hello, EGHDK

how can I help you today?

A couple of questions I've jotted down from reading your book other java books.

First, is I'm extremely confused anytime I say anything like AlertDialog.Builder builder = new...

um, could you be more specific?

confused about what?

I'm unsure of why it's not just AlertDialogBuilder builder = new...

Anytime a class name has a . I get confused.

because there is no class named AlertDialogBuilder

I feel like I'm missing something. It doesn't make sense of why it has a dot.

AlertDialog.Builder refers to the Builder static inner class of AlertDialog

It didn't make sense to me because I looked up android docs on AlertDialog.Builder. and it seems to be its own class.

it is a static inner class of AlertDialog

But what you're saying is that Builder is inside of AlertDialog?

yes

okay.

Interesting.

I knew you could do that, but I didn't know that it was a convention.

I don't see why google didn't decide to just make an AlertDialogBuilder class.

fewer .java files

hm... ill take your word for it. Makes sense.

syntactically, other than the dot, there is no substantive difference between a static inner class and a separate Java class

different developers use different styles

some might have gone with AlertDialogBuilder

not everyone codes the same way

Gotcha.

Okay. That makes sense now. Thanks

My second question comes from your book, and the @Override annotation.

You said that this indicates that methods are implementing a java interface, rather than truly overriding a superclass method.

no

it is used for both

however, the implementing-an-interface usage was added in Java 6

Eclipse used to default developers to code validation for Java 5 (or 1.5, depending on what numbering scheme you like)

which is why I have to point out to make sure that you are set to Java 6

Okay. Got it.

Eclipse should be more sensible nowadays

There seems to be a problem with two spots in your book. I believe they contradict each other, but I'm not sure. Maybe I'm reading it wrong.

1. "By default, your application will not support small screens..." then later in the book you say 2. "We will add a <supports-screens> element to keep our application off "small" screen devices"

where is the first quote?

Erm. I dont have the exact page number. I have it running on my kindle.

give me a section heading or something

It's in the begining.

"Supporting Multiple Screens"

3% into your book (According to Amazon... heh)

yeah, I will need to think through that

I may have been referring to some defaults from long ago that are no longer in place

the second one is correct

well, rephrase that

the second one is correct for its location and purpose

yeah, the first one is wrong, android:smallScreens is true by default

I'll tighten that up for the next release

which, since Version 5.6 was released a couple of hours ago, the next release will be in about a month

Got it. Thanks

That's all for today for me.

OK

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