001/* ===========================================================
002 * JFreeChart : a free chart library for the Java(tm) platform
003 * ===========================================================
004 *
005 * (C) Copyright 2000-present, by David Gilbert and Contributors.
006 *
007 * Project Info:  http://www.jfree.org/jfreechart/index.html
008 *
009 * This library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it
010 * under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License as published by
011 * the Free Software Foundation; either version 2.1 of the License, or
012 * (at your option) any later version.
013 *
014 * This library is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but
015 * WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY
016 * or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the GNU Lesser General Public
017 * License for more details.
018 *
019 * You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser General Public
020 * License along with this library; if not, write to the Free Software
021 * Foundation, Inc., 51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA  02110-1301,
022 * USA.
023 *
024 * [Oracle and Java are registered trademarks of Oracle and/or its affiliates. 
025 * Other names may be trademarks of their respective owners.]
026 *
027 * --------------------
028 * PublicCloneable.java
029 * --------------------
030 * (C) Copyright 2000-present, by David Gilbert and Contributors.
031 *
032 * Original Author:  David Gilbert;
033 * Contributors:     -;
034 */
035
036package org.jfree.chart.util;
037
038/**
039 * An interface that exposes the clone() method.  In order to support the 
040 * cloning of {@link org.jfree.chart.JFreeChart} instances, it is advisable to implement this
041 * interface for custom plots, renderers and other chart components.  If
042 * this interface is not implemented, cloning will still be attempted via 
043 * reflection.
044 */
045public interface PublicCloneable extends Cloneable {
046    
047    /**
048     * Returns a clone of the object.
049     * 
050     * @return A clone.
051     * 
052     * @throws CloneNotSupportedException if cloning is not supported for some reason.
053     */
054    Object clone() throws CloneNotSupportedException;
055
056}
057