Thread: Help with code

K, I'm basically brand new to java and have to do an assignment way beyond anything I've learned.

this is what im trying to accomplish:

Specification





So right now I'm trying to work on creating a class "Student" that has all those fields and methods. Then somehow once I have all that I've got to figure out how to get that into an array that can make more students with that information and stuff etc. I'm confused and barely know how to make an array. =S
It would be helpful if someone told me how to call an array without a pre-set amount of items in the list.

Anyway this is what I have so far:

For my menu:

 
package ArrayList;
 
import java.util.Scanner;
 
public class Menu {
 
	public static void main( String[] args )
	{
	System.out.println("Welcome!");
 
Scanner input = new Scanner (System.in);
 
	int UR; //user Response 1
	System.out.println("Please type the number of the task you would like to perform.");
	System.out.println("1. Add a student");
	System.out.println("2. Find a student");
	System.out.println("3. Delete a student");
	System.out.println("4. Display all students");
	System.out.println("5. Display the total number of students");
	System.out.println("6. Exit");
 
	UR = input.nextInt();
 
	if (UR == 1){
		Student sDisplay = new Student();
 
		sDisplay.Display(); 
	}
 
 
}
}

For my Student:

 
 
package ArrayList;
 
public class Student {
 
	String fName;
	String lName;
	int sNumber;
	String Major;
	Double GPA;
	static int Count;
 
	public void fName() {
 
		fName = "Sarah";
 
	}
 
	public void lName() {
 
		lName = "Somethin";
 
	}
 
	public void sNumber() {
 
		sNumber = 1;
 
	}
 
	public void Major() {
 
		Major = "Computer Science";
	}
 
	public void GPA() {
		GPA = 4.0;
	}
 
	public static void Count() {
		Count = 0;
	}
 
	public void Display() {
 
 
		Student firstName = new Student();
		firstName.fName();
 
		System.out.printf("The name is: %d\n", GPA);
 
		System.out.print(fName);
	}
 
}

__________________________________________________ ______________________
When I ran my program what I expected to get was this:
The name is: 4.0
Sarah

But when I run it with user input 1
I get:
1
The name is: null
null

Yes, what im trying to accomplish there doesn't relate to assignment specifically but how am I suppose to get it to work? and why isn't the name being assigned to the String or the int receiving its number? (I'm assuming its cause its only running through part of the program. or that particular class. which is why I tried to make Display call fName and run it so its assigned. But it didn't work and I'm obviously confused.) =S
Basically I need as much help as I can get with this, especially with the arrays. So thanks in advance.

Ok here's the deal. If this really is your first introduction to Java and your tutor has given you this, then in my opinion he's a complete a*se.
Reason for you getting null was that you were creating a new object from your object, so it was returning empty, appart from "The name is: null" where you were initialising fName, but printing GPA.
Now, I will give you the majority of the Student class out of pity .

public class Student {
 
    private String fName;
    private String lName;
    private int sNumber;
    private String major;
    private double gpa;
    static int count;
 
    public Student(String fName, String lName, int sNumber, String major, double gpa) {
        this.fName = fName;
        this.lName = lName;
        this.sNumber = sNumber;
        this.major = major;
        this.gpa = gpa;
 
        count++;//increment when object is created
    }
 
    //setter methods
    public void setForeName(String name) {
        fName = name;
    }
 
    public void setLastName(String lastName) {
        lName = lastName;
    }
 
    public void setStudentNumber(int sNo) {
        sNumber = sNo;
    }
 
    public void setMajor(String maj) {
        major = maj;
    }
 
    public void setGPA(double val) {
        gpa = val;
    }
 
    //getter methods - use to return values
    public String getForeName() {
        return fName;
    }
 
    public String getLastName() {
        return lName;
    }
 
    public int getStudentNumber() {
        return sNumber;
    }
 
    public String getMajor() {
        return major;
    }
 
    public double getGPA() {
        return gpa;
    }
 
    public static int getCount() {
        return count;
    }
 
    @Override
    public String toString() {
        return String.format("First name is: %s, Last name is: %s, Student "
                + "Number is: %d, Major is: %s, GPA is: %.2f", fName, lName, sNumber, major, gpa);
    } //called automatically when you attempt to print an object - System.out.println(myObject);
}

Now from that, attempt to get your program running. Forget about Array Lists for a second, and just figure out how to get Menu working.

