Thread: Reading from a sequential file to an array

I am having trouble figuring out what I want to do, and the idea seems like it would be simple. I have four lines in a text file, they are strings and include "7 years at 5.35%", "10 years at 5%", "20 years at 5.65%", "30 years at 5.75%". I need to pull these strings from a text file and enter them into an array. I currently have the strings I used initialized straight into an array and I do not want to redo more of the code than needed. I currently have

  1 package week4;  //indicates this file belongs to a package named week4
  2 
  3 /**
  4  *
  5  * @author Chad McCoy
  6  */
  7 
  8 import java.awt.*; //these import everything needed for use in program
  9 import java.text.NumberFormat;
 10 import java.awt.event.ActionEvent;
 11 import java.awt.event.ActionListener;
 12 import javax.swing.*;
 13 import static java.lang.Math.*;
 14 import javax.swing.JTextArea;
 15 import javax.swing.JScrollPane; 
 16 
 17 
 18 public class MortgageCalc1 extends JFrame {  //class definition
 19     GridBagConstraints gbc = new GridBagConstraints();
 20     private void set_gbc(int row, int column, int width, int height, int fill, int v, int h) {
 21                    gbc.gridy = row;
 22                    gbc.gridx = column;
 23                    gbc.gridwidth = width;
 24                    gbc.gridheight = height;
 25                    gbc.fill = fill;
 26                    gbc.ipady = v;
 27                    gbc.ipadx = h;
 28 
 29                 }
 30     
 31     JLabel firstNumLabel = new JLabel("Mortgage Principal:"); //this section establishes variables
 32     JTextField firstNumField = new JTextField("0");
 33     
 34     JLabel resultLabel = new JLabel("Payment Amount:");
 35     JTextField resultField = new JTextField("0");
 36     
 37     JLabel comboOptions = new JLabel("Term Options, must click one");
 38     
 39     JButton calcButton = new JButton("Calculate Payment");
 40     JButton closeButton = new JButton("Close");
 41     JButton resetButton = new JButton("Reset Calculator");
 42     JButton startOvrButton = new JButton("Start Over");
 43     
 44     public int pymtAmt = 0;
 45     public double intRate = 0;
 46     public int monMorTerms = 0;
 47     
 48     String[] loanTerms = { "7 years at 5.35%", "15 years at 5.5%", "30 years at 5.75%" };
 49     JComboBox mortgageTerms = new JComboBox(loanTerms);
 50     
 51     JTextArea outputArea = new JTextArea();
 52     JScrollPane scrollPane = new JScrollPane(outputArea);
 53     
 54     JTextArea headingArea = new JTextArea();
 55     JScrollPane scrollPane2 = new JScrollPane(headingArea);
 56     
 57     private final static String newLine = "\n";
 58     
 59     String addLine2 = ("Pmt#" + "\t" + "Pmt Amt" + "\t" + "Loan Bal" + "\t" + "Int Paid");
 60                             
 61                             
 62                             
 63     public MortgageCalc1() {  //constructor for the class
 64         super("Mortgage Calculator"); //this makes a title for the window
 65         setLocation(500, 200); //this sets the location of the window
 66         setSize (360,500); //sets the window size
 67         setResizable(true); //allows user to resize window
 68         this.setDefaultCloseOperation(EXIT_ON_CLOSE); //this states the program will end when the window is closed
 69         setLayout(new GridBagLayout()); //defines window layout
 70 
 71                 
 72         set_gbc(0, 0, 1, 1, GridBagConstraints.HORIZONTAL, 10, 10); //establishes contraints for gridbag
 73         add(firstNumLabel,gbc); //these lines add the elements to the window
 74         set_gbc(0, 1, 1, 1, GridBagConstraints.HORIZONTAL, 10, 10);
 75         add(firstNumField,gbc);
 76         set_gbc(1, 0, 1, 1, GridBagConstraints.HORIZONTAL, 10, 10);
 77         add(comboOptions,gbc);
 78         set_gbc(1, 1, 1, 1, GridBagConstraints.HORIZONTAL, 10, 10);
 79         add(mortgageTerms,gbc);
 80         set_gbc(2, 0, 1, 1, GridBagConstraints.HORIZONTAL, 10, 10);
 81         add(resultLabel,gbc);
 82         set_gbc(2, 1, 1, 1, GridBagConstraints.HORIZONTAL, 10, 10);
 83         add(resultField,gbc);
 84         set_gbc(3, 0, 1, 1, GridBagConstraints.HORIZONTAL, 10, 10);
 85         add(calcButton,gbc);
 86         set_gbc(3, 1, 1, 1, GridBagConstraints.HORIZONTAL, 10, 10);
 87         add(closeButton,gbc);
 88         set_gbc(4, 0, 1, 1, GridBagConstraints.HORIZONTAL, 10, 10);
 89         add(resetButton,gbc);
 90         set_gbc(4, 1, 1, 1, GridBagConstraints.HORIZONTAL, 10, 10);
 91         add(startOvrButton,gbc);
 92         set_gbc(5,0,2,2, GridBagConstraints.HORIZONTAL, 10, 10);
 93         add(scrollPane2,gbc);
 94         set_gbc(7, 0, 2, 2, GridBagConstraints.BOTH, 10, 10);
 95                 gbc.weightx = 5.0;
 96                 gbc.weighty = 5.0;
 97         add(scrollPane,gbc);
 98         
 99         headingArea.append (addLine2 + newLine);
100         
101         outputArea.setEditable(false);  //text area for amortization table cannot be edited by user
102         resultField.setEditable(false); //this indicates the result field can not be edited by the user
103 
