# Custom task invoking parent class method instead of user of custom task

**URL:** <https://discuss.gradle.org/t/custom-task-invoking-parent-class-method-instead-of-user-of-custom-task/11984>\
**Category:** Help/Discuss\
**Created:** [October 1, 2015, 9:04pm UTC](https://discuss.gradle.org/t/custom-task-invoking-parent-class-method-instead-of-user-of-custom-task/11984 "2015-10-01T21:04:39Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Ats\_Uiboupin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Ats\_Uiboupin](https://discuss.gradle.org/u/Ats_Uiboupin)\
**Post date:** [October 1, 2015, 9:04pm UTC](https://discuss.gradle.org/t/custom-task-invoking-parent-class-method-instead-of-user-of-custom-task/11984/1 "2015-10-01T21:04:39Z")

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Hi,  
I’d like to simplify the usage of my custom task, that extends Exec task.

My implementation (simplified for this example, but still works without problems) is following:

```gradle
`class ImportCert extends Exec {
    String pathToKeyStore = "${System.env.JAVA_HOME}/jre/lib/security/cacerts"
    String storepass = "changeit"
    String pathToCert
    String certAlias

    @TaskAction
    def importCert() {
        println 'Importing ' + pathToCert + " (with alias " + certAlias + ") to keystore " + pathToKeyStore
        //commandLine(getCommandLine()) // I'd like to call this method from this class, not from the task
    }

    public List getCommandLine() {
        return ['keytool', '-import', '-noprompt', '-keystore', pathToKeyStore, '-storepass', storepass, '-alias', certAlias, '-file', pathToCert]
    }
}

task importDemoCert(type:ImportCert) {
    pathToCert = "$rootProject.projectDir/etc/demo.host.cer"
    certAlias = "demo.host"
    commandLine(getCommandLine()) // XXX: i'd like to get rid of this line
}

```

While current implementation calls `commandLine(getCommandLine())` from the task, that uses `ImportCert` task, I’d like to be able to avoid having this line everywhere where i use `ImportCert` task.

So I’m wondering, if it is possible to have parent class invoke that method instead of every task that uses it.

I tried moving `commandLine(getCommandLine())` from the task to `ImportCert.importCert` task, but that ends up with failure:

```gradle
Execution failed for task ':importDemoCert'.
> execCommand == null!

```

Is there some other method that i should use instead?

Best Regards,  
Ats

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![sterling](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/gradle/user_avatar/discuss.gradle.org/sterling/32/5395_2.png) [@sterling](https://discuss.gradle.org/u/sterling)\
**Post date:** [October 1, 2015, 10:11pm UTC](https://discuss.gradle.org/t/custom-task-invoking-parent-class-method-instead-of-user-of-custom-task/11984/2 "2015-10-01T22:11:38Z")

</div>

A few options…

You could override exec() (instead of using importCert()) and call super.exec() at the end of your method. Since you’re extending Exec, you have two methods with @TaskAction and the order isn’t guaranteed.

You could add a `doFirst` action that sets the command line. This is sort of like you’re trying now, but doFirst guarantees that your action happens before Exec’s.

If it doesn’t make sense for a user to ever configure anything else related to the Exec task, I wouldn’t extend Exec. Extend DefaultTask and just make your @TaskAction method use `project.exec {}`. This is basically the classic composition-over-inheritance lesson.