Anything you're uncertain about, ask away.. but If you could go away and try complete Menu for a while now.. come back when you're stuck.
Good luck.

Yeah, Ok firstly start removing all code within your IF statements, its basically all wrong
You've already defined those methods in Student, no need to do them again.

Student newStudent = new Student("myFirstName","mySurname", 123, "my major, 1.2);

That line will create a brand new student for you.
so when you call
newStudent.getForeName() and print it out like this..
System.out.println(newStudent.getForeName()); it will return "myFirstName"

if you printout the object like this;
System.out.println(newStudent);
It will print the all the information in the format specified in the toString() method of Student.
-Note: toString() method is called automatically when you try printing the whole object like above.

Hope that helps, ask if you need more info.

You have a class called Menu.

Hmmmmm...unless Student is an inner class, which it could be I suppose, it probably should be in another .java file.

If you make it an inner class, then you have to have

 
public class Menu
{
 
private ArrayList<Student> studentList;
 
private class Student
{
// in addition to your constructor for the Student class.
 
// You need a Student constructor and a few variables in your Student class
private String firstName;
private String surName;
private int something;
private String majork
private double GPAPerhaps;
public Student(String firstName, String surName, int something, String major, double GPAPerhaps)
{
this.firstName = firstName;
setFirstName(firstName);
this.surName = surName;
setSurName(surName);
this.something = something;
setSomething(something); // I don't know what the 123 stands for so I'm calling it "Something" for now.
this.major = major;
setMajor(major);
this.GPAPerhaps = GPAPerhaps;
setGPA(GPAPerhaps);
}
 
public void setFirstName(String firstName)
{
this.firstName = firstName;
}
 
public String getFirstName()
{
return firstName;
}
 
public void setSurName(String surName)
{
this.surName = surName;
}
 
public String getSurName()
{
return surName;
}
 
public String getName()
{
return (getFirstName() + " " + getSurName());
}
 
public void setSomething(int something)
{
this.something = something;
}
 
public int getSomething()
{
return something;
}
 
public void setGPA(double GPAPerhaps)
{
this.GPAPerhaps = GPAPerhaps;
}
 
public doulbe getGPA()
{
return GPAPerhaps;
}
 
public void setMajor(String major)
{
this.major = major;
}
 
public String getMajor()
{
return major;
}
 
public String toString()
{
String str = "Student Name is: " + getName() + ". Student something is: " + getSomething() + ".  Student major is: " + getMajor() + ".  Student GPA is: " + getGPA() + ".";
return str;
}
 
}
 
public Menu()
{
studentList = new ArrayList<Student>();
}
 
 
public String getAllStudents()
{
return (studentList.toString());
}
 
public int getNumberOfStudent()
{
return(studentList.size());
}
 
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        System.out.println("Welcome!");
 
        Scanner input = new Scanner(System.in);
 
        int UR; // user Response 1
        System.out.println("Please type the number of the task you would like to perform.");
        System.out.println("1. Add a student");
        System.out.println("2. Find a student");
        System.out.println("3. Delete a student");
        System.out.println("4. Display all students");
        System.out.println("5. Display the total number of students");
        System.out.println("6. Exit");
 
        UR = input.nextInt();
 
        if (UR == 1) {
System.out.println("Enter a fName");
 
String fName = input.nextLine();
System.out.println("Enter a last name");
String lName = input.nextLine();
 
System.out.println("Enter a something");
 
int something2 = input.nextInt();
 
