Need Help Understand this.

[Michael Hubele]

I have trouble writting classes in java and I been going through my java book looking at there examples but there comments don't really explain enough for me to understand. I find personaly this very hard to grasp with breaking it up into methods and stuff.

I don't know if there any good sites or tutorials that would help me out(if there plz tell me)

But anyways maybe someone can walk me me through what is happening here. Like bits and peices make sense but most of it does not.

public class RollingDice
{
    //-------------------------------------------------------------------
    // Creates two Die objects and rolls them several times.
    //------------------------------------------------------------------
    public static void main(String[] args)
    {
        Die die1; 
        Die die2;
        int sum;
        
        die1 = new Die(); 
        die2 = new Die(); 
        
        die1.roll();
        die2.roll();
        System.out.println("Die One: " + die1 + ", Die Two: " + die2);
        
        die1.roll();
        die2.setFaceValue(4);
        System.out.println("Die One:" + die1 + ", Die Two:" + die2);
        
        sum = die1.getFaceValue() + die2.getFaceValue();
        System.out.println("Sum:" + sum);
        
        sum = die1.roll() + die2.roll();
        System.out.println("Die one:" + die1 + ", Die Two:" + die2);
        System.out.println("New sum: " + sum);
        
    }
}

public class Die
{
    private final int MAX = 6; // maximum face value
    private int faceValue; // current value showing on the die
    
    //------------------------------------------------------------------
    // Constructor: Sets the initial face value
    //------------------------------------------------------------------
    public Die()
    {
        faceValue = 1;
    }
    //------------------------------------------------------------------
    // Rolls the die and returns the result
    //------------------------------------------------------------------
    public int roll()
    {
        faceValue = (int) (Math.random() * MAX) + 1;
        return faceValue;
    }
    
    //------------------------------------------------------------------
    // Face value mutator
    //------------------------------------------------------------------
    public void setFaceValue (int value)
    {
        
    }
    //------------------------------------------------------------------
    // Face value accessor.
    //------------------------------------------------------------------
    public int getFaceValue()
    {
        return faceValue;
    }
    
    //------------------------------------------------------------------
    // Returns a string representation of this die.
    //------------------------------------------------------------------
    public String toString()
    {
        String result = Integer.toString(faceValue);
        return result;
    }
}

[Garrett Rowe]

Originally posted by Michael Hubele:
Like bits and peices make sense but most of it does not.

Which parts do you feel like you do have a good grasp of, and which areas are confounding you?

[Michael Hubele]

I understand the the stuff like private,main method, why it is final for the die all the system print lines.

Stuff I sort of understand:

-------------------------
Die die1;

Die is the variable type and die1 is the variable name.

------------------------

die1 = new Die();

This is making a new method of the die??? and calling it die1?
-----------------------

die1.roll();

This is calling the roll method?? what contains this:

public int roll()
{
faceValue = (int) (Math.random() * MAX) + 1;
return faceValue;
}
-----------------------

I don't understand
------------------------
What is the constructor and what are methods
--------------------------
public int roll()
{
faceValue = (int) (Math.random() * MAX) + 1;
return faceValue;
}


Like first I don't see how someone would know to cast this as a int. Then I don't know what is going on. To me it looks like instead of importing the random libary at the top they threw it all in the same line then for some reason they times it by MAX(6) then plus 1

then they return the faceValue;

not sure whats going on with the return type either.

-----------------------------
public void setFaceValue (int value)
{

}
I don't understand why this is empty like I know in the other file something gets set to 4 by using this method but I would have though something would still have to go in here and I am not sure why there is (int value) in brackets there.

These are some of the biggest problems I am having now but I still would apperiate everything to be commented so I know exactly what is going together and how they join together.
[ January 28, 2006: Message edited by: Michael Hubele ]

[Garrett Rowe]

die1 = new Die();
Takes the previously declared variable and instantiates it. In this case there (IMO) is no good reason to decare the variable on one line, and instantiate it on another, I think it makes the code unnecesarily more verbose. A cleaner (again IMO) way of doing this would be:

 
Die die1 = new Die();
Die die2 = new Die();

but neither of us wote the code and I guess its just good to know two ways of writing a piece of code can produce identical results.

