Returning first digit of numbers with charAt

[penguinbob31]

I'm writing a program that is supposed to take the first digit of every number in a list of numbers and count how many times each first digit appears. I can't seem to get the program to work properly. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

import java.io.*;
import java.util.Scanner;
 
public class benford
{
    public static void main(String[]args)throws IOException
    {
        String number;
        Scanner keyboard = new Scanner(System.in);
        System.out.print("Enter the name of the file: ");
        String filename = keyboard.nextLine();
        File file = new File(filename);
        Scanner inputFile = new Scanner(file);
        while (inputFile.hasNext())
        {
            number = inputFile.nextLine();
            firstDigit(number);
        }
        System.exit(0);
    }
    public static String firstDigit(String number)
    {
        int count = 0;
        int one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine;
        switch(number.charAt(0))
        {
            case '1':
                        one = count + 1;
                        break;
            case '2':
                        two = count + 1;
                        break;
            case '3':
                        three = count + 1;
                        break;
            case '4':
                        four = count + 1;
                        break;
            case '5':
                        five = count + 1;
                        break;
            case '6':
                        six = count + 1;
                        break;
            case '7':
                        seven = count + 1;
                        break;
            case '8':
                        eight = count + 1;
                        break;
            case '9':
                        nine = count + 1;
                        break;
        }
        System.out.println("1: " + one);
        System.out.println("2: " + two);
        System.out.println("3: " + three);
        System.out.println("4: " + four);
        System.out.println("5: " + five);
        System.out.println("6: " + six);
        System.out.println("7: " + seven);
        System.out.println("8: " + eight);
        System.out.println("9: " + nine);
        return number;
    }    
}

[r035198x]

Do this in small steps.
First you need to get the first character in a variable.
Then you need to loop through the string counting the occurences of that character.

[JosAH]

Do this in small steps.
First you need to get the first character in a variable.
Then you need to loop through the string counting the occurences of that character.

The question is ambiguous; given this part: "count how many times each first
digit appears" the OP has to add a bit such as:

- as a first digit (the OP's interpretation)
- as a digit in the number(s) (your interpretation).

kind regards,

Jos