deferred class
	EL_CODE_REPRESENTATION [N -> NUMERIC]

inherit
	EL_STRING_FIELD_REPRESENTATION [N, STRING]
		undefine
			append_to_string
		redefine
			to_value
		end

	EL_REFLECTION_HANDLER

	STRING_HANDLER

	EL_STRING_8_CONSTANTS

feature {NONE} -- Initialization

	make
		do
			item := Empty_string_8
		end

feature -- Basic operations

	append_comment (field_definition: STRING)
		-- append comment to meta data `field_definition'
		do
			field_definition.append (" -- " + ({N}).name + " code")
		end

feature -- Measurement

	byte_count: INTEGER
		deferred
		end

feature -- Conversion

	to_string (a_value: like to_value): STRING
		do
			if attached Buffer_8.empty as str then
				str.grow (byte_count)
				str.set_count (byte_count)
				str.fill_with ('%U')
				memory_copy (str.area, a_value)
				str.prune_all_trailing ('%U')
				Result := str.twin
			end
		end

feature -- Conversion

	to_value (general: READABLE_STRING_GENERAL): N
		require else
			valid_string: valid_string (general)
		deferred
		end

feature -- Contract Support

	valid_string (general: READABLE_STRING_GENERAL): BOOLEAN
		do
			Result := general.count <= byte_count
		end

feature {NONE} -- Implementation

	memory_copy (area: SPECIAL [CHARACTER]; a_value: like to_value)
		deferred
		end

note
	descendants: "[
			EL_CODE_REPRESENTATION* [N -> NUMERIC]
				${EL_CODE_16_REPRESENTATION}
				${EL_CODE_32_REPRESENTATION}
					${EL_IP_ADDRESS_REPRESENTATION}
				${EL_CODE_64_REPRESENTATION}
	]"

end