Generic method in enum. Possible?

[Steven Bell]

I'm trying to do the following.

public enum MyEnum{
    ONE, TWO, THREE
    };
 
    public T someMethod(){
        //do stuff here
        return somethingOfTypeT;
    }
}

Is it possible to have a generic method in an enum? If so where/how do I specify the type? I've tried several different ways, but no luck getting anything to compile.

Apparently a <T> in front of a constructor for the enum compiles, but I don't seem to be able to use it.

Any ideas?

[Ilja Preuss]

One way would be to make T a type parameter to the method. That works especially well when the type depends on a method parameter, for example

public <T> T someMethod(Class<T> clazz){

Would that fit your needs?
[ February 24, 2007: Message edited by: Ilja Preuss ]

[Steven Bell]

That could work, but I'd rather be able to supply it to the enum. Each enum has it's own class type, and it may end up being used in more than one method.

[Steven Bell]

Well, maybe that doesn't work.

What I have is:

public enum MyEnum{
    One(String.class), TWO(Long.class), THREE(BigDecimal.class);
 
    private Class type;
 
    MyEnum(Class type){
        this.type = type;
    }
 
    //Exceptions removed for clarity
    public Object toObject(String){
        Constructor constructor = type.getConstructor(new Class[] {String.class});
        Object obj = constructor.newInstance(new Object[]{value});
        return obj;
    }
}

What I'd like is for the toObject method to return the same type as the class passed into the constructor.

[Ilja Preuss]

I see. Seems to me like it isn't possible, but I might be wrong.