Assigning/Casting Array types to objects

[Surya B]

Hi,
There is an example given in the JLS(Page 72 of PDF version) stating that it would compile but would throw ClassCastException
at runtime.Heres the code:
public class Point { int x, y; }
public interface Colorable { void setColor(int color); }
public class ColoredPoint extends Point implements Colorable
{
int color;
public void setColor(int color) { this.color = color; }
}
class Test
{
public static void main(String[] args)
{
Point[] pa = new Point[100];
// The following line will throw a ClassCastException:
ColoredPoint[] cpa = (ColoredPoint[])pa;
System.out.println(cpa[0]);
int[] shortvec = new int[2];
Object o = shortvec;
// The following line will throw a ClassCastException:
Colorable c = (Colorable)o;
c.setColor(0);
}
}
This class would not compile saying that
Test.java:8: Incompatible type for declaration. Can't convert int[] to Object.Object o=shortvec;
pointing the mistakes to the lines
int[] shortvec = new int[2];
Object o = shortvec;
Going by the JLS rule
If S is an array type SC[], that is, an array of components of type SC :
If T is a class type, then if T is not Object, then a compile-time error occurs(because Object is the only class type to which arrays can be assigned).
Since here the array is being assigned to object it should work fine,then why is it giving compile time error and why does JLS says that it will give runtime errors but not compile time.
Am i missing something here?.Please take time to answer this question.

[Anonymous]

Compiled for me. Also, gave me the exception.
I stored them in four diff files (shouldn't matter).
I am running Java 1.2.2 on Win98.
java version "1.2.2"
Classic VM (build JDK-1.2.2-W, native threads, symcjit)
I know this may not help but you might want to check
your code files ....
Regds.
- satya

[Anonymous]

Hi,
i have jdk 1.2.2 and the code is behaving as per expectations. it compiles fine and gives a ClassCastException at runtime.

Rahul

[Surya B]

Hi guys,
Thanks for the trouble you guys took of compiling the program,i don't know what's happening but when i copied the four files into a totally different directory on my machine,it compiled fine,but when i tried to compile in the original directory where the files were there it is still giving me a compile time error ,anyway thanks once again.

[neo]

Dear,
I think it won't work and the compiler error is the Expected result. RHE clearly says that arrays can only be casted if they are;
1. Arrays of Object ref. and not arrays of primitives.
2. The individual Object Ref. shud also be compatible with each other.
In your case it's an array of primitives being casted.
Pls. correct me if I'm wrong.

------------------
regards,
NEO
Keep on trying guys, the goal is not too far....

[Jim Yingst]

Neo- RHE were talking about casting one array to another type of array. This example is talking about casting an array to an Object, which is always possible. (Note that the runtime error mentioned above is at a different line.)