Friend methods/classes for AS3 packageless classes

Question

Hi I'm wondering if I can have a packageless () AS3 class call a private method on the main class in the file. For example:

package demo
{
    public class MyDemoClass
    {
        var helper:FriendlyHelperClass = new FriendlyHelperClass(this)
    }

    private function methodToCall():void
    {
        ...
    }
}

public class FriendlyHelperClass
{
    public function FriendlyHelperClass(demo:MyDemoClass)
    {
        demo.methodToCall()
    }
}

The call to methodToCall() from FriendlyHelperClass will fail as it is a private member of the MyDemoClass. Is there any way to call the methodToCall() method from the FriendlyHelperClass without extending MyDemoClass.

Basically I'm looking for inner class functionality that Java has or some sort of C++ style friend class.

Answer 1

I'm afraid that is not possible, but if you make the class dynamic, then you can edit it while the program is running, and possibly add some useful functions to it, to access the private functions. I haven't tried it though.

Dynamic classes

Answer 2

Short answer : no.

You can never access a private member from outside a class in ActionScript. What you could do is use a namespace instead of a private scope. This would allow to give access to some members to selected classes. This is the closest of a friend class that you will get in AS3.

Answer 3

Without testing the code, and knowing what your full problem. you can try passing the functions you need into the embedded class as a callback. e.g.,

helper.methodToCallCallback = this.methodToCall;

then inside FriendlyHelperClass:

this.methodToCallCallback();