diff -r dc4744d13247 -r 37470f5ea179 src/share/classes/com/sun/tools/javac/api/DiagnosticFormatter.java
--- /dev/null	Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 1970 +0000
+++ b/src/share/classes/com/sun/tools/javac/api/DiagnosticFormatter.java	Mon Jul 28 10:22:10 2008 +0100
@@ -0,0 +1,117 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2008 Sun Microsystems, Inc.  All Rights Reserved.
+ * DO NOT ALTER OR REMOVE COPYRIGHT NOTICES OR THIS FILE HEADER.
+ *
+ * This code is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it
+ * under the terms of the GNU General Public License version 2 only, as
+ * published by the Free Software Foundation.  Sun designates this
+ * particular file as subject to the "Classpath" exception as provided
+ * by Sun in the LICENSE file that accompanied this code.
+ *
+ * This code is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT
+ * ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or
+ * FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the GNU General Public License
+ * version 2 for more details (a copy is included in the LICENSE file that
+ * accompanied this code).
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License version
+ * 2 along with this work; if not, write to the Free Software Foundation,
+ * Inc., 51 Franklin St, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA 02110-1301 USA.
+ *
+ * Please contact Sun Microsystems, Inc., 4150 Network Circle, Santa Clara,
+ * CA 95054 USA or visit www.sun.com if you need additional information or
+ * have any questions.
+ */
+package com.sun.tools.javac.api;
+
+import java.util.Locale;
+import javax.tools.Diagnostic;
+
+/**
+ * Provides simple functionalities for javac diagnostic formatting
+ * @param <D> type of diagnostic handled by this formatter
+ */
+public interface DiagnosticFormatter<D extends Diagnostic<?>> {
+
+    /**
+     * Whether the source code output for this diagnostic is to be displayed
+     *
+     * @param diag diagnostic to be formatted
+     * @return true if the source line this diagnostic refers to is to be displayed
+     */
+    boolean displaySource(D diag);
+
+    /**
+     * Format the contents of a diagnostics
+     *
+     * @param diag the diagnostic to be formatted
+     * @param l locale object to be used for i18n
+     * @return a string representing the diagnostic
+     */
+    public String format(D diag, Locale l);
+
+    /**
+     * Controls the way in which a diagnostic message is displayed.
+     *
+     * @param diag diagnostic to be formatted
+     * @param l locale object to be used for i18n
+     * @return string representation of the diagnostic message
+     */
+    public String formatMessage(D diag,Locale l);
+
+    /**
+     * Controls the way in which a diagnostic kind is displayed.
+     *
+     * @param diag diagnostic to be formatted
+     * @param l locale object to be used for i18n
+     * @return string representation of the diagnostic prefix
+     */
+    public String formatKind(D diag, Locale l);
+
+    /**
+     * Controls the way in which a diagnostic source is displayed.
+     *
+     * @param diag diagnostic to be formatted
+     * @param l locale object to be used for i18n
+     * @return string representation of the diagnostic source
+     */
+    public String formatSource(D diag, Locale l);
+
+    /**
+     * Controls the way in which a diagnostic position is displayed.
+     *
+     * @param diag diagnostic to be formatted
+     * @param pk enum constant representing the position kind
+     * @param l locale object to be used for i18n
+     * @return string representation of the diagnostic position
+     */
+    public String formatPosition(D diag, PositionKind pk, Locale l);
+    //where
+    /**
+     * This enum defines a set of constants for all the kinds of position
+     * that a diagnostic can be asked for. All positions are intended to be
+     * relative to a given diagnostic source.
+     */
+    public enum PositionKind {
+        /**
+         * Start position
+         */
+        START,
+        /**
+         * End position
+         */
+        END,
+        /**
+         * Line number
+         */
+        LINE,
+        /**
+         * Column number
+         */
+        COLUMN,
+        /**
+         * Offset position
+         */
+        OFFSET
+    }
+}