104         mortgageTerms.addActionListener( //listener for combobox
105                 new ActionListener() {
106 
107                     public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent evt) {
108                         switch (mortgageTerms.getSelectedIndex()) {
109                             case 0: monMorTerms = 84; intRate = 5.35 / 100 / 12;     break;
110                             case 1: monMorTerms = 180; intRate = 5.5 / 100 / 12;    break;
111                             case 2: monMorTerms = 360; intRate = 5.75 / 100 / 12; break;
112                             default: monMorTerms = 84; intRate = 5.35 / 100 / 12; break; /*should allow user
113                                                                                           *not to have to click
114                                                                                           *first option, not working
115                                                                                           *right though*/
116                         }
117                         }
118                     });
119         
120                 
121         
122         
123         closeButton.addActionListener(  //defines what the close button does
124                 new ActionListener() {
125 
126                     public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent evt) {
127                         if (JOptionPane.showConfirmDialog(null, "Are you sure you wish to close the Mortgage Calculator?",
128                                 "Quit", JOptionPane.YES_NO_OPTION) == JOptionPane.YES_OPTION) {
129                             System.exit(0);
130                             }
131                     }
132         });
133         
134         calcButton.addActionListener( //defines what the calculate button does
135                 new ActionListener() {
136 
137                     public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent evt) {
138                         String firstNumText = firstNumField.getText();
139                         double firstNum = Double.parseDouble(firstNumText);
140                         double result = (firstNum * intRate) / (1 - Math.pow(1 + intRate, -monMorTerms));
141                         NumberFormat nf = NumberFormat.getCurrencyInstance();
142                         resultField.setText("" + nf.format(result));
143                         
144                         int paymentNum = 0; //initializes variables for while loop
145                         double princLeft = firstNum;
146                         double totalPaid = 0;
147                         double intPaid = 0;
148                         double princPaid = 0;
149                         
150                         
151                         
152                         
153                         while (princLeft > 0) { //loop to calculate amortization table
154                             ++paymentNum;
155                             totalPaid = (totalPaid + result);
156                             intPaid = (intRate * princLeft);
157                             princPaid = (result - intPaid);
158                             princLeft = (princLeft - princPaid);
159                             String addLine = (paymentNum + "\t" + nf.format(result) + "\t" + nf.format(princLeft) + "\t" + nf.format(intPaid));
160                             outputArea.append (addLine + newLine);
161                         }
162                         
163                         
164                         
165                         
166                         
167                         
168                     }
169                 });
170         
171         resetButton.addActionListener(new ActionListener() { //defines what the reset button does
172                 public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e) {
173                         firstNumField.setText("0");
174                         resultField.setText("");
175                         outputArea.setText("");
176        
177                 }
178         });
179         
180         startOvrButton.addActionListener(  //defines what the close button does
181                 new ActionListener() {
182 
183                     public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent evt) {
184                         setVisible(false); //cleans up the calculator windowmakes the selection window visible
185                         new MortgageCalculator().setVisible(true); //makes the selection window visible
186                             
187                     }
188                 });
189         
190 
191         
192         setVisible(true); //ensures user can see window created
193         }
194                       
195            
196 }

Line 48 currently sets the values of the array to use in my combo box. I just want to change it so that these strings are read from text file. I will still use the switch to set the values as I currently due in lines 104-118. Is there an easy to understand tutorial somewhere for this? The tutorial on the Oracle site just confuses me as well as other tutorials I have found.

