From: dblack@...
Date: 2002-12-23T15:41:30+09:00
Subject: Re: Calling super from some other method

Hi --

On Mon, 23 Dec 2002, Matt Armstrong wrote:

> Say I have:
>
>     class A
>       def method
>         puts "A#method"
>       end
>     end
>
>     class B < A
>       def method
>         other_method
>       end
>       def other_method
>         method     # <- want A#method here
>       end
>     end
>
> In B#other_method, I want to call A#method.
>
> Within B#method, I can call A#method with super.  But I can't figure
> out how to do the same within B#other_method.  In C++, I'd just
> statically qualify the class name in the source (A::method), but I
> don't know how to do this in Ruby.

Hmmm....  This sounds like one of the things in the "Mommy, where do
methods come from?" thread.  If I'm right about that, here's a
possibly relevant exchange between Chris Pine and Nobu:

Chris:

  Finally (and I'm sure I should know this one already), how would I
  call Object#to_s on foo if I have already redefined to_s?  (Is this
  even possible?)

Nobu:

  Impossible outside redefined to_s, unless it's aliased.


I think the general principle is that you can't just call A#method, in
the abstract; you have to send the message to a specific object, and
since you've redefined the method, the object in question does
something else when you send it that message.


David

-- 
David Alan Black
home: dblack@candle.superlink.net
work: blackdav@shu.edu
Web:  http://pirate.shu.edu/~blackdav