[Andy C]

Hi,

I’m new to Java (and this is my first post). I’m having a little difficulty with subclasses, inheritance and overriding.

Here’s my problem/dilemma.

I have two classes A and B:

public class A
public class B extends A

now say A includes this:

   public void setPad (int aPad)
   {
	  pad = aPad;
	  this.update("pad");
   }

Now with B I want to override the inherited method from A but with a condition such as if (x < y).

So basically. I want to run the method from class A and then in B check the value and create a condition from that.

So in class B I would put something like:

public void setPad(int aPad)
   {   
/*Do I need to put something like super(); here?*\
	 if (this.getPad() > 0)
	 {
		this.setPad(aPad)
	  }
   }

Also what if the method I described in class A was actually in another class but inherited by class A would that make a difference? So:-

public class x
public class A extends x
public class B extends A

I’m sorry if this doesn’t makes sense, it’s hard to put down what you are thinking into words.

Thanks
Andy.

[mostyfriedman]

nope, super() not required in the subclass, you only use super when you want to call the constructor of the superclass, if you wanna override a method in the subclass you just change the method body as you like

public void setPad(int aPad)
{  
	 if (this.getPad() > 0)
	 {
		this.setPad(aPad)
	  }
}

you were correct ..as for the other part of the question, if A inherits from x then all the instance fields and methods of x will be inherited to A, when B inherits from A, the methods and fields of A and x will be inherited to B..in other words, a subclass inherits the fields and methods of all the superclasses..in case if you dont get it
http://java.sun.com/...I/override.html

This post has been edited by mostyfriedman: 04 February 2009 - 10:16 AM

[Andy C]

Thanks for your response. I will have a read of the link you posted tomorrow.

But again, thanks for confirming my question so quickly!

Andy.

[mostyfriedman]

no problem

[c0mrade]

To access a method that has been overridden by the subclass, you use 'super' instead of 'this'. So your code should probably be:

super.setPad(aPad);

And yes, if the method you reference in super was defined in the superclass of the superclass, you access it in the same way (unless it was private of course).

[Andy C]

Thanks for the responses, most helpful. I've had another though what if I want to use a return from a method in a superclass in a condition in the subclass?

So...

public class A extends B

   public String setCondition(int aV)
   {
	  if ((this.getFromB) <= (aV))
	  {
			/** An Action */
	  }
   }

Would something like this work?

Thanks in advance.

Andy.

[mostyfriedman]

you will have to call the method of the super class in the subclass method use the super keyword

use super instead of this

[Andy C]

I have tried that idea but I get an error whilst compling. It says 'cannot find symbol - variable getFromB.

What does this actually mean?

Thanks again!

[mostyfriedman]

means that getFromB doesnt exist, make sure that you have that method written and make sure that you spell it correctly..for more info about calling methods and stuff
http://www.faqs.org/...avap/c5/s5.html

[Andy C]

Just to try and make it clear to what I'm trying to acheive this is my idea what the code is like.

/** These methods are in class B*/

public void setAnswer(int aAnswer)
	 {
		 this.andwer = aAnswer;
		 this.update("answer");
	 }

 public void getAnswer()
	 {
		 return this.answer;
	 }


/** Then I have this*/

public class A extends B

   public String setCondition(int aV)
   {
	  if ((super.getAnswer) <= (aV))  /** I want to call the return and compare it */ Is this possible?
	  {
			/** An Action */
	  }
   }

Ah bloody hell! Just realised what I was doing wrong (I think). I was forgetting to put the () after super.getAnswer so I wasn't calling the method. I think that's what it is anyway!

Thanks for the help once again. I'm sure i'll be back!

[Andy C]

Is it possible to compare a condition to a boolean? Such as

public class A extends B

   public String setCondition()
   {
	  if ((super.getAnswer()) = (??))  /** What do I put where ?? is.*/ I
	  {
			super.aState = true;
	  }
   }

In class B there is a method which gets the boolean. The boolean is called aState and if it equalsfalse then I want to change it to true

How do I go about comparing the boolean with it's state?

Thanks
Andy.

This post has been edited by Andy C: 05 February 2009 - 02:17 PM

[mostyfriedman]

put false in your if statement

This post has been edited by mostyfriedman: 05 February 2009 - 02:22 PM

[Andy C]

Okay, ignore the above post again. I've manged to work it out. I've now realised it needs to be

public class A extends B

public String setCondition()
{
	 if (super.getAnswer() == false)
	 {
		  super.setAnswer(true);
	 }
}

[mostyfriedman]

alrighty then well done, you pick up things quicker than a lot of the new programmers around this forum and you actually "THINK" as opposed to a lot of people ...you keep up that good work