Thread: Completely New to Java/Netbeans

So I'm taking a class requiring the use of Netbeans which I've never touched before. Never had any java programming experience either. My instructor has already said that if you aren't familiar with Java already that this class will be very difficult....

That said I'm NOT looking for someone to do my homework. My problem is that I understand some of the concepts of what's required but not how to code it. The reading ends up meaning nothing to me and I seem to get maybe one fuzzy concept out of an entire chapter of reading. So in other words "help".

My assignment is as follows:
• Create a console program that prompts the user to enter the name and address of their employer and position they hold or the name and address of their favorite restaurant and their favorite meal.
• Display this information on the screen, each on a separate line.
• Run your modified program and take a screenshot of the results.

Here's what I understand from this:
- a scanner would have to be loaded to allow user input and should look something like this:
1 // Fig. 2.7: Addition.java
2 // Addition program that displays the sum of two numbers.
3 import java.util.Scanner; // program uses class Scanner
4
5 public class Addition
6 {
7 // main method begins execution of Java application
8 public static void main( String[] args )

The text I have (Java How to Program: Late Objects Version, Eighth Edition) only seems to point out how to do this with int values. I'm not finding anything that instructs me on how to code when I want to use characters other than numbers (though I think I'm referring to strings, I'm not sure).

I'm fairly confident if I could properly code the scanner that I could manage to get the required inputs (name & address of employer etc...) figured out. I'm also in the dark about how to get the outputs to print to multiple lines but I think I get the general idea of printing (system.out.print ?).


If it sounds horrible I apologize but my brain is fried and I just spent 5 hours listening to live chats that led nowhere and reading a book that might as well be written in Japanese if you're a newbie to Java code.


Any and all help will be greatly appreciated but you're gonna have to dumb it down for me.



Thanks in advance.

Welcome to the forum!

Finish the code you've started, and post it correctly when you've gotten it working. From there we can show you how to ask for a String and send it back to the screen.

Hi Greg,

I appreciate your quick reply but you're assuming that I know how to finish the code . And the answer is ...I don't. Also what do you mean by post it correctly? If I could get the darn thing working I wouldn't be so stressed out right now...lol

I suggest looking here:
Scanner (Java Platform SE 7 )

You are on the right track with system.out.print, there is another method similar to print except it prints on a line and moves the cursor to the next line. As for when you post code you should use make sure it is within code tags.

so it looks like this

EDIT: copeg beat me to it

. . . you're assuming that I know how to finish the code . And the answer is ...I don't.

Oh, I thought you were copying something out of a book labeled Fig. 2.7.

I have "How to Program," 9th Edition, and Fig. 2.7 clearly has the full source code that accepts two integers from the user, adds them, and outputs the results. That's the program I suggested you finish, offering to help you modify it to suit your needs when done. If you're unable to type that program into Netbeans successfully so that it compiles and runs, then I'm not sure what we can do for you.

Hi Greg,

I understand what you're saying now. I didn't think you wanted me to just finish the code straight from the book because it works for integers but not scripts as it is (right?)? I can however finish putting it as is into netbeans and will brush up on how to properly post code. Also wanna check out the link mentioned in the above thread traffic. Sorry for the confusion, I truly appreciate the help and should have the follow up post done soon (first thing in the morning at the latest).


Thanks

--- Update ---

Ok spent some time hunting for other resources and between all of the info here plus the new stuff I found I think I'm close. Here's what I have so far. The only thing that I'm noticing is that I can't figure out how to have the user input all the information first before the application spits it back out. So here's what I have:

 // my pathetic attempt at coding 
import java.util.Scanner;
 
class week1ip{
    public static void main (String args []) {
        Scanner employrestaurant = new Scanner (System.in);
        System.out.println ("Please enter the name of your employer or name and address of your favorite restaurant");
        System.out.println (employrestaurant.nextLine ());
        Scanner positionmeal = new Scanner (System.in);
        System.out.println ("Please enter your job position or the name of your favorite meal");
        System.out.println (positionmeal.nextLine ());
    }
 
}

What I was actually hoping for would have flowed like this:
User is prompted with: Please enter the name of your employer or name and address of your favorite restaurant
User is prompted with: Please enter your job position or the name of your favorite meal
Input information is then output on separate lines.

I've also tried to appropriately post code per the link referred to above (I'm dead tired so please be patient if I didn't get something quite right with that).

Comments, advice and corrections are welcome and appreciated


Thanks

Look how far you've come. Excellent!

You only need one Scanner object that can be used multiple times. This is an early example of the use and usefulness of objects. So give your Scanner object a more generic, multi-purpose name, something like 'input'. If you haven't, you should check out the Scanner API page to see all of the methods you can call on a Scanner object. You don't have to memorize them, but you should have an appreciation for the wide variety of methods available.

