Printing the superclass/constructors/methods of a class

[tehsumo]

So for an assignment I have I have to print off the following for a class object:
Superclass
Package
Constructors
Methods
Fields including parameters and modifiers(static/final)

I have notes which explain how to return all the info I need from a class, however one of the requirements is that I pass a class object to the method. For some reason I am having troubles, can anyone provide a resolution, or explain what I am doing wrong?
Code is as follows:

import java.awt.*;
import javax.swing.*;
import java.util.*;
import java.lang.Object;
import java.lang.reflect.AccessibleObject;

public class dumpClass 
{

    public void dumpClass(Class x)
    {
    System.out.println("Class: "+x.getClass());
    System.out.println("Package: "+x.getClass().getPackage());
    System.out.println("SuperClass: "+x.getClass().getSuperclass());
    System.out.println("Class: "+x.getClass());
    System.out.println("Class: "+x.getClass());
        
    }
    public static void main(String[]args) 
    {
   
    
    
    Random rg=new Random();
    Class c=rg.getClass();
    dumpClass y=new dumpClass(c);
    }
}

Random is just an example class, but taking rg.getClass() should return a class object to pass to the method correct?

[DarrylBurke]

Random is just an example class, but taking rg.getClass() should return a class object to pass to the method correct?

What result did you get when you tried it?

db

[tehsumo]

I'm actually am getting a compiler error:
constructor dumpClass in class dumpClass cannot be applied to given types; required: no arguments; found java.lang.Class; reason: actual and formal arguments list differ in length

[DarrylBurke]

When you don't write a constructor, the compiler provides a default constructor: one that doesn't take any parameters.

What you probably think is a constructor in your code, isn't. It's just a (badly named) method. A constructor doesn't have any return type -- not even void.

db

edit And follow Java coding conventions: class names should stat with an uppercase letter.
Code Conventions for the Java Programming Language: Contents

[tehsumo]

Is this better?
:

import java.awt.*;
import javax.swing.*;
import java.util.*;
import java.lang.Object;
import java.lang.reflect.AccessibleObject;
 
public class Dumpclass
{
 
    public Dumpclass(Class x)
    {
    System.out.println("Class: "+x.getClass());
    System.out.println("Package: "+x.getClass().getPackage());
    System.out.println("SuperClass: "+x.getClass().getSuperclass());

         
    }
    public static void main(String[]args)
    {
    
     
     
    Random rg=new Random();
    Class c=rg.getClass();
    Dumpclass y=new Dumpclass(c);
    }
}

So this should pass the Random Class to C, but when I run the method it is showing that the class I have called is java.lang.Class, could you explain why it is that rather than java.util.Random?

[DarrylBurke]

What class is x, the parameter to the constructor?

You're calling getClass() on an instance of java.lang.Class. What do you expect the method to return?

db

[tehsumo]

By creating an instance of Random, then calling getClass() on it, then assigning it to c, then passing c to Dumpclass(class x), then I thought it would pass the Class of Random into the method, and then return the package, the class, and the superclass of Random which is represented by x.

[DarrylBurke]

I thought it would pass the Class of Random

It does. You're passing an instance of the class java.lang.Class. That parameter refers to the Class literal Random.class.

Calling getClass().getClass() on any reference variable will return java.lang.Class.

Take a break. Walk around. Have a glass of water, or a cola, or a coffee -- whatever helps you think. You'll figure it out.

db

[tehsumo]

I get that you're trying to help me help myself but this is the part that I am not understanding and having difficulties grasping.

How am I passing it an instance of java.lang.Class is what I don't understand, and how can I pass the class to the method/ how do I assign a class to pass to the method? Would something like Class cls=Class.forName(Random); be the solution?

[DarrylBurke]

Would something like Class cls=Class.forName(Random); be the solution?

No.

Random rg=new Random();

rg is of type Random, and refers to an instance of Random.

Class c=rg.getClass();

c is of type Class and refers to an instance of Class.

Dumpclass y=new Dumpclass(c);

That instance of Class is passed to the constructor of Dumpclass (would be better named DumpClass -- you didn't bother to read the coding conventions carefully).

public Dumpclass(Class x)

x is of type Class, and now refers to the same instance of Class as c

System.out.println("Class: "+x.getClass());

You're printing the class of x -- which as we have seen, is Class. Not Random.

db

[tehsumo]

Excellent, now I can see what I am doing wrong, can you suggest what I can do to make this right?

[DarrylBurke]

Surely you can work that out yourself. What's the value of interest -- the Class instance passed to the method, or its class obtained from calling getClass() on it, which is always java.lang.Class?

db