Hello!
The access modifier protected permits access to classes in the same package and subclasses anywhere right?
But when I define a subclass in a different package than the super class, I cannot access variables that are declared to be protected in the super class. can you explain that?
Thank you!

It should working.
Have You set the super class for public?
For example:
the definition of the parent(super) class:

package first;

public class First {
  protected String protectedProperty = null;
  protected void protectedFunction() {
    System.out.println("From protected function.");
  }
  public First() {
    protectedProperty = new String("It is working.");
  }
}

the definition of the child class (subclass):
package second;

import first.First;

class Second extends First {
  public static void main(String args[]) {
    Second s = new Second();
    s.protectedFunction();
    System.out.println(s.protectedProperty);
  }
}

It is working...
Have a nice day!

Gabriel :o)

Thank you for the time and trouble you took to answer my question!
In your example s is of type Second, and you are accessing s fron Second which ,in my view, should work. The problenm is if you try to access the memebers protectedProperty or protectedFunction of an element of type First from class Second.

Thank you again and have a nice day!

wourouds

If You create an instance of First class in package second, than You can not access any members of First class except of public ones. (Because You are in a different package).
It is a correct behavior.

Best regards,

Gabriel

Hello again :o)

Here is a final explanation for this problem:
Consider the following example:

super class:
package a;

public class First {
  protected String protectedProperty = null;
  protected void protectedFunction() {
    System.out.println("From protected function.");
  }
  public First() {
    protectedProperty = new String("It is working.");
  }
}

subclass:

package b;

import a.First;

public class Second extends First {
  public static void main(String args[]) {
    First f = new First();
    Second s = new Second();
    // f.protectedFunction(); - compilation error
    s.protectedFunction();
    // System.out.println(f.protectedProperty); - compilation error
    System.out.println(s.protectedProperty);
  }
}

The commented lines in the class definition of Second are compilation errors because You are in package b. As You know, there are at least four access modifiers in Java: public, private, protected and 'package access'. In package b You can access only public fields of classes belonging to package a. However You can access protected fields also, but only if You inherit a subclass in package b => then You can access protected fields, BUT ONLY IF YOU ACCESS THESE FIELDS AS THE FIELDS OF THE SUBCLASS. You can not access them through the object f (from the example), as in this case You have tried to access them through a different object, then the subclass itself.

Have a nice day!

Gabriel :o)