How to add a method to an existing class source code in Spring Roo Addon?

[webhub]

I am writing a Roo Addon to add new methods to an existing class (The class source code was created by another Roo addon).

I looked at Roo source code, I can get

ClassOrInterfaceTypeDetails mgrCls = typeLocationService.findClassOrInterface(propertiesManagerType);

Then I can get the declared methods... however, how do I add a method to it?

Thank you.

[Stefan Schmidt]

You need to have an add-on which creates the method in its own ITD which in turn adds the method to the class type during project compilation. To see how this works you can simply create a dummy add-on with the 'addon create advanced' command. This add-on illustrates how an add-on can create and manage its own ITD. If you look at the Roo sources you will find many add-ons (of varying complexity) which perform this task.

HTH,
Stefan

[webhub]

Thank you Stefan for your reply.
I am new at writing Roo Addon, I am still learning ITD stuff...

Basically, in my OperationImpl class, I have this method, which is called when the user issues the command in Roo shell:

	/** {@inheritDoc} */
	public void addString(String name, String value) {
		Assert.notNull(name, "property name cannot be null.");

		JavaPackage topLevelPackage = getProjectMetadata().getTopLevelPackage();		
		JavaType propertiesManagerType = new JavaType(topLevelPackage.getFullyQualifiedPackageName()+".utils.SayHello");
		 
		String mgrIdentifier = typeLocationService.getPhysicalLocationCanonicalPath(propertiesManagerType, Path.SRC_MAIN_JAVA);

		String declaredByMetadataId = null;

		if (fileManager.exists(mgrIdentifier)) {
			ClassOrInterfaceTypeDetails mgrCls = typeLocationService.findClassOrInterface(propertiesManagerType);
			//System.out.println("Metadata ID: "+mgrCls.getDeclaredByMetadataId());
                        //Question here: how do I add a simple method, i.e. void sayHappy(); to mgrCls.
  
		}else{
 
			declaredByMetadataId = PhysicalTypeIdentifier.createIdentifier(propertiesManagerType, Path.SRC_MAIN_JAVA);
			ClassOrInterfaceTypeDetailsBuilder typeDetailsBuilder = new ClassOrInterfaceTypeDetailsBuilder(declaredByMetadataId, Modifier.PUBLIC, propertiesManagerType, PhysicalTypeCategory.CLASS);
			  
			List<MethodMetadataBuilder> methods = new ArrayList<MethodMetadataBuilder>();
			 
			InvocableMemberBodyBuilder bodyBuilder=new InvocableMemberBodyBuilder();
			bodyBuilder.appendIndent();
			bodyBuilder.appendFormalLine("return \"hello world!\";");
			 
			MethodMetadataBuilder methodBuilder = new MethodMetadataBuilder(declaredByMetadataId, Modifier.PUBLIC, new JavaSymbolName("sayHello"), JavaType.STRING_OBJECT, bodyBuilder);
			methods.add(methodBuilder);
			
			typeDetailsBuilder.setDeclaredMethods(methods);
			
			typeManagementService.generateClassFile(typeDetailsBuilder.build());
		}
       }

I am stuck at the if branch, the else part works. I hope to add a new method to SayHello class through Roo shell after the SayHello was created.

Also, note that the class I try to modify (utils.SayHello) is not an entity or anything. It is simply a POJO class, it has no annotations.

Which Roo Addon will be a good example for me to study? Thanks again.

[Stefan Schmidt]

What you are trying to do here is to add your method to the actual .java source which most Roo add-ons avoid. You should have your addon create an ITD instead which adds the method transparently. For this you need to take a look at the Metadata types that the 'addon create advanced' command generates. A good starting point for this kind of add-on would be the json addon http://git.springsource.org/roo/roo/...ter/addon-json which has operations, commands, metadata (ITD) and a trigger annotation.