Javac fails to compile inner class, when a secondary inner class (inner class of the inner class)
is imported first. It appears that importing a secondary inner class hides symbols in inner class.
The problem can be cured by changing the sequence of import statements.
The problem is easily reproducible.
1. Testcase
-----------
The testcase consists of two files:
abc/TestClass.java
def/BaseClass.java
% more abc/TestClass.java
package abc;
// Compile error with JavaSE 6, but not with JavaSE 1.4.2:
import abc.TestClass.TTT.CCC;
import def.BaseClass;
public class TestClass
{
CCC ccc;
public class TTT extends BaseClass {
public class CCC {
public CCC() {}
}
}
}
% more def/BaseClass.java
package def;
public class BaseClass
{
public BaseClass() {}
}
2. Compile w/ 6u6
-----------------
% /jdk1.6.0_06/bin/javac def/BaseClass.java abc/TestClass.java
abc/TestClass.java:12: cannot find symbol
symbol : class BaseClass
location: class abc.TestClass
public class TTT extends BaseClass {
^
1 error
%
3. Change source - works fine
-----------------------------
Change the sequence of import statements in abc/TestClass.java
from
import abc.TestClass.TTT.CCC;
import def.BaseClass;
to
import def.BaseClass;
import abc.TestClass.TTT.CCC;
and compile again:
% /jdk1.6.0_06/bin/javac def/BaseClass.java abc/TestClass.java
%
4. Problem reproducible w/ JDK 1.5.0
------------------------------------
% /jdk1.5.0_17/bin/javac def/BaseClass.java abc/TestClass.java
abc/TestClass.java:12: cannot find symbol
symbol : class BaseClass
location: class abc.TestClass
public class TTT extends BaseClass {
^
1 error
%
5. Problem not reproducible w/ J2SDK 1.4.2
------------------------------------------
% /j2sdk1.4.2_17/bin/javac def/BaseClass.java abc/TestClass.java
%