Can I do a static import of a private subclass?

Question

I have an enum which is private, not to be exposed outside of the class. Is there anyway I can do a static import of that type, so that I don't have to type the enum type each time? Or is there a better way to write this? Example:

package kip.test;

import static kip.test.Test.MyEnum.*; //compile error

public class Test
{
  private static enum MyEnum { DOG, CAT }

  public static void main (String [] args)
  {
    MyEnum dog = MyEnum.DOG; //this works but I don't want to type "MyEnum"
    MyEnum cat = CAT; //compile error, but this is what I want to do
  }
}

Answer 1

Considering that you can access the field fully qualified, I would say that it is a bug in the compiler (or language spec) that you cannot statically import it.

I suggest that you make the enumeration package-protected.

Answer 2

You can use the no-modifier access level, i.e.

enum MyEnum { DOG, CAT }

MyEnum will not be visible to classes from other packages neither from any subclass. It is the closest form of private, yet letting you avoid explicitly referencing MyEnum.