From 3e0c445ff41114ed6aca5f62322fb359448f62cc Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Britt Park <britt.park@alfresco.com>
Date: Mon, 12 Mar 2007 15:56:59 +0000
Subject: [PATCH] Nestable metadata checkpoint.  Preliminary mapping.
 Preliminary interface for value items. Preliminary service interface.

git-svn-id: https://svn.alfresco.com/repos/alfresco-enterprise/alfresco/HEAD/root@5379 c4b6b30b-aa2e-2d43-bbcb-ca4b014f7261
---
 .../org/alfresco/repo/attributes/Value.java   | 256 ++++++++++++++
 .../alfresco/repo/attributes/ValueImpl.java   | 325 ++++++++++++++++++
 .../ValueMethodNotImplementedException.java   |  42 +++
 .../attributes/hibernate/Attributes.hbm.xml   |  91 +++++
 .../cmr/attributes/AttributeService.java      |  56 +++
 5 files changed, 770 insertions(+)
 create mode 100644 source/java/org/alfresco/repo/attributes/Value.java
 create mode 100644 source/java/org/alfresco/repo/attributes/ValueImpl.java
 create mode 100644 source/java/org/alfresco/repo/attributes/ValueMethodNotImplementedException.java
 create mode 100644 source/java/org/alfresco/repo/attributes/hibernate/Attributes.hbm.xml
 create mode 100644 source/java/org/alfresco/service/cmr/attributes/AttributeService.java

diff --git a/source/java/org/alfresco/repo/attributes/Value.java b/source/java/org/alfresco/repo/attributes/Value.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..495205c561
--- /dev/null
+++ b/source/java/org/alfresco/repo/attributes/Value.java
@@ -0,0 +1,256 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright (C) 2005-2007 Alfresco Software Limited.
+ *
+ * This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
+ * modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License
+ * as published by the Free Software Foundation; either version 2
+ * of the License, or (at your option) any later version.
+
+ * This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+ * GNU General Public License for more details.
+
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+ * along with this program; if not, write to the Free Software
+ * Foundation, Inc., 51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA 02110-1301, USA.
+
+ * As a special exception to the terms and conditions of version 2.0 of 
+ * the GPL, you may redistribute this Program in connection with Free/Libre 
+ * and Open Source Software ("FLOSS") applications as described in Alfresco's 
+ * FLOSS exception.  You should have recieved a copy of the text describing 
+ * the FLOSS exception, and it is also available here: 
+ * http://www.alfresco.com/legal/licensing"
+ */
+
+package org.alfresco.repo.attributes;
+
+import java.io.Serializable;
+import java.util.Collection;
+import java.util.Map;
+import java.util.Set;
+
+/**
+ * Interface for polymorphic attributes.
+ * @author britt
+ */
+public interface Value extends Iterable<Value>
+{
+    public static enum Type implements Serializable
+    {
+        BYTE,
+        SHORT,
+        INT,
+        LONG,
+        FLOAT,
+        DOUBLE,
+        STRING,
+        BLOB,
+        SERIALIZABLE,
+        LIST,
+        MAP
+    };
+    
+    /**
+     * Get the value type for this node.
+     * @return
+     */
+    public Type getType();
+
+    /**
+     * Set a boolean value.
+     * @param value The value.
+     */
+    public void setBooleanValue(boolean value);
+    
+    /**
+     * Get the value of a BooleanValue.
+     * @return The value.
+     */
+    public boolean getBooleanValue();
+    
+    /**
+     * Set a byte value.
+     * @param value The value to set.
+     */
+    public void setByteValue(byte value);
+    
+    /**
+     * Get the value of a ByteValue.
+     * @return The value.
+     */
+    public byte getByteValue();
+    
+    /**
+     * Set a short value.
+     * @param value The value to set.
+     */
+    public void setShortValue(short value);
+    
+    /**
+     * Get the value of a ShortValue.
+     * @return The value.
+     */
+    public short getShortValue();
+    
+    /**
+     * Set an integer value.
+     * @param value The value to set.
+     */
+    public void setIntValue(int value);
+    
+    /**
+     * Get the integer value of an IntValue.
+     * @return The value.
+     */
+    public int getIntValue();
+    
+    /**
+     * Set a long value.
+     * @param value The value to set.
+     */
+    public void setLongValue(long value);
+    
+    /**
+     * Get the long value of a LongValue.
