Basic array question, need help

[KellyH]

Hi, I hope someone can point me in the right direction.
I'll get it out of the way: Yes, I am a college student. No, I am not
looking for anyone to do my homework, just looking for help. I have been
reading this ng all semester, and found it very helpful. I just have a
stupid problem going on right now.

Here's the project:
We have to make a little frame with a text field, where the user inputs a
number, and a text area where a message is displayed. There are several
buttons on the frame: Enter, Average, Show Ascending, Show Descending,
Median, and High Number. We are to use an array to store up to 50 integers
the user enters.

Here's my problem:
My problem is that I can't figure out how to load the array. If I do it in
the Enter button event, then a new array is created each time an integer is
entered. I tested this by adding the current int to the int in the previous
cell. Oh, I am also storing the logical end of the array in the 0 cell. If
I try to load the array in the main, I get an error: Non-static method
load_aNum cannot be referenced from a static context. We had a project
previously where I used two arrays (pre-filled, not using input numbers),
and I loaded it in the main, and it worked fine. Don't know why this won't
work.

What I have so far (I've just been concentrating on getting the user numbers
to enter into the array. I'll worry about the rest of it later):

import java.awt.*;
import java.awt.event.*;
import java.math.*;
import java.util.Arrays.*; //thought I might need this later for sorting
the array

public class khNumberDisplayer extends Frame implements ActionListener
{

private Button btnEnter, btnAvg, btnAscend, btnDescend, btnMedian,
btnHigh;
private TextField tfNum1 = new TextField (5);

private TextArea taMessage = new TextArea();

private int[] aNum;
private int lastSub =0;
/** Creates a new instance of khNumberDisplayer */
public khNumberDisplayer()
{
setTitle ("Number Displayer by Kelly");
setLayout (new FlowLayout());
add (new Label ("NUMBER "));
add (tfNum1);

add (new Label ("Message = "));
add (taMessage);

btnEnter = new Button ("Enter");
add (btnEnter);
btnEnter.addActionListener (new EnterHandler(this));
addWindowListener(new CloseWindow());

}
public void load_aNum()
{
aNum = new int[50];
aNum[0]++;
}

private static boolean isValid(int pInput)
{
boolean bResult;

bResult = (pInput >=0) && (pInput<=9999);

return bResult;
}

class EnterHandler implements ActionListener

{
khNumberDisplayer myFrame;
EnterHandler (khNumberDisplayer pFrame)
{
myFrame=pFrame;
}
public void actionPerformed (ActionEvent event)
{
myFrame.EnterStuff();
myFrame.repaint();
}
}
public void EnterStuff()
{
String sMessage;
boolean valid_test;
int num1;

num1 = Integer.parseInt(tfNum1.getText());

//valid_test = (num1 >=1 && num1 <=200);
if (isValid(num1))
{
aNum[aNum[0]] = num1;
int total;
total = aNum[aNum[0]] + aNum[aNum[0]-1];
sMessage = "Number is valid. " + total;
}
else
sMessage = "Number is not valid";

taMessage.setText(sMessage);
}

public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent event)
{
repaint();
}

public static void main (String []args)
{
Frame NumberDisplayerWindow = new khNumberDisplayer();
NumberDisplayerWindow.setSize (700,300);
NumberDisplayerWindow.setBackground(Color.pink);
NumberDisplayerWindow.show();
load_aNum();
}

public class CloseWindow extends WindowAdapter
{
public void windowClosing (WindowEvent e)
{
System.exit(0);
}
}

}
--
-Kelly
kelly at farringtons dot net
Check out www.snittens.com

[Chris Shepherd]

KellyH wrote:

Here's my problem:
My problem is that I can't figure out how to load the array. If I do it in
the Enter button event, then a new array is created each time an integer is
entered. I tested this by adding the current int to the int in the previous
cell. Oh, I am also storing the logical end of the array in the 0 cell. If
I try to load the array in the main, I get an error: Non-static method
load_aNum cannot be referenced from a static context. We had a project
previously where I used two arrays (pre-filled, not using input numbers),
and I loaded it in the main, and it worked fine. Don't know why this won't
work.

Are you able to make use of the ArrayList object at all? It may be far
simpler to use that than an actual integer array. Just make sure you use
Integer.parseInt() to validate the input, and then add it to your
ArrayList object (which should, of course, be declared at the class level).

--
Chris Shepherd

[Anthony Borla]

"KellyH" <Ke***@whatever.com> wrote in message
news:UqoBb.484596$Tr4.1330037@attbi_s03...

Hi, I hope someone can point me in the right direction.
I'll get it out of the way: Yes, I am a college student.
No, I am not looking for anyone to do my homework,
just looking for help. I have been reading this ng all
semester, and found it very helpful. I just have a
stupid problem going on right now.

Here's the project:
We have to make a little frame with a text field, where
the user inputs a number, and a text area where a message
is displayed. There are several buttons on the frame:
Enter, Average, Show Ascending, Show Descending,
Median, and High Number. We are to use an array to store
up to 50 integers the user enters.

Here's my problem:
My problem is that I can't figure out how to load the array.
If I do it in the Enter button event, then a new array is created
each time an integer is entered. I tested this by adding the
current int to the int in the previous cell. Oh, I am also
storing the logical end of the array in the 0 cell. If I try to
load the array in the main, I get an error: Non-static method
load_aNum cannot be referenced from a static context.
We had a project previously where I used two arrays
(pre-filled, not using input numbers), and I loaded it in the
main, and it worked fine. Don't know why this won't work.

