> this buffer must not
  +     * be modified and its content MAY change after a call to 
  +     * next() or nextToken(). This method will always return the 
  +     * same value as getText(), except for ENTITY_REF. In the case
  +     * of ENTITY ref, getText() returns the replacement text and
  +     * this method returns the actual input buffer containing the 
  +     * entity name. 
  +     * If getText() returns null, this method returns null as well and
  +     * the values returned in the holder array MUST be -1 (both start 
  +     * and length).
        *
        * @see #getText
        *
  -     * @param holderForStartAndLength the 2-element int array into which
  -     *   values of start offset and length will be written into frist and second slot of array.
  -     * @return char buffer that contains text of current event
  -     *  or null if the current event has no text associated.
  +     * @param holderForStartAndLength Must hold an 2-element int array 
  +     * into which the start offset and length values will be written.
  +     * @return char buffer that contains the text of the current event
  +     *  (null if the current event has no text associated).
        */
       public char[] getTextCharacters(int [] holderForStartAndLength);
   
  @@ -665,38 +691,45 @@
       // START_TAG / END_TAG shared methods
   
       /**
  -     * Returns the namespace URI of the current element (default namespace is represented
  -     * as empty string).
  -     * If namespaces are NOT enabled, an empty String ("") always is returned.
  -     * The current event must be START_TAG or END_TAG, otherwise, null is returned.
  +     * Returns the namespace URI of the current element. 
  +     * The default namespace is represented
  +     * as empty string.
  +     * If namespaces are not enabled, an empty String ("") is always returned.
  +     * The current event must be START_TAG or END_TAG; otherwise, 
  +     * null is returned.
        */
       public String getNamespace ();
   
       /**
  -     * For START_TAG or END_TAG returns the (local) name of the current element
  -     * when namespaces are enabled or raw name when namespaces are disabled.
  -     * For ENTITY_REF it returns entity name.
  -     * The current event must be START_TAG or END_TAG or ENTITY_REF, otherwise null is returned.
  -     * <p><b>NOTE:</b> to reconstruct raw element name
  -     *  when namespaces are enabled you will need to
  -     *  add prefix and colon to localName if prefix is not null.
  +     * For START_TAG or END_TAG events, the (local) name of the current 
  +     * element is returned when namespaces are enabled. When namespace
  +     * processing is disabled, the raw name is returned.
  +     * For ENTITY_REF events, the entity name is returned.
  +     * If the current event is not START_TAG, END_TAG, or ENTITY_REF, 
  +     * null is returned.
  +     * <p><b>Please note:</b> To reconstruct the raw element name
  +     *  when namespaces are enabled and the prefix is not null, 
  +     * you will need to  add the prefix and a colon to localName..
        *
        */
       public String getName();
   
       /**
  -     * Returns the prefix of the current element
  -     * or null if elemet has no prefix (is in defualt namespace).
  -     *  If namespaces are not enabled it always returns null.
  -     * If the current event is not  START_TAG or END_TAG the null value is returned.
  +     * Returns the prefix of the current element.
  +     * If the element is in the default namespace (has no prefix), 
  +     * null is returned. 
  +     * If namespaces are not enabled, or the current event 
  +     * is not  START_TAG or END_TAG, null is returned.
        */
  -    public String getPrefix();
   
  +    public String getPrefix();
   
       /**
  -     * Returns true if the current event is START_TAG and the tag is degenerated
  +     * Returns true if the current event is START_TAG and the tag 
  +     * is degenerated
        * (e.g. &lt;foobar/&gt;).
  -     * <p><b>NOTE:</b> if parser is not on START_TAG then the exception will be thrown.
  +     * <p><b>NOTE:</b> if the parser is not on START_TAG, an exception 
  +     * will be thrown.
        */
       public boolean isEmptyElementTag() throws XmlPullParserException;
   
  @@ -704,8 +737,8 @@
       // START_TAG Attributes retrieval methods
   
       /**
  -     * Returns the number of attributes on the current element;
  -     * -1 if the current event is not START_TAG
  +     * Returns the number of attributes of the current start tag, or 
  +     * -1 if the current event type is not START_TAG
        *
        * @see #getAttributeNamespace
        * @see #getAttributeName
  @@ -715,11 +748,12 @@
       public int getAttributeCount();
   
       /**
  -     * Returns the namespace URI of the specified attribute
  -     *  number index (starts from 0).
  -     * Returns empty string ("") if namespaces are not enabled or attribute has no namespace.
  +     * Returns the namespace URI of the attribute
  +     * with the given index (starts from 0).
  +     * Returns an empty string ("") if namespaces are not enabled 
  +     * or the attribute has no namespace.
        * Throws an IndexOutOfBoundsException if the index is out of range
  -     * or current event type is not START_TAG.
  +     * or the current event type is not START_TAG.
        *
        * <p><strong>NOTE:</strong> if FEATURE_REPORT_NAMESPACE_ATTRIBUTES is set
        * then namespace attributes (xmlns:ns='...') must be reported
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