I need to pull these strings from a text file and enter them into an array

For reading text the Scanner class is one easy way. It has methods to detect if there is more input that could be used to control a loop where you read each line and put it into an array.

The API docs for java.io.BufferedReader have a code fragment in the description that should open up a file for you for line-at-a-time reading. readLine() in that class will get the lines, and JComboBox has a constructor that takes a Vector (which grows automagically as you add strings to it) argument.

Thanks, know of any easy to understand tutorials for these ideas? I have looked at the Oracle tutorial site over and over and it just is not making sense to me.

There are lots of sample programs here on the forum. Do a Search here for Scanner.

Thanks for pointing me in the right direction everyone, I now have the program reading from a sequential file into an array. The only issue I am having is making the path anywhere except "/". I have tried several variations including c/Libraries/Documents and /Libraries/Documents. Any suggestions? The following is the code section I am referring to:

Scanner scan = new Scanner(new File("/", "loanData.txt")); //provide file name from outside
        int counter = 0; //keep track of how many in the file
        while(scan.hasNextLine()) 
        {
            scan.nextLine();
            counter++;
        }
        Scanner scan2 = new Scanner(new File("/", "loanData.txt")); 
        String[] loanTerms = new String[counter];
        for(int i=0;i<counter;i++)
        {
            loanTerms[i]=scan2.nextLine(); //fill the array
        }

The only issue I am having is making the path

When you look at paths on your OS, what is shown, say in Windows Explorer? That is what you need to use. Something like this:
E:\\Backups

You need two \s because the \ is a special character used to "escape" the following character.

If needed, I have also included the code for all for classes and the text file in case anyone needs to run it.

package week5;
 
/**
 *
 * @author Chad McCoy
 */
 
import java.io.FileNotFoundException; //these import everything needed for use in program
import java.util.logging.Level;
import java.util.logging.Logger;
import javax.swing.*; 
import java.awt.event.ActionEvent;
import java.awt.event.ActionListener;
import java.awt.*;
import java.awt.event.WindowAdapter;
import java.awt.event.WindowEvent;
 
 
public class MortgageCalculator extends JFrame { //class definition
 
    //this section establishes variables
    JLabel lblTerms = new JLabel("Would you like to select from a list or enter loan terms manually?",JLabel.LEFT); 
 
    JRadioButton dropDown = new JRadioButton("List",true);
    JRadioButton manual = new JRadioButton("Manually",false);
    JRadioButton closeButton = new JRadioButton("Close");
 
    ButtonGroup radioGroup1 = new ButtonGroup();
 
    int i = 0;
 
    MortgageCalculator() {  //constructor for the class
        super("Term Option Settings"); //this makes a title for the window
        setLocation(500, 200); //this sets the location of the window
        this.setDefaultCloseOperation(DISPOSE_ON_CLOSE); //the window will be disposed of, but program will still be running
        setLayout(new GridLayout(6, 1, 10, 10)); //defines window layout
        radioGroup1.add(dropDown); //buttons added to same group
        radioGroup1.add(manual);
        radioGroup1.add(closeButton);
 
        this.addWindowListener(new WindowAdapter() { /*this allows me to provide an option if the window is closed,
                                                       serves to ensure user wants to close the window*/
            public void windowClosed(WindowEvent e) {
                if (JOptionPane.showConfirmDialog(null, "Are you sure you wish to close the Week 5 Mortgage Calculator?",
                                "Quit", JOptionPane.YES_NO_OPTION) == JOptionPane.YES_OPTION) {
                            System.exit(0);
 
            }
        }
        });
 
 
        add(lblTerms); //label and buttons added to GUI
        add(dropDown);
        add(manual);
        add(closeButton);
 
        dropDown.addActionListener( //defines action taken when the List button is selected
                new ActionListener() {  
 
                    public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent evt) {
                        setVisible(false);
                try {
                    MortgageCalc1 app = new MortgageCalc1();
                } catch (FileNotFoundException ex) {
                    Logger.getLogger(MortgageCalculator.class.getName()).log(Level.SEVERE, null, ex);
                    setVisible(false); //cleans up the calculator windowmakes the selection window visible
                    new FnfError().setVisible(true);
                }
                    }
                });
 
        manual.addActionListener( //defines action taken when the Manual button is selected
                new ActionListener() {
 
