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 #ifndef IINTERFACE_HXX_INCLUDED
 #define IINTERFACE_HXX_INCLUDED

 #include <sal/types.h>

 /** The base interface
 */
 class IInterface
 {
 public:

    /** Aquire a reference to an instance. A caller shall release
        the instance by calling 'release' when it is no longer needed.
        'acquire' and 'release' calls need to be balanced.

        @returns
        the current reference count of the instance for debugging purposes.
    */
    virtual sal_Int32 acquire() = 0;

    /** Releases a reference to an instance. A caller has to call
        'release' when a before aquired reference to an instance
        is no longer needed. 'acquire' and 'release' calls need to
        be balanced.

    @returns
        the current reference count of the instance for debugging purposes.
    */
    virtual sal_Int32 release() = 0;

    /** Returns the current reference count. This method should be used for
        debugging purposes. Using it otherwise is a signal of a design flaw.
    */
    virtual sal_Int32 getReferenceCount() const = 0;

protected:
    virtual ~IInterface() {};
 };

 #endif // IDOCUMENT_HXX_INCLUDED

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