!=null

**ss7** · October 28th, 2009, 01:46 PM

Hi

I would appreciate it if someone could help me with this. This is my first java assignment so I may be asking a very basic question here...

basically I need to implement a constructor for class Person, which is fine. The following is taken from the assignment specification:

"[COLOR="Navy"]Person (String nme, char sex, Date dob)
// post instance variables initialised with params
// address !=null; natInsceNo= !=null; counter incremented[/COLOR]"
 
for this constructor this is what I have done so far:
 
  public Person (String nme, char sex, Date dob)
  {
    name=nme;
    gender=Character.toString(sex);
    dateOfBirth=dob;
    address= " ";
    natInsceNo=" ";
    phoneNo=" ";
    counter++;
  }

however, I have not done anything to ensure that the required fields do not have a null value, as per the spec. Could you please advise me how to implement this to ensure complete compliance with the specification.

Thank you

**JavaPF** · October 28th, 2009, 02:53 PM

Hello ss7.

You can use an 'if' statement to check if the value is null.

The if-then and if-then-else Statements (The Java™ Tutorials > Learning the Java Language > Language Basics)

!= is a clue. Meaning doesn't equal. Are natInsceNo and address String variables?

**ss7** · October 28th, 2009, 03:03 PM

Yes they are both strings.

**helloworld922** · October 28th, 2009, 03:33 PM

What do you want to program to do if the inputs are null?

**ss7** · October 28th, 2009, 03:38 PM

I have used if-then-else so I am somewhat familiar with this. My concern with regards to this is that I can understand how a statement of this sort would establish if a value has been entered and then proceed further in accordance to wether this is true or false. However, my understanding from the specification is that a value MUST be entered and a null value not accepted.

Also can you explain to me what exactly it means by, "instance variables initialised with params". My understanding of this is that an initial value needs to be assigned. Is that correct? But then i do think, what initial value could be assigned for address or insurance number... Could you please help me clear my understanding of this.

**ss7** · October 28th, 2009, 03:40 PM

Originally Posted by helloworld922

What do you want to program to do if the inputs are null?

Well, my understanding from the spec, is that a null value should not be allowed...

**helloworld922** · October 28th, 2009, 06:32 PM

Yes, I know, but what mechanism will you have in place to ensure null isn't allowed? throw an exception? set it to an empty string?

**ss7** · October 29th, 2009, 06:46 AM

i was thinking that the system should not let you continue further until these essential details have been entered.

**JavaPF** · October 29th, 2009, 11:28 AM

How about something like this?

public class Person {
 
	/**
	 * JavaProgrammingForums.com
	 */
 
	static String name, gender, address, natInsceNo, phoneNo;
	int counter = 0;
	long dateOfBirth;
 
	  public Person (String nme, char sex, long dob)
	  {
	    name=nme;
	    gender=Character.toString(sex);
	    dateOfBirth=dob;
 
 
	    if(address !=null){
	    	System.out.println(address);
	    }
	    else{
	    	System.out.println("You must enter an address");
	    }
 
	    if(natInsceNo !=null){
	    	System.out.println(natInsceNo);
	    }
	    else{
	    	System.out.println("You must enter natInsceNo");
	    }
 
	    phoneNo=" ";
	    counter++;
	  }
 
 
	public static void main(String[] args) {
 
		//address = "10 Java Road";
		//natInsceNo = "420";
 
		address = null;
		natInsceNo = null;
 
		Person p = new Person("Ash", '1', 110984);
 
	}
 
}

**ss7** · October 29th, 2009, 02:00 PM

Thank you. I will give that a try and let you know how it goes.

Thank you again.

**helloworld922** · October 29th, 2009, 09:19 PM

There's only one problem with that code: that doesn't actually block the user from creating the object with null parameters, it just tells the user that they have done so. The easiest way is to throw an exception. This interrupts the normal program flow, and can force the programmer to use the object properly or not at all.

if (address == null || natInsceNo == null)
{
      throw new RuntimeException("Error! Parameters for this object cannot be null!");
}

**ss7** · October 31st, 2009, 02:48 PM

thank you very much for your help. That worked. Will just confirm with my lecturer that this does comply with the specification requirements as the specification does not detail the expected output in the event of !=null not being complied with.

Many thanks again.

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