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#ifndef __com_sun_star_configuration_backend_XBackendEntities_idl__
#define __com_sun_star_configuration_backend_XBackendEntities_idl__

#ifndef __com_sun_star_uno_XInterface_idl__
#include <com/sun/star/uno/XInterface.idl>
#endif 

#ifndef __com_sun_star_lang_IllegalArgumentException_idl__
#include <com/sun/star/lang/IllegalArgumentException.idl>
#endif 
#ifndef __com_sun_star_configuration_backend_BackendAccessException_idl__
#include <com/sun/star/configuration/backend/BackendAccessException.idl>
#endif 

//============================================================================= 

module com { module sun { module star { module configuration { module backend {

//============================================================================= 

/** 
  Provides functionality relating to common and supported entities 
  for a configuration data backend. 
 
  @see com::sun::star::configuration::backend::XBackend
  @see com::sun::star::configuration::backend::XMultiLayerStratum

  @since OOo 1.1.2
*/
published interface XBackendEntities : ::com::sun::star::uno::XInterface 
{
    //------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

    /** 
        provides the entity id of the owner entity of the backend.

        @returns   
            an entity identifier for the owner entity.
            <p> The owner entity is the default entity for the backend. 
               For normal configuration data access the owner entity 
               should always be used. 
            </p>

        @see com::sun::star::configuration::backend::XBackend::listOwnLayers()
        @see com::sun::star::configuration::backend::XBackend::getOwnUpdateHandler()
    */
    string getOwnerEntity() ;

    //------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

    /** 
        provides the entity id of an entity for general administrative access.

        <p> The admin entity is an entity that should be used to 
           read and manage configuration data that applies to all entities 
           within the backend.  
        </p>

        @returns   
            an entity identifier for the admin entity or 
            an empty string, if there is no entity that can be used for 
            general administrative access.

    */
    string getAdminEntity() ;

    //------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

    /** 
        determines, if a given entity id exists in this backend.
      
        @param aEntity    
            The name of an entity. 

        @throws   com::sun::star::configuration::backend::BackendAccessException
                if an error occurs while accessing the backend.
  
        @returns 
            <TRUE/>, if aEntity is a valid, existing entity for this backend, 
            <FALSE/> otherwise.
    */
    boolean supportsEntity([in] string aEntity) 
        raises( BackendAccessException );

    //------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

    /** 
        determines, if two given entity ids denote the same entity.

        @param aEntity    
            The name of an entity. 

        @param aOtherEntity    
            The name of another entity. 

        @returns 
            <TRUE/>, if aEntity and aOtherEntity denote the same entity 
            within this backend, <FALSE/> otherwise.

        @throws   com::sun::star::configuration::backend::BackendAccessException
                if an error occurs while accessing the backend.
  
        @throws   com::sun::star::lang::IllegalArgumentException
            if either entity does not exist.
    */
    boolean isEqualEntity([in] string aEntity, [in] string aOtherEntity) 
        raises( BackendAccessException, com::sun::star::lang::IllegalArgumentException) ;

    //------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
} ;

//============================================================================= 

} ; } ; } ; } ; } ;

#endif