                    public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent evt) {
                        setVisible(false);
                        MortgageCalc2 app = new MortgageCalc2();
                    }
                });
 
        closeButton.addActionListener(  //defines what the close button does
                new ActionListener() {
 
                    public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent evt) {
                        if (JOptionPane.showConfirmDialog(null, "Are you sure you wish to close the Week 5 Mortgage Calculator?",
                                "Quit", JOptionPane.YES_NO_OPTION) == JOptionPane.YES_OPTION) {
                            System.exit(0);
                            }
                    }
        });
 
 
        pack(); //packs the contents to the frame making the Window just the right size for contents
        setVisible(true);  //ensures user can see window created
 
    }
 
    public static void main(String[] args) throws Exception { 
 
 
 
 
 
        MortgageCalculator app = new MortgageCalculator(); //creates a new instance of the MortgageCalculator class
 
    }
}

package week5;
 
/**
 *
 * @author Chad McCoy
 */
 
import java.awt.*; //these import everything needed for use in program
import java.io.FileNotFoundException;
import java.text.NumberFormat;
import java.awt.event.ActionEvent;
import java.awt.event.ActionListener;
import java.awt.event.WindowAdapter;
import java.awt.event.WindowEvent;
import java.io.File;
import javax.swing.*;
import java.util.Scanner;
import javax.swing.JTextArea;
import javax.swing.JScrollPane; 
 
 
public class MortgageCalc1 extends JFrame {  //class definition
    GridBagConstraints gbc = new GridBagConstraints();
    private void set_gbc(int row, int column, int width, int height, int fill, int v, int h) {
                   gbc.gridy = row;
                   gbc.gridx = column;
                   gbc.gridwidth = width;
                   gbc.gridheight = height;
                   gbc.fill = fill;
                   gbc.ipady = v;
                   gbc.ipadx = h;
 
                }
 
    JLabel firstNumLabel = new JLabel("Mortgage Principal:"); //this section establishes variables
    JTextField firstNumField = new JTextField("0");
 
    JLabel resultLabel = new JLabel("Payment Amount:");
    JTextField resultField = new JTextField("0");
 
    JLabel comboOptions = new JLabel("Term Options");
 
    JButton calcButton = new JButton("Calculate Payment");
    JButton closeButton = new JButton("Close");
    JButton resetButton = new JButton("Reset Calculator");
    JButton startOvrButton = new JButton("Start Over");
 
    public int pymtAmt = 0;
    public double intRate = 0;
    public int monMorTerms = 0;
 
    String[] loanTerms;
    JComboBox mortgageTerms;
 
    int i;
 
    JTextArea outputArea = new JTextArea();
    JScrollPane scrollPane = new JScrollPane(outputArea);
 
    JTextArea headingArea = new JTextArea();
    JScrollPane scrollPane2 = new JScrollPane(headingArea);
 
    private final static String newLine = "\n";
 
    String addLine2 = ("Pmt#" + "\t" + "Pmt Amt" + "\t" + "Loan Bal" + "\t" + "Int Paid");
 
 
 
    public MortgageCalc1() throws FileNotFoundException  {  //constructor for the class
        super("Mortgage Calculator"); //this makes a title for the window
        setLocation(500, 200); //this sets the location of the window
        setSize (360,500); //sets the window size
        setResizable(true); //allows user to resize window
        this.setDefaultCloseOperation(DISPOSE_ON_CLOSE); //the window will be disposed of, but program will still be running
        setLayout(new GridBagLayout()); //defines window layout
 
        this.addWindowListener(new WindowAdapter() { /*this allows me to provide an option if the window is closed,
                                                       serves to ensure user wants to close the window*/
            public void windowClosed(WindowEvent e) {
                if (JOptionPane.showConfirmDialog(null, "Are you sure you wish to close the Week 5 Mortgage Calculator?",
                                "Quit", JOptionPane.YES_NO_OPTION) == JOptionPane.YES_OPTION) {
                            System.exit(0);
            }
        }
        });
 
        Scanner scan = new Scanner(new File("/", "loanData.txt")); //provide file name from outside
        int counter = 0; //keep track of how many in the file
        while(scan.hasNextLine()) 
        {
            scan.nextLine();
            counter++;
        }
        Scanner scan2 = new Scanner(new File("/", "loanData.txt")); 
        String[] loanTerms = new String[counter];
        for(int i=0;i<counter;i++)
        {
            loanTerms[i]=scan2.nextLine(); //fill the array
        }
 
        final JComboBox mortgageTerms = new JComboBox(loanTerms);
 
