When I run the java code below I get this:

uprrtoa@uprags011> java Test
Class : class Test$C
cast(): Test$C@192d342

This tells me that the cast() call is working and finding the right
class, but if you uncomment the line:

  dispatch(a.getClass().cast(a));

and try and compile it I get the following:

uprrtoa@uprags011> javac Test.java
Test.java:44: cannot find symbol
symbol  : method dispatch(Test.A)
location: class Test
       dispatch(a.getClass().cast(a));
       ^
1 error

it's looking for a method with the signature:

void dispatch(A a);

which of course isn't the desired result.

Any ideas? or does my lack of understanding of generics show through?

Cheers!

/*
* Test.java
*
* Created on November 23, 2005, 10:42 AM
*/

/**
*
* @author  toggles
*/
public class Test {

   public class A {
       public A() {
       }
   }

   public class B extends A {
       public B() {
           super();
       }
   }

   public class C extends A {
       public C() {
           super();
       }
   }

   public void dispatch(B b) {
       System.out.println("B");
   }

   public void dispatch(C c) {
       System.out.println("C");
   }

   /** Creates a new instance of Test */
   public Test() {
       A a=new C();

       System.out.println("Class : " + a.getClass());
       System.out.println("cast(): " + a.getClass().cast(a));
       //dispatch(a.getClass().cast(a));
   }

   /**
    * @param args the command line arguments
    */
   public static void main(String[] args) {
       Test t=new Test();
   }
   
}