-----------------------

I don't understand
------------------------
What is the constructor and what are methods
--------------------------

There is no constructor written for the RollingDice class, and this class only has one method called main() which calls a number of methods of the Die class.

public int roll()
{
faceValue = (int) (Math.random() * MAX) + 1;
return faceValue;
}


Like first I don't see how someone would know to cast this as a int. Then I don't know what is going on. To me it looks like instead of importing the random libary at the top they threw it all in the same line then for some reason they times it by MAX(6) then plus 1

then they return the faceValue;

-----------------------------

I'm guessing from this statement that you are familiar with the java.util.Random class. What's going on here is there is a convience method in the java.lang.Math class Math.random() which returns a random double n where 0 <= n < 1 so multiplying n * 6 and then casting it to an int will give a random number x where 1 <= x <= 6.

-----------------------------
public void setFaceValue (int value)
{

}
I don't understand why this is empty like I know in the other file something gets set to 4 by using this method but I would have though something would still have to go in here and I am not sure why there is (int value) in brackets there.

I have to agree that writing a method signiture and then not doing anything with it is questionable style, but the point here is that you should not be able to set the face value of a die to anything, if the state of the face value of the dice is to change, then it must happen randomly via the roll() method.

[ January 28, 2006: Message edited by: Garrett Rowe ]
[ January 28, 2006: Message edited by: Garrett Rowe ]

[Michael Hubele]

I the only thing I understood of what you wrote was that is that

die2.setFaceValue(4) does nothing because in the other file it has nothing in it and it does not return anything. So it does nothing at this moment at first I thought it did because when ran it it had the value of 4 for it so I thought it worked while testing it again I noticed that it was not working.

   public void setFaceValue (int value)
    {
        
    }

at this time I am trying to write comments in the file and once I am done I will post it up and you guys can check if what I am saying is write.

So if none of these are constructors or methods what do I call them then?

[Garrett Rowe]

I'm sorry, I should have said:
The Die class does have a constructor written into it, only the DiceRoller class doesn't have an explicit constructor written for it (it does however have a default constructor implied but that is another lesson). The RollingDice class has one method called main() as I stated earlier, the Die class has a number of methods: roll(), getFaceValue(), toString(), and the unimplemented setFaceValue().

[Michael Hubele]

Here this is what I got can someone check it over to see if it make sense


if you see ********************** that means I got a question to ask at that part

thxs.

public class RollingDice
{
//This is the main method that is used ot run the program.
    public static void main(String[] args)
    {
    
//This is where the variables are initilized 
//        -- Die is the type ---- not sure what to call Die(Constructor??)
//        -- Die1 is the variable name 
        Die die1; 
        Die die2;
        
//This is just your run of the mill int.
        int sum;
     
//This is where the new operator creates a new reference(pointer) to the Die. This
//is like when delcaring a primitive type like(int sum)
        die1 = new Die(); 
        die2 = new Die(); 
      
//This is used to call the roll() method this contains a random function that 
//chooses what die1 and die2 will display.
        die1.roll();
        die2.roll();
 
//This is used to print out the values of die1 and die2 so we can see the results       
        System.out.println("Die One: " + die1 + ", Die Two: " + die2);
 
//This is just used so I can see where one Roll ends and the next one starts
        System.out.println("End of First Roll");
        System.out.println();
        
//This starts the the random sequence to get new values for this roll so 
//that we get a new number for die1 and not the same one we had from the
//previous one(unless by random we get the same number again)
        die1.roll();
 
//This sets the faceValue to 4 but since faceValue has nothing in its method and 
//that since it is void it does nothing and just basicly it chooses another random
//number.
 
