# Using class-wide methods in non-static classes
**URL:** https://discourse.processing.org/t/using-class-wide-methods-in-non-static-classes/1677
**Category:** Coding Questions
**Created:** [July 11, 2018, 1:53am UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/using-class-wide-methods-in-non-static-classes/1677 "2018-07-11T01:53:54Z")
**Posts on this page:** 4
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Jake](https://discourse.processing.org/u/Jake)
#### Post date: [July 11, 2018, 1:53am UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/using-class-wide-methods-in-non-static-classes/1677/1 "2018-07-11T01:53:54Z")
After doing some research, I have yet to find a way to use static methods in a non-static class. Alternatively, I can’t create instances of an object of a static class. I did notice someone mention class-wide methods, but there was no information on the processing wiki.
Basically, all I want is a class that allows me to create objects, but also allows me to use static methods. For example if the class was named “Car”, I want to be able to say
Car c1 = new Car();
but also be able to write a method that is called as such:
Car.functionName();
I know this is possible in Java, but Processing 3 seems to be preventing me from doing it. Any help would be appreciated, thank you in advance!
---
### Author:  [@GoToLoop](https://discourse.processing.org/u/GoToLoop)
#### Post date: [July 11, 2018, 2:10am UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/using-class-wide-methods-in-non-static-classes/1677/2 "2018-07-11T02:10:51Z")
B/c all classes inside a “.pde” file are nested inside a PApplet subclass, if we need to have `static` members inside them, we’re gonna need to declare those classes as `static` as well:
> **[Deeply-layered nested classes](https://Discourse.Processing.org/t/deeply-layered-nested-classes/805)**
>
> Hello. I’m trying to make nested classes to make some sort of system in my classes. I am working insode Visual Studio Code, where you can hide lines of code. When I try: static class A{ static class B{ class C{ C(){} ...
---
### Author:  [@kfrajer](https://discourse.processing.org/u/kfrajer)
#### Post date: [July 11, 2018, 8:20am UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/using-class-wide-methods-in-non-static-classes/1677/3 "2018-07-11T08:20:40Z")
Ok, this is what you can do:
Close Processing. Create the following folder structure
```auto
C:\P3> tree ApolloMain /a /f
C:\P3\APOLLOMAIN
ApolloMain.pde
AutoCar.java
```
You have a folder called ApolloMain and inside you find a pde and a java file. Open Processing and open the pde. You will see that ApolloMain is one of your tabs and `AutoCar.java` is another tab. Now add the following code:
## File extension pde
```java
AutoCar car;
void setup() {
size(600, 400);
car=new AutoCar();
println("Get some info: "+car.whatIsMyPlanet());
}
void draw() {
background(0);
}
```
## Java file
```java
class AutoCar {
static String PLANET="MARS";
static String whatIsMyPlanet() {
return PLANET;
}
AutoCar() {
}
}
```
Run it. If you want to understand a bit more about what Processing in doing, go to `file` menu in the PDE and export the code. Then have a look at the generated Java files.
Kf
---
### Author:  [@GoToLoop](https://discourse.processing.org/u/GoToLoop)
#### Post date: [July 11, 2018, 12:03pm UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/using-class-wide-methods-in-non-static-classes/1677/4 "2018-07-11T12:03:12Z")
Nice step-by-step @kfrajer. However, we can exceptionally have `static` fields inside inner classes as long as they’re `final` & either primitive or String; b/c in this case, they become compile-time constants: 😀
```auto
void setup() {
final AutoCar car = new AutoCar();
println("Planet:", car); // Planet: MARS
exit();
}
class AutoCar {
static final String PLANET = "MARS"; // Compile-time constant
@Override String toString() {
return PLANET;
}
}
```