Thread: Illegal Start of Expression // Creating, Compiling, and Executing Runtime Project

What's up forum,

I've been extending my little project for some time now. So far what I'm trying to have this program create an empty .java file, then proceeding to compile and execute it. I'm aware it is still not complete. I haven't added the overwrite empty .java part of the code.

import java.io.*;
 
public class Mercury {
 
    public static void main(String[] args) {
 
	    Vector <String> ubicac = new Vector <String>(0, 1);
	    Vector <String> nombre = new Vector <String>(0, 1);
	    Vector <String> direct = new Vector <String>(0, 1);
 
	// SIMULADOR LOGIC
 
	    ubicac.addElement("C:\\Users\\Andrew\\Desktop//");
	    nombre.addElement("Test.java");
	    direct.addElement(ubicac.elementAt(ubicac.size()-1)+nombre.elementAt(nombre.size()-1));
 
	// CREATOR
 
		createFile(direct.elementAt(direct.size()-1));
 
		public static void createFile(String S){
            File file = new File(S);
            boolean blnCreated = false;
		    try {  blnCreated = file.createNewFile(); }
            catch(IOException ioe) { System.out.println("Error while creating a new empty file :" + ioe); }
            System.out.println("Was file " + file.getPath() + " created ? : " + blnCreated);
        }
 
    // COMPILER & EXECUTER - [!] REVISION NECESARIA: Recibir Param String que coincida con Vector PLACE.elementAt(i) (decidido por LOGIC)
 
        try { runProcess("javac " + nombre.elementAt(nombre.size()-1));
              runProcess("java Test");
        } catch (Exception e) { e.printStackTrace(); }
 
        public static void printLines(String name, InputStream ins) throws Exception {
            String line = null;
            BufferedReader in = new BufferedReader( new InputStreamReader(ins) );
            while ((line = in.readLine()) != null) { 
                System.out.println(name + " " + line);
            }
        }
 
        private static void runProcess(String command) throws Exception { //
        Process pro = Runtime.getRuntime().exec(command);
        printLines(command + " stdout:", pro.getInputStream());
        printLines(command + " stderr:", pro.getErrorStream());
        pro.waitFor();
        System.out.println(command + " exitValue() " + pro.exitValue());
        }
 
    }
 
}

So far I'm trying to compile my code, and unfortunately its giving a basic problem apparently.
Shame on me really. I can't figure this one out.
I am creative just that I'm more of the empirical type learner.

C:\Users\Andrew\Desktop>javac Mercury.java
Mercury.java:21: error: illegal start of expression
public static void createFile(String S){

I'm using Notepad++ w/cmd prompt.

There we go. Thank you. I keep forgetting constructor is also a method.

--- Update ---

import java.io.*;
 
public class Mercury {
 
    public static void createFile(String S){
        File file = new File(S);
        boolean blnCreated = false;
        try {  blnCreated = file.createNewFile(); }
        catch(IOException ioe) { System.out.println("Error while creating a new empty file :" + ioe); }
        System.out.println("Was file " + file.getPath() + " created ? : " + blnCreated);
    }
 
    public static void printLines(String name, InputStream ins) throws Exception {
        String line = null;
        BufferedReader in = new BufferedReader( new InputStreamReader(ins) );
        while ((line = in.readLine()) != null) { 
            System.out.println(name + " " + line);
        }
    }
 
    private static void runProcess(String command) throws Exception { //
        Process pro = Runtime.getRuntime().exec(command);
        printLines(command + " stdout:", pro.getInputStream());
        printLines(command + " stderr:", pro.getErrorStream());
        pro.waitFor();
        System.out.println(command + " exitValue() " + pro.exitValue());
    }
 
    // Some variables declared to test my code:
 
	Vector <String> ubicac = new Vector <String>(0, 1);
    Vector <String> nombre = new Vector <String>(0, 1);
    Vector <String> direct = new Vector <String>(0, 1);
 
    ubicac.addElement("C:\\Users\\Andrew\\Desktop//");
    nombre.addElement("Test.java");
    direct.addElement(ubicac.elementAt(ubicac.size()-1)+nombre.elementAt(nombre.size()-1));
 
    // Applying my Methods:
    public static void main(String[] args) {    
 
	createFile(direct.elementAt(direct.size()-1));
 
        try { runProcess("javac " + nombre.elementAt(nombre.size()-1));
              runProcess("java Test");
        } catch (Exception e) { e.printStackTrace(); }
 
    }
 
}

At least I'm getting a different type of error now. By the way, how can I get the the data I place in the " # " color coded like your post?

