JavaTM 2 Platform
Standard Ed. 5.0

java.util.jar
Interface Pack200.Packer

Enclosing class:
Pack200

public static interface Pack200.Packer

The packer engine applies various transformations to the input JAR file, making the pack stream highly compressible by a compressor such as gzip or zip. An instance of the engine can be obtained using Pack200.newPacker(). The high degree of compression is achieved by using a number of techniques described in the JSR 200 specification. Some of the techniques are sorting, re-ordering and co-location of the constant pool.

The pack engine is initialized to an initial state as described by their properties below. The initial state can be manipulated by getting the engine properties (using properties()) and storing the modified properties on the map. The resource files will be passed through with no changes at all. The class files will not contain identical bytes, since the unpacker is free to change minor class file features such as constant pool order. However, the class files will be semantically identical, as specified in the Java Virtual Machine Specification http://java.sun.com/docs/books/vmspec/html/ClassFile.doc.html.

By default, the packer does not change the order of JAR elements. Also, the modification time and deflation hint of each JAR element is passed unchanged. (Any other ZIP-archive information, such as extra attributes giving Unix file permissions, are lost.)

Note that packing and unpacking a JAR will in general alter the bytewise contents of classfiles in the JAR. This means that packing and unpacking will in general invalidate any digital signatures which rely on bytewise images of JAR elements. In order both to sign and to pack a JAR, you must first pack and unpack the JAR to "normalize" it, then compute signatures on the unpacked JAR elements, and finally repack the signed JAR. Both packing steps should use precisely the same options, and the segment limit may also need to be set to "-1", to prevent accidental variation of segment boundaries as class file sizes change slightly.

(Here's why this works: Any reordering the packer does of any classfile structures is idempotent, so the second packing does not change the orderings produced by the first packing. Also, the unpacker is guaranteed by the JSR 200 specification to produce a specific bytewise image for any given transmission ordering of archive elements.)


Field Summary
static String CLASS_ATTRIBUTE_PFX
          When concatenated with a class attribute name, indicates the format of that attribute, using the layout language specified in the JSR 200 specification.
static String CODE_ATTRIBUTE_PFX
          When concatenated with a code attribute name, indicates the format of that attribute.
static String DEFLATE_HINT
          If this property is set to TRUE or FALSE, the packer will set the deflation hint accordingly in the output archive, and will not transmit the individual deflation hints of archive elements.
static String EFFORT
          If this property is set to a single decimal digit, the packer will use the indicated amount of effort in compressing the archive.
static String ERROR
          The string "error", a possible value for certain properties.
static String FALSE
          The string "false", a possible value for certain properties.
static String FIELD_ATTRIBUTE_PFX
          When concatenated with a field attribute name, indicates the format of that attribute.
static String KEEP
          The string "keep", a possible value for certain properties.
static String KEEP_FILE_ORDER
          If this property is set to TRUE, the packer will transmit all elements in their original order within the source archive.
static String LATEST
          The string "latest", a possible value for certain properties.
static String METHOD_ATTRIBUTE_PFX
          When concatenated with a method attribute name, indicates the format of that attribute.
static String MODIFICATION_TIME
          If this property is set to the special string LATEST, the packer will attempt to determine the latest modification time, among all the available entries in the original archive or the latest modification time of all the available entries in each segment.
static String PASS
          The string "pass", a possible value for certain properties.
static String PASS_FILE_PFX
          Indicates that a file should be passed through bytewise, with no compression.
static String PROGRESS
          The unpacker's progress as a percentage, as periodically updated by the unpacker.
static String SEGMENT_LIMIT
          This property is a numeral giving the estimated target size N (in bytes) of each archive segment.
static String STRIP
          The string "strip", a possible value for certain properties.
static String TRUE
          The string "true", a possible value for certain properties.
static String UNKNOWN_ATTRIBUTE
          Indicates the action to take when a class-file containing an unknown attribute is encountered.
 
