I have a server object we are calling via soap. That server object has an XML cfg file associated with it (to be built). That XML contains a "Class" and "Method" name in it. I am trying to figure out how to use reflection to create a class and call a method on that class dynamically.

This way, we can add new action classes, without actually changing our code.
Here are some code notes I have currently, but I was wondering if you have done this before:

     //* Load the XML config for the obj name.
     //cfg.load(obj.getName());

     //* Then we need to determine the AO class file associated with that (obj).
     //Class ao = Class.forName(cfg.get("obj.getName()", "className"));
     Class aoc = Class.forName("AccountAO");

        //* Get an object from the AO Object Class.
        //Object aoo = aoc.getInstance();

     //* Get the actual method
     //Method aom = ao.getMethod(cfg.get("obj.getName()", "className"));
     Method aom = ao.getMethod(methodName);

        Object returnObj = aom.invoke(aoc);

Take a look at the invoke() method on org.apache.soap.server.RPCRouter servlet for some strong examples.

hth,

Jason Weiss
Manager, Software Engineering
eBusiness Systems Group

//*******************************************************
//This allow to call many methods with one call to EJB
//*******************************************************
Client code:

HashMap hm = new HashMap();
ArrayList args = new AttayList();
args.add(new Integer(1), "SomeString", new Double(3.6));
args.add(...);
args.add(...);
args.put("yourMethodName", args)

......................

HashMap result = ejbServices.invokeMethod(hm);





//********************************************************
// This class can be used as superclass for EJB
// and allow to call any methods on subclass EJB
//********************************************************
import java.util.HashMap;
import java.util.ArrayList;
import java.util.List;
import java.util.Set;
import java.util.Iterator;
import java.lang.reflect.Method;

public class EjbServices {
    

    public EjbServices() {}
   
    public HashMap invokeMethod(HashMap value){
        String key = null;
        HashMap result = new HashMap();
        try{
            Set keys = parms.keySet();
            Iterator iterator = keys.iterator();
            while (iterator.hasNext()){
                key = (String)iterator.next();
                ArrayList argsList = (ArrayList)value){.get(key);
                int argsCount = argsList.size();
                Object[] args = new Object[argsCount];
                Class[] argsClass = new Class[argsCount];
                for (int i = 0; i < argsCount;i++){
                    argsClass[i] = argsList.get(i).getClass();
                    args[i] = argsList.get(i);
                }
                Method m = this.getClass().getDeclaredMethod(key, argsClass);
                Object ob = m.invoke(this, args);
                result.put(key, ob);
             }
        }catch(Throwable e){
// error checking...
            e.printStackTrace();
        }
        return result;
    }
}