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Java Project

Gumbi

Hi, doing a Word Search in java for a project in college. I'm pretty new to programming (only been doing it the past few months), and so this is a pretty basic question.

I have a constructor in which the user specifies the words to be used in the 2d array (word search grid). Basically I think I have to store these input words so that I can use them in a later method to generate the array. Here is the code:

public class WordSearchPuzzle
{
private char[][] puzzle ;
private ArrayList<String> puzzleWords ;

public WordSearchPuzzle(ArrayList<String> userSpecifiedWords)
{

// puzzle generation using user specified words
// The user passes in a list of words to be used
// for generating the word search grid.
}

I have tried userSpecifiedWords = new ArrayList<String>(); but it doesn't seem to work. Thanks in advance, keep in mind I am a complete newbie when it comes to programming.

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Kidchameleon

Hi OP,

How exactly is it not working? are you sure you have this at the top of your code:

import java.util.*;

Array list needs this import to work...

Gumbi

Yup, I have that (import java.util.* ;
import java.io.*

as my first lines. By using userSpecifiedWords = new ArrayList<String>(); I am getting errors when inputting the string (ie the userspecifiedwords).

Lol the wink is supposed to be code and my closing bracket haha

Kidchameleon

How are you adding the Strings to the list? Are you reading them from user input? Are you sure they are actual Strings (user input can arrive to the JVM in may forms)

ArrayList<String> aList = new ArrayList<String>();
        
String aString = "How de do de";
        
aList.add(aString);

Gumbi

Yes, the strings are user specified words. For example, the user may wish to specify the words cat, dog and mouse. AFAIK, this section of the code has nothing to do with generating the array, but rather "storing" the words to be used by the method which will generate the array. I hope I'm making myself clear

Thanks a lot for your help so far.

Kidchameleon

Not the most eloquent solution but perhaps a pointer for you...

String[] days = {"Monday", "Tuesday", "Wednsday"};
        
ArrayList<String> aList = new ArrayList<String>();
        
for(String eachString : days)
{
    aList.add(eachString);
}

Gumbi

I'm not sure you understand. The words are user input, ie when the programme is run. The words aren't specified within the code.

Aswerty

Could you confirm whether you are having difficulty:

Reading user inputs into your application,
Populating an ArrayList<string>, (if so Kidchamelons approach is the same except you change hard coded words for user input words)
Passing the user input data to the WordSearchPuzzle class.

You should have all your data read before calling the constructor as opposed to reading the data in it.

henryporter

This looks suspiciously like the UL Games First Year Project:D

croo

Gumbi wrote: »

I have tried userSpecifiedWords = new ArrayList<String>();

Since userSpecifiedWords is the array of words being pass in ... shouldn't this be reversed? i.e. you set something to this value rather than set this value?
Something like

public WordSearchPuzzle(ArrayList<String> userSpecifiedWords)
{
   this.puzzleWords = userSpecifiedWords

// puzzle generation using user specified words
// The user passes in a list of words to be used
// for generating the word search grid.
}

You don't need to initialize the userSpecifiedWords with

userSpecifiedWords = new ArrayList<String>();

You effectively do this when you defined the method

WordSearchPuzzle(ArrayList<String> userSpecifiedWords)

Gumbi

I feel like a fool now... I'm almost certain that's correct. I completely over thought it. Thanks much, I'll let ye know how I get on when I start coding more tomorrow.

Gumbi

henryporter wrote: »

This looks suspiciously like the UL Games First Year Project:D

It is what it is and that is what it is.

Gumbi

Getting the following error. What's going on? Thanks again. Here's my code so far:

public class WordSearchPuzzle
{
private char[][] puzzle ;
private ArrayList<String> puzzleWords ;

public WordSearchPuzzle(ArrayList<String> userSpecifiedWords)
{
this.puzzleWords = userSpecifiedWords ;

// puzzle generation using user specified words
// The user passes in a list of words to be used
// for generating the word search grid.
}

Niall09

It is expecting an arrayList object, but you are entering an array of 2 strings.

Do you have a driver method for this project? (or you create instances of another class which you have specified a method where you can add words to the arrayList). You would create an arrayList in that, and then add your words one by one. You then pass that arrayList to your new instance of Wordsearch puzzle.

CuAnnan

Kidchameleon wrote: »

Hi OP,

How exactly is it not working? are you sure you have this at the top of your code:

import java.util.*;

Array list needs this import to work...

No it doesn't.
You don't need util.* and importing .* because you're using one class in that package is bad practice.
import java.util.ArrayList

Dmeaney92

Niall09 wrote: »

It is expecting an arrayList object, but you are entering an array of 2 strings.

What do you mean by its expecting an arrayList object? Why wont it accept the two strings entered?

Niall09

Dmeaney92 wrote: »

What do you mean by its expecting an arrayList object? Why wont it accept the two strings entered?

Because in your constructer, you have

public WordSearchPuzzle(ArrayList<String> userSpecifiedWords)

If you wanted to enter 2 strings, it would be

public WordSearchPuzzle(String wordOne, String wordTwo)

Dmeaney92

public WordSearchPuzzle(ArrayList<String> userSpecifiedWords)
{
// puzzle generation using user specified words
// The user passes in a list of words to be used
// for generating the word search grid.
}

Still having trouble with this one. I dont know how we get the user to input the strings that the user wants to use even though (ArrayList<String> userSpecifiedWords) is in the header. We just dont know how to store the words or even get the user to input the Strings

irishfeller

Well have u got static main method in your code?

If not you won't be able to run as an application.

Add a static main method, prompt the user to type in words, capture the typed words and add them to an arraylist, then pass the arraylist to your class...

t1mm

BlueJ is being used - you can add objects to the program at runtime manually. This is just how some people choose to teach programming.

Whatever is between the brackets in your constructor defines what data can be passed into it when a new object is created. Your constructor is set to accept an ArrayList of type String. (ArrayList<String>). When you're creating a new object in BlueJ at runtime, it looks like you're trying to pass in an array of strings (String[]).