System.out.println("Enter a major");
 
String major = input.nextLine();
 
System.out.println("Enter a G.P.A.");
 
double GPA = input.nextDouble();
 
Student temp = new Student(fName, lName, something2, major, GPA);
 
studentList.add(temp);
 
// not sure how you want to deal with finding the Student.  What to display.
// Use the get(int index) method of the ArrayList class by calling studentList.get(index)
 
 
           }
           else if (UR == 3)
{
System.out.println("Enter the position of the student to remove.")
 
int position = input.nextInt();
 
if (position < 0 || position >= studentList.size())
{
System.out.println("Impossible");
}
 
else
{
studentList.remove(position);
}
 
 
}
 
 
 
   else     if (UR == 4)    {
 
           System.out.println(getAllStudents());
        }
 
else if (UR == 5)
{
System.out.println(getNumberOfStudents());
}
 
}
}
}

Penguin, he already has the setters and getters in another class, so the added code was not needed.
-Hallowed, reason you couldn't get 5 to work was because you were redeclaring the input scanner before each option, which is not necessary, only do it the once up top.
Creating a Student object does not add it into an ArrayList, you will need to do that yourself later.

The following could be used to create a new Student object.
So when user selects one.. do this:

        System.out.println("Enter Firstname:> ");
        String forename = "";
        while (forename.isEmpty()) {
            forename = input.nextLine();
        }
 
        System.out.println("Enter Surname:> ");
        String surname = "";
        while (surname.isEmpty()) {
            surname = input.nextLine();
        }
 
        System.out.println("Enter Student Number:> ");
        int studNo = -1;
        while (studNo < 0) {
            studNo = input.nextInt();
        }
 
        System.out.println("Enter Major:> ");
        String studentMajor = "";
        while (studentMajor.isEmpty()) {
            studentMajor = input.nextLine();
        }
 
        System.out.println("Enter GPA:> ");
        double gpa = -1.0;
        while (gpa < 0) {
            gpa = input.nextDouble();
        }
 
        Student newStudent = new Student(forename, surname, studNo, studentMajor, gpa);

public class Menu
{
 
private ArrayList<Student> studentList;
 
private class Student
{
// in addition to your constructor for the Student class.
 
// You need a Student constructor and a few variables in your Student class
private String firstName;
private String surName;
private int something;
private String majork
private double GPAPerhaps;
public Student(String firstName, String surName, int something, String major, double GPAPerhaps)
{
this.firstName = firstName;
setFirstName(firstName);
this.surName = surName;
setSurName(surName);
this.something = something;
setSomething(something); // I don't know what the 123 stands for so I'm calling it "Something" for now.
this.major = major;
setMajor(major);
this.GPAPerhaps = GPAPerhaps;
setGPA(GPAPerhaps);
}
 
public void setFirstName(String firstName)
{
this.firstName = firstName;
}
 
public String getFirstName()
{
return firstName;
}
 
public void setSurName(String surName)
{
this.surName = surName;
}
 
public String getSurName()
{
return surName;
}
 
public String getName()
{
return (getFirstName() + " " + getSurName());
}
 
public void setSomething(int something)
{
this.something = something;
}
 
public int getSomething()
{
return something;
}
 
public void setGPA(double GPAPerhaps)
{
this.GPAPerhaps = GPAPerhaps;
}
 
public doulbe getGPA()
{
return GPAPerhaps;
}
 
public void setMajor(String major)
{
this.major = major;
}
 
public String getMajor()
{
return major;
}
 
public String toString()
{
String str = "Student Name is: " + getName() + ". Student something is: " + getSomething() + ".  Student major is: " + getMajor() + ".  Student GPA is: " + getGPA() + ".";
return str;
}
 
}
 
public Menu()
{
studentList = new ArrayList<Student>();
}
 
 
public String getAllStudents()
{
return (studentList.toString());
}
 
public int getNumberOfStudent()
{
return(studentList.size());
}
 
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        System.out.println("Welcome!");
 