+     * @return The value.
+     */
+    public long getLongValue();
+    
+    /**
+     * Set a float value.
+     * @param value The value to set.
+     */
+    public void setFloatValue(float value);
+    
+    /**
+     * Get the value of a FloatValue.
+     * @return The value.
+     */
+    public float getFloatValue();
+    
+    /**
+     * Set a double value.
+     * @param value The value to set.
+     */
+    public void setDoubleValue(double value);
+    
+    /**
+     * Get a double value from a DoubleValue.
+     * @return The value.
+     */
+    public double getDoubleValue();
+    
+    /**
+     * Set a String value.
+     * @param value The value to set.
+     */
+    public void setStringValue(String value);
+    
+    /**
+     * Get a String value from a StringValue.
+     * @return The value.
+     */
+    public String getStringValue();
+    
+    /**
+     * Set a Blob value.
+     * @param value The value to set.
+     */
+    public void setBlobValue(byte[] value);
+    
+    /**
+     * Get a Blob value from a BlobValue
+     * @return The value.
+     */
+    public byte[] getBlobValue();
+    
+    /**
+     * Set a Serializable value.
+     * @param value
+     */
+    public void setSerializableValue(Serializable value);
+    
+    /**
+     * Get a Seriailizable value from a SerializableValue
+     * @return The value.
+     */
+    public Serializable getSerializableValue();
+    
+    /**
+     * Add a Value to a list.
+     * @param value The value to add.
+     */
+    public void add(Value value);
+    
+    /**
+     * Add a Value to a list at the given index.
+     * @param index The offset.
+     * @param value The value to add. 
+     */
+    public void add(int index, Value value);
+    
+    /**
+     * Get the value at the given index of a list.
+     * @param index The offset.
+     * @return The value.
+     */
+    public Value get(int index);
+    
+    /**
+     * Remove the given entry from a list.
+     * @param index The offset to remove.
+     */
+    public void remove(int index);
+    
+    /**
+     * Clear a list or a map.
+     */
+    public void clear();
+    
+    /**
+     * Add an entry to a map.
+     * @param key The key to the entry.
+     * @param value The Value of the entry.
+     */
+    public void put(String key, Value value);
+    
+    /**
+     * Get the Value for a key in a map.
+     * @param key The key.
+     * @return The value.
+     */
+    public Value get(String key);
+    
+    /**
+     * Remove an entry by key from a map.
+     * @param key The key of the entry to remove.
+     */
+    public void remove(String key);
+    
+    /**
+     * Get the entry set for a map.
+     * @return The entry set.
+     */
+    public Set<Map.Entry<String, Value>> entrySet(); 
+    
+    /**
+     * Get the key set for a map.
+     * @return The key set.
+     */
+    public Set<String> keySet();
+    
+    /**
+     * Get the collection of values of a map.
+     * @return The values.
+     */
+    public Collection<Value> values();
+    
+    /**
+     * Get (possibly recursively) the Value as an Object. The returned
+     * value is a copy of the Value using standard java Integers, Longs, Doubles, Strings,
+     * byte[]s, Maps, and Lists.
+     * @return The Object value.
+     */
+    public Object getAsObject();
+}
diff --git a/source/java/org/alfresco/repo/attributes/ValueImpl.java b/source/java/org/alfresco/repo/attributes/ValueImpl.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..28d32e62a6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/source/java/org/alfresco/repo/attributes/ValueImpl.java
@@ -0,0 +1,325 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright (C) 2005-2007 Alfresco Software Limited.
+ *
+ * This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
+ * modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License
+ * as published by the Free Software Foundation; either version 2
+ * of the License, or (at your option) any later version.
+
+ * This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+ * GNU General Public License for more details.
+
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+ * along with this program; if not, write to the Free Software
+ * Foundation, Inc., 51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA 02110-1301, USA.
+
+ * As a special exception to the terms and conditions of version 2.0 of 
+ * the GPL, you may redistribute this Program in connection with Free/Libre 
+ * and Open Source Software ("FLOSS") applications as described in Alfresco's 
+ * FLOSS exception.  You should have recieved a copy of the text describing 
+ * the FLOSS exception, and it is also available here: 
+ * http://www.alfresco.com/legal/licensing"
+ */
+
+package org.alfresco.repo.attributes;
+
+import java.io.Serializable;
+import java.util.Collection;
+import java.util.Iterator;
+import java.util.Set;
+import java.util.Map.Entry;
+
+/**
+ * The base class of the implementation of Values.
