Any one can explain this?

[Karl Fu]

my server look something like this:
class DataServer
static Data data = null;
public static void main (String[] args){
data = new Data("db.db");
DataImpl impl = new DataImpl(data);
..
// bind impl to registry..
...
}
public static Data getDataReference(){
return data;
}
}
I am trying to get a copy of the data reference so I add the getDataReference method.
All the things works well...local...remote...concurrent access..without using that getDataReference()
but as I call the getDataReference method...I got a null.
Can anyone tell me why ? since there is only one copy of data object...and the server is already (and still) running, the data must have contained something right? but why would I get a null ?
Thanks in advance
Karl

[Rick Fortier]

Try taking static off of the getDataReference() method. I have not tested my theory. But off the top of my head I don't think that static methods have access to the this variable.
Let me know if that was it.
The only other thing I can think of is that data is really null.

[This message has been edited by Rick Fortier (edited June 16, 2001).]

[Karl Fu]

Hi rick,
Thanks for your response.
I really needed the method to static because this method will be used by some other class. if it is not static ..then i will have to create a server object...which seems alittle weird.
With regard to your second comment, you mean a static method have no access to a static variable ? I think static method can only operate on static variables or non-static variable within the static block.. and non-static method can access static variable....isn't it ?
I think the data variable cannot be null in this case...because it is being used ( the applicationi is actualy running ). What i have in mind is that the acessing sequence of the 2 static methods on the same staic variable causing this problem.
Since the server is running , so the static main method is still running and didnt return. so getDBReference() method didn't get the changed data variable.... but does it make sense ? I really doubt it myself too
please give me some comment.
Karl

[Rajesh Pohuja]

It could be because DataServer doesn't implement
Remote, thus is serialized/de-serialized when accessed
by the client.
Now, the static fields do not participate in serialization
process, thus you get a null !!
Does it make sense?

[Karl Fu]

Rajesh,
I was using this method in a local server mode though.
Let me explain a little bit more about what i am doing :
3 modes :
1. Local mode (create a new Data object)
2. Local server mode (local access through a running rmi server, do not create any new Data object, obtaining a Data object reference created by the server....this is done by the getDBReference())
3. Remote mode
So, I am actually accessing the doin thing in mode 2, which is local. I think there will not be any serialization involve in this case.
I am trying this out hoping that this will keep only one copy of Data object, even if a server is running on the same data object, I will be able to have concurrency control to access the same data object through both local and remote mode.