util:constant can't read static inner enums [SPR-5210]

[spring-projects-issues]

Gert-Jan Schouten opened SPR-5210 and commented

If I have this code:

public enum AccountLevel {

NORMAL, MODERATOR, ADMINISTRATOR

}

then I can put this in my spring config:

<util:constant static-field="AccountLevel.NORMAL" />

Everything works fine. But if I have this code:

public class Account {

public enum Level {

    NORMAL, MODERATOR, ADMINISTRATOR
}

}

then I cannot do this:

<util:constant static-field="Account.Level.NORMAL" />

I have been thinking about this and came to the conclusion that this is impossible, because my inner enum is not static: You need an instance of Account, before you can have an Account.Level (just like inner classed), so I changed my code and made the enum static:

public class Account {

public static enum Level {

    NORMAL, MODERATOR, ADMINISTRATOR
}

}

But this:

<util:constant static-field="Account.Level.NORMAL" />

still does not work! Why? It should work, I think...

---

Affects: 2.5.5

Referenced from: commits eb1631f

[spring-projects-issues]

Juergen Hoeller commented

Spring generally understands inner class names in Java source style ("java.lang.Thread.State") as well now. Previously, only the $ notation worked ("java.lang.Thread$State").

Juergen