here is my class hierarchy: public class QuoteRecord extends DataRecordImpl (non-public) class DataRecordImpl { public static String getTickerSymbol(RecordCursor cur) {} } and a method: void copyValues(QuoteRecord rec) { this.symbol = rec.getTickerSymbol(cur); } since the method is static, i am offered a reference - but a reference to DataRecordImpl is invalid in this context, should be referenced by QuoteRecord same story with 'add static reference' action: it adds an invalid static reference since DataRecordImpl is not public