Launch Configuration Comparators

Identifier: org.eclipse.debug.core.launchConfigurationComparators

Description: This extension point provides a configurable mechanism for comparing specific attributes of a launch configuration. In general, launch configuration attributes can be compared for equality via the default implementation of java.lang.Object.equals(Object). However, attributes that require special handling should implement this extension point. For example, when an attribute is stored as XML, it is possible that two strings representing an equivalent attribute have different whitespace formatting.

Configuration Markup:

   <!ELEMENT extension (launchConfigurationComparator*)>

   <!ATTLIST extension
     point CDATA #REQUIRED
     id    CDATA #IMPLIED
     name  CDATA #IMPLIED
   >

   <!ELEMENT launchConfigurationComparator EMPTY>

   <!ATTLIST launchConfigurationComparator
     id        CDATA #REQUIRED
     attribute CDATA #REQUIRED
     class     CDATA #REQUIRED
   >

Examples: The following is an example of a launch configuration comparator extension point:

 <extension point="org.eclipse.debug.core.launchConfigurationComparators">
  <launchConfigurationComparator
   id="com.example.ExampleIdentifier"
   attribute="com.example.ExampleAttributeName"
   class="com.example.ComparatorImplementation">
  </launchConfigurationComparator>
 </extension>

In the example above, the specified type of launch configuration comparator will be consulted when comparing the equality of attributes keyed with name com.example.ExampleAttributeName.

API Information: Value of the attribute class must be a fully-qualified name of a Java class that implements the interface java.util.Comparator.

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