General talk about software patterns

["Vernekar, Pralhad (IndSys, SalemVA)" <Pralhad.Vernekar AT indsys.ge.com>]

Hi

 

AbstractFactory is a collection of Factory Methods.

 

For example,

 

class WindowFrameworkCreator

{

    Component getWindow();

    Component getDialog();

    Component getScrollBar();

}

 

 

class WindoFrameworkCreator is an AbstractFactory and getXXX methods are Factory methods.

 

 

 

Another example of Factory Method

 

class RDBMSConnectorFactory

{

    RDBMSConnector getConnector ()

    {

        // return either Oracle or SQL Server Connector - by reading conf file

    }

}

 

 

regards

Pralhad

-----Original Message-----
From: Pablo Schor [mailto:pablo.schor AT lobruno.com.ar]
Sent: Thursday, October 30, 2003 8:11 AM
To: livingmetaphor AT yahoogroups.com; patterns-discussion AT cs.uiuc.edu
Subject: [patterns-discussion] Abstract Factory vs. Factory Method

I've been using the factory pattern for a while, but don't know exactly if
I'm using the Abstract Factory or the Factory Method. They look the same to
me, but what are the differences?



thank you,


Pablo