 
 
        set_gbc(0, 0, 1, 1, GridBagConstraints.HORIZONTAL, 10, 10); //establishes contraints for gridbag
        add(firstNumLabel,gbc); //these lines add the elements to the window
        set_gbc(0, 1, 1, 1, GridBagConstraints.HORIZONTAL, 10, 10);
        add(firstNumField,gbc);
        set_gbc(1, 0, 1, 1, GridBagConstraints.HORIZONTAL, 10, 10);
        add(comboOptions,gbc);
        set_gbc(1, 1, 1, 1, GridBagConstraints.HORIZONTAL, 10, 10);
        add(mortgageTerms,gbc);
        set_gbc(2, 0, 1, 1, GridBagConstraints.HORIZONTAL, 10, 10);
        add(resultLabel,gbc);
        set_gbc(2, 1, 1, 1, GridBagConstraints.HORIZONTAL, 10, 10);
        add(resultField,gbc);
        set_gbc(3, 0, 1, 1, GridBagConstraints.HORIZONTAL, 10, 10);
        add(calcButton,gbc);
        set_gbc(3, 1, 1, 1, GridBagConstraints.HORIZONTAL, 10, 10);
        add(closeButton,gbc);
        set_gbc(4, 0, 1, 1, GridBagConstraints.HORIZONTAL, 10, 10);
        add(resetButton,gbc);
        set_gbc(4, 1, 1, 1, GridBagConstraints.HORIZONTAL, 10, 10);
        add(startOvrButton,gbc);
        set_gbc(5,0,2,2, GridBagConstraints.HORIZONTAL, 10, 10);
        add(scrollPane2,gbc);
        set_gbc(7, 0, 2, 2, GridBagConstraints.BOTH, 10, 10);
                gbc.weightx = 5.0;
                gbc.weighty = 5.0;
        add(scrollPane,gbc);
 
        headingArea.append (addLine2 + newLine);
 
        outputArea.setEditable(false);  //text area for amortization table cannot be edited by user
        resultField.setEditable(false); //this indicates the result field can not be edited by the user
 
        mortgageTerms.addActionListener( //listener for combobox
                new ActionListener() {
 
                    public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent evt) {
                        switch (mortgageTerms.getSelectedIndex()) {
                            case 1: monMorTerms = 84; intRate = 5.35 / 100 / 12;     break;
                            case 2: monMorTerms = 120; intRate = 5.0 / 100 / 12;    break;
                            case 3: monMorTerms = 240; intRate = 5.65 / 100 / 12; break;
                            case 4: monMorTerms = 360; intRate = 5.75 / 100 / 12; break; 
                        }
                        }
                    });
 
 
 
 
        closeButton.addActionListener(  //defines what the close button does
                new ActionListener() {
 
                    public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent evt) {
                        if (JOptionPane.showConfirmDialog(null, "Are you sure you wish to close the Week 5 Mortgage Calculator?",
                                "Quit", JOptionPane.YES_NO_OPTION) == JOptionPane.YES_OPTION) {
                            System.exit(0);
                            }
                    }
        });
 
        calcButton.addActionListener( //defines what the calculate button does
                new ActionListener() {
 
                    public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent evt) {
                        String firstNumText = firstNumField.getText();
                        double firstNum = Double.parseDouble(firstNumText);
                        double result = (firstNum * intRate) / (1 - Math.pow(1 + intRate, -monMorTerms));
                        NumberFormat nf = NumberFormat.getCurrencyInstance();
                        resultField.setText("" + nf.format(result));
 
                        int paymentNum = 0; //initializes variables for while loop
                        double princLeft = firstNum;
                        double totalPaid = 0;
                        double intPaid = 0;
                        double princPaid = 0;
 
 
 
 
                        while (princLeft > 0) { //loop to calculate amortization table
                            ++paymentNum;
                            totalPaid = (totalPaid + result);
                            intPaid = (intRate * princLeft);
                            princPaid = (result - intPaid);
                            princLeft = (princLeft - princPaid);
                            String addLine = (paymentNum + "\t" + nf.format(result) + "\t" + nf.format(princLeft) + "\t" + nf.format(intPaid));
                            outputArea.append (addLine + newLine);
                        }
 
 
 
 
 
