inheritance question

[roy john]

i know that a protected instance method can be called from within any subclass. so i don't understand why the following code can't compile. shouldn't clone (a protected method ) of the object class be able to be called from the subclass?
public class Sub extends Object {
public static void main(String [] args) {
Object x = new Object();
// compiler complains that clone is protected
x.clone();
}
}

[Anupam Sinha]

Hi Roy
Welcome to javaranch. The method is protected and hence is only available to classes in the same package or subclasses. But subclasses have only the inherited method that is they can use clone as in the following code but can not access it the way you are trying to access it it. There is a very good descision on this. You will find it here.

class test
{
public void clonetest()
{
try{ clone(); } catch(Exception e){}
}
public static void main(String args[])
{
}
}

[ June 03, 2003: Message edited by: Anupam Sinha ]

[Brian Joseph]

Anupam, good reference there. That was a good read! I didn't originate this post, but thanks!
[ June 03, 2003: Message edited by: Brian Joseph ]

[roy john]

good post that cleared my doubts. thanks!