/*
 * StringParameter.hpp
 *
 *  Created on: Sep 30, 2011
 *      Author: heber
 */

#ifndef STRINGPARAMETER_HPP_
#define STRINGPARAMETER_HPP_

// include config.h
#ifdef HAVE_CONFIG_H
#include <config.h>
#endif

#include <string>

#include "ValueInterface.hpp"
#include "Parameter.hpp"

/** This class encapsulates a string value
 *
 * This is for consistency, as there is no invalid string to be got from and
 * stored in a string, in the sense of ContinuousParameter.
 *
 */
class StringParameter : public Parameter,  virtual public ValueInterface
{
public:
  StringParameter(const std::string &_name);
  StringParameter(const std::string &_name, const std::string &_value);
  virtual ~StringParameter();

  // ValueInterface implemenations
  bool isValid(const std::string _value) const;
  const std::string get() const;
  void set(const std::string _value);

  // comparator
  bool operator==(const StringParameter &_instance) const;
  bool operator!=(const StringParameter &_instance) const
      { return !((*this)==(_instance)); }

  Parameter* clone() const;

private:
  //!> whether value has been set or not
  bool ValueSet;

  //!> encapsulated value
  std::string value;
};


#endif /* STRINGPARAMETER_HPP_ */