        Scanner input = new Scanner(System.in);
 
        int UR; // user Response 1
        System.out.println("Please type the number of the task you would like to perform.");
        System.out.println("1. Add a student");
        System.out.println("2. Find a student");
        System.out.println("3. Delete a student");
        System.out.println("4. Display all students");
        System.out.println("5. Display the total number of students");
        System.out.println("6. Exit");
 
        UR = input.nextInt();
 
        if (UR == 1) {
 
 
 
System.out.println("Enter Firstname:> ");
        String forename = "";
        while (forename.isEmpty()) {
            forename = input.nextLine();
        }
 
        System.out.println("Enter Surname:> ");
        String surname = "";
        while (surname.isEmpty()) {
            surname = input.nextLine();
        }
 
        System.out.println("Enter Student Number:> ");
        int studNo = -1;
        while (studNo < 0) {
            studNo = input.nextInt();
        }
 
        System.out.println("Enter Major:> ");
        String studentMajor = "";
        while (studentMajor.isEmpty()) {
            studentMajor = input.nextLine();
        }
 
        System.out.println("Enter GPA:> ");
        double gpa = -1.0;
        while (gpa < 0) {
            gpa = input.nextDouble();
        }
 
        Student newStudent = new Student(forename, surname, studNo, studentMajor, gpa);
 
 
 
studentList.add(newStudent);
 
// not sure how you want to deal with finding the Student.  What to display.
// Use the get(int index) method of the ArrayList class by calling studentList.get(index)
 
 
           }
           else if (UR == 3)
{
System.out.println("Enter the position of the student to remove.")
 
int position = input.nextInt();
 
if (position < 0 || position >= studentList.size())
{
System.out.println("Impossible");
}
 
else
{
studentList.remove(position);
}
 
 
}
 
 
 
   else     if (UR == 4)    {
 
           System.out.println(getAllStudents());
        }
 
else if (UR == 5)
{
System.out.println(getNumberOfStudents());
}
 
}
}
}

To add to my code, you simply add the object into the ArrayList after creating it, but I didn't want to burden Hallowed with that until he got to the stage where he was comfortable with creating a new Student.

"The way you're doing it now could work" Its how It does work... Another alternative is to have a third class, but by asking user to input every detail of the student, then making an object out of that information, then subsequently add that new object into an ArrayList, it allows for reusable code and its safe, as input will never be left empty.

import java.util.Scanner.*;
import java.util.ArrayList.*;
 
public class Menu
{
 
private ArrayList<Student> studentList; // The ArrayListOfStudents
 
// see ArrayList link after coding part ends.
 
// this is the Student class.  It's an inner class right now, though it can be put in a separate .java file and changed to a public class if that's better for you
private class Student
{
// in addition to your constructor for the Student class.
 
// You need a Student constructor and a few variables in your Student class
private String firstName; // firstName variable
private String surName; // surName variable
private int studentNumber; // studentNumber variable
private String major;  // major variable
private double GPA; // GPA variable
 
// Student constructor
public Student(String firstName, String surName, int studentNumber, String major, double GPA)
{
this.firstName = firstName; // sets first name variable to the variable firstName above
setFirstName(firstName); // calls setFirstName(firstName) method
this.surName = surName;
setSurName(surName);
this.studentNumber = studentNumber;
setStudentNumber(studentNumber); 
this.major = major;
setMajor(major);
this.GPA = GPA;
setGPA(GPA);
}
 
public void setFirstName(String firstName)
{
this.firstName = firstName;
}
 
public String getFirstName()
{
return firstName;
}
 
public void setSurName(String surName)
{
this.surName = surName;
}
 
public String getSurName()
{
return surName;
}
 
public String getName()
{
return (getFirstName() + " " + getSurName());
}
 
public void setStudentNumber(int studentNumber)
{
this.studentNumber = studentNumber;
}
 
public int getStudentNumber()
{
return studentNumber;
}
 
public void setGPA(double GPA)
{
this.GPA = GPA;
}
 
public doulbe getGPA()
{
return GPA;
}
 
public void setMajor(String major)
{
this.major = major;
}
 
public String getMajor()
{
return major;
}
 
public String toString()
{
String str = "Student Name is: " + getName() + ". Student number is: " + getStudentNumber() + ".  Student major is: " + getMajor() + ".  Student GPA is: " + getGPA() + ".";
return str;
}
 
