Hibernate version: API Documentation (3.2.0.cr1)

I wonder if anyone could please clarify the note for the Hibernate.initialize method:-

Note: This only ensures intialization of a proxy object or collection; it is not guaranteed that the elements INSIDE the collection will be initialized/materialized.

It reads as though the proxy object or collection can be initialized but the elements inside may not be initialized/materialized?

Under what condition would that occur?

I was looking for a way to see if lazy loaded properties and collections etc. have been loaded or are ready to be lazily loaded if accessed so I could reconnect back to a disconnected session.

Thanks...

When you specify lazy="true" on collection elements, hibernate only returns proxy to each of collection objects - in other words, no database query for collection object.

If you close the session and try to access the collection object outside session, you will get LazyInit...Exception. In order to remove such exception either load the collection forcefully in one session by calling Hibernate.initialize( collection ) or connect to a new session with session.lock( mpObject, LockMode.NONE ). There are other options such as session.read(), session.merge() which will take one more query to load the information. Once locking the object in the second session, you can access the collection object without any exception. hope this helps...