+ * @author britt
+ */
+public abstract class ValueImpl implements Value 
+{
+    /**
+     * The primary key.
+     */
+    private long fID;
+    
+    /**
+     * Base constructor.
+     */
+    protected ValueImpl()
+    {
+    }
+    
+    public void setId(long id)
+    {
+        fID = id;
+    }
+    
+    public long getId()
+    {
+        return fID;
+    }
+    
+    /* (non-Javadoc)
+     * @see org.alfresco.repo.attributes.Value#add(org.alfresco.repo.attributes.Value)
+     */
+    public void add(Value value) 
+    {
+        throw new ValueMethodNotImplementedException("Not ListValue");        
+    }
+
+    /* (non-Javadoc)
+     * @see org.alfresco.repo.attributes.Value#add(int, org.alfresco.repo.attributes.Value)
+     */
+    public void add(int index, Value value) 
+    {
+        throw new ValueMethodNotImplementedException("Not ListValue");
+    }
+
+    /* (non-Javadoc)
+     * @see org.alfresco.repo.attributes.Value#clear()
+     */
+    public void clear() 
+    {
+        throw new ValueMethodNotImplementedException("Not ListValue or MapValue");
+    }
+
+    /* (non-Javadoc)
+     * @see org.alfresco.repo.attributes.Value#entrySet()
+     */
+    public Set<Entry<String, Value>> entrySet() 
+    {
+        throw new ValueMethodNotImplementedException("Not MapValue");
+    }
+
+    /* (non-Javadoc)
+     * @see org.alfresco.repo.attributes.Value#get(int)
+     */
+    public Value get(int index) 
+    {
+        throw new ValueMethodNotImplementedException("Not ListValue");
+    }
+
+    /* (non-Javadoc)
+     * @see org.alfresco.repo.attributes.Value#get(java.lang.String)
+     */
+    public Value get(String key) 
+    {
+        throw new ValueMethodNotImplementedException("Not MapValue");
+    }
+
+    /* (non-Javadoc)
+     * @see org.alfresco.repo.attributes.Value#getAsObject()
+     */
+    public Object getAsObject() 
+    {
+        throw new ValueMethodNotImplementedException("Not implemented in base class");
+    }
+
+    /* (non-Javadoc)
+     * @see org.alfresco.repo.attributes.Value#getBlobValue()
+     */
+    public byte[] getBlobValue() 
+    {
+        throw new ValueMethodNotImplementedException("Not BlobValue");
+    }
+
+    /* (non-Javadoc)
+     * @see org.alfresco.repo.attributes.Value#getDoubleValue()
+     */
+    public double getDoubleValue() 
+    {
+        throw new ValueMethodNotImplementedException("Not DoubleValue");
+    }
+
+    /* (non-Javadoc)
+     * @see org.alfresco.repo.attributes.Value#getIntValue()
+     */
+    public int getIntValue() 
+    {
+        throw new ValueMethodNotImplementedException("Not IntValue");
+    }
+
+    /* (non-Javadoc)
+     * @see org.alfresco.repo.attributes.Value#getLongValue()
+     */
+    public long getLongValue() 
+    {
+        throw new ValueMethodNotImplementedException("Not LongValue");
+    }
+
+    /* (non-Javadoc)
+     * @see org.alfresco.repo.attributes.Value#getSerializableValue()
+     */
+    public Serializable getSerializableValue() 
+    {
+        throw new ValueMethodNotImplementedException("Not SerializableValue");
+    }
+
+    /* (non-Javadoc)
+     * @see org.alfresco.repo.attributes.Value#getStringValue()
+     */
+    public String getStringValue() 
+    {
+        throw new ValueMethodNotImplementedException("Not StringValue");
+    }
+
+    /* (non-Javadoc)
+     * @see org.alfresco.repo.attributes.Value#keySet()
+     */
+    public Set<String> keySet() 
+    {
+        throw new ValueMethodNotImplementedException("Not MapValue");
+    }
+
+    /* (non-Javadoc)
+     * @see org.alfresco.repo.attributes.Value#put(java.lang.String, org.alfresco.repo.attributes.Value)
+     */
+    public void put(String key, Value value) 
+    {
+        throw new ValueMethodNotImplementedException("Not MapValue");
+    }
+
+    /* (non-Javadoc)
+     * @see org.alfresco.repo.attributes.Value#remove(int)
+     */
+    public void remove(int index) 
+    {
+        throw new ValueMethodNotImplementedException("Not ListValue");
+    }
+
+    /* (non-Javadoc)
+     * @see org.alfresco.repo.attributes.Value#remove(java.lang.String)
+     */
+    public void remove(String key) 
+    {
