package gov.nasa.gsfc.spdf.cdfj;

/**
 *
 * @author nand
 */
public interface VariableAttribute extends Attribute {
    /**
     * returns count of entries for this variable attribute. 
     * @return 
     */
    public int getEntryCount();

    /**
     * returns nth entry for this variable attribute.if entry type is string, a String or String[] is returned.if entry type is long, a long[] is returned.
     * In other cases  a double[] is returned
     * @param n
     * @return 
     */
    public Object getEntry(int n);

    /**
     * returns whether nth entry is of type long.A Throwable is thrown for invalid entry number
     * @param n
     * @return
     * @throws java.lang.Throwable
     */
    public boolean isLongType(int n) throws Throwable;

    /**
     * returns whether nth entry is of type string.A Throwable is thrown for invalid entry number
     * @param n
     * @return
     * @throws java.lang.Throwable
     */
    public boolean isStringType(int n) throws Throwable;
}