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cannot understand the point of downcasting in the following code

 
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how are you?
wanted to ask you why this code is using Downcasting (1st code fragment line 36-37)? i.e.
in the line below

should not the compiler dynamically 'find out' that it is dealing with a subclass of CurrentEmployee
and use the appropriate functions in that sub-class (BasePlusCommissionEmployee)?
thank you
=================

==============
BasePlusCommissionEmployee
==============

============
CommissionEmployee
=============

 
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You usually do it to call methods that a class has, but that its interface/super class has not. Methods getBaseSalary and setBaseSalary are called. Are these methods also in Employee ?
 
David Schwartz
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Christophe Verré wrote:You usually do it to call methods that a class has, but that its interface/super class has not. Methods getBaseSalary and setBaseSalary are called. Are these methods also in Employee ?



yes, i believe they are in the Employee class
 
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Is that example from Deitel and Deitel? It looks familiar.

I agree that if you are not using any specific Commission methods, the cast is unnecessary.
 
Author
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But it's inside an instanceof, so there must be a reason, no? And if there isn't, wow.
 
David Schwartz
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yes it is from Deitel and Deitel book (5th edition)
 
Campbell Ritchie
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Get a newer edition than 5th. Get 6th or newer, which describe the new features in Java 5.

I had a quick look through my 6th edition Deitel and can't see that cast. Which example number is it in your edition?
 
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