JavaBeans FAQ: Help with Common Problems

 
 
 
 

Why do I get a NullPointerException when loading a JAR file into the BeanBox?

Usually this is because of a mistake in the JAR file being loaded. In the meantime, typical errors include:

  • The MANIFEST file uses classes using the wrong file separator (" /" should be used in all platforms).
  • The MANIFEST file refers to classes in a package but the actual .class files are not really in that package.

Why do I get a duplicate name error when loading a JAR file?

The most common reason for a " java.lang.ClassFormatError: Duplicate name" error is that a .class file in the JAR contains a class whose class name is different from the expected name. So for example if you have a file called " a/B.class" and it contains a class called " B" or " a.X" instead of the class " a.B" then you will get this error.

The most common causes for this problem are either forgetting to include a " package a;" statement or having a " package" statement with the wrong name.

Why does my Beans.instantiate() fail?

Beans.instantiate() does two things: it loads a class and creates a Class object, and it then instantiates an object of that class. If the Bean name corresponds to a serialized Bean prototype, it uses that prototype. Otherwise the instantiation uses a zero-argument constructor. Several things may fail in these actions, including:

  • There may not be a class of the given name
  • The class may not be public
  • The class may be in a package that cannot be created given the existing Security Manager (for example, the Applet Security Manager typically will not let the applet instantiate " java.*" and " sun.*" classes)
  • There may not be any public zero-argument constructor for the class.
  • The serialized stream may contain a version of the class that is not compatible with the one loaded (or available through the classloader argument) in the JVM.

A typical idiom to use Beans.instantiate is Beans.instantiate(this.getClass().getClassLoader(), theBeanName)

Why nobody at Sun wants to read the messages sent to java-beans@java.sun.com?

Probably, because of the fact, that 99% of all messages is spam. It is recommended to post on JavaBeans forum, which is inspected by Sun engineers on a regular basis.

How can I subscribe/unsubscribe to the BEANS-INFO mailing list?

A discussion list, BEANS-INFO, has been set up for people interested in the JavaBeans API. It is a forum where users help users, but you'll see participation from Sun engineers, too. This is the primary forum for discussions pertaining to JavaBeans.

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