CODEWITHSUNDEEP
javaarrayslistsortinginheritance
PStag
PStag

Reputation: 293

In Java using passing an array of sub-classes as their parents

I have a simulation with three classes: Entities, Plants and Animals (plants and animals extends entities).

I want one method to be able to sort the three arrays, the elements in the array all inherit from the same class.

Is there a way to pass all of the arrays to a method as their parent classes.

I am calling:

sortEntityArray(AnimalList);

From:

void sortEntityArray(ArrayList<Entity> ListToSort) {
        boolean sorted = false;
        while (sorted == false) {
            sorted = true;
            for (int i1 = 0; i1 < ListToSort.size() - 1; i1++) {
                if (ListToSort.get(i1).PositionX < ListToSort.get(i1 + 1).PositionX) {
                    sorted = false;
                    //switch
                    Entity Temp = ListToSort.get(i1);
                    ListToSort.set(i1, ListToSort.get(i1 + 1));
                    ListToSort.set(i1, Temp);
                }
            }
        }
    }

When I try to pass I get this error:
The method sortEntityArray(ArrayList<Entity>) in the type World is not applicable for the arguments (ArrayList<Animal>)

Upvotes: 3

Views: 267

Answers (2)

Hoofing
Hoofing

Reputation: 21

You could just use the java .sort function, this will work on any array.

Upvotes: 1

Idos
Idos

Reputation: 15320

Is there a way to pass all of the arrays to a method as their parent classes?

Yes, if you pass ArrayList<Entity> you will be able to work with all 3 types since they extend the same parent class.

I would try changing the method's signature to:

void sortEntityArray(ArrayList<? extends Entity> ListToSort)

Upvotes: 4

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