Name: rlT66838 Date: 09/02/99


The java.util.Enumeration interface shows good OO design because
it allows a uni-directional access for any data structure.
There should be a bi-directional interface, java.util.BiDirectionalEnumeration
which provides 'reverse' functionality for going backwards
(in the same way that a ListIterator provides reversal).

It would make sense for java.util.BiDirectionalEnumeration to extend
java.util.Enumeration with the methods:

hasLessElements()
previousElement()

Furthermore, it would make a good complement to the Iterator
methods, which (IHMO) should not be allowed to update a data
structure as well as iterating through it.

A sensible combination is described in the Work Around below.
(Review ID: 94774)
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