Method Summary
 void addPropertyChangeListener(PropertyChangeListener listener)
          Registers a listener for PropertyChange events on the properties map.
 void pack(JarFile in, OutputStream out)
          Takes a JarFile and converts it into a Pack200 archive.
 void pack(JarInputStream in, OutputStream out)
          Takes a JarInputStream and converts it into a Pack200 archive.
 SortedMap<String,String> properties()
          Get the set of this engine's properties.
 void removePropertyChangeListener(PropertyChangeListener listener)
          Remove a listener for PropertyChange events, added by the addPropertyChangeListener(java.beans.PropertyChangeListener).
 

Field Detail

SEGMENT_LIMIT

static final String SEGMENT_LIMIT
This property is a numeral giving the estimated target size N (in bytes) of each archive segment. If a single input file requires more than N bytes, it will be given its own archive segment.

As a special case, a value of -1 will produce a single large segment with all input files, while a value of 0 will produce one segment for each class. Larger archive segments result in less fragmentation and better compression, but processing them requires more memory.

The size of each segment is estimated by counting the size of each input file to be transmitted in the segment, along with the size of its name and other transmitted properties.

The default is 1000000 (a million bytes). This allows input JAR files of moderate size to be transmitted in one segment. It also puts a limit on memory requirements for packers and unpackers.

A 10Mb JAR packed without this limit will typically pack about 10% smaller, but the packer may require a larger Java heap (about ten times the segment limit).

See Also:
Constant Field Values

KEEP_FILE_ORDER

static final String KEEP_FILE_ORDER
If this property is set to TRUE, the packer will transmit all elements in their original order within the source archive.

If it is set to FALSE, the packer may reorder elements, and also remove JAR directory entries, which carry no useful information for Java applications. (Typically this enables better compression.)

The default is TRUE, which preserves the input information, but may cause the transmitted archive to be larger than necessary.

See Also:
Constant Field Values

EFFORT

static final String EFFORT
If this property is set to a single decimal digit, the packer will use the indicated amount of effort in compressing the archive. Level 1 may produce somewhat larger size and faster compression speed, while level 9 will take much longer but may produce better compression.

The special value 0 instructs the packer to copy through the original JAR file directly, with no compression. The JSR 200 standard requires any unpacker to understand this special case as a pass-through of the entire archive.

The default is 5, investing a modest amount of time to produce reasonable compression.

See Also:
Constant Field Values

DEFLATE_HINT

static final String DEFLATE_HINT
If this property is set to TRUE or FALSE, the packer will set the deflation hint accordingly in the output archive, and will not transmit the individual deflation hints of archive elements.

If this property is set to the special string KEEP, the packer will attempt to determine an independent deflation hint for each available element of the input archive, and transmit this hint separately.

The default is KEEP, which preserves the input information, but may cause the transmitted archive to be larger than necessary.

It is up to the unpacker implementation to take action upon the hint to suitably compress the elements of the resulting unpacked jar.

The deflation hint of a ZIP or JAR element indicates whether the element was deflated or stored directly.

See Also:
Constant Field Values

MODIFICATION_TIME

static final String MODIFICATION_TIME
If this property is set to the special string LATEST, the packer will attempt to determine the latest modification time, among all the available entries in the original archive or the latest modification time of all the available entries in each segment. This single value will be transmitted as part of the segment and applied to all the entries in each segment, SEGMENT_LIMIT.

This can marginally decrease the transmitted size of the archive, at the expense of setting all installed files to a single date.

If this property is set to the special string KEEP, the packer transmits a separate modification time for each input element.

The default is KEEP, which preserves the input information, but may cause the transmitted archive to be larger than necessary.

It is up to the unpacker implementation to take action to suitably set the modification time of each element of its output file.

See Also:
SEGMENT_LIMIT, Constant Field Values

PASS_FILE_PFX

static final String PASS_FILE_PFX
Indicates that a file should be passed through bytewise, with no compression. Multiple files may be specified by specifying additional properties with distinct strings appended, to make a family of properties with the common prefix.

There is no pathname transformation, except that the system file separator is replaced by the JAR file separator '/'.

The resulting file names must match exactly as strings with their occurrences in the JAR file.

If a property value is a directory name, all files under that directory will be passed also.