Mercury.java:35: error: <identifier> expected
ubicac.addElement("C:\\Users\\Andrew\\Desktop//");
^
Mercury.java:35: error: illegal start of type
ubicac.addElement("C:\\Users\\Andrew\\Desktop//");
^
Mercury.java:36: error: <identifier> expected
nombre.addElement("Test.java");
^
Mercury.java:36: error: illegal start of type

nombre.addElement("Test.java");

God. I am a noob. Thank you again. I get it now.

--- Update ---

God. I am a noob. Thank you again. I get it now.

import java.io.*;
import java.util.*;
 
public class Mercury {
 
    public static void createFile(String S){
        File file = new File(S);
        boolean blnCreated = false;
        try {  blnCreated = file.createNewFile(); }
        catch(IOException ioe) { System.out.println("Error while creating a new empty file :" + ioe); }
        System.out.println("Was file " + file.getPath() + " created ? : " + blnCreated);
    }
 
    public static void printLines(String name, InputStream ins) throws Exception {
        String line = null;
        BufferedReader in = new BufferedReader( new InputStreamReader(ins) );
        while ((line = in.readLine()) != null) { 
            System.out.println(name + " " + line);
        }
    }
 
    private static void runProcess(String command) throws Exception { //
        Process pro = Runtime.getRuntime().exec(command);
        printLines(command + " stdout:", pro.getInputStream());
        printLines(command + " stderr:", pro.getErrorStream());
        pro.waitFor();
        System.out.println(command + " exitValue() " + pro.exitValue());
    }
 
    public static void main(String[] args) {    
 
	    Vector <String> ubicac = new Vector <String>(0, 1);
        Vector <String> nombre = new Vector <String>(0, 1);
        Vector <String> direct = new Vector <String>(0, 1);
 
        ubicac.addElement("C:\\Users\\Andrew\\Desktop//");
        nombre.addElement("Test.java");
        direct.addElement(ubicac.elementAt(ubicac.size()-1)+nombre.elementAt(nombre.size()-1));
 
		createFile(direct.elementAt(direct.size()-1));
 
        try { runProcess("javac " + nombre.elementAt(nombre.size()-1));
              runProcess("java Test");
        } catch (Exception e) { e.printStackTrace(); }
 
    }
 
}

So the program is compiling, and executing. Although it could not compile "Test.java" since there is no java code in it. Next step is to investigate how to overwrite a .java file.

--- Update ---

I've modified part of the code to at least be able to write something in it.

    .
    .
    .
    public static void createFile(String S){
        File file = new File(S);
        boolean blnCreated = false;
        try {  blnCreated = file.createNewFile(); }
        catch(IOException ioe) { System.out.println("Error while creating a new empty file :" + ioe); }
        System.out.println("Was file " + file.getPath() + " created ? : " + blnCreated);
 
	FileWriter writer = new FileWriter(file);
        writer.write("This\n is\n an\n example\n"); 
        writer.flush();
        writer.close();
    }
    .
    .
    .

I had to place the FileWriter whithin the same method otherwise Java was not able to recognize object file "file" in a different method. I'm okay with that since it would be best to create and write the String(java code) in one go before compiling. But I'd like to be able to modify or overwrite a .java file at any given time. How can I reference an object from a different method to another. Is there a way of doing this?

Most importantly I'm getting this error prompt from the cmd when I try to compile it:

C:\Users\Andrew\Desktop>javac Mercury.java
Mercury.java:13: error: unreported exception IOException; must be caught or decl
ared to be thrown
FileWriter writer = new FileWriter(file);
^

Like I said, I am empirical type Just trying to do stuff I just haven't seen yet. So I'd appreciate if you could help me or reference me to somewhere so I can learn about the IOException.

I'll be taking a look at this tommorow :I I still have a job to report to.

Thanks for all the help you've given me. I feel I'm finally making progress.