On Sun, 3 Aug 2003, Adam Jack <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:

> I did a search and looked at
> http://ant.apache.org/manual/develop.html#writingowntask, but didn't
> find much on DataTypes.

Mainly because DataTypes are nothing fancy, just beans that follow
Ant's introspection rules.

> 1) When were DataTypes introduce to ant, what release?

In principle with Ant 1.2, but <typedef> didn't exist before Ant 1.4
(and didn't work properly before 1.5).

> 2) What are the primary benefits of DataTypes? Re-use & References?

In 1.6 there is a whole bunch of new opportunities for them, but let's
stick with 1.5.x for now.

I don't know of any benefit other than that you can define them
outside of tasks.  Any nested element can have an id and can thus be
referenced.

<fileset id="foo" ...>
<copy ...> 
  <fileset refid="foo"/>
</copy>
<copy ...>
  <fileset refid="foo"/>
</copy>

is mostly equivalent to

<copy ...> 
  <fileset id="foo" ...>
</copy>
<copy ...>
  <fileset refid="foo"/>
</copy>

> 3) Ought pretty much all NestedElement be DataTypes -- to be more
> flexible?

The only flexibility you gain is that you can define them outside of
tasks,

> 4) I really find this "unfortunate":
> 
>       <typedef resource="krysalis-version" />
>       <taskdef resource="krysalis-version" />

Ant 1.6 will change this by using the new antlib concept.

Stefan

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