Can one combine static and instance methods?

Question

Hi,
Can one define a method so that is can be used as both a static or an instance method?
Basically I'm trying to simplify my class to so that I can call a method either statically with parameters or instantiated using it's own attributes.
In other words, I'm trying to accomplish both of these with one method:
zcl_myclass=>do_something_static( im_key = '1234' ).
lv_myclass_instance->do_something( ).   " key in private attributes
Why would I want to do that?
I would like to avoid instantiation in some cases for performance reasons and would like to keep it simple by having only one method to do basically the same thing.
Any input or alternative suggestions welcome.
Cheers,
Mike

Answer 1

Ok, I may be reaching here a bit, I know, but maybe this may give you some ideas.  After creating the object, pass it back to the method call.
report zrich_0001.
*       CLASS lcl_app DEFINITION
class lcl_app definition.
  public section.
    data: a_attribute type string.
    class-methods: do_something importing im_str type string
                               im_ref type ref to lcl_app optional.
endclass.
*       CLASS lcl_app IMPLEMENTATION
class lcl_app implementation.
  method do_something.
    if not im_ref is initial.
       im_ref->a_attribute = im_str.
      write:/ 'Do_Something - ',  im_ref->a_attribute.
    else.
      write:/ 'Do_Something - ',  im_str.
    endif.
  endmethod.
endclass.
data: o_app type ref to lcl_app.
start-of-selection.
  create object o_app.
  call method o_app->do_something(
           exporting
               im_str = 'Instansiated'
               im_ref = o_app ).
  call method lcl_app=>do_something(
           exporting
               im_str = 'Static' ).
Regards,
Rich Heilman