How to overrule the toString method.

[Wilfried LAURENT]

Hi,
For debugging purpose, I want to display the references of objects.
However, some of this objects have overload the toString method. As a result I get :
"Value : 1
Date : 12/02/02"
instead of
"Toto@1323b930".
I know it is possible to get the references of the object but I can't remember how.
Any help would be appreciate.
W.

[Mark Mokris]

I am guessing, but what about something like this?
String refNumber = ((Object)yourObject).toString();
I am guessing that if you cast any object to an (Object) you will force it to use the default toString() functionality.
I am just guessing.
Mark

[Ilja Preuss]

Well, you guessed wrong... The method is still invoked polymorphically, so that the type of the object will determine the actual method called, not the type of the reference (casting only affects reference types).

[Marilyn de Queiroz]

You could do something like
if ( Object1 == Object2 ){ ...
to see whether the objects have the same reference or not.

[Dave Landers]

Object's toString is:

public String toString() {
    return getClass().getName() + "@" + Integer.toHexString(hashCode());
}

But if hashCode is overriden, it won't help. In that case use System.identityHashCode:

getClass().getName() + "@" + Integer.toHexString(System.identityHashCode(obj));

[Wilfried LAURENT]

It works! Thanks a lot Dave!
W.