}
 
public Menu()
{
studentList = new ArrayList<Student>(); // an ArrayList of type Student
}
 
 
public String getAllStudents()
{
return (studentList.toString()); // returns a list of all the students in the ArrayList
}
 
public int getNumberOfStudent()
{
return(studentList.size()); // returns the number of students in the ArrayList
}
 
    public static void main(String[] args) {
 
 
 
 
        System.out.println("Welcome!");
 
        Scanner input = new Scanner(System.in);
 
        int UR; // user Response 1
        System.out.println("Please type the number of the task you would like to perform.");
        System.out.println("1. Add a student");
        System.out.println("2. Find a student");
        System.out.println("3. Delete a student");
        System.out.println("4. Display all students");
        System.out.println("5. Display the total number of students");
        System.out.println("6. Exit");
 
        UR = input.nextInt();
 
        if (UR == 1) {
 
 
 
System.out.println("Enter Firstname:> ");
        String forename = "";
        while (forename.isEmpty()) {
            forename = input.nextLine();
        }
 
        System.out.println("Enter Surname:> ");
        String surname = "";
        while (surname.isEmpty()) {
            surname = input.nextLine();
        }
 
        System.out.println("Enter Student Number:> ");
        int studNo = -1;
        while (studNo < 0) {
            studNo = input.nextInt();
        }
 
        System.out.println("Enter Major:> ");
        String studentMajor = "";
        while (studentMajor.isEmpty()) {
            studentMajor = input.nextLine();
        }
 
        System.out.println("Enter GPA:> ");
        double gpa = -1.0;
        while (gpa < 0) {
            gpa = input.nextDouble();
        }
 
        Student newStudent = new Student(forename, surname, studNo, studentMajor, gpa);
 
 
 
studentList.add(newStudent); // adds the new Student to the Student ArrayList
}
 
 
else if (UR ==2)
{
int positionOfStudent = 0;
System.out.println("Enter a student name.");
String studentName = "";
 
while (studentName.isEmpty())
{
studentName = input.nextLine();
}
 
boolean found = false;
int i =0;
while (found == false &&  positionOfStudent < studentList.size())
{
if (studentName.equalsIgnoreCase(studentList.get(i).getName()))
{
System.out.println("Student " + studentName + " found at position " + positionOfStudent + ".");
found = true;
}
 
else
{
positionOfStudent++;
 
}
}
 
if (found == false)
System.out.println("Student not found.");
 
else
System.out.println(studentList.get(positionOfStudent).toString());
 
}
 
 
           else if (UR == 3)
{
System.out.println("Enter the position of the student to remove.")
 
int position = input.nextInt();
 
if (position < 0 || position >= studentList.size())
{
System.out.println("Impossible");
}
 
else
{
studentList.remove(position);
}
 
 
}
 
 
 
   else     if (UR == 4)    {
 
           System.out.println(getAllStudents());
        }
 
else if (UR == 5)
{
System.out.println(getNumberOfStudents());
}
 
else if (UR == 6)
{
System.out.println("Goodbye");
// you need not have System.exit(0); I think as the while loop will enter after printing out the line above
// as it's set to when 6 is entered and there's nothing after this while loop so the program should end.
}
 
else
{
System.out.println("Enter a number between 1 and 6.");
}
}
}
}

H-SPHERE

What was the point of posting that?
You already know he has a separate Student class, so why even bother include it in the code?

