generics - Java - Return different child classes based on input parameters -

given these classes:

public class versionvov1 extends basevo {      private string fieldone = null;      public string getfieldone() {         return fieldone;     }     public void setfieldone(string fieldone) {         this.fieldone = fieldone; }  public class versionvov2 extends basevo {      private string fieldfour = null;      public string getfieldfour() {         return fieldfour;     }     public void setfieldfour(string fieldfour) {         this.fieldfour = fieldfour;     }  }  public class basevo {     // common code here  } 

i have calling method dosomething returns specific child class based upon input string:

public basevo dosomething(string version) {      basevo versionvo =  dosomethingversioned(createversionvo(version));      return versionvo; } 

the remaining methods are:

private basevo createversionvo(string version) {      basevo versionvo = null;      if (version.equalsignorecase("v1")) {          versionvo = new versionvov1();      } else if (version.equalsignorecase("v2"))          versionvo = new versionvov2();      return versionvo; }  protected versionvov1 dosomethingversioned(versionvov1 versionvo) throws exception {      versionvo.setfieldone("the versionvo of type: " + versionvo.getclass());     versionvo.setfieldtwo("field two");     versionvo.setfieldthree("field three");      return versionvo;  }  protected versionvov2 dosomethingversioned(versionvov2 versionvo) throws exception {      versionvo.setfieldone("the versionvo of type: " + versionvo.getclass());     versionvo.setfieldthree("field three");     versionvo.setfieldfour("field four");      return versionvo;  } 

as can see i've overridden dosomethingversioned take in specific child class. problem lies compilation error looks on dosomethingversioned: the method dosomethingversioned(versionvov1) in type versionexample not applicable arguments (basevo).

i've tried returning type of <t extends basevo> createversionvo other compilation errors in method stating type mismatch: cannot convert versionvov1 t.

i feel should easier i'm making it. how can keep overall pattern allow compile?

thanks helps!

what want pattern factory method. note: there no benefit genericity here. merely creating presumption go on way. generics tend yield greatest benefit when wanting leverage code orthogonal domain objects, e.g. collections.