//**************************************************************************        
//since I think it goes back to the default roll() one when something is
// is not specified
//**************************************************************************         
        die2.setFaceValue(4);
        
//This prints out the results of die1 and die2 so we can see it.
        System.out.println("Die One:" + die1 + ", Die Two:" + die2);
  
//This is just to tell me that the second role ended.
        System.out.println("End of second Roll");
        System.out.println();
        
//This GETS the faceVAlue of die1 and the faceValue of die2 but does not print
//them out it just holds them and then adds die1 to die2 and holds it the int 
//valuse of SUM. them prints it out.
        sum = die1.getFaceValue() + die2.getFaceValue();
        System.out.println("Sum:" + sum);
        
//This just tells me this was the first time sum was added up and leaves a 
//space between it and the others.
        System.out.println("End of First Sum");
        System.out.println();
        
        
// This re rolls die1 and die2 and adds them together and hold them in sum
// deleteing the old value of sum.After it prints out the value of die1 and die2
// and then prints out the sum of these two numbers.
        
 
        sum = die1.roll() + die2.roll();
        System.out.println("Die one:" + die1 + ", Die Two:" + die2);
        System.out.println("New sum: " + sum);
//***************************************************************************
// Could they have done it like this:
// 
// die1.roll();
// die2.roll();
// 
// sum = die1.getFaceValue() + die2.getFaceValue();
// System.out.println("Sum:" + sum);
// 
// Just like they used like before or are they trying to show there are different
// ways that can be done?
// ***************************************************************************        
        
        
    }
}

import java.util.Random;
 
public class Die
{
    
//This delcares max as a int and is private meaning it can not
//be seen unless it is called specially. Also there is a private int that can not 
//be seen to.
    private int max = 6; // maximum face value
    private int faceValue; // current value showing on the die
 
//This is a Constructor that sets the initial face value of the die.
 
//*****************************************************************************    
//I don't understand why though why does it need to be have a intital face
// value it seems to serve no purpose. Also could this have been called anything
// or does it have to be called by the class name?????
//***************************************************************************** 
    public Die()
    {
        faceValue = 1;
    }
    
//This is another method called roll in this roll method it has a random function
//         -- First the random libary was imported
//         -- Second I delcared Random generator
//         -- Third I delcared it as a new Random reference(pointer)
//         -- I have it generator a random number from Max 0 to 5 then plus 1
//         -- then I return faceValue
    
//***************************************************************************
//Still unclear to me is first why is it roll() what does the too braces mean like
//sometimes I see stuff that has stuff in it like below with SetFaceValue
//       
//I am alos unsure how this return works I understand if it was void it would 
//return nothing and that would not work but I don't understand why  it is return
//facevalue like what facevalue is it returning it too? how does that makes its
//way back to die1 and die2 where this whole thing started.
//        die1.roll();
//        die2.roll();
//***************************************************************************        
 
    public int roll()
    {
        Random generator;
        generator = new Random();
        
        faceValue = generator.nextInt(max) + 1;
        return faceValue;
    }
    
//****************************************************************************
//I sort of get what is going on here that this is where the value would be set
// if this did something but since it does just sits here doing nothing. I don't
// understand why there is (int value) that makes no sense to be at this time.
//        
// Also how would I actually make this method do something what would I need to 
// add to make this work and disply a value?
//****************************************************************************
    public void setFaceValue (int value)
    {
        
    }
//This is here just to GETS the faceValue this would not be needed for this example
//since we would just display the results using the print line method but since
//we have a line of code that wants to get the sum of them without displaying 
//anything we use this.
        
//****************************************************************************
//Again I don't understand what is going on with the return faceVAlue
//****************************************************************************        
    public int getFaceValue()
    {
        return faceValue;
    }
    
//******************************************************************************
//This I really don't understand what is going on here this whole one just 
//confuses me. I don't know where in the program it is used or why it is being 
//used.
//******************************************************************************       
    public String toString()
    {
        String result = Integer.toString(faceValue);
        return result;
    }
 
}

[Layne Lund]

if you see ********************** that means I got a question to ask at that part

So what are your questions at these parts?

Layne

[Michael Hubele]

It is in the code they may not be in exact question format but basicly I wrote something about what I feel is going on and hoping for you all to tell me if it is right or wrong.

like:

//**************************************************************************
//since I think it goes back to the default roll() one when something is
// is not specified
//**************************************************************************

So at that part I am telling you what I think is going on and if it is wrong then correct me plz.

[Layne Lund]

Okay, I understand now. I just saw a lot of code with a lot of comments and my eyes went all blurry through that part of your message. I didn't understand that the comments actually contained your questions. Now that I look closer, you seem to understand much more than you claim. All of your comments in main() describe what is going on fairly accurately. Let's look at your questions:

//This sets the faceValue to 4 but since faceValue has nothing in its method and 
//that since it is void it does nothing and just basicly it chooses another random
//number.
 
