There is a entity, one of its getter method has the code below:

return (Date) fromDate.clone();

when a new entity is created, fromDate attribute is null, invoking this getter method will cause nullpointexception,

But I do not know why hibernate invokes this getter method on a newly created entity, I got the nullpointexception when I called session.merge() to save this entity, I also do not know why hibernate need to create a new entity.

Thank you.

Hi spencers,

You could control setter getter or by field by using access="field|property|ClassName" with property.

I don't think setting access="field" is a good idea, as you'll have to make fields public.
It would be simpler to add an if not null check.

Also, although I haven't tried this so can't say with certainty, I think you might end up with a TransientObjectException when the fromDate is present in you object as you are returning a new instance of date, not the one referred by fromDate.