What I have so far (I've just been concentrating on getting
the user numbers to enter into the array. I'll worry about the
rest of it later):
<SNIP CODE>

I didn't look at your code, but will give you some general pointers:

* Since the array size has a known, maximum size [50 ?]
create it at program startup / initialisation time e.g

// Note: This is an example - your code may be
// different
int array = new array[50];

You will note that such an array is automatically zero-filled; you
can use this value as an 'empty element' marker. If you need
to use zero as a valid value, then fill the array with an arbitrary
value [say -1 ?] to act in this role

* Each time the input routine successfully completes add the value
to the array by incrementing an index e.g.

...
if (nextElement < array.length)
{
array[nextElement] = inputValue;
++nextElement;
}
...

'nextElement' will always point to the next enpty array
element.

* If not all elements have been filled you can still traverse
the array [and know when to stop] by checking the
current element value for -1.

This allows you to display, or otherwise manipulate
array contents even if it is not full

* If you need to have some sort of 'reset' operation,
ensure all it does is refill the array with -1 values. You
don't have to recreate the array again

I hope this helps.

Anthony Borla

[Karl von Laudermann]

"KellyH" <Ke***@whatever.com> wrote in message news:<UqoBb.484596$Tr4.1330037@attbi_s03>...

Here's my problem:
My problem is that I can't figure out how to load the array. If I do it in
the Enter button event, then a new array is created each time an integer is
entered. I tested this by adding the current int to the int in the previous
cell. Oh, I am also storing the logical end of the array in the 0 cell. If
I try to load the array in the main, I get an error: Non-static method
load_aNum cannot be referenced from a static context. We had a project
previously where I used two arrays (pre-filled, not using input numbers),
and I loaded it in the main, and it worked fine. Don't know why this won't
work.

I assume by "load" you mean allocate and initialize. The correct place
to do it is in the constructor, since that's exactly what constructors
are for:

/** Creates a new instance of khNumberDisplayer */
public khNumberDisplayer()
{
// Allocate and initialize array
aNum = new int[50];
aNum[0]++;

setTitle ("Number Displayer by Kelly");
setLayout (new FlowLayout());
add (new Label ("NUMBER "));
add (tfNum1);

add (new Label ("Message = "));
add (taMessage);

btnEnter = new Button ("Enter");
add (btnEnter);
btnEnter.addActionListener (new EnterHandler(this));
addWindowListener(new CloseWindow());
}

The reason you can't access aNum from main is because main is a static
method, which means it belongs to the khNumberDisplayer class in
general, not any particular instance of it. Static methods cannot
access non-static member variables, since static methods can be
executed even when no instances of the class exist. If you really
wanted to allocate the array from main rather than the constructor
(though there's no good reason to), you could do it this way:

public static void main (String []args)
{
Frame NumberDisplayerWindow = new khNumberDisplayer();
NumberDisplayerWindow.setSize (700,300);
NumberDisplayerWindow.setBackground(Color.pink);
NumberDisplayerWindow.show();

// Call load_aNum on the instance
NumberDisplayerWindow.load_aNum();
}

[KellyH]

Thanks everyone for your help! I didn't realize I could instantiate the
array in the constructor. Got it working now. Moving on to other
problems...
--
-Kelly
kelly at farringtons dot net
Check out www.snittens.com

"Karl von Laudermann" <ka**@ueidaq.com> wrote in message
news:e7**************************@posting.google.c om...

"KellyH" <Ke***@whatever.com> wrote in message news:<UqoBb.484596$Tr4.1330037@attbi_s03>...

Here's my problem:
My problem is that I can't figure out how to load the array. If I do it in the Enter button event, then a new array is created each time an integer is entered. I tested this by adding the current int to the int in the previous cell. Oh, I am also storing the logical end of the array in the 0 cell. If I try to load the array in the main, I get an error: Non-static method
load_aNum cannot be referenced from a static context. We had a project
previously where I used two arrays (pre-filled, not using input numbers), and I loaded it in the main, and it worked fine. Don't know why this won't work.

I assume by "load" you mean allocate and initialize. The correct place
to do it is in the constructor, since that's exactly what constructors
are for:

/** Creates a new instance of khNumberDisplayer */
public khNumberDisplayer()
{
// Allocate and initialize array
aNum = new int[50];
aNum[0]++;

setTitle ("Number Displayer by Kelly");
setLayout (new FlowLayout());
add (new Label ("NUMBER "));
add (tfNum1);

add (new Label ("Message = "));
add (taMessage);

btnEnter = new Button ("Enter");
add (btnEnter);
btnEnter.addActionListener (new EnterHandler(this));
addWindowListener(new CloseWindow());
}

The reason you can't access aNum from main is because main is a static
method, which means it belongs to the khNumberDisplayer class in
general, not any particular instance of it. Static methods cannot
access non-static member variables, since static methods can be
executed even when no instances of the class exist. If you really
wanted to allocate the array from main rather than the constructor
(though there's no good reason to), you could do it this way:

public static void main (String []args)
{
Frame NumberDisplayerWindow = new khNumberDisplayer();
NumberDisplayerWindow.setSize (700,300);
NumberDisplayerWindow.setBackground(Color.pink);
NumberDisplayerWindow.show();

// Call load_aNum on the instance
NumberDisplayerWindow.load_aNum();
}