Sorry for the near-xpost, there is a question I have posted regarding xdoclet on the tools forum which originated another question that i post here:

I have a hierarchy such as

class A

class B extends A

abstract class C extends A

class D extends C
class E extends C

Class C is only a class that factors out logic from D and E, and as such has no persistent fields, nor has a table associated (while the rest of the hierarchy is mapped with joined-subclass).

I would like to know which of the following is the best (or "right") approach:

can I simply ignore the abstract class and do not map it?

do I need to create a table and a mapping for C even if it does not contain any persistent data?

is there maybe a way to put a mapping that does not refer to a concrete table?

can I map it on the same table that A is mapped on?

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