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Thread: Using a mutator method to set data to an array element

  1. #1
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    Default Using a mutator method to set data to an array element

    Hey guys, the problem I'm having is I want to use a mutator method to set data for an array element. The code I have so far is:

    public void addProduct(String productName)
    	    //Goes through and sets the name of a product and assigns it to the array
    	    {   
    	    	int index;
    	    	for (index = 0; index < product.length(); index++)
    	    	{	    		
    	            product[index].setName(productName);
    	            numberOfProducts++;
    	        }	
    	    }

    The array was initialised like this:

    Product[] product = new Product[3];

    And the setName(String) method is just your typical mutator method.

    However, in Eclipse, I have an error messages. It is:

    "-The method setName(String[]) is undefined for the type String"

    Does anyone have any advice on what the problem is and how I could solve it? Unfortunately, arrays are something that I still haven't quite got my head around.


  2. #2
    Super Moderator Norm's Avatar
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    Default Re: Using a mutator method to set data to an array element

    The method setName(String[]) is undefined for the type String
    Read the API doc to see what methods are in the String class. You can't make them up.

    What are you trying to do? Copy the full text of the error message and post it. The message should include the source line with the error.
    If you don't understand my answer, don't ignore it, ask a question.

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    Default Re: Using a mutator method to set data to an array element

    I'm trying to use the mutator method setName(String) to set the values of each element of an array. So the first string entered by the user would be assigned to product[0] and so on. On an earlier assignment we weren't allowed to use arrays and so it was simple. All I had to do was something like:
    if (numberOfProducts == 0)
            {
                product1.setName(product);
                numberOfProducts++;
            }//etc until all the product objects have had a name assigned

    And that is the entire error message. After I wrote the line ( product[index].setName(productName); ), a little error icon appears next to the line(at least in Eclipse) and when I hover my mouse over the icon, that warning is all that it says. I'm not trying to be ambiguous, so I'm sorry if it comes off that way.

  4. #4
    Super Moderator Norm's Avatar
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    Default Re: Using a mutator method to set data to an array element

    I don't understand why that statement gives that error.
    The variable: product is an array of Product not an array of String.

    I can't see the screen of your IDE to see what it is saying. The javac compiler gives good error messages that can be copy and pasted here.

    The message should show the source with a ^ under the location of the error.
    Here is a sample from the javac compiler:
    TestSorts.java:138: cannot find symbol
    symbol  : variable var
    location: class TestSorts
             var = 2;
             ^

    method setName(String[])
    The error shows a String array being passed in the setName() method. Where is the code that passes an array to setName()?

    Are you confusing what program you are working on? This statement:
                product1.setName(product);
    would give the error message you have posted if
    product1 is a String
    and product is an array of String.
    If you don't understand my answer, don't ignore it, ask a question.

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