## org.biojavax.ontology
Interface ComparableTerm

All Superinterfaces:
  Annotatable, Changeable, Comparable, RankedCrossRefable, Term

All Known Implementing Classes:
  SimpleComparableTerm

    public interface ComparableTerm

extends Term, RankedCrossRefable, Comparable, Changeable

Makes Term objects comparable properly and adds some extra features to them.

Since:
  1.5
Author:
  Richard Holland

Nested Class Summary

Nested classes/interfaces inherited from interface org.biojava.ontology.Term
`Term.Impl`

Nested classes/interfaces inherited from interface org.biojava.bio.Annotatable
`Annotatable.AnnotationForwarder`

Field Summary
`static ChangeType` `DESCRIPTION`
`static ChangeType` `IDENTIFIER`
`static ChangeType` `OBSOLETE`
`static ChangeType` `RANKEDCROSSREF`

Fields inherited from interface org.biojava.ontology.Term
`ONTOLOGY`

Fields inherited from interface org.biojava.bio.Annotatable
`ANNOTATION`

Method Summary
`String` `getIdentifier()` Returns the (optional) identifier associated with this term.
`Boolean` `getObsolete()` Checks to see if this term is obsolete.
`void` `setDescription(String description)` Sets the description associated with this term.
`void` `setIdentifier(String identifier)` Sets the (optional) identifier associated with this term.
`void` `setObsolete(Boolean obsolete)` Sets the obsolescence flag associated with this term.

Methods inherited from interface org.biojava.ontology.Term
`addSynonym, getDescription, getName, getOntology, getSynonyms, removeSynonym`

Methods inherited from interface org.biojava.bio.Annotatable
`getAnnotation`

Methods inherited from interface org.biojava.utils.Changeable
`addChangeListener, addChangeListener, isUnchanging, removeChangeListener, removeChangeListener`

Methods inherited from interface org.biojavax.RankedCrossRefable
`addRankedCrossRef, getRankedCrossRefs, removeRankedCrossRef, setRankedCrossRefs`

Methods inherited from interface java.lang.Comparable
`compareTo`

Field Detail

### IDENTIFIER

    static final ChangeType IDENTIFIER

### OBSOLETE

    static final ChangeType OBSOLETE

### DESCRIPTION

    static final ChangeType DESCRIPTION

### RANKEDCROSSREF

    static final ChangeType RANKEDCROSSREF

Method Detail

### getIdentifier

    String getIdentifier()

  Returns the (optional) identifier associated with this term.

  Returns:
    the string identifier.

### setIdentifier

    void setIdentifier(String identifier)
                       throws ChangeVetoException

  Sets the (optional) identifier associated with this term.

  Parameters:
    `identifier` - the identifier to give the term. Null will unset it.
  Throws:
    `ChangeVetoException` - if the identifier is unacceptable.

### getObsolete

    Boolean getObsolete()

  Checks to see if this term is obsolete. As the column in the database is nullable, this value is a Boolean object instead of a boolean simple type. Hence it may also be null.

  Returns:
    true if it is, false if not.

### setObsolete

    void setObsolete(Boolean obsolete)
                     throws ChangeVetoException

  Sets the obsolescence flag associated with this term.

  Parameters:
    `obsolete` - true if it is obsolete, false if not. Nullable.
  Throws:
    `ChangeVetoException` - if the change is unacceptable.

### setDescription

    void setDescription(String description)
                        throws ChangeVetoException

  Sets the description associated with this term.

  Specified by:
    `setDescription` in interface `Term`
  Parameters:
    `description` - the description to give the term. Nullable.
  Throws:
    `ChangeVetoException` - if the description is unacceptable.