The -nodeprecated option in javadoc doesn't seem to work. What can I do?

Question

I have a deprecated method in my class:

@Deprecated
public void deprecatedMethod() {
   //do bad things
}

I don't want that method to appear in the javadoc. I know there's an option called -nodeprecated which:

"Prevents the generation of any deprecated API at all in the documentation."

So I'm using this option and it doesn't exclude the method from javadoc. Is it a bug in javadoc or am I using it wrong? What else can I do?

(I'm using eclipse 3.4.2 to produce javadoc)

Answer 1

You have to include "-nodeprecated" option in the Export to javadoc wizard. Warning: it is a javadoc option, not a VM option.

I've tested it in Eclipse 3.4 and it worked.

Edit: If you only include Deprecated annotation it doesn't work. You have to include @deprecated tag inside method javadoc as well.

I don't know if there's a way to tell javadoc to use @Deprecated anotation (which curiously doesn't have a message parameter to document why is deprecated and what else to use).

Edit: before-1.5 way of deprecate methods

You have to include a @deprecated tag (or indicator or whatever) with the message you want to display to the user in the javadoc after the "deprecated".

/**
  This method sets the property A.
  @see getA
  @author helios
  @deprecated This method is not sync safe, use setAOk instead
 */
public void setA(String value) ...

Answer 2

@helios

john is saying that you must include the @deprecated javadoc tag within the javadoc comment block (/** ... */) as he has done above with:

@deprecated This method is not sync safe, use setAOk instead

Add this, then use the -nodeprecated option when running javadoc and the methods will not appear in the generated doc.