Java Reflection/Generic -

given following 3 classes how can use reflection call initialize function parent class(es) , subclass:

public class test {      public static void main(string[] args) {         extendedelement ee = new extendedelement();         initialize(ee);      }      public static void initialize(element element) {         system.out.println(element.getclass());         initialize(element.getclass());     }      public static void initialize(class clazz) {         system.out.println(clazz.getclass());     } }  public class element {     protected string value;     public string getvalue() { return value; }     public void setvalue(string value) { this.value = value; } }  public class extendedelement extends element {     protected string extendedvalue;     public void setextendedvalue(string extendedvalue) {         this.extendedvalue = extendedvalue;     }     public string getextendedvalue() { return extendedvalue; } } 

i'm not quite sure on how paramertize initialize function in test class, clazz parameter raw type.

what need call initialize class hierarchy if pass initialize of subclass of element.

something following:

public void initialize(class clazz) {      if (element.class.isinstance(clazz.getclass().getsuperclass()) {          initialize(clazz.getclass().getsuperclass());     }     //work call initialize function  } 

edit 1:

can't parameterize above pseudo function differently retain type of object , call function need to?

what i'm trying avoid having have same method overridden each of classes , allow inheritance selenium 2 page objects. need able introspect superclass(es) of self , initialize each of webelement fields prior running tests on these fields.

these being injected spring, , further complicate things allowing tests written using spring expression language. lazy loading beans, , using initializingbean interface attempt initialize webelements prior usage avoid npes.

i had wrap webelements custom object inject location strategies using spring (we reuse lot of pieces, have different ids / class names dependent upon used in application; done prior me getting here , not changed @ time despite arguments consistency). example have date widget has different granularities, need month, month , year, etc... it'd nice if use abstract class , break these commonalities down least common denominator , extend there. need able following in base class:

public abstract class pageobject implements initializingbean {     ...     public void afterpropertiesset() {         //pass in concrete impl working - allows me initialize         initializewebelements(this.getclass());     }     ...     public void initializewebelements(class clazz) {         //this not grab inherited fields, need initialized         (field field : clazz.getdeclaredfields()) {             if (widgetelement.class == field.gettype()) {                 method getwidgetelement = clazz.getdeclaredmethod("get" +                     stringutils.capitalize(field.getname()), new class [] {});                     widgetelement element =                        (widgetelement) getwidgetelement.invoke(this, new object [] {});                     element.initelement();     } } 

you can't call method @ specific level. thing have access super keyword inside class itself.

to make work, want call super.initialize() within each subclass, call via reflection.

this not c++, can call specific method @ specific level of inheritance hierarchy.