Abstract. Spherically symmetric solutions of generic gravitational models are optimally, and legitimately, obtained by expressing the action in terms of the surviving metric components. This shortcut is not to be overdone; however, a one-function ansatz invalidates it, as illustrated by the incorrect solutions of Wohlfarth (2004 Class. Quantum Grav. 21 1927).

PACS number: 04.20.Fy

Print publication: Issue 22 (21 November 2004)
Received 27 April 2004, in final form 20 September 2004
Published 29 October 2004