How to imlement Abstract factory using enum?

[Siegfried Heintze]

I have a combo box (SWT.DROP_DOWN) and I want to use it to implement the abstract factory or factory method pattern.

Presently I have created some enums and associate the enumeration values with strings via the combo box (see below).

The combo box contains instances of the following enum:

public enum ParserType {NEKO{int getIndex(){return 0;}},JTIDY{int getIndex(){return 1;}}} ;
private ParserType m_ParserType = ParserType.JTIDY;

Then I switch on m_ParserType (several times).

I want to refactor this!

I don't know how to best use enums. Can enums help me implement the factory method pattern?


OK, so I just created the following interfaces and classes (

Inteface IHtmlParser { document parse(); }
JTidyParser implements IHtmlParser{...}
NekoParser implements IHtmlParser{...}
 
Inteface IParserFactory { IHtmlParser make(); }
JTidyFactory implements IParserFactory { IHtmlParser make(){...}; }
NekoFactory implements IParserFactory { IHtmlParser make(){...}; }

Now what did sun have in mind when they added enums to Java 1.5? Could I improve my design by using enums?
Thanks,
Siegfried
[ February 03, 2008: Message edited by: Siegfried Heintze ]