// SubStr.h
// This file contains the definition for the abstrat class SubStr.  This
// class has no data, nor any implementations for the methods in it.  The
// clases that inherit it will have that.  It is only a public interface.
// The goal of this class is to be general enough so that any length of
// substring could be represented and written to file without problems.

#ifndef SUBSTR
#define SUBSTR

#include <string>
#include <stdio.h>

class SubStr {
	public:
		virtual int write(FILE *fout) const=0;	// Write to current location.
		virtual int writeRandom(FILE *fout) const=0;	// Write at index.
		virtual void print() const=0;
		virtual int compare(const SubStr &s) const=0;
		virtual int compare(const string &s) const=0;
		virtual int getLength() const=0;		// How many elements in the substring.
		virtual int getEnglish() const=0;		// Tells if we can use it for charging.
		virtual void setEnglish()=0;
		virtual void clearEnglish()=0;
		virtual char operator[](int n) const=0;
	private:
		// Nothing.  This is just an interface.
};

#endif