Eh, I'll have to go through it all anyway and make sure I can figure out what its doing, and I really appreciate ALL the help

and thanks, I don't know what I was thinking telling it to get the input every time. =S I got it working now.


This is a lot better than what I was thinking of doing. I didn't know you could have it check for empty strings.

        System.out.println("Enter Firstname:> ");
        String forename = "";
        while (forename.isEmpty()) {
            forename = input.nextLine();
        }
 
        System.out.println("Enter Surname:> ");
        String surname = "";
        while (surname.isEmpty()) {
            surname = input.nextLine();
        }
 
        System.out.println("Enter Student Number:> ");
        int studNo = -1;
        while (studNo < 0) {
            studNo = input.nextInt();
        }
 
        System.out.println("Enter Major:> ");
        String studentMajor = "";
        while (studentMajor.isEmpty()) {
            studentMajor = input.nextLine();
        }
 
        System.out.println("Enter GPA:> ");
        double gpa = -1.0;
        while (gpa < 0) {
            gpa = input.nextDouble();
        }
 
        Student newStudent = new Student(forename, surname, studNo, studentMajor, gpa);

So if all this is not going into an array list, its all being stored into some virtual memory in the Student class right? Then once I have an array list built I can call it or return it? and have it placed in the arraylist?
I guess this code right here

	Student newStudent = new Student("myFirstName", "mySurname",
						123, "my major", 1.2);  //Create new student.

is creating a new class called newStudent? and then giving it all of that information by sending it to the setter methods. Then at somepoint I can send the newStudent class, to the array list. But if the user were going to continually use the create newStudent option from the menu, then I would also have to clear it out or call it again once its done? Is this done automatically once the code is run through? Or do I have to tell it to trash that information so I could make new, newStudent class?



I'm confused about what is going on here. I don't know what "this." does exactly. But I'm assuming thats how your telling it, where to assign the code from above.

public Student(String fName, String lName, int sNumber, String major, double gpa) {
        this.fName = fName;
        this.lName = lName;
        this.sNumber = sNumber;
        this.major = major;
        this.gpa = gpa;

Another question is ||<-- these. I'm not even sure if I typed them right alt+(1,2,4). what do they mean/do? and how I'm normally suppose to type them? l l just two L's? l l I can't hardly tell what they are ha.

import java.util.Scanner.*;
import java.util.ArrayList.*;
^^What do the asterisks * at the end do? when I use them in eclipse it doesn't recognize the array list.

 
package ArrayList;
 
import java.util.Scanner;
import java.util.ArrayList.*;
 
public class Menu {
 
	public static void main(String[] args) {
		System.out.println("Welcome!");
 
		int UR = 0; // user Response 1
 
		System.out
				.println("Please type the number of the task you would like to perform.");
		System.out.println("1. Add a student");
		System.out.println("2. Find a student");
		System.out.println("3. Delete a student");
		System.out.println("4. Display all students");
		System.out.println("5. Display the total number of students");
		System.out.println("6. Exit");
 
		while (UR != 6) {
 
			Scanner input = new Scanner(System.in); // ask for user response.
			UR = input.nextInt(); // set UR equal to the users response.
 
			if (UR == 1) {
				System.out.println("Enter Firstname:> ");
				String forename = "";
				while (forename.isEmpty()) {
					forename = input.nextLine();
				}
 
				System.out.println("Enter Surname:> ");
				String surname = "";
				while (surname.isEmpty()) {
					surname = input.nextLine();
				}
 
				System.out.println("Enter Student Number:> ");
				int studNo = -1;
				while (studNo < 0) {
					studNo = input.nextInt();
				}
 
				System.out.println("Enter Major:> ");
				String studentMajor = "";
				while (studentMajor.isEmpty()) {
					studentMajor = input.nextLine();
				}
 