As for what your program does versus what you had in mind, that's totally under your control. you might rewrite your code, adding the flow you described at the end of your post, and then fill in with the code from above or new, as needed. Something like:

// the best program I've ever written by myself 
import java.util.Scanner;
 
public class StrongLip
{
    public static void main( String[] args )
    {
    	// create a multi-purpose Scanner object
 
    	// User is prompted with: Please enter the name of your employer
    	// or name and address of your favorite restaurant
 
 
    	// User is prompted with: Please enter your job position 
    	// or the name of your favorite meal
 
 
    	// Input information is then output on separate lines.
 
 
    } // end method main()
 
} // end class StrongLip

Note that Java class names begin with capital letters and while "String args[]" is acceptable, "String[] args" is preferred.

Here's a life lesson, not a Java lesson. A large part of being successful at anything is attitude. If you want to be a failure, tell everyone that you're a failure. Go out of your way to appear helpless and pathetic. Have T-shirts made that say, "I suck," "I am a failure at everything I try," and "I will never learn to program," and it will all come true. People will help you be successful at being a failure, because that's what they think you want. OR, you can project the opposite attitude, not arrogantly or unreasonably, but in a way that projects confidence in yourself and your ability to succeed; always while making your best effort, proud of it, and owning it completely. Perhaps that's what you meant by taking a risk earlier. You decide which approach is better for you, but we're not interested in helping people fail. If that's your choice, take it somewhere else.

Keep coding, and be well.

Thanks for the Java information. Up until now I had assumed that such // text was really just the equivalent of adding notes for the sake of those reading your coding. If I understand correctly you're implying that actual instructional code can be achieved that way...I'll play with it more later.

As for "String args []" vs. "String[] args" is there any specific reason that the latter is preferred?

As for your life lesson, I'm going to assume that my "// my pathetic attempt at coding" line is what caused your mini-rant. The reality is that while I do take some things very seriously, I've never been someone that was unable to poke fun at myself. While you may not agree with my personality, sense of humor, or (highly developed) sense of sarcasm there is something you should realize before venturing into life lessons on my behalf: your significance to me begins and ends with Java. That said, I'll admit that my first reaction was to sink to a much lower level then what I've just displayed. I had a passing thought of coming back here and writing out important bits of my history, what I've achieved, who I've helped, things I've done for myself, my family, my country etc... Then a very simple reality kicked in, even if all that irrelevant information about myself somehow swayed your view, what would it matter? I don't want your respect. I don't care what you (or most people besides my wife and a few very close friends and family members) think of me. Your endorsement or rejection of my projected attitude is not a prerequisite for anything that matters to me, nor does it remotely come close to gauging my successes or failures in life.

Now I understand that I'll probably get booted from the forum for back-talking a moderator, but with admittedly luke-warm intentions I'll try to present a slightly different view. My life lesson for you ( I mean since we're apparently slinging such stuff around willy-nilly): Never assume that the knowledge and experiences you've accumulated about life qualify you to teach anyone on the subject. While nothing you said in your life lesson is technically wrong (at least in my opinion) all you accomplished (again just my opinion) was to make yourself seem passive-aggressive, overbearing, and preachy (not sure if that's really a word but you get the drift). On the topic of life the wisest people I've ever known were the first ones to admit that ultimately they don't know jack-sh...

(wrapping this up soon...I promise) Now you spoke in plural toward the end of the lesson. I'm going to assume that you (perhaps rightly) feel that you speak for the large (if not total) portion of your members here. If that's true then you're correct in at least one regard - I could never fit into a group that would so smugly respond to an earnest request for help, even if it was framed in (admittedly bad) humor. Seems like even if I'm not banned for life all I'd accomplish here is either drawing ridicule or more blessed "oil & water" interactions with you. So perhaps you're right that I should be taking it somewhere else, just flawed in your reasoning as to why.

Hugs and kisses on a very special Post-Valentine's Day....here endeth the lesson.

// comments can be used for anything you'd like
Those in my example are too wordy and probably wouldn't make the final version of the program, but they're fine to document your ideas on how the program should flow, what goes where, etc.

Array notation preference, found here:

You can also place the brackets after the array's name:

// this form is discouraged
float anArrayOfFloats[];

However, convention discourages this form; the brackets identify the array type and should appear with the type designation.

Though not stated specifically, I believe the preferred notation is considered more clear, associating the type with the array.

And I should have added: Use Fig 2.7 in your book as an example of how to use the Scanner object tot assign the results to variables which will change.

Advice and opinions, anything said by anyone, especially by people you barely know, can be rejected or accepted anyway you choose. I think kisses and hugs at this point are a bit much.