A Simple Decorator Pattern Example - Wrapping Up
(Page 4 of 4 )
To execute the Decorator design pattern, the whole key lies in knowing how to wrap a component in a concrete decorator. First, you need to instantiate a concrete component.
var testComponent:Component = new ConcreteComponent();
Then, you wrap the component in one or more decorations using the following format:
componentInstance=new ConcreteDecorator(testComponent);
So, in our example, with two concrete decorations, we’d write:
testComponent=new DecConA(testComponent);
testComponent=new DecConB(testComponent);
At this point,testComponentis decorated with two decorations. We could duplicate the above lines adding the same two decorations as often as we wanted. Think of the decorations as red and green Christmas tree ornaments. The tree could be covered with nothing but red and green ornaments, rather than just one of each. The Decorator design pattern is employed cumulatively. That is, as you add each decoration, it’s added to those already wrapping the concrete component.
Finally, to see what havoc we’ve wrought, we use the getter method—getInformation():
trace(testComponent.getInformation());
To see how all of this works, save Example 4-6 asDecTest.asin an ActionScript file. Then open a new Flash document file, and type DecTest in the Document class window in the Properties panel.
Example 4-6. DecTest.as
package
{
import flash.display.Sprite;
public class DecTest extends Sprite
{
public function DecTest()
{
//Instantiate Concrete Component
var testComponent:Component = new ConcreteComponent();
//Wrap first decorator around component
testComponent=new DecConA(testComponent);
//Wrap second decorator around component
testComponent=new DecConB(testComponent);
//Output results
trace(testComponent.getInformation());
}
}
}
Figure 4-5 shows what you should see in your Output window when you test the movie.
Figure 4-5. Decorations on component
To understand what’s going on in the Decorator pattern, go back and look at Figure 4-2. The example application first instantiated aConcreteComponent()object. That object displays a message pointing to its decorations. Imagine that object (testComponent) as the smallest can to the far left in Figure 4-2. That can is then placed into decorator Can #1. At this point, the concrete component object (testComponent) is decorated with Can #1, but retains its original properties –much in the same way that a lawn decorated with a family of gnomes still retains its property of green grass. Next, Can #1, which now contains the concrete component, is dropped into Can #2. Now Can #2 has both Can #1 and the Concrete component Can. Thus, Can #2 has all of the properties of itself plus those of the cans inside.
In a sense, the whole process works like the compound operator, plus-equal (+=). Each decorator attaches itself to the existing component and its decorator. As each decorator is added, all the previous ones are retained but not duplicated, unless you add the same decorator more than once. So, as the output shows, you can add as many decorations as you want simply by wrapping them in the existing object in one of the decorators.
Please check back next week for the continuation of this article.
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 This article is excerpted from chapter four of ActionScript 3.0 Design Patterns Object Oriented Programming Techniques, written by William B. Sanders and Chandima Cumaranatunge (O'Reilly, 2007 ISBN: 0596528469). Check it out today at your favorite bookstore. Buy this book now.
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