unreachable statement

[huiying li]

The following code has a compile time error stating line is unreachable. However, if line 2 is commented out, and line 1 is uncommented. It compiles fine. It seems the test for unreachable statement is not very deep. Has anyone run across any rules regarding this?
Thanks.

public class FinallyTest
{
   public static void main(String args[] ) throws Exception 
   {
       try 
       {
          //m1() ;  //1
          throw new Exception();  //2
          System.out.println("A") ; //3
       }  
       finally 
       {
          System.out.println("B") ;
       }
       System.out.println("C") ;
   }
   public static void m1() throws Exception { throw new Exception();  }
}

[bill bozeman]

Compiler is correct. You can almost always guarantee that the compiler will be correct.
Problem has to do with you throwing an exception. As soon as you throw an exception, the code breaks out of the method. So you can't have a System.out statement after you throw an exception. It will never be reached.
Bill

[huiying li]

Thanks Bill.
It seems to me the compiler only tests for return or throw statement to check if a statement is not reachable. If you put the throw statement in a method, then the code compiles fine. Can you point out to me where I can find the rules for unreachable statements?

[Jane Griscti]

Hi Huiying,
The rules for Unreachable statements are in the JLS §14.20
Hope that helps.
------------------
Jane Griscti
Sun Certified Programmer for the Java� 2 Platform

[huiying li]

Thanks Jane