Package groovy.transform

# Annotation Type ExternalizeMethods

    @Documented
    @Retention(RUNTIME)
    @Target(TYPE)
    public @interface ExternalizeMethods

Class annotation used to assist in the creation of `Externalizable` classes. The `@ExternalizeMethods` annotation instructs the compiler to execute an AST transformation which adds `writeExternal()` and `readExternal()` methods to a class and adds `Externalizable` to the interfaces which the class implements. The `writeExternal()` method writes each property (and optionally field) of the class while the `readExternal()` method will read each one back in the same order. Properties or fields marked as `transient` are ignored. This annotation is typically used in conjunction with the `@ExternalizeVerifier` annotation but most usually not directly but rather via `@AutoExternalizable` which is a shortcut for both annotations.

Example usage:

     import groovy.transform.*
     @ExternalizeMethods
     class Person {
       String first, last
       List favItems
       Date since
     }

Which will create a class of the following form:

     class Person implements Externalizable {
       ...
       public void writeExternal(ObjectOutput out) throws IOException {
         out.writeObject(first)
         out.writeObject(last)
         out.writeObject(favItems)
         out.writeObject(since)
       }

       public void readExternal(ObjectInput oin) {
         first = (String) oin.readObject()
         last = (String) oin.readObject()
         favItems = (List) oin.readObject()
         since = (Date) oin.readObject()
       }
       ...
     }

Since:
  1.8.0

- ## Optional Element Summary

  Optional Elements
  Modifier and Type | Optional Element | Description
  --- | --- | ---
  `java.lang.String[]` | `excludes` | Comma separated list of property names to exclude from externalizing.
  `boolean` | `includeFields` | Include fields as well as properties when externalizing.

- ## Element Details

  - ### excludes

    java.lang.String[] excludes
    Comma separated list of property names to exclude from externalizing. For convenience, a String with comma separated names can be used in addition to an array (using Groovy's literal list notation) of String values.
    Default:
      {}

  - ### includeFields

    boolean includeFields
    Include fields as well as properties when externalizing.
    Default:
      false