Examples:


     Map p = packer.properties();
     p.put(PASS_FILE_PFX+0, "mutants/Rogue.class");
     p.put(PASS_FILE_PFX+1, "mutants/Wolverine.class");
     p.put(PASS_FILE_PFX+2, "mutants/Storm.class");
     # Pass all files in an entire directory hierarchy:
     p.put(PASS_FILE_PFX+3, "police/");
 
.

See Also:
Constant Field Values

UNKNOWN_ATTRIBUTE

static final String UNKNOWN_ATTRIBUTE
Indicates the action to take when a class-file containing an unknown attribute is encountered. Possible values are the strings ERROR, STRIP, and PASS.

The string ERROR means that the pack operation as a whole will fail, with a suitable explanation. The string STRIP means that the attribute will be dropped. The string PASS means that the whole class-file will be passed through (as if it were a resource file) without compression, with a suitable warning. This is the default value for this property.

Examples:


     Map p = pack200.getProperties();
     p.put(UNKNOWN_ATTRIBUTE, ERROR);
     p.put(UNKNOWN_ATTRIBUTE, STRIP);
     p.put(UNKNOWN_ATTRIBUTE, PASS);
 

See Also:
Constant Field Values

CLASS_ATTRIBUTE_PFX

static final String CLASS_ATTRIBUTE_PFX
When concatenated with a class attribute name, indicates the format of that attribute, using the layout language specified in the JSR 200 specification.

For example, the effect of this option is built in: pack.class.attribute.SourceFile=RUH.

The special strings ERROR, STRIP, and PASS are also allowed, with the same meaning as UNKNOWN_ATTRIBUTE. This provides a way for users to request that specific attributes be refused, stripped, or passed bitwise (with no class compression).

Code like this might be used to support attributes for JCOV:


     Map p = packer.properties();
     p.put(CODE_ATTRIBUTE_PFX+"CoverageTable",       "NH[PHHII]");
     p.put(CODE_ATTRIBUTE_PFX+"CharacterRangeTable", "NH[PHPOHIIH]");
     p.put(CLASS_ATTRIBUTE_PFX+"SourceID",           "RUH");
     p.put(CLASS_ATTRIBUTE_PFX+"CompilationID",      "RUH");
 

Code like this might be used to strip debugging attributes:


     Map p = packer.properties();
     p.put(CODE_ATTRIBUTE_PFX+"LineNumberTable",    STRIP);
     p.put(CODE_ATTRIBUTE_PFX+"LocalVariableTable", STRIP);
     p.put(CLASS_ATTRIBUTE_PFX+"SourceFile",        STRIP);
 

See Also:
Constant Field Values

FIELD_ATTRIBUTE_PFX

static final String FIELD_ATTRIBUTE_PFX
When concatenated with a field attribute name, indicates the format of that attribute. For example, the effect of this option is built in: pack.field.attribute.Deprecated=. The special strings ERROR, STRIP, and PASS are also allowed.

See Also:
CLASS_ATTRIBUTE_PFX, Constant Field Values

METHOD_ATTRIBUTE_PFX

static final String METHOD_ATTRIBUTE_PFX
When concatenated with a method attribute name, indicates the format of that attribute. For example, the effect of this option is built in: pack.method.attribute.Exceptions=NH[RCH]. The special strings ERROR, STRIP, and PASS are also allowed.

See Also:
CLASS_ATTRIBUTE_PFX, Constant Field Values

CODE_ATTRIBUTE_PFX

static final String CODE_ATTRIBUTE_PFX
When concatenated with a code attribute name, indicates the format of that attribute. For example, the effect of this option is built in: pack.code.attribute.LocalVariableTable=NH[PHOHRUHRSHH]. The special strings ERROR, STRIP, and PASS are also allowed.

See Also:
CLASS_ATTRIBUTE_PFX, Constant Field Values

PROGRESS

static final String PROGRESS
The unpacker's progress as a percentage, as periodically updated by the unpacker. Values of 0 - 100 are normal, and -1 indicates a stall. Observe this property with a PropertyChangeListener.

At a minimum, the unpacker must set progress to 0 at the beginning of a packing operation, and to 100 at the end.

See Also:
addPropertyChangeListener(java.beans.PropertyChangeListener), Constant Field Values

KEEP

static final String KEEP
The string "keep", a possible value for certain properties.

