How to return an array as an Object?

[Asad Khan]

Hello,

I am writing a method that returns an array as an Object. Initially there is
a single dimension array Object X[]. However, I can insert other arrays as
Objects in X, thus I can end up with something like following:

------------------------
| A | B | C | Null | D |
------------------------
| R |
-----
| S |
-----

Now I have a method called

Object get(int i)

which is supposed to return the object at position i of the array X. So e.g.
if I call get(3) it should return Null. If I call get(2) it should return
the Object[] array at index 2.

Now, here is my code:

public Object get (int i) {

if (list[i] instanceof Object[]) {
Object[] temp;
temp = X[i];
return temp;
}
else
return X[i];

}

But when I compile this I get an error saying:

Error: Incompatible types
found: java.lang.Object
required: java.lang.Object[]
in this line: temp = list[i];

What I don't understand is that, the only reason it would enter that if
condition is when list[i] is an Object array. So then when I am trying to
store the list[i] in another Object array and return is, why does it say it
found an Object instead of an Object[]?

What am I doing wrong?

Thanks.

[csafd]

"Asad Khan" <as*******@hotmail.com> wrote in message news:<22******************@news04.bloor.is.net.cab le.rogers.com>...

Hello,

I am writing a method that returns an array as an Object. Initially there is
a single dimension array Object X[]. However, I can insert other arrays as
Objects in X, thus I can end up with something like following:

------------------------
| A | B | C | Null | D |
------------------------
| R |
-----
| S |
-----

Now I have a method called

Object get(int i)

which is supposed to return the object at position i of the array X. So e.g.
if I call get(3) it should return Null. If I call get(2) it should return
the Object[] array at index 2.

Now, here is my code:

public Object get (int i) {

if (list[i] instanceof Object[]) {
Object[] temp;
temp = X[i];
return temp;
}
else
return X[i];

}
Error is here: You are returning X[i] but X contains arrays (as u said u can
insert arrays.) So u shud return Object[] not Object.
Means: get(int i) shud have following prototype:

Object[] get(int i).
I hope it solves your problem
But when I compile this I get an error saying:

Error: Incompatible types
found: java.lang.Object
required: java.lang.Object[]
in this line: temp = list[i];

What I don't understand is that, the only reason it would enter that if
condition is when list[i] is an Object array. So then when I am trying to
store the list[i] in another Object array and return is, why does it say it
found an Object instead of an Object[]?

What am I doing wrong?

Thanks.

[Todd Corley]

The compiler is not complaining about the return, it is complaining
about the assignment.

public Object get (int i) {

if (list[i] instanceof Object[]) {
Object[] temp;

// X[i] is an Object
// Now that you have verified it is an array
// you need to cast it to an array like this:
temp = (Object[])X[i];
return temp;
}
else
return X[i];

}