Need Help with Using Generics

[badbeauty]

Hi Guys,

I have a problem while working with generics. In my code below, I am trying to pass in t1 and t2 binary search tree object into a method in binary search tree(BST) iteslf. purpose is to combine all items that t1 and t2 intersects and insert into t3.

from the main application (all my generics are set as Customer object):

public static void intersect (BST<Customer> t1, BST<Customer> t2, BST<Customer> t3) {

t3.intersect (t1,t2);
}


now at the BST(all generics uses <E> type), method intersect :

public void intersect (BST<E> t1, BST<E> t2){

if (t1.getRoot() == null || t2.getRoot() == null) return;
intersect2 (t1.getRoot(),t2.getRoot());
}

public void intersect2 (BSTNode<Customer> t1, BSTNode<Customer> t2){

int id = t1.item.getAccountID();//item is a customer object
System.out.println (id);
}


the java compile states that t1.item in intersect2 method is of E type. it don't work even if i cast it. Can any one help me?

Warmest Regards
badbeauty

[badbeauty]

Sorry, the intersect2 should be:



public void intersect2 (BSTNode<E> t1, BSTNode<E> t2){

int id = t1.item.getAccountID();//item is a customer object
System.out.println (id);
}

[pbrockway2]

Is itersect2() part part of the BST class? Because it shouldn't be. The BST class is generic: that is it shouldn't know or care what the E type is other how it was declared. In particular methods that deal with customers and their account id's etc don't belong in the generic tree class.

Most likely intersect2() should be declared to take BSTNode<E> arguments.

purpose is to combine all items that t1 and t2 intersects and insert into t3

At the moment the problem arises because of the System.out.println() statement, but you don't mention printing anything as being any part of the purpose. If you are printing things in order to see what is happening just print the BSTNode<E> that you are working with. (and give that class a useful toString() method).

[pbrockway2]

OK! So the intersect2() method has the right arguments. My point stands: this is a generic class and so should not be dealing with the details of the specific type that is the payload of the bst.