    package flare.util
    {
        /**
         * Constants defining layout orientations.
         */
        public class Orientation
        {
            /** Constant indicating a left-to-right layout orientation. */
            public static const LEFT_TO_RIGHT:String = "leftToRight";
            /** Constant indicating a right-to-left layout orientation. */
            public static const RIGHT_TO_LEFT:String = "rightToLeft";
            /** Constant indicating a top-to-bottom layout orientation. */
            public static const TOP_TO_BOTTOM:String = "topToBottom";
            /** Constant indicating a bottom-to-top layout orientation. */
            public static const BOTTOM_TO_TOP:String = "bottomToTop";

            /**
             * This is an abstract class and can not be instantiated.
             */
            public function Orientation() {
                throw new Error("This is an abstract class.");
            }

            /**
             * Returns true if the input string indicates a vertical orientation.
             * @param an orientation string
             * @return true if the input string indicates a vertical orientation
             */
            public static function isVertical(orient:String):Boolean
            {
                return (orient==TOP_TO_BOTTOM || orient==BOTTOM_TO_TOP);
            }

            /**
             * Returns true if the input string indicates a horizontal orientation.
             * @param an orientation string
             * @return true if the input string indicates a horizontal orientation
             */
            public static function isHorizontal(orient:String):Boolean
            {
                return (orient==LEFT_TO_RIGHT || orient==RIGHT_TO_LEFT);
            }

        } // end of class Orientation
    }