Thread: Controller for date class

Does anyone know how to write a controller class? I've been asked to write one for my date class to make sure that it works ok:

public class Date


// private variables
{

private int day;
private int month;
private int year;

// constructors

public Date ()
{
day = 0;
month = 0;
year = 0;
}

public Date (int dd,int mm,int yyyy)
{
day = dd;
month = mm;
year = yyyy;
}

public Date (Date other)
{
day = other.day;
month = other.month;
year = other.year;
}

// accessors

public int getDay()
{
return day;
}

public int getMonth()
{
return month;
}

public int getYear()
{
return year;
}

public String monthAsString()
{
switch (month)
{
case 1 : return "January";
case 2 : return "February";
case 3 : return "March";
case 4 : return "April";
case 5 : return "May";
case 6 : return "June";
case 7 : return "July";
case 8 : return "August";
case 9 : return "September";
case 10 : return "October";
case 11 : return "November";
case 12: return "December";
default : return "error - this month does not exist";
}
}

public boolean equals(Date other)
{
if (year == other.year && month == other.month && day == other.day)
return true;
else return false;
}

public boolean earlierThan(Date other)
{
if (year < other.year)
return true;
else if (year == other.year)

{
if (month < other.month)
return true;
else if (month == other.month)

{
if (day < other.day)
return true;
else return false;
}
else return false;
}
else return false;
}

public String toString()
{
return day + " " + monthAsString() + " " + year;
}

public void copy (Date other)
{
day = other.day;
month = other.month;
year = other.year;
}
}

Originally Posted by Ecosse

Does anyone know how to write a controller class? I've been asked to write one for my date class to make sure that it works ok:...

To test the Date class, make another class in another file. Maybe you want to call your "controller" class TestDate.

If you are compiling from a command line, then create a file named TestDate.java in the same directory as your Date.java.

If you are using some kind of Integrated Development Environment, create the new file and add it to your project in the "normal" way.

Anyhow, TestDate.java can start out looking something like this:

public class TestDate {
    public static void main(String [] args) {
        // A constructor for 2 November, 2012
        Date date1 = new Date(2, 11, 2012);
        // Now do stuff with the date1 object
        System.out.println("The first date is in the month of " + date1.monthAsString());
        // Do more stuff with date1 (show month, day, year)
 
        Date date2 = new Date( /* some other day, month, year */);
        // Now do stuff with date1 and date2
        // Maybe use the Date method that checks to
        // see whether they are equal.
        // Maybe use the Date method that checks to
        // see whether date1 is earlier than date2
        //
        // Etc.
        //
        // Write code that verifies correct functionality
        // of each and every one of the Date methods
        // and constructors.
    }
}

Cheers!

Z

Thank you. You're a lifesaver!

Also, how would I code it so that it asks me for the day, then the month and then the year and the output is the full date??

Originally Posted by Ecosse

... how would I code it so that it asks me...

There are a few examples in the Java Documentation for the Scanner Class

The drill can go something like this:

• Create a Scanner object with System.in as the parameter.
  
  
• Prompt the user, maybe with with System.out.print("Prompt for whatever: ");
  
  
• Use the Scanner nextInt() method for as many integer variable values you want to read.

After reading day, month, year from the user (using three nextInt() calls), use these variables as the arguments to create a Date object. Then use that object's getDay() getMonth(), getYear() methods to retrieve the integer values and print them out.

Or some such thing.


Cheers!

Z