Thread: this is easy for those who know java!!

What do you do with the Strings that are created in the loop? If you put the created Float values into a Vector, where do you save the Strings? Can you put the Strings into another Vector at the same time so the corresponding Strings and Float values are at the same relative locations in their Vectors and you can use the same index value to get each from its Vector.

If you have two parallel Vectors:String and Float. If you get the index of a value in one Vector, the same index used in the other Vector will get the corresponding value.
Think of writing in two columns on a piece of paper. If you find a desired value on a row in one column, its corresponding value will be on the same row in the other column.

ok i know you are right but it didnt work for me,and i think i know why.
when i declare the Item inside the loop it shows me a warning(local variable hides a field!)..is this the problem?

for (int j = 0; j < energySource.size(); j++) {
                    Item sourceItem = (Item) energySource.elementAt(j);
                    if (supply.description.isACover(sourceItem.description)) {
                        if (reasoner.checkCompatibility(supply.description, sourceItem.description)) {
 
                            int RPOT = reasoner.rankPotential(supply.description, sourceItem.description);
                            rSRC = alfaSRC * RPOT;
                        } else {
                            SemanticDescription[] contract = reasoner.contraction(sourceItem.description, supply.description);
                            int RPOT = reasoner.rankPotential(contract[1], sourceItem.description);
                            int RPAR = reasoner.rankPartial(contract[0], sourceItem.description);
                            rSRC = alfaSRC * RPOT + betaSRC * RPAR;
                        }
 
                        rTOT1 = (alfaTOT * rSRC + betaTOT * rSRC) / depthSrc;                          //the float number for ranking
                        totVector.add(rTOT1);
 
 
 
                        if (rTOT1 < minScore) {
                            minScore = rTOT1;
                            bestFunct = supply;
                            bestIndex = j;
                        }
 
                        System.out.println(supply.name + " + " + sourceItem.name + "    >>>rTOT1 " + rTOT1);
 
                    } else {
                        candidati.removeElementAt(j);
                        j--;
                    }
 
 
                }
 
                //rTOT1min=>minValue of totVector
                Object rTOT1min = Collections.min(totVector);
                Float bestRank = (float) rTOT1min;  
                System.out.println("  Best Rank : " + bestRank + " Source chosen : " + sourceItem.name);

**the sourceItem is supposed to be a global variable

what variable is hiding what field?

it didnt work for me,

Do you keep the Vectors in parallel? How do you search the Vector?

If you add elements to the Vectors at the same time, one to each and do not change one without changing the other then it should work.
Can you explain what the problem is?

Partial code is no use in solving the compiler problem.

I just saw that you added a comment on the first post.
Was that the hidden variable?
Why not use a different name for the new, local variable so the class variable is not hidden?

It could.
What would the keys and values be?