Inspecting the properties in a class using the describeType() method and E4X/XML

The following example shows how you can use the describeType() method to inspect a class’s accessor methods.

Full code after the jump.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<!-- http://blog.flexexamples.com/2008/09/19/inspecting-the-properties-in-a-class-using-the-describetype-method-and-e4xxml/ -->
<mx:Application xmlns:mx="http://www.adobe.com/2006/mxml"
        layout="vertical"
        verticalAlign="middle"
        backgroundColor="white"
        initialize="init();">

    <mx:Script>
        <![CDATA[
            import flash.utils.getDefinitionByName;

            import mx.collections.Sort;
            import mx.collections.SortField;
            import mx.collections.XMLListCollection;
            import mx.controls.*;
            import mx.utils.StringUtil;
            import mx.utils.ObjectUtil;

            [Embed("bullet_red.png")]
            private const WRITE_ONLY_ICON:Class;

            [Embed("bullet_yellow.png")]
            private const READ_ONLY_ICON:Class;

            [Embed("bullet_green.png")]
            private const READ_WRITE_ICON:Class;

            private var theXML:XML;
            private var theXMLList:XMLList;
            private var theXMLListColl:XMLListCollection;

            private function init():void {
                var theSortField:SortField = new SortField("@name", true);
                var theSort:Sort = new Sort();
                theSort.fields = [theSortField];

                // var theXML:XML = describeType(getDefinitionByName("mx.controls.Alert"));
                theXML = describeType(Label);
                theXMLList = theXML.factory.accessor.(@declaredBy == theXML.@name);
                theXMLListColl = new XMLListCollection(theXMLList);
                theXMLListColl.sort = theSort;
                theXMLListColl.refresh();
                list.dataProvider = theXMLListColl;
                panel.title = "Accessor methods for the " + theXML.@name + " class:"
            }

            private function list_labelFunc(item:XML):String {
                var itemName:String = item.@name;
                var itemType:String = item.@type.split("::").pop();
                return StringUtil.substitute("{0} : {1}",
                            itemName,
                            itemType);
            }

            private function list_iconFunc(item:XML):Class {
                var access:String = item.@access;
                switch (access) {
                    case "readwrite":
                        return READ_WRITE_ICON;
                        break;
                    case "readonly":
                        return READ_ONLY_ICON;
                        break;
                    case "writeonly":
                        return WRITE_ONLY_ICON;
                        break;
                    default:
                        break;
                }
                return null;
            }
        ]]>
    </mx:Script>

    <mx:Panel id="panel" width="350">
        <mx:List id="list"
                labelFunction="list_labelFunc"
                iconFunction="list_iconFunc"
                verticalScrollPolicy="on"
                width="100%"
                itemClick="Alert.show(list.selectedItem.toXMLString());" />

        <mx:ControlBar>
            <mx:Button label="Read/Write" icon="{READ_WRITE_ICON}" skin="{null}" />
            <mx:Button label="Read Only" icon="{READ_ONLY_ICON}" skin="{null}" />
            <mx:Button label="Write Only" icon="{WRITE_ONLY_ICON}" skin="{null}" />
        </mx:ControlBar>
    </mx:Panel>

</mx:Application>