See Also:
DEFLATE_HINT, MODIFICATION_TIME, Constant Field Values

PASS

static final String PASS
The string "pass", a possible value for certain properties.

See Also:
UNKNOWN_ATTRIBUTE, CLASS_ATTRIBUTE_PFX, FIELD_ATTRIBUTE_PFX, METHOD_ATTRIBUTE_PFX, CODE_ATTRIBUTE_PFX, Constant Field Values

STRIP

static final String STRIP
The string "strip", a possible value for certain properties.

See Also:
UNKNOWN_ATTRIBUTE, CLASS_ATTRIBUTE_PFX, FIELD_ATTRIBUTE_PFX, METHOD_ATTRIBUTE_PFX, CODE_ATTRIBUTE_PFX, Constant Field Values

ERROR

static final String ERROR
The string "error", a possible value for certain properties.

See Also:
UNKNOWN_ATTRIBUTE, CLASS_ATTRIBUTE_PFX, FIELD_ATTRIBUTE_PFX, METHOD_ATTRIBUTE_PFX, CODE_ATTRIBUTE_PFX, Constant Field Values

TRUE

static final String TRUE
The string "true", a possible value for certain properties.

See Also:
KEEP_FILE_ORDER, DEFLATE_HINT, Constant Field Values

FALSE

static final String FALSE
The string "false", a possible value for certain properties.

See Also:
KEEP_FILE_ORDER, DEFLATE_HINT, Constant Field Values

LATEST

static final String LATEST
The string "latest", a possible value for certain properties.

See Also:
MODIFICATION_TIME, Constant Field Values
Method Detail

properties

SortedMap<String,String> properties()
Get the set of this engine's properties. This set is a "live view", so that changing its contents immediately affects the Packer engine, and changes from the engine (such as progress indications) are immediately visible in the map.

The property map may contain pre-defined implementation specific and default properties. Users are encouraged to read the information and fully understand the implications, before modifying pre-existing properties.

Implementation specific properties are prefixed with a package name associated with the implementor, beginning with com. or a similar prefix. All property names beginning with pack. and unpack. are reserved for use by this API.

Unknown properties may be ignored or rejected with an unspecified error, and invalid entries may cause an unspecified error to be thrown.

The returned map implements all optional SortedMap operations

Returns:
A sorted association of property key strings to property values.

pack

void pack(JarFile in,
          OutputStream out)
          throws IOException
Takes a JarFile and converts it into a Pack200 archive.

Closes its input but not its output. (Pack200 archives are appendable.)

Parameters:
in - a JarFile
out - an OutputStream
Throws:
IOException - if an error is encountered.

pack

void pack(JarInputStream in,
          OutputStream out)
          throws IOException
Takes a JarInputStream and converts it into a Pack200 archive.

Closes its input but not its output. (Pack200 archives are appendable.)

The modification time and deflation hint attributes are not available, for the JAR manifest file and its containing directory.

Parameters:
in - a JarInputStream
out - an OutputStream
Throws:
IOException - if an error is encountered.
See Also:
MODIFICATION_TIME, DEFLATE_HINT

addPropertyChangeListener

void addPropertyChangeListener(PropertyChangeListener listener)
Registers a listener for PropertyChange events on the properties map. This is typically used by applications to update a progress bar.

Parameters:
listener - An object to be invoked when a property is changed.
See Also:
properties(), PROGRESS

removePropertyChangeListener

void removePropertyChangeListener(PropertyChangeListener listener)
Remove a listener for PropertyChange events, added by the addPropertyChangeListener(java.beans.PropertyChangeListener).

Parameters:
listener - The PropertyChange listener to be removed.
See Also:
addPropertyChangeListener(java.beans.PropertyChangeListener)

JavaTM 2 Platform
Standard Ed. 5.0

Submit a bug or feature
For further API reference and developer documentation, see Java 2 SDK SE Developer Documentation. That documentation contains more detailed, developer-targeted descriptions, with conceptual overviews, definitions of terms, workarounds, and working code examples.

Copyright 2004 Sun Microsystems, Inc. All rights reserved. Use is subject to license terms. Also see the documentation redistribution policy.