+        throw new ValueMethodNotImplementedException("Not MapValue");    
+    }
+
+    /* (non-Javadoc)
+     * @see org.alfresco.repo.attributes.Value#setBlobValue(byte[])
+     */
+    public void setBlobValue(byte[] value) 
+    {
+        throw new ValueMethodNotImplementedException("Not BlobValue");
+    }
+
+    /* (non-Javadoc)
+     * @see org.alfresco.repo.attributes.Value#setDoubleValue(double)
+     */
+    public void setDoubleValue(double value) 
+    {
+        throw new ValueMethodNotImplementedException("Not DoubleValue");
+    }
+
+    /* (non-Javadoc)
+     * @see org.alfresco.repo.attributes.Value#setIntValue(int)
+     */
+    public void setIntValue(int value) 
+    {
+        throw new ValueMethodNotImplementedException("Not IntValue");
+    }
+
+    /* (non-Javadoc)
+     * @see org.alfresco.repo.attributes.Value#setLongValue(long)
+     */
+    public void setLongValue(long value) 
+    {
+        throw new ValueMethodNotImplementedException("Not LongValue");
+    }
+
+    /* (non-Javadoc)
+     * @see org.alfresco.repo.attributes.Value#setSerializableValue(java.io.Serializable)
+     */
+    public void setSerializableValue(Serializable value) 
+    {
+        throw new ValueMethodNotImplementedException("Not SerializableValue");
+    }
+
+    /* (non-Javadoc)
+     * @see org.alfresco.repo.attributes.Value#setStringValue(java.lang.String)
+     */
+    public void setStringValue(String value) 
+    {
+        throw new ValueMethodNotImplementedException("Not StringValue");
+    }
+
+    /* (non-Javadoc)
+     * @see org.alfresco.repo.attributes.Value#values()
+     */
+    public Collection<Value> values() 
+    {
+        throw new ValueMethodNotImplementedException("Not MapValue");
+    }
+
+    /* (non-Javadoc)
+     * @see java.lang.Iterable#iterator()
+     */
+    public Iterator<Value> iterator() 
+    {
+        throw new ValueMethodNotImplementedException("Not ListValue");
+    }
+
+    /* (non-Javadoc)
+     * @see org.alfresco.repo.attributes.Value#getBooleanValue()
+     */
+    public boolean getBooleanValue() 
+    {
+        throw new ValueMethodNotImplementedException("Not BooleanValue");
+    }
+
+    /* (non-Javadoc)
+     * @see org.alfresco.repo.attributes.Value#getByteValue()
+     */
+    public byte getByteValue() 
+    {
+        throw new ValueMethodNotImplementedException("Not ByteValue");
+    }
+
+    /* (non-Javadoc)
+     * @see org.alfresco.repo.attributes.Value#getFloatValue()
+     */
+    public float getFloatValue() 
+    {
+        throw new ValueMethodNotImplementedException("Not FloatValue");
+    }
+
+    /* (non-Javadoc)
+     * @see org.alfresco.repo.attributes.Value#getShortValue()
+     */
+    public short getShortValue() 
+    {
+        throw new ValueMethodNotImplementedException("Not ShortValue");
+    }
+
+    /* (non-Javadoc)
+     * @see org.alfresco.repo.attributes.Value#setBooleanValue(boolean)
+     */
+    public void setBooleanValue(boolean value) 
+    {
+        throw new ValueMethodNotImplementedException("Not BooleanValue");
+    }
+
+    /* (non-Javadoc)
+     * @see org.alfresco.repo.attributes.Value#setByteValue(byte)
+     */
+    public void setByteValue(byte value) 
+    {
+        throw new ValueMethodNotImplementedException("Not ByteValue");
+    }
+
+    /* (non-Javadoc)
+     * @see org.alfresco.repo.attributes.Value#setFloatValue(float)
+     */
+    public void setFloatValue(float value) 
+    {
+        throw new ValueMethodNotImplementedException("Not FloatValue");
+    }
+
+    /* (non-Javadoc)
+     * @see org.alfresco.repo.attributes.Value#setShortValue(short)
+     */
+    public void setShortValue(short value) 
+    {
+        throw new ValueMethodNotImplementedException("Not ShortValue");
+    }
+}
diff --git a/source/java/org/alfresco/repo/attributes/ValueMethodNotImplementedException.java b/source/java/org/alfresco/repo/attributes/ValueMethodNotImplementedException.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..8edcf2a696
--- /dev/null
+++ b/source/java/org/alfresco/repo/attributes/ValueMethodNotImplementedException.java
@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright (C) 2005-2007 Alfresco Software Limited.
