Array conversion Question from Dan's test

[Veena Pointi]

class Amber {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
      int[][] a = {{1,2},{0,1,2},{-1,0,2}};
      Object[] obj = (Object[])a.clone();
      for(int i = 0;i<obj.length; i++) {
        int[] ia = (int[])obj[i];
        System.out.print(ia[i]);
      }
    }
 }

The above code compiles & runs fine.o/p is 112.Can anybody explain how?
Thanks
Veena

[bennido kool kat]

By the way, is cloning tested in the exam ?

[cyril vidal]

Hi Veena,
What I understood about this example:

Object[] obj = (Object[])a.clone();  

this a for effect to clone the double dimensional array referenced by i to a single dimensional one of type object.
Now, each element of obj is itself an int array:
obj[0] = {1,2}
obj[1] = {0,1,2}
obj[2] = {-1,0,2}

  for(int i = 0;i<obj.length; i++) {        int[] ia = (int[])obj[i]; 

The explicit cast into an int array avoids a compiler error (an implicit cast can't be done from a class -here Object because obj[i] is of typer Object- to an array) and because obj[i] is an array of type integer, there's also no runtime error.
so first loop:
int [] ia = {1,2};//ia[0] = 1
System.out.println(1);
second loop:
int [] ia = {0,1,2}; //ia[1] = 1
System.out.println(1);
third loop:
int [] ia = {-1,0,2}; //ia[2] = 2
System.out.println(2);
So output gives: 112
Hope this helps,
Cyril.

[Andres Gonzalez]

Originally posted by bennido kool kat:
By the way, is cloning tested in the exam ?

No. It is not tested. But it's good to know it

[Veena Pointi]

Originally posted by cyril vidal:
Hi Veena,
What I understood about this example:

Object[] obj = (Object[])a.clone();  

this a for effect to clone the double dimensional array referenced by i to a single dimensional one of type object.
Now, each element of obj is itself an int array:
obj[0] = {1,2}
obj[1] = {0,1,2}
obj[2] = {-1,0,2}

  for(int i = 0;i<obj.length; i++) {        int[] ia = (int[])obj[i]; 

The explicit cast into an int array avoids a compiler error (an implicit cast can't be done from a class -here Object because obj[i] is of typer Object- to an array) and because obj[i] is an array of type integer, there's also no runtime error.
so first loop:
int [] ia = {1,2};//ia[0] = 1
System.out.println(1);
second loop:
int [] ia = {0,1,2}; //ia[1] = 1
System.out.println(1);
third loop:
int [] ia = {-1,0,2}; //ia[2] = 2
System.out.println(2);
So output gives: 112
Hope this helps,
Cyril.

cyril,
Thanks for explaining.I understood part of it.But I got confused with this line
int[] ia = (int[])obj[i];
The above line assigns 2 dimensional array to 1 dimensional array,which should give compiler error.why it is not giving compiling error?
Veena

[Saravanakumar Rajmohan]

Hi Veena,
int[] ia = (int[])obj[i];
the above code does not assign a 2 dimensional array to single dimensional array but assigns the i element of a two dimensional array to a single dimensional array.
two dimensional array is nothing but a single dimension array whose elements are single dimensional array( an array of single dimensional array) and it is valid
i hope u understood
thank u
Saravanakumar R

[cyril vidal]

Hi Veena,

But I got confused with this line
int[] ia = (int[])obj[i];
The above line assigns 2 dimensional array to 1 dimensional array,which should give compiler error.why it is not giving compiling error?

The type of reference of obj[i] at compile time is not a two or one dimensional array, but Object. And you may do an explicit cast from a class Object to an array.
Hope this helps,
Cyril.

[pradeepbill arumalla]

hi there,
we have...
obj[0] = {1,2}
obj[1] = {0,1,2}
obj[2] = {-1,0,2}
here in the for loop ...
for(int i = 0;i<obj.length; i++) {
int[] ia = (int[])obj[i];
}
the obj[i] has the address ...try printing it...it is assigned to an integer array...and now ...its as simple as a single dimensional array ...to be printed are the index valued 0,1,2 elements.
thanks

[Veena Pointi]

I got it.Thank you everyone.
Thanks again.
Veena