Re: common method names

<ssb@fast.no> wrote : > On Wed, 2003-03-05 at 10:59, Bertrand Mansion wrote: >> <wolfram@visionp.de> wrote : >> >>> i was just using HTML_TreeMenu and QuickForm >>> and i realized that in TreeMenu you print the menu using >>> $treeMenu->printMenu() >>> but in QuickForm you need to use >>> $form->display() >>> >>> should there not be a common name for both? >>> i would suggest display() or toHtml() >>> >>> any comments? >> >> As you might guess, I am in favour of toHtml() when one need a string and >> display() when one need this string echoed. ;) We used this scheme in >> HTML_Table, HTML_Common, HTML_QuickForm and Config. Plus other methods like >> toArray() from time to time. >> >> Have a nice day, > > You are assuming that the world runs on HTML. It doesn't :-) <html>world</html> ;) > If there is a "toHtml" method, then "outputHtml" should simply print the > return value. This way we also lay the foundation for something like > "toXml" and "outputXml" for the cases where this would be interesting. > > Generally, I am more in favor of using the verb "display" or "show" > rather than "output", since output is also a bit more web server/browser > paradigm-bound. That's fine with me. I like toHtml(), toXml(), toArray()... The display() method might take an argument to call the desired output method... Maybe "print" because "output" seems too vague ? Bertrand Mansion Mamasam