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| Chapter 17 The java.util Package |

# ResourceBundle

## Name

ResourceBundle

## Synopsis

Class Name:

  `java.util. ResourceBundle`

Superclass:

  `java.lang.Object`

Immediate Subclasses:

  `java.util.ListResourceBundle`, `java.util.PropertyResourceBundle`

Interfaces Implemented:

  None

Availability:

  New as of JDK 1.1

## Description

The `ResourceBundle` class is an `abstract` class that represents a set of localized data. An application retrieves a `ResourceBundle` based on its locale. A `ResourceBundle` can contain GUI labels and other locale-specific information that the application needs to run in a specific locale.

Conceptually, a resource bundle is a set of related classes that all inherit from a particular subclass of `ResourceBundle`. The base resource bundle defines all of the resources for a particular application, while each of the subclasses specifies the appropriate values for a particular locale. Each subclass has the same base name, plus a suffix that identifies its locale.

A static method, `getBundle()`, is used to locate a resource bundle for a particular locale. This method searches for resources in two forms. First, it looks for a subclass of `ResourceBundle` or `ListResourceBundle` with the appropriate name. If one is found, an instance of the class is created and returned. If no appropriate subclass can be found, `getBundle()` then searches for a property file with the appropriate name. If one is found, a `PropertyResourceBundle` is created from the file and returned.

The `getBundle()` method constructs a name from a specified base resource name and the locale. It then searches for either a class or a property file with this name. If the method fails to find an exact match, it tries to find a close match. The method constructs names by dropping to the next name on the list if the current name cannot be found:

- base + "`_`" + language + "`_`" + country + "`_`" + variant

- base + "`_`" + language + "`_`" + country

- base + "`_`" + language

- base

- base + "`_`" + default language + "`_`" + default country + "`_`" + default variant

- base + "`_`" + default language + "`_`" + default country

- base + "`_`" + default language

For example, if you call `getBundle('Labels',` `new` `Locale('it',` `'IT',` `'Be'))`, the method looks for a class or property file with one of the following names (assuming the default locale is the United States):

- `Labels_it_IT_Be`

- `Labels_it_IT`

- `Labels_it`

- `Labels`

- `Labels_en_US_Be`

- `Labels_en_US`

- `Labels_en`

A particular `ResourceBundle` object contains a set of key/value pairs that defines the resources for a particular application. The keys are always `String` objects that name the resources, while the values can be any sort of object needed for the application. The `ResourceBundle` class defines convenience methods for retrieving `String` and `String[]` objects. If you need to use other kinds of objects, you can use the `getObject()` method to retrieve them and simply cast the results to the appropriate types.

## Class Summary

    public abstract class java.util.ResourceBundle extends java.lang.Object {
      // Variables
      protected ResourceBundle parent;
      // Class Methods
      public final static ResourceBundle getBundle(String baseName);
      public final static ResourceBundle getBundle(String baseName,
                                                  Locale locale);
      // Instance Methods
      public abstract Enumeration getKeys();
      public final Object getObject(String key)j;
      public final String getString(String key);
      public final String[] getStringArray(String key);
      // Protected Instance Methods
      protected abstract Object handleGetObject(String key);
      protected void setParent(ResourceBundle parent);
    }

## Variables

### parent

#### protected ResourceBundle parent

Description

  The parent `ResourceBundle` of this `ResourceBundle`. If this `ResourceBundle` does not contain a particular resource, its parent is searched. The parent can be set using `setParent()`.

## Class Methods

### getBundle

####

     public final static ResourceBundle getBundle(String baseName) throws MissingResourceException

Parameters

  `baseName`

    The resource name.

Returns

  The named `ResourceBundle` for the default locale.

Throws

  `MissingResourceException`

    If a matching `ResourceBundle` can't be located.

Description

  This method finds or constructs the appropriate `ResourceBundle` subclass specified by `baseName` and localized for the default locale. See the description of the `ResourceBundle` class for more information about how this method works.

####

     public final static ResourceBundle getBundle(String baseName, Locale locale)

Parameters

  `baseName`

    The resource name.

  `locale`

    The `Locale` to use.

Returns

  The named `ResourceBundle` for the given locale.

Throws

  `MissingResourceException`

    If a matching `ResourceBundle` can't be located.

Description

  This method finds or constructs the appropriate `ResourceBundle` subclass specified by `baseName` and localized for the given locale. See the description of the `ResourceBundle` class for more information about how this method works.

## Instance Methods

### getKeys

#### public abstract Enumeration getKeys()

Returns

  The keys in the `ResourceBundle` as an `Enumeration`.

Description

  This method returns an `Enumeration` that iterates through the keys in this `ResourceBundle`. A subclass of `ResourceBundle` must provide an implementation for this method.

### getObject

####

     public final Object getObject(String key) throws MissingResourceException

Parameters

  `key`

    The key of the resource to retrieve.

Returns

  The `Object` identified by `key`.

Throws

  `MissingResourceException`

    If the resource cannot be found.

Description

  This method returns the named resource as an `Object`. If the named resource is not found in this `ResourceBundle`, the parent `ResourceBundle` is searched.

### getString

####

     public final String getString(String key) throws MissingResourceException

Parameters

  `key`

    The key of the resource to retrieve.

Returns

  The `String` object identified by `key`.

Throws

  `MissingResourceException`

    If the resource cannot be found.

Description

  This method returns the named resource as a `String` object. This method is a convenience routine that calls `getObject()` and casts the result to a `String` object.

### getStringArray

####

     public final String[] getStringArray(String key) throws MissingResourceException

Parameters

  `key`

    The key of the resource to retrieve.

Returns

  The `String[]` array identified by `key`.

Throws

  `MissingResourceException`

    If the resource cannot be found.

Description

  This method returns the named resource as an array of `String` objects. This method is a convenience routine that calls `getObject()` and casts the result to a `String[]` object.

## Protected Instance Methods

### handleGetObject

####

     protected abstract Object handleGetObject(String key) throws MissingResourceException

Parameters

  `key`

    The key of the resource to retrieve.

Returns

  The resource that corresponds to this key.

Throws

  `MissingResourceException`

    If the resource cannot be found.

Description

  This method returns the resource that corresponds to the given key. This method is called directly by `getObject()`, so it is called indirectly by `getMenu()`, `getMenuBar()`, `getString()`, and `getStringArray()`.

  A subclass of `ResourceBundle` must provide an implementation for this method.

### setParent

#### protected void setParent(ResourceBundle parent)

Parameters

  `parent`

    The new parent of this `ResourceBundle`.

Description

  This method sets the parent `ResourceBundle` of this `ResourceBundle`. If a requested resource cannot be found in this `ResourceBundle`, the parent is searched.

## Inherited Methods

Method | Inherited From | Method | Inherited From
--- | --- | --- | ---
`clone()` | `Object` | `equals(Object)` | `Object`
`finalize()` | `Object` | `getClass()` | `Object`
`hashCode()` | `Object` | `notify()` | `Object`
`notifyAll()` | `Object` | `toString()` | `Object`
`wait()` | `Object` | `wait(long)` | `Object`
`wait(long, int)` | `Object` |  |

## See Also

`Enumeration`, `ListResourceBundle`, `Locale`, `PropertyResourceBundle`, `String`

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