How can I create an inherit class based on variable value?

Hi,

I've defined multiple classes (class1, class2, class3...) which all inherit from one class (class0):

classdef class0 ...
classdef class1 < class0 ...
classdef class2 < class0 ...
classdef class3 < class0 ...

and I have a variable 'index', which is 1 or 2 or 3. I'm trying to create a object whose class type is based on this index. For example, if index is 1, I want a object of class1. So far I can acheive this by calling a function like in the following code:

function test = create_class_obj(index)
    switch index
        case 1
            test = class1();
        case 2
            test = class2();
        case 3
            test = class3();
    end
end

Is there an elegant way to encode this into the constructor of class0? So that I can do the following:

test = class0(index);

Thanks.

Josh

Answer 1

[Steven Lord]

You could create a function handle to the constructor then call that function handle.

index = 2; % example
fh = str2func("class" + index)

fh = function_handle with value:
    @class2

fh()

Inside class2

You'd probably want to check (either before creating the function handle or while calling it, using try and catch) that the class you're trying to instantiate exists.

But I would not put this into the constructor of class0. I would instead make a factory function or method that creates the appropriate subclass object.

function class0()
disp("Inside class0")
end
function class1()
disp("Inside class1")
end
function class2()
disp("Inside class2")
end
function class3()
disp("Inside class3")
end

[Chung-Tao Chou]

Hi Steven,

Thanks for the prompt answer. To make sure I understand you, the factory function that you mentioned is like the function in my code:

function test = create_class_obj(index)

except I don't need to use switch-case, and I can use the handle method instead?

Best,

Josh

Answer 2

[chrisw23]

classdef baseClass < handle

methods

function baseClass(index)

...

end

end

...

classdef class0 < baseClass

methods

function class0(index)

% explicitly call the superclass constructor with argument

@obj.baseClass(index)

end

...