//**************************************************************************        
//since I think it goes back to the default roll() one when something is
// is not specified
//**************************************************************************         
        die2.setFaceValue(4);

These comments aren't entirely accurate. Since the setFaceValue() method is empty, this line of code does NOTHING at the moment. It SHOULD set the face value of the die. By looking at your Die class, this seems to mean that you can force the die to show any number you wish, unlike a physical die. So what do you think you should put inside the setFaceValue() method? (Hint: check the member variables.)

Now your next question:

//***************************************************************************
// Could they have done it like this:
// 
// die1.roll();
// die2.roll();
// 
// sum = die1.getFaceValue() + die2.getFaceValue();
// System.out.println("Sum:" + sum);
// 
// Just like they used like before or are they trying to show there are different
// ways that can be done?
// ***************************************************************************       

Yes, you could do it that way. What is the difference? Perhaps you need to implment the setFaceValue() method (i.e. write the code) to see it.

//*****************************************************************************    
//I don't understand why though why does it need to be have a intital face
// value it seems to serve no purpose. Also could this have been called anything
// or does it have to be called by the class name?????
//***************************************************************************** 
    public Die()
    {
        faceValue = 1;
    }

A constructure must have the same name as the class. Also, all member variables must have an initial value. In fact, member variables have a default initial value depending on their type. Object references are set to null by default and numeric values are set to 0. Sometimes this default value is not meaningful so we will set our own intial value explicitly.

//***************************************************************************
//Still unclear to me is first why is it roll() what does the too braces mean like
//sometimes I see stuff that has stuff in it like below with SetFaceValue
//       
//I am alos unsure how this return works I understand if it was void it would 
//return nothing and that would not work but I don't understand why  it is return
//facevalue like what facevalue is it returning it too? how does that makes its
//way back to die1 and die2 where this whole thing started.
//        die1.roll();
//        die2.roll();
//***************************************************************************        

First of all () are called parentheses, { and } are braces, and [ and ] are brackets. The parentheses means that roll() is a method that is a method that takes no parameters. Sometimes we put parameters in between the parentheses like your setFaceValue() method.

The return statement makes it so you can do something like this:

Die die1 = new Die();
int result = die1.roll();

or

Die die1 = new Die();
System.out.println("Rolling die 1: " + die1.roll());

In other words, when some other method calls the roll() method it can use the returned value any way it wants to. Without this return value, you would have to call getFaceValue() which would take an extra line of code.

Notice that the variable facevalue is declared outside of any methods. This means that each Die object has its own facevalue that is stored internally. This is the value that is later returned by the getFaceValue() method. This means that another method can roll() the die once and get its value as many times as you want afterwards. Whether or not this is useful can be debated.

I would like to make a note here that this is not a very good use of the Random class. This is because you create a new Random object each time this method is called. This is likely to not give an appearance of randomness. However, I'm not sure how to concisely explain a good way for you to fix this. So I'll move on to the next question for now:

//****************************************************************************
//I sort of get what is going on here that this is where the value would be set
// if this did something but since it does just sits here doing nothing. I don't
// understand why there is (int value) that makes no sense to be at this time.
//        
// Also how would I actually make this method do something what would I need to 
// add to make this work and disply a value?
//****************************************************************************
    public void setFaceValue (int value)
    {
        
    }

The "int value" means that you can "send" a value to this method. This is the value that the face value should be set to. You are correct that this method does nothing at the moment. I think you need to add some code inside this method (probably a single line) to do what the method's name implies it should do.

Next question:

//****************************************************************************
//Again I don't understand what is going on with the return faceVAlue
//****************************************************************************        
    public int getFaceValue()
    {
        return faceValue;
    }

This is similar to the return statement in the roll() method. I hope I explained clearly what is going on. If not, I think you should read the section in your textbook about methods. It should make more sense than it did the first time. (You DID read it already didn't you?)