+ *
+ * This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
+ * modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License
+ * as published by the Free Software Foundation; either version 2
+ * of the License, or (at your option) any later version.
+
+ * This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+ * GNU General Public License for more details.
+
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+ * along with this program; if not, write to the Free Software
+ * Foundation, Inc., 51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA 02110-1301, USA.
+
+ * As a special exception to the terms and conditions of version 2.0 of 
+ * the GPL, you may redistribute this Program in connection with Free/Libre 
+ * and Open Source Software ("FLOSS") applications as described in Alfresco's 
+ * FLOSS exception.  You should have recieved a copy of the text describing 
+ * the FLOSS exception, and it is also available here: 
+ * http://www.alfresco.com/legal/licensing"
+ */
+
+package org.alfresco.repo.attributes;
+
+import org.alfresco.error.AlfrescoRuntimeException;
+
+/**
+ * For unimplemented attribute methods.
+ * @author britt
+ */
+public class ValueMethodNotImplementedException extends AlfrescoRuntimeException
+{
+    private static final long serialVersionUID = -7167699355451456957L;
+
+    public ValueMethodNotImplementedException(String message)
+    {
+        super(message);
+    }
+}
diff --git a/source/java/org/alfresco/repo/attributes/hibernate/Attributes.hbm.xml b/source/java/org/alfresco/repo/attributes/hibernate/Attributes.hbm.xml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..3b13f496c7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/source/java/org/alfresco/repo/attributes/hibernate/Attributes.hbm.xml
@@ -0,0 +1,91 @@
+<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
+<!DOCTYPE hibernate-mapping PUBLIC "-//Hibernate/Hibernate Mapping DTD 3.0//EN" "http://hibernate.sourceforge.net/hibernate-mapping-3.0.dtd" >
+
+<!-- Polymorphic, nestable attributes. -->
+<hibernate-mapping package="org.alfresco.repo.attributes">
+    <!-- Value is the base class for metadata values. -->
+    <class table="alf_values" abstract="true"
+           name="ValueImpl" proxy="Value"
+           optimistic-lock="version"
+           lazy="true">
+        <cache usage="read-write"/>
+        <id name="id" column="id" type="long">
+            <generator class="native"/>
+        </id>
+        <discriminator column="type" type="string" length="1"/>
+        <version column="version" name="version" type="long"/>
+        <!-- A boolean valued attribute -->
+        <subclass name="BooleanValueImpl" proxy="BooleanValue" lazy="true"
+                  discriminator-value="O">
+            <property name="booleanValue" column="bool_value" type="boolean" index="value_bool_index"/>
+        </subclass>
+        <!-- A byte valued attribute -->
+        <subclass name="ByteValueImpl" proxy="ByteValue" lazy="true"
+                  discriminator-value="Y">
+            <property name="byteValue" column="byte_value" type="byte" index="value_byte_index"/>
+        </subclass>
+        <!-- A short valued attribute -->
+        <subclass name="ShortValueImpl" proxy="ShortValue" lazy="true"
+                  discriminator-value="H">
+            <property name="shortValue" column="short_value" type="short" index="value_short_index"/>
+        </subclass>        
+        <!-- An integer valued attribute. -->
+        <subclass name="IntValueImpl" proxy="IntValue" lazy="true"
+                  discriminator-value="I">
+            <property name="intValue" column="int_value" type="int" index="value_int_index"/>
+        </subclass>
+        <!-- A long valued attribute -->
+        <subclass name="LongValueImpl" proxy="LongValue" lazy="true"
+                  discriminator-value="L">
+            <property name="longValue" column="long_value" type="long" index="value_long_index"/>
+        </subclass>
+        <!-- A float valued attribute -->
+        <subclass name="FloatValueImpl" proxy="FloatValue" lazy="true"
+                  discriminator-value="F">
+            <property name="floatValue" column="float_value" type="float" index="value_float_index"/>
+        </subclass>        
+        <!-- A double valued attribute -->
+        <subclass name="DoubleValueImpl" proxy="DoubleValue" lazy="true"
+                  discriminator-value="D">
