Newby Q: nested classes, access of upper method

[Nick Coghlan]

Gregor Horvath wrote:
> Hello,
> 
> class A(self):
>   def A1():
>     pass
> 
>     class B(self):
>       def B1():
>     #************************************
>         #***  How can I access A1 here???? ***
>     #************************************
>     self.A1() # doesnet work because self references to  B
>     self.self.A1() #doesnt work either
> 
> 
> Renanimg class B(self1): doesnt work either because self is not bound.

OK, I suspect you're a little confused about how classes work. The items in 
brackets after a class name are the *base* classes of a class, not the way the 
class refers to itself. So Python will complain if the listed items can't be 
inherited from for one reason or another.

I suggest having another read of the tutorial section on classes to figure out 
exactly what you want to be doing:
http://www.python.org/doc/2.3.4/tut/node11.html

> How can I access a method of a "upper" class?

Merely defining one class inside another class does not automatically give 
instances of that inner class a reference to an instance of the outer class - if 
such a reference is needed, it must be provided in the inner class's constructor.

E.g.

class A(object):
   class B(object):
     def __init__(self, owner):
       self._owner = owner

     def B1(self):
       self._owner.A1()

   def A1(self):
     pass

   def makeB(self):
     return A.B(self)

Cheers,
Nick.