Thread: need help fast

Need help figure out a way using for loops or while loops to convert a string into astericks or question marks except not the white spaces.

Example:

I am going to sleep ==> * ** ***** ** *****

then as the person guesses a letter and if they get it correct it gets added to the phrase

Example:
Guess a letter: g \\ user inputs g

Output ==> * ** g***g ** *****

need fast help please!

import java.util.Scanner;
public class Exam01 {

/**
* @param args
*/
public static void main(String[] args) {
// TODO Auto-generated method stub
Scanner stdIN = new Scanner(System.in);
String secret;
System.out.print("Enter The Secret Message: ");
secret = stdIN.nextLine();
for(String guess = ""; guess.length() < secret.length(); guess += '?')
{
System.out.print(guess);
}


}

}

this is where I'm at so far, but the output is way too many ?'s

yea idk if i'm just overlooking this problem, but my entire class seems to be having trouble with this "simple" task. I can't get the secret phrase to be displayed as a hidden message with ?'s. not only that I have no idea how to not print the spaces as question marks but as actual spaces. I'm getting frustrated and its not helping the situation lol.


Sample run(s):
Please enter the phrase to guess at : who do you love



Common Phrase
-------------
??? ?? ??? ????


Enter a lowercase letter guess : f



Common Phrase
-------------
??? ?? ??? ????


Enter a lowercase letter guess : o



Common Phrase
-------------
??o ?o ?o? ?o??


Enter a lowercase letter guess : s



Common Phrase
-------------
??o ?o ?o? ?o??


Enter a lowercase letter guess : w



Common Phrase
-------------
w?o ?o ?o? ?o??


Enter a lowercase letter guess : h



Common Phrase
-------------
who ?o ?o? ?o??


Enter a lowercase letter guess : d



Common Phrase
-------------
who do ?o? ?o??


Enter a lowercase letter guess : e



Common Phrase
-------------
who do ?o? ?o?e


Enter a lowercase letter guess : y



Common Phrase
-------------
who do yo? ?o?e


Enter a lowercase letter guess : u



Common Phrase
-------------
who do you ?o?e


Enter a lowercase letter guess : l



Common Phrase
-------------
who do you lo?e


Enter a lowercase letter guess : v



Common Phrase
-------------
who do you love

well I got it to print the correct number of characters by printing "?" instead of guess. but "?" is taking place of spaces, i tried to do an if statement where as if the charAt(i) wasn't between 'a' - 'z' then to do nothing, but it says i cant use the < operator to compare strings =_= . I'm too noob atm.

well i guess i'll just take a zero because i have absolutely no idea.