+            <property name="doubleValue" column="double_value" type="double" index="value_double_index"/>
+        </subclass>
+        <!-- A string valued attribute -->
+        <subclass name="StringValueImpl" proxy="StringValue" lazy="true"
+                  discriminator-value="S">
+            <property name="stringValue" column="string_value" type="string"
+                      length="512" index="value_string_index(64)"/>
+        </subclass>
+        <!-- A blob valued attribute -->
+        <subclass name="BlobValueImpl" proxy="BlobValue" lazy="true"
+                  discriminator-value="B">
+            <property name="blobValue" column="blob_value" type="blob"
+                      length="8192"/>
+        </subclass>
+        <!-- A serializable attribute -->
+        <subclass name="SerializableValueImpl" proxy="SerializableValue" lazy="true"
+                  discriminator-value="E">
+            <property name="serializableValue" column="serializable_value" lazy="true"
+                      length="8192"/>
+        </subclass>
+        <!-- A list attribute -->
+        <subclass name="ListValueImpl" proxy="ListValue" lazy="true"
+                  discriminator-value="T">
+            <list name="data" table="alf_list_data" lazy="true" cascade="all">
+                <cache usage="read-write"/>
+                <key column="value_id"/>
+                <index type="int" column="offset"/>
+                <many-to-many class="ValueImpl" column="list_value" lazy="true"/>                
+            </list>
+        </subclass>
+        <!-- A map attribute -->
+        <subclass name="MapValueImpl" proxy="MapValue" lazy="true"
+                  discriminator-value="M">
+            <map name="data" table="alf_map_data" lazy="true" cascade="all">
+                <cache usage="read-write"/>
+                <key column="value_id"/>
+                <map-key column="map_key" type="string" length="160"/>
+                <many-to-many class="AttributeImpl" column="map_attr" lazy="true"/>
+            </map>
+        </subclass>
+    </class>
+</hibernate-mapping>
diff --git a/source/java/org/alfresco/service/cmr/attributes/AttributeService.java b/source/java/org/alfresco/service/cmr/attributes/AttributeService.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..5125fd0435
--- /dev/null
+++ b/source/java/org/alfresco/service/cmr/attributes/AttributeService.java
@@ -0,0 +1,56 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright (C) 2005-2007 Alfresco Software Limited.
+ *
+ * This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
+ * modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License
+ * as published by the Free Software Foundation; either version 2
+ * of the License, or (at your option) any later version.
+
+ * This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+ * GNU General Public License for more details.
+
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+ * along with this program; if not, write to the Free Software
+ * Foundation, Inc., 51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA 02110-1301, USA.
+
+ * As a special exception to the terms and conditions of version 2.0 of 
+ * the GPL, you may redistribute this Program in connection with Free/Libre 
+ * and Open Source Software ("FLOSS") applications as described in Alfresco's 
+ * FLOSS exception.  You should have recieved a copy of the text describing 
+ * the FLOSS exception, and it is also available here: 
+ * http://www.alfresco.com/legal/licensing"
+ */
+
+package org.alfresco.service.cmr.attributes;
+
+/**
+ * This provides services for reading, writing, and querying global attributes.
+ * @author britt
+ */
+public interface AttributeService 
+{
+    /**
+     * Get a Global Attribute.
+     * @param path The path of the Attribute. Attribute paths are of the form
+     * {name}({name}|[index])*
+     * @return The value of the attribute or null.
+     */
+    public Object getValue(String path);
+    
+    /**
+     * Set a Global Attribute. Overwrites if it exists.
+     * @param name The name of the Attribute.
+     * @param value The value to set.
+     */
+    public void setValue(String path, Object value);
+    
+    /**
+     * Remove an Attribute.
+     * @param name The name of the Attribute.
+     */
+    public void removeValue(String path);
+    
+    // TODO A query interface.
+}