				System.out.println("Enter GPA:> ");
				double gpa = -1.0;
				while (gpa < 0) {
					gpa = input.nextDouble();
				}
 
				Student newStudent = new Student(forename, surname, studNo,
						studentMajor, gpa);
 
				System.out.print("Success! ");
				System.out.print(newStudent.getForeName());
				System.out.println("'s account has been created with the following information:"); // Print verification.
				System.out.println(newStudent);
			}
 
			if (UR == 2) {
 
			}
 
			if (UR == 3) {
 
			}
 
			if (UR == 4) {
 
			}
 
			if (UR == 5) {
				System.out.println("this is a test");
			}
 
			if (UR == 6) {
				System.out.println("Good bye!");
				System.exit(0);
			}
		}
	}
}

K so this all works great so far. Now I'm trying to create an arraylist using the code that penguin provided. Most of it makes sense, (except for the actual array part, I'm trying to work through it all and reading what I can about array's in my book, the code for the menu's all make sense though.) But I'm going to try building it in its own class. I don't want an inner class exactly if I actually know what I'm talking about haha.

But I need to get information from the Student class once its created, into the Array List. How can I store all the students information in the array list? Because I thought an ArrayList will only hold a string, or an int. or something like that. How Could I * Store individual student records in an ArrayList? I can't see where in penguins code all this information is being stored for each student.
It almost seems like I would have to create and arraylist
String[ ] = StudentList ... eh nevermind scratch that because it wouldn't be a string, it would have to be a class? I would have assign each student their own class name, and then store the class in the arraylist some how?

Also this code:

Student newStudent = new Student("myFirstName", "mySurname",
                        123, "my major", 1.2);  //Create new student.

created (From what I understand) a class called newStudent. But in the code above, for Menu #1, it fills in the information and I'm able to retrieve it and print it out again, but whats the name of the class its being stored in then? Or where is it being stored? I tried to call the class in another Menu # just for testing but realized that I couldn't because I don't know what the classes name is.

Hey again hallowed.
newStudent is an Object, i.e an instance of class Student.
The information about newStudent is stored in newStudent Object, which has a memory reference (but forget this detail).

To store the Object in an Array List you need to declare a generic ArrayList of type Student.
Like this:
Array List<Student> studentRecords = new ArrayList<Student>();

Then the Array List is constructed.

To insert a new Student object into the Array List, simply add
studentRecords.add(newStudent);
after...

                Student newStudent = new Student(forename, surname, studNo,
                        studentMajor, gpa);

Now your Array List is complete. So if you run 1 multiple times DURING the programs life-time, many Student Objects will be stored for you.

To print all members in an Array List, you can you a for-each loop.

for(Student s : studentRecords){
//print s here
}

This:
studentRecords.add(newStudent);
would be presuming that I created my array in a class named studentRecords right?
when I input that code it tells me that the method .add is undefined for the type studentRecords ....
So I'm guessing I have to create some form of a method so that it places the newStudent call into the array? but I can't find a way to make a method that stores a class in the array. I made a method like it was asking for, I think.. but I don't know how to tell it to put that in..
I feel handicapped. @_@ at least I'm learning lots.

package ArrayList;
 
import java.util.Scanner;
import java.util.ArrayList.*;
 
public class Menu {
 
	public static void main(String[] args) {
		System.out.println("Welcome!");
 
		int UR = 0; // user Response 1
 
		System.out
				.println("Please type the number of the task you would like to perform.");
		System.out.println("1. Add a student");
		System.out.println("2. Find a student");
		System.out.println("3. Delete a student");
		System.out.println("4. Display all students");
		System.out.println("5. Display the total number of students");
		System.out.println("6. Exit");
 
		while (UR != 6) {
 
			Scanner input = new Scanner(System.in); // ask for user response.
			UR = input.nextInt(); // set UR equal to the users response.
 