//******************************************************************************
//This I really don't understand what is going on here this whole one just 
//confuses me. I don't know where in the program it is used or why it is being 
//used.
//******************************************************************************       
    public String toString()
    {
        String result = Integer.toString(faceValue);
        return result;
    }

It is common to have a method called toString() in any class. In fact, if you don't supply one, a default one already exists, but I won't get into that. The purpose is usually to provide information when you need to debug a program. As you said, you don't know where this is used. It's hiding inside of code like

System.out.println("Die One: " + die1 + ", Die Two: " + die2);

When you use the + operator in this way, it calls the toString() method on the objects referred to by the die1 and die2 references.

As I said before, I think you need to review the section in your textbook about methods. Now that you have some experience with them, it should make some sense.

I hope this helps answer your questions. Please come back with more.

Layne

[Michael Hubele]

Ok the stuff is sort of making a bit more sense but I guess I just need to keep working at it till I understand it.

Anyways I been working on another question but something are not working and somethings don't seem to work how they should.

Same deal like last time I have all my questions/thoughts in my code I have not commented everything thing time just the stuff I am having problems in.

here is what I needed to do:


Write a class Name that stores a person's first, middle, and last names and provides the following methods:
�public Name(String first, String middle, String last)�constructor. The name should be stored in the case given; don't convert to all upper or lower case.
�public String getFirst()�returns the first name
�public String getMiddle()�returns the middle name
�public String getLast()�returns the last name
�public String firstMiddleLast()�returns a string containing the person's full name in order, e.g., "Mary Jane Smith".
�public String lastFirstMiddle()�returns a string containing the person's full name with the last name first followed by a comma, e.g., "Smith, Mary Jane".
�public boolean equals(Name otherName)�returns true if this name is the same as otherName. Comparisons should not be case sensitive. (Hint: There is a String method equalsIgnoreCase that is just like the String method equals except it does not consider case in doing its comparison.)
�public String initials()�returns the person's initials (a 3-character string). The initials should be all in upper case, regardless of what case the name was entered in. (Hint: Instead of using charAt, use the substring method of String to get a string containing only the first letter�then you can upcase this one-letter string. See Figure 3.1 in the text for a description of the substring method.)
�public int length()�returns the total number of characters in the full name, not including spaces.

2.Now write a program TestNames.java that prompts for and reads in two names from the user (you'll need first, middle, and last for each), creates a Name object for each, and uses the methods of the Name class to do the following:
a.For each name, print
�first-middle-last version
�last-first-middle version
�initials
�length
b.Tell whether or not the names are the same.


Here is my code

public class Name
{
    private String firstName;
    private String middleName;
    private String lastName;
    private String sameName;
    private String initial;
    private String firstMiddleLast;
    private String lastFirstMiddle;
  
    
    public Name (String first,String middle,String last)
    {
        firstName = first;
        middleName = middle;
        lastName = last;
    }
   
    public String getFirst()
    {
        return firstName;
    }
    
    public String getMiddle()
    {
        return middleName;
    }
    
   public String getLast()
   {
       return lastName;
   }
   
   public String firstMiddleLast()
   {
       String firstMiddleLast = (firstName + " " + middleName + " " + lastName);
       return firstMiddleLast;
   }
   
   public String lastFirstMiddle()
   {
       lastFirstMiddle = (lastName + ", " + firstName + " " + middleName);
       return lastFirstMiddle;
   }
   
//****************************************************************************
// euqal seems to not be workig either something to do with this line
// sameName = name1 equals(name2);
//
//error I get is: ';' expected but if I put it like this: sameName = name1equals(name2);
//   cannot find symbol
//   symbol : method naem1equals(java.lang.String)
//     location: class name
//****************************************************************************             
   
        
   public boolean equal(String name1, String name2)
   {
        sameName = name1 equals(name2);
        
       boolean equal = firstName.equalsIgnoreCase(name1);
       boolean equal = lastName.equalsIgnoreCase(name2);
   }
   
//****************************************************************************
//Initials does not seem to be working proper --- think I did something wrong
//with substring
//****************************************************************************
   public String initials()
   {
       initial = firstName.substring(1,2);
       initial = initial.toUpperCase();
       return initial;
   }
//****************************************************************************
//I don't think this works either don't know why though
//****************************************************************************        
  public int length()
  {
      return firstMiddleLast.length();
  }
}

public class TestName
{
    public static void main(String [] args)
    {
        Name name1;
        Name name2;
        
        name1 = new Name("Billy","John","Smith");
        name2 = new Name("Joe","Guy","Kent");
        
