Stickfight :: Oi, where's me config docs?, Oh bugger i don't have a nsf

Category Java notes equivalent

Here we go with another example of what to do when cruelly ripped from the bosom of the notes server

This time its config docs, these as we all know are a happy doddle in notes, we just store them in what ever db (usually the current one) is suitable and pull then back with a view (personally i don't like profile documents as they are a swine to copy around in comparison to normal docs), when faced this same basic need in Java, and not wanting to use a relation database (feels like a bit of an over kill for some things) i went searching and found more wonderful people who have already done the job, this time at http://commons.apache.org/configuration/

They have a nice little lib that lets you store stuff in xml docs (as well as many other things), here is an example (lets call it config.xml)

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1" ?>

<project-definition>
<example1>
<textexample>im a example</textexample>
</example1>

<example2>
<intexample>15</intexample>
<list1>
<name>item1,item2,item</name>
</list1>
</example2>
</project-definition>

Im going to save this in the root of my Java project, and now on to the code

import org.apache.commons.configuration.ConfigurationException;
import org.apache.commons.configuration.XMLConfiguration;

public class EasyConfigDocs{
public static void main(String[] args) {

try {
XMLConfiguration config = new XMLConfiguration("Config.xml");

String textconfig = config.getString("example1.textexample");
//Note: to get an indented value you separate with a "."

int numberconfig = config.getInt("example2.intexample");
List buttons = config.getList("example2.list1.name");
//Note: on multivalue items the default separator is a "," if you want to use a "," in a text string you need to either do "\," or change the default delimiter (easy to do, its on the site)

} catch(ConfigurationException cex) {
System.out.println("config file not found");
}
}
}

Nearly as simple as Notes (not that i did any work), it also does all the Edit and Add stuff, but you can get that off the examples at http://commons.apache.org/configuration/ if you need it, i just want to save you the pain on the initial search, Oh!, on that note keep a look out at http://www.benpoole.com hes on the same track as me and has some good blog tutorials for notes developers fighting with pure Java coming up.

Comments

1 - this time your blod was like the emergency help for me! have never had troubles with config docs, so was unprepared to what has happenned to me. with your help the problem is easily and painlessly (almost) solved:)

Posted by Mike Green At 20:56:46 On 24/10/2010 | - Website - |

2 - There is some really neat stuff lurking in the apache libraries... You never know when you will find that gem of info that saves you hours of work in Notes or even Java.

Posted by MikeM At 20:56:47 On 24/10/2010 | - Website - |