			if (UR == 1) {
				System.out.println("Enter Firstname:> ");
				String forename = "";
				while (forename.isEmpty()) {
					forename = input.nextLine();
				}
 
				System.out.println("Enter Surname:> ");
				String surname = "";
				while (surname.isEmpty()) {
					surname = input.nextLine();
				}
 
				System.out.println("Enter Student Number:> ");
				int studNo = -1;
				while (studNo < 0) {
					studNo = input.nextInt();
				}
 
				System.out.println("Enter Major:> ");
				String studentMajor = "";
				while (studentMajor.isEmpty()) {
					studentMajor = input.nextLine();
				}
 
				System.out.println("Enter GPA:> ");
				double gpa = -1.0;
				while (gpa < 0) {
					gpa = input.nextDouble();
				}
 
				Student newStudent = new Student(forename, surname, studNo,
						studentMajor, gpa);
 
 
				studentRecords.add(newStudent);
 
 
				System.out.print("Success! ");
				System.out.print(newStudent.getForeName());
				System.out.println("'s account has been created with the following information:"); // Print
																									// verification.
				System.out.println(newStudent);
			}
 
			if (UR == 2) {
 
				int positionOfStudent = 0;
				System.out.println("Enter a student name.");
				String studentName = "";
 
				while (studentName.isEmpty())
				{
				studentName = input.nextLine();
				}
 
				boolean found = false;
				int i =0;
				while (found == false &&  positionOfStudent < studentRecords.size())
				{
				if (studentName.equalsIgnoreCase(studentRecords.get(i).getName()))
				{
				System.out.println("Student " + studentName + " found at position " + positionOfStudent + ".");
				found = true;
			}
 
			if (UR == 3) {
 
			}
 
			if (UR == 4) {
 
				System.out.println(getAllStudents()); 
			}
 
			if (UR == 5) {
				System.out.println("this is a test");
			}
 
			if (UR == 6) {
				System.out.println("Good bye!");
				System.exit(0);
			}
		}
	}
}

package ArrayList;
 
import java.util.ArrayList;
 
public class studentRecords {
 
	ArrayList<Student> studentRecords = new ArrayList<Student>();  // creates arraylist studentRecords
 
	public static void add(Student newStudent) {
		return (....)// TODO Auto-generated method stub
 
	}
 
	public String getAllStudents() {
		return (studentRecords.toString()); // returns a list of all the students
											// in the ArrayList
	}
 
	public int getNumberOfStudents() {
		return (studentRecords.size()); // returns the number of students in the
										// ArrayList
	}
 
 
}

package ArrayList;
 
public class Student {
 
    private String fName;
    private String lName;
    private int sNumber;
    private String major;
    private double gpa;
    static int count;
 
    public Student(String fName, String lName, int sNumber, String major, double gpa) {
        this.fName = fName;
        this.lName = lName;
        this.sNumber = sNumber;
        this.major = major;
        this.gpa = gpa;
 
        count++;//increment when object is created
    }
 
    //setter methods
    public void setForeName(String name) {
        fName = name;
    }
 
    public void setLastName(String lastName) {
        lName = lastName;
    }
 
    public void setStudentNumber(int sNo) {
        sNumber = sNo;
    }
 
    public void setMajor(String maj) {
        major = maj;
    }
 
    public void setGPA(double val) {
        gpa = val;
    }
 
    //getter methods - use to return values
    public String getForeName() {
        return fName;
    }
 
    public String getLastName() {
        return lName;
    }
 
    public int getStudentNumber() {
        return sNumber;
    }
 
    public String getMajor() {
        return major;
    }
 
    public double getGPA() {
        return gpa;
    }
 
    public static int getCount() {
        return count;
    }
 
    @Override
    public String toString() {
        return String.format("First name: %s, Last name: %s, Student "
                + "Number: %d, Major: %s, GPA: %.2f", fName, lName, sNumber, major, gpa);
    } //called automatically when you attempt to print an object - System.out.println(myObject);
}