method invocation

[shameena Hussain]

hi friends,

 
 
class GFC205 {}  class GFC206 extends GFC205 {}
class GFC207 extends GFC206 {
  static void m(GFC205 x, GFC205 y) {System.out.print("GFC205,GFC205");}
  static void m(GFC205 x, GFC206 y) {System.out.print("GFC205,GFC206");}
  static void m(GFC206 x, GFC205 y) {System.out.print("GFC206,GFC205");}
  static void m(GFC206 x, GFC206 y) {System.out.print("GFC206,GFC206");}
  public static void main(String[] args) {
    GFC207 gfc207 = new GFC207(); m(gfc207, gfc207);
}}
 

The output of the above code is GFC206,GFC206
but,

 class GFC211 {}  class GFC212 extends GFC211 {}
class GFC213 extends GFC212 {
  static void m(GFC211 x, GFC211 y) {System.out.print("GFC211,GFC211");}
  static void m(GFC211 x, GFC212 y) {System.out.print("GFC211,GFC212");}
  static void m(GFC212 x, GFC211 y) {System.out.print("GFC212,GFC211");}
  static void m(GFC212 x, GFC212 y) {System.out.print("GFC212,GFC212");}
  static void m(GFC211 x, GFC213 y) {System.out.print("GFC211,GFC213");}
  public static void main(String[] args) {
    GFC213 gfc213 = new GFC213(); m(gfc213, gfc213);
}}
 
 

but, executing this code results in compile time error..
i think both the methods are almost same...can somebody explain me why this difference in output?

[fred rosenberger]

Could you post the exact error message you get?

[Kudret Serin]

GFC213.java:9: reference to m is ambiguous, both method m(GFC211,GFC212) in GFC213 and method m(GFC212,GFC211) in GFC213 match
    GFC213 gfc213 = new GFC213(); m(gfc213, gfc213);

When I add a method with signature

static void m(GFC213 x, GFC213 y) {System.out.print("GFC213,GFC213");} 

to class then it compiles without error.
I would be pleased too if someone clarifies the reason.
Cheers

[srikanth reddy]

i too have the same doubt ...its too

please anyone explain this ...

thanks

srikanth

[Ryan Kade]

shameena,

Didn't you post this question already before?

https://coderanch.com/t/250370/java-programmer-SCJP/certification/method-invocation