 
                    }
                });
 
        resetButton.addActionListener(new ActionListener() { //defines what the reset button does
                public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e) {
                        firstNumField.setText("0");
                        resultField.setText("");
                        outputArea.setText("");
 
                }
        });
 
        startOvrButton.addActionListener(  //defines what the start over button does
                new ActionListener() {
 
                    public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent evt) {
                        setVisible(false); //cleans up the calculator windowmakes the selection window visible
                        new MortgageCalculator().setVisible(true); //makes the selection window visible
 
                    }
                });
 
 
 
        setVisible(true); //ensures user can see window created
        }
 
 
}

 
package week5;
 
/*
 *
 * @author Chad McCoy
 */
 
import java.awt.*; //these import everything needed for use in program
import java.text.NumberFormat;
import java.awt.event.ActionEvent;
import java.awt.event.ActionListener;
import javax.swing.*;
import javax.swing.JTextArea;
import javax.swing.JScrollPane;
import java.awt.event.WindowAdapter;
import java.awt.event.WindowEvent;
 
public class MortgageCalc2 extends JFrame {  //class definition
    GridBagConstraints gbc = new GridBagConstraints();
    private void set_gbc(int row, int column, int width, int height, int fill, int v, int h) {
                   gbc.gridy = row;
                   gbc.gridx = column;
                   gbc.gridwidth = width;
                   gbc.gridheight = height;
                   gbc.fill = fill;
                   gbc.ipady = v;
                   gbc.ipadx = h;
 
                }
 
    JLabel firstNumLabel = new JLabel("Mortgage Principal:"); //this section establishes variables
    JTextField firstNumField = new JTextField("0");
 
    JLabel secondNumLabel = new JLabel("Mortgage Terms (in years):");
    JTextField secondNumField = new JTextField("0");
 
    JLabel thirdNumLabel = new JLabel("Annual Percentage Rate (APR)");
    JTextField thirdNumField = new JTextField("0");
 
    JLabel resultLabel = new JLabel("Payment Amount:");
    JTextField resultField = new JTextField("0");
 
    JButton calcButton = new JButton("Calculate Payment");
    JButton closeButton = new JButton("Close");
    JButton resetButton = new JButton("Reset Calculator");
    JButton startOvrButton = new JButton("Start Over");
 
    public int pymtAmt = 0;
    public double intRate = 0;
    public int monMorTerms = 0;
 
    JTextArea outputArea = new JTextArea();
    JScrollPane scrollPane = new JScrollPane(outputArea);
 
    JTextArea headingArea = new JTextArea();
    JScrollPane scrollPane2 = new JScrollPane(headingArea);
 
    private final static String newLine = "\n";
 
    String addLine2 = ("Pmt#" + "\t" + "Pmt Amt" + "\t" + "Loan Bal" + "\t" + "Int Paid");
 
    public MortgageCalc2() {  //constructor for object of this class
        super("Mortgage Calculator"); //this makes a title for the window
        setLocation(500, 200); //this sets the location of the window
        setSize (360,500); //sets the window size
        setResizable(true); //allows user to resize window
        this.setDefaultCloseOperation(DISPOSE_ON_CLOSE); //the window will be disposed of, but program will still be running
        setLayout(new GridBagLayout()); //defines window layout
 
        this.addWindowListener(new WindowAdapter() { /*this allows me to provide an option if the window is closed,
                                                       serves to ensure user wants to close the window*/
            public void windowClosed(WindowEvent e) {
                if (JOptionPane.showConfirmDialog(null, "Are you sure you wish to close the Week 5 Mortgage Calculator?",
                                "Quit", JOptionPane.YES_NO_OPTION) == JOptionPane.YES_OPTION) {
                            System.exit(0);
            }
        }
        });
 
