/*=========================================================================

  Program:   Visualization Toolkit
  Module:    vtkImageSource.h
  Language:  C++
  Date:      $Date$
  Version:   $Revision$
  Thanks:    Thanks to C. Charles Law who developed this class.

Copyright (c) 1993-1995 Ken Martin, Will Schroeder, Bill Lorensen.

This software is copyrighted by Ken Martin, Will Schroeder and Bill Lorensen.
The following terms apply to all files associated with the software unless
explicitly disclaimed in individual files. This copyright specifically does
not apply to the related textbook "The Visualization Toolkit" ISBN
013199837-4 published by Prentice Hall which is covered by its own copyright.

The authors hereby grant permission to use, copy, and distribute this
software and its documentation for any purpose, provided that existing
copyright notices are retained in all copies and that this notice is included
verbatim in any distributions. Additionally, the authors grant permission to
modify this software and its documentation for any purpose, provided that
such modifications are not distributed without the explicit consent of the
authors and that existing copyright notices are retained in all copies. Some
of the algorithms implemented by this software are patented, observe all
applicable patent law.

IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHORS OR DISTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE TO ANY PARTY FOR
DIRECT, INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES ARISING OUT
OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, ITS DOCUMENTATION, OR ANY DERIVATIVES THEREOF,
EVEN IF THE AUTHORS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.

THE AUTHORS AND DISTRIBUTORS SPECIFICALLY DISCLAIM ANY WARRANTIES, INCLUDING,
BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A
PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT.  THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED ON AN
"AS IS" BASIS, AND THE AUTHORS AND DISTRIBUTORS HAVE NO OBLIGATION TO PROVIDE
MAINTENANCE, SUPPORT, UPDATES, ENHANCEMENTS, OR MODIFICATIONS.


=========================================================================*/
// .NAME vtkImageSource - Source of vtkImageRegion in an image pipeline.
// .SECTION Description
// vtkImageSource objects can be used as Input to a consumer in an
// image pipeline.  Right now, the class structure is arranged for maximum
// flexability.  The subclass vtkImageCachedSource primarily used 
// for pipeline objects and is a more structured class.  If for some reason
// the application designer wants to create a uniqued tailored pipeline
// object, it can be created as a subclass vtkImageSource.  The new
// filter/source is interchangable with any other vtkImageCachedSource,
// but must handle its own data management.


#ifndef __vtkImageSource_h
#define __vtkImageSource_h

#include "vtkObject.h"
class vtkImageRegion;


class VTK_EXPORT vtkImageSource : public vtkObject 
{
public:
  vtkImageSource();
  char *GetClassName() {return "vtkImageSource";};
  void PrintSelf(ostream& os, vtkIndent indent);
  virtual vtkImageRegion *Update();
  
  // Description:
  // This method should the allocate and generate the Region's data, or
  // if the data could not be generated set the split factor.
  virtual void UpdateRegion(vtkImageRegion *region) = 0; 
  virtual vtkImageSource *GetOutput();
  // Description:
  // This method fills the regions extent with the largest region that can
  // be generated from the source.  The regions data is ignored.
  virtual void UpdateImageInformation(vtkImageRegion *region) = 0;
  virtual unsigned long GetPipelineMTime();
  // Description:
  // This method returns the data type of the region that will be returned by
  // the UpdateRegion method.  This method is used to automatically set
  // the ScalarTypes of elements in the pipline.  When this source is set as an 
  // input, the consumer may call this function and use the returned ScalarType
  // as a default.
  virtual int GetScalarType() = 0;

protected:
};



#include "vtkImageRegion.h"

#endif



