Name: gm110360 Date: 05/03/2002


FULL PRODUCT VERSION :
java version "1.3.1_03"
Java(TM) 2 Runtime Environment, Standard Edition (build 1.3.1_03-b03)
Java HotSpot(TM) Client VM (build 1.3.1_03-b03, mixed mode)

Windows NT Version 4.0



A DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEM :
Compiler Error messages confusing:

When you access a chain of instance variables from a static
context, as in

static void fun()
{
if (a.b.c) //a is an instance variable of type A
{ //b is an instance variable of type B defined in
A
} //c is an instance variable of type C defined in
B
}

The error message is:
A.java [14:1] cannot resolve symbol
symbol : class c
location: package b
        if (b.c.d)

instead of the usual

A.java [14:1] non-static variable b cannot be referenced
from a static context

STEPS TO FOLLOW TO REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM :
See sample file

EXPECTED VERSUS ACTUAL BEHAVIOR :
Get:
The error message is:
A.java [14:1] cannot resolve symbol
symbol : class c
location: package b
        if (b.c.d)

Should get:
A.java [14:1] non-static variable b cannot be referenced
from a static context

This bug can be reproduced always.

---------- BEGIN SOURCE ----------
//Three source files A.java, B.java, C.java

//A.java
public class A
{
    private B b;
    
    public A()
    {
        b = new B();
    }
    
    public static void fun()
    {
        if (b.c.d)
            System.out.println("It Works");
    }
    
    public static void main(String[] args)
    {
        A a = new A();
        a.fun();
    }
}


//B.java
public class B
{
    /* package */ C c;
    
    public B()
    {
        c = new C();
    }
}



//C.java
public class C
{
    /* package */ boolean d;
    
    public C()
    {
        d = true;
    }
}

---------- END SOURCE ----------
(Review ID: 146087)
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