        set_gbc(0, 0, 1, 1, GridBagConstraints.HORIZONTAL, 10, 10); //establishes contraints for gridbag
        add(firstNumLabel,gbc); //these lines add the elements to the window
        set_gbc(0, 1, 1, 1, GridBagConstraints.HORIZONTAL, 10, 10);
        add(firstNumField,gbc);
        set_gbc(1, 0, 1, 1, GridBagConstraints.HORIZONTAL, 10, 10);
        add(secondNumLabel,gbc);
        set_gbc(1, 1, 1, 1, GridBagConstraints.HORIZONTAL, 10, 10);
        add(secondNumField,gbc);
        set_gbc(2, 0, 1, 1, GridBagConstraints.HORIZONTAL, 10, 10);
        add(thirdNumLabel,gbc);
        set_gbc(2, 1, 1, 1, GridBagConstraints.HORIZONTAL, 10, 10);
        add(thirdNumField,gbc);
        set_gbc(3, 0, 1, 1, GridBagConstraints.HORIZONTAL, 10, 10);
        add(resultLabel,gbc);
        set_gbc(3, 1, 1, 1, GridBagConstraints.HORIZONTAL, 10, 10);
        add(resultField,gbc);
        set_gbc(4, 0, 1, 1, GridBagConstraints.HORIZONTAL, 10, 10);
        add(calcButton,gbc);
        set_gbc(4, 1, 1, 1, GridBagConstraints.HORIZONTAL, 10, 10);
        add(closeButton,gbc);
        set_gbc(5, 0, 1, 1, GridBagConstraints.HORIZONTAL, 10, 10);
        add(resetButton,gbc);
        set_gbc(5, 1, 1, 1, GridBagConstraints.HORIZONTAL, 10, 10);
        add(startOvrButton,gbc);
        set_gbc(6,0,2,2, GridBagConstraints.HORIZONTAL, 10, 10);
        add(scrollPane2,gbc);
        set_gbc(8, 0, 2, 2, GridBagConstraints.BOTH, 10, 10);
                gbc.weightx = 5.0;
                gbc.weighty = 5.0;
        add(scrollPane,gbc);
 
        headingArea.append (addLine2 + newLine);
 
        outputArea.setEditable(false);  //text area for amortization table cannot be edited by user
        resultField.setEditable(false); //this indicates the result field can not be edited by the user
 
        closeButton.addActionListener(  //defines what the close button does
                new ActionListener() {
 
                    public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent evt) { 
                        if (JOptionPane.showConfirmDialog(null, "Are you sure you wish to close the Week 5 Mortgage Calculator?",
                                "Quit", JOptionPane.YES_NO_OPTION) == JOptionPane.YES_OPTION) {
                            System.exit(0);
                            }
                    }
        });
 
        calcButton.addActionListener( //defines what the calculate button does
                new ActionListener() {
 
                    public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent evt) {
                        String firstNumText = firstNumField.getText();
                        String secondNumText = secondNumField.getText();
                        String thirdNumText = thirdNumField.getText();
                        double firstNum = Double.parseDouble(firstNumText);
                        double secondNum = Double.parseDouble(secondNumText);
                        double thirdNum = Double.parseDouble(thirdNumText);
                        double intRate = thirdNum / 100 / 12;
                        double monMorTerms = secondNum * 12;
                        double result = (firstNum * intRate) / (1 - Math.pow(1 + intRate, -monMorTerms));
                        NumberFormat nf = NumberFormat.getCurrencyInstance();
                        resultField.setText("" + nf.format(result));
 
                        int paymentNum = 0; //initializes variables for while loop
                        double princLeft = firstNum;
                        double totalPaid = 0;
                        double intPaid = 0;
                        double princPaid = 0;
 
 
 
 
                        while (princLeft > 0) { //loop to calculate amortization table
                            ++paymentNum;
                            totalPaid = (totalPaid + result);
                            intPaid = (intRate * princLeft);
                            princPaid = (result - intPaid);
                            princLeft = (princLeft - princPaid);
                            String addLine = (paymentNum + "\t" + nf.format(result) + "\t" + nf.format(princLeft) + "\t" + nf.format(intPaid));
                            outputArea.append (addLine + newLine);
                        }
 
                    }
                });
 
        resetButton.addActionListener(new ActionListener() { //defines what the reset button does
                public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e) {
                        firstNumField.setText("0");
                        secondNumField.setText("0");
                        thirdNumField.setText("0");
                        resultField.setText("");
                        outputArea.setText("");
                }
                });
 
        startOvrButton.addActionListener(  //defines what the close button does
                new ActionListener() {
 
                    public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent evt) {
                        setVisible(false); //cleans up the calculator windowmakes the selection window visible
                        new MortgageCalculator().setVisible(true); //makes the selection window visible
                    }
                });
 
        setVisible(true); //ensures user can see window created
    }
 
}

 
package week5;
 
import javax.swing.*; //these import everything needed for use in program
import java.awt.*;
import java.awt.event.ActionEvent;
import java.awt.event.ActionListener;
import java.awt.event.WindowAdapter;
import java.awt.event.WindowEvent;
 
/**
 *
 * @author Chad McCoy
 */
public class FnfError extends JFrame { //class definition
 
