OSID - osid.ontology.SubjectLookupSession Service Interface Definition

Interface	osid.ontology.SubjectLookupSession
Implements	`osid.OsidSession`
Used By	`osid.ontology.OntologyManager`
Used By	`osid.ontology.OntologyProxyManager`
Description	This session provides methods for retrieving `Subject` s. This session defines views that offer differing behaviors when retrieving multiple objects. comparative view: elements may be silently omitted or re-ordered plenary view: provides a complete set or is an error condition isolated ontology view: All subject methods in this session operate, retrieve and pertain to subjects defined explicitly in the current ontology. Using an isolated view is useful for managing subjects with the `SubjectAdminSession`. federated ontology view: All subject methods in this session operate, retrieve and pertain to all subjects defined in this ontology and any other ontologies implicitly available in this ontology through ontology inheritence. Subjects may have an additional records indicated by their respective record types. The record may not be accessed through a cast of the `Subject`.
Method	getOntologyId
Description	Gets the `Ontology` `Id` associated with this session.
Return	`osid.id.Id`		the `Ontology Id` associated with this session
Compliance	`mandatory`		This method must be implemented.
Method	getOntology
Description	Gets the `Ontology` associated with this session.
Return	`osid.ontology.Ontology`		the `Ontology` associated with this session
Errors	OPERATION_FAILED		unable to complete request
Errors	PERMISSION_DENIED		authorization failure
Compliance	`mandatory`		This method must be implemented.
Method	canLookupSubjects
Description	Tests if this user can perform `Subject` lookups. A return of true does not guarantee successful authorization. A return of false indicates that it is known all methods in this session will result in a `PERMISSION_DENIED`. This is intended as a hint to an application that may opt not to offer lookup operations to unauthorized users.
Return	`boolean`		`false` if lookup methods are not authorized, `true` otherwise
Compliance	`mandatory`		This method must be implemented.
Method	useComparativeSubjectView
Description	The returns from the lookup methods may omit or translate elements based on this session, such as authorization, and not result in an error. This view is used when greater interoperability is desired at the expense of precision.
Compliance	`mandatory`		This method is must be implemented.
Method	usePlenarySubjectView
Description	A complete view of the `Subject` returns is desired. Methods will return what is requested or result in an error. This view is used when greater precision is desired at the expense of interoperability.
Compliance	`mandatory`		This method is must be implemented.
Method	useFederatedOntologyView
Description	Federates the view for methods in this session. A federated view will include subjects in ontologies which are children of this ontology in the ontology hierarchy.
Compliance	`mandatory`		This method is must be implemented.
Method	useIsolatedOntologyView
Description	Isolates the view for methods in this session. An isolated view restricts lookups to this ontology only.
Compliance	`mandatory`		This method is must be implemented.
Method	getSubject
Description	Gets the `Subject` specified by its `Id`. In plenary mode, the exact `Id` is found or a `NOT_FOUND` results. Otherwise, the returned `Subject` may have a different `Id` than requested, such as the case where a duplicate `Id` was assigned to a `Subject` and retained for compatibility.
Parameters	`osid.id.Id`	`subjectId`	`Id` of the `Subject`
Return	`osid.ontology.Subject`		the subject
Errors	NOT_FOUND		`subjectId` not found
	NULL_ARGUMENT		`subjectId` is `null`
	OPERATION_FAILED		unable to complete request
	PERMISSION_DENIED		authorization failure
Compliance	`mandatory`		This method is must be implemented.
Method	getSubjectsByIds
Description	Gets a `SubjectList` corresponding to the given `IdList`. In plenary mode, the returned list contains all of the subjects specified in the `Id` list, in the order of the list, including duplicates, or an error results if an `Id` in the supplied list is not found or inaccessible. Otherwise, inaccessible `Subjects` may be omitted from the list and may present the elements in any order including returning a unique set.
Parameters	`osid.id.IdList`	`subjectIds`	the list of `Ids` to retrieve
Return	`osid.ontology.SubjectList`		the returned `Subject` list
Errors	NOT_FOUND		an `Id was` not found
	NULL_ARGUMENT		`subjectIds` is `null`
	OPERATION_FAILED		unable to complete request
	PERMISSION_DENIED		authorization failure
Compliance	`mandatory`		This method must be implemented.
Method	getSubjectsByGenusType
Description	Gets a `SubjectList` corresponding to the given subject genus `Type` which does not include subjects of genus types derived from the specified `Type`.In plenary mode, the returned list contains all known subjects or an error results. Otherwise, the returned list may contain only those subjects that are accessible through this session.
Parameters	`osid.type.Type`	`subjectGenusType`	a subject genus type
Return	`osid.ontology.SubjectList`		the returned `Subject` list
Errors	NULL_ARGUMENT		`subjectGenusType` is `null`
	OPERATION_FAILED		unable to complete request
	PERMISSION_DENIED		authorization failure
Compliance	`mandatory`		This method must be implemented.
Method	getSubjectsByParentGenusType
Description	Gets a `SubjectList` corresponding to the given subject genus `Type` and include any additional subject with genus types derived from the specified `Type`.In plenary mode, the returned list contains all known terms or an error results. Otherwise, the returned list may contain only those subjects that are accessible through this session.
Parameters	`osid.type.Type`	`subjectGenusType`	a subject genus type
Return	`osid.ontology.SubjectList`		the returned `Subject` list
Errors	NULL_ARGUMENT		`subjectGenusType` is `null`
	OPERATION_FAILED		unable to complete request
	PERMISSION_DENIED		authorization failure
Compliance	`mandatory`		This method must be implemented.
Method	getSubjectsByRecordType
Description	Gets a `SubjectList` containing the given term record `Type`. In plenary mode, the returned list contains all known subjects or an error results. Otherwise, the returned list may contain only those subjects that are accessible through this session.
Parameters	`osid.type.Type`	`subjectRecordType`	a subject record type
Return	`osid.ontology.SubjectList`		the returned `Subject` list
Errors	NULL_ARGUMENT		`subjectRecordType` is `null`
	OPERATION_FAILED		unable to complete request
	PERMISSION_DENIED		authorization failure
Compliance	`mandatory`		This method must be implemented.
Method	getSubjectsByCode
Description	Gets a `SubjectList` containing the given subject code. In plenary mode, the returned list contains all known subjects or an error results. Otherwise, the returned list may contain only those subjects that are accessible through this session.
Parameters	`string`	`code`	a subject code
Return	`osid.ontology.SubjectList`		the returned `Subject` list
Errors	NULL_ARGUMENT		`code` is `null`
	OPERATION_FAILED		unable to complete request
	PERMISSION_DENIED		authorization failure
Compliance	`mandatory`		This method must be implemented.
Method	getSubjects
Description	Gets all `Subjects`. In plenary mode, the returned list contains all known subjects or an error results. Otherwise, the returned list may contain only those subjects that are accessible through this session.
Return	`osid.ontology.SubjectList`		a `SubjectList`
Errors	OPERATION_FAILED		unable to complete request
Errors	PERMISSION_DENIED		authorization failure
Compliance	`mandatory`		This method must be implemented.