List functions as selections in Java

Question

I am a Java newbie so my questions may look like an easy one. But I need some direction from your guys.

Here is my question: I have a class with bunch of methods, I would like to give these methods to user in a combox to select, based on their selection some code will run. Now I can do this by writing switch selection method. Where based on selection I use switch to run a particular method.

But my list of functions is pretty long close to 200, SO my questions to you is: is there a smarter way of doing this. Just point me to the right direction and I'll try to do the rest.

amit · Accepted Answer · 2012-06-13 13:54:25Z

8

You can use reflection, specifically: Class.getMethods() or Class.getDeclaredMethods().

Make sure you understand the differences between them (read the linked javadocs for this), if you don't - don't be afraid to ask.

answered Jun 13, 2012 at 13:54

amit

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Anthony Grist · Accepted Answer · 2012-06-13 13:54:36Z

2

I think looking into Java Reflection would be the best place to start, assuming I've understood what you want to do correctly.

answered Jun 13, 2012 at 13:54

Anthony Grist

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Community · Accepted Answer · 2017-05-23 12:21:15Z

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you can use the Reflection for both listing the methods and calling them

http://docs.oracle.com/javase/tutorial/reflect/index.html

Using Java reflection to create eval() method

edited May 23, 2017 at 12:21

CommunityBot

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answered Jun 13, 2012 at 13:54

Massimiliano Peluso

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Plínio Pantaleão · Accepted Answer · 2012-06-13 13:56:06Z

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You can use reflection (you can find a lot of information on Google) but it is not a good practice to simple show your methods to the user. In a more complex application you should try to separate presentation and true execution of what user want

answered Jun 13, 2012 at 13:56

Plínio Pantaleão

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David · Accepted Answer · 2012-06-13 15:03:47Z

0

Each selection could be represented by an Enum which is built as a set of function pointers:

public enum FunctionPointer {
F1 {
    public SomeObject doFunction(args) {
        YourClass.doMethod(args);
    }
},
//More enum values here...
}

The syntax will need a little work, but in the client you can just call

FunctionPointer.F1.doFunction("abc");

answered Jun 13, 2012 at 15:03

David

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1 Comment

David Over a year ago

it really isn't that disimilar to your switch statement, but I dislike reflection for things that can be done without it.

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