    GridBagConstraints gbc = new GridBagConstraints();
    private void set_gbc(int row, int column, int width, int height, int fill, int v, int h) {
                   gbc.gridy = row;
                   gbc.gridx = column;
                   gbc.gridwidth = width;
                   gbc.gridheight = height;
                   gbc.fill = fill;
                   gbc.ipady = v;
                   gbc.ipadx = h;
 
                }
 
    JLabel errorMsgLabel = new JLabel("The file was not found, "); //this section establishes variables
    JLabel errorMsg2Label = new JLabel("please select manually");
 
    JButton manualButton = new JButton("Manually");
    JButton closeButton = new JButton("Close");
 
    public FnfError () { //constructor for object of this class
        super("Mortgage Calculator"); //this makes a title for the window
        setLocation(500, 200); //this sets the location of the window
        this.setDefaultCloseOperation(DISPOSE_ON_CLOSE); //the window will be disposed of, but program will still be running
 
 
        setLayout(new GridBagLayout()); //defines window layout
 
        this.addWindowListener(new WindowAdapter() { /*this allows me to provide an option if the window is closed,
                                                       serves to ensure user wants to close the window*/
            public void windowClosed(WindowEvent e) {
                if (JOptionPane.showConfirmDialog(null, "Are you sure you wish to close the Week 5 Mortgage Calculator?",
                                "Quit", JOptionPane.YES_NO_OPTION) == JOptionPane.YES_OPTION) {
                            System.exit(0);
            }
        }
        });
 
        set_gbc(0, 0, 1, 1, GridBagConstraints.HORIZONTAL, 10, 10); //establishes contraints for gridbag
        add(errorMsgLabel,gbc); //these lines add the elements to the window
        set_gbc(0, 1, 1, 1, GridBagConstraints.HORIZONTAL, 10, 10);
        add(errorMsg2Label,gbc);
        set_gbc(1, 0, 1, 1, GridBagConstraints.HORIZONTAL, 10, 10);
        add(closeButton,gbc);
        set_gbc(1, 1, 1, 1, GridBagConstraints.HORIZONTAL, 10, 10);
        add(manualButton,gbc);
 
 
        manualButton.addActionListener(  //defines what the close button does
                new ActionListener() {
 
                    public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent evt) {
                        setVisible(false); //cleans up the calculator windowmakes the selection window visible
                        new MortgageCalc2().setVisible(true); //makes the selection window visible
                    }
                });
 
        closeButton.addActionListener(  //defines what the close button does
                new ActionListener() {
 
                    public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent evt) {
                        if (JOptionPane.showConfirmDialog(null, "Are you sure you wish to close the Week 5 Mortgage Calculator?",
                                "Quit", JOptionPane.YES_NO_OPTION) == JOptionPane.YES_OPTION) {
                            System.exit(0);
                            }
                    }
        });
        pack(); //packs the contents to the frame making the Window just the right size for contents
        setVisible(true); //ensures user can see window created
 
 
    }
}

and the text file is

Select Terms
7 years at 5.35%
10 years at 5%
20 years at 5.65%
30 years at 5.75

I replaced the "/" with "C://Users/Xrrak" and that did the trick. Thanks again.

"C://Users/Xrrak"
try removing the extra /
"C:/Users/Xrrak"

That worked as well. Thinking on it though I guess it is simplest to have it look on the main drive, unless there is a way to tell the program that the text file is in the same place the program is run from, where ever that may be...

the same place the program is run from

Use the File constructor with only the filename

Scanner scan = new Scanner(new File("loanData.txt")); //provide file name from outside
int counter = 0; //keep track of how many in the file
while(scan.hasNextLine())
{
scan.nextLine();
counter++;
}
Scanner scan2 = new Scanner(new File("loanData.txt"));
String[] loanTerms = new String[counter];
for(int i=0;i<counter;i++)
{
loanTerms[i]=scan2.nextLine(); //fill the array
}

I changed to this but I get a FileNotFound error

in the same place the program is run from

How are you running the program? IDE's mess up what you might think about where files are.
Create a File object with the filename you want to use and then print out the File object's absolute path to see where the JVM thinks it should look for the file.

I am using netbeans and I put the file in the src folder for the project with the java files.

I have no idea where the current directory is for a program executing in an IDE.
Did you try this:
Create a File object with the filename you want to use and then print out the File object's absolute path to see where the JVM thinks it should look for the file.