        System.out.println();
        System.out.println(name1.firstMiddleLast());
        System.out.println(name2.firstMiddleLast());
        
        System.out.println();
        System.out.println("now Last Name first");
        System.out.println();
        
        System.out.println(name1.lastFirstMiddle());
        System.out.println(name2.lastFirstMiddle());
        
        System.out.println();
        System.out.println("now Initals");
        System.out.println();
        
        System.out.println(name1.initials());
        System.out.println(name2.initials());
        
        System.out.println("Now lenghty");
        System.out.println();
        
        System.out.println(name1.length());
        System.out.println(name2.length());
        
        System.out.println("now compaire if there the same");
        System.out.println();
        
//***********************************
//Not working either plus I don't think it is really compareing against something
//at this time
//************************************
        System.out.println(name1.equal());
        System.out.println(name2.equal());
                
                
              
    }
}

[ January 29, 2006: Message edited by: Michael Hubele ]

[Garrett Rowe]

First of its not necessary to store references to anything other than the first, middle, and last names since everything else can be derived from these.
i.e.:

public class Name
{
    private String firstName;
    private String middleName;
    private String lastName;
    private String sameName;
    private String initial;
    private String firstMiddleLast;
    private String lastFirstMiddle;    

Can be shorthened to :

 
private String firstName;
private String middleName;
private String lastName;   

As far as your equals method first look at the method signiture that your requirements specify:
public boolean equals(Name otherName)
Don't change that. Your'e on the right track just think about what you are trying to compare:

 does this firstName equal otherName's firstName (ignoring case)
 ""     ""  middleName ""         ""    middleName
 ""      ""  lastName   ""         ""   lastName
 if all three of these conditions are true
    we can say that these two names are equal   

As for the initials, read the API documentation, or your textbook's notes on the substring() method of String class and see if you can figure this one out.

Finally for the length think about what you want to do in real words, and then turn that into java syntax. i.e. (again in pseudocode):

 get the length of the first name
 add to that the length of the middle name
 add to that the length of the last name
 return this sum    

I say you're on the right track, just needs a few more tweaks
[ January 29, 2006: Message edited by: Garrett Rowe ]

[Michael Hubele]

public class Name
{
    private String firstName;
    private String middleName;
    private String lastName;
    private String sameName;
    private String initial;
    private String firstMiddleLast;
    private String lastFirstMiddle;    

Can be shorthened to :

 
private String firstName;
private String middleName;
private String lastName;   

As far as your equals method first look at the method signiture that your requirements specify:
public boolean equals(Name otherName)
Don't change that. Your'e on the right track just think about what you are trying to compare:

 does this firstName equal otherName's firstName (ignoring case)
 ""     ""  middleName ""         ""    middleName
 ""      ""  lastName   ""         ""   lastName
 if all three of these conditions are true
    we can say that these two names are equal   

As for the initials, read the API documentation, or your textbook's notes on the substring() method of String class and see if you can figure this one out.

Finally for the length think about what you want to do in real words, and then turn that into java syntax. i.e. (again in pseudocode):

 get the length of the first name
 add to that the length of the middle name
 add to that the length of the last name
 return this sum    

I say you're on the right track, just needs a few more tweaks

[ January 29, 2006: Message edited by: Garrett Rowe ][/qb]<hr></blockquote>

 
private String firstName;
private String middleName;
private String lastName;   

Don't understand can u explain in more detail.

with the equals I still am not sure I been playing around with it but still nothing

this is what I have at this time.

    public boolean equal(String name1, String name2)
   {
      sameName = name1.equals(firstMiddleLast); // SameName  is declared boolean(instead of string) at the top now?????
       boolean equal = firstName.equalsIgnoreCase(name1);
       boolean equal2 = lastName.equalsIgnoreCase(name2);
       
       return sameName;
   }

but still not working.

I have not looked at substring one yet.

[ January 31, 2006: Message edited by: Michael Hubele ]
[ January 31, 2006: Message edited by: Michael Hubele ]

[Layne Lund]

Your requirements say you need a method that looks like

public boolean equals(Name otherName)

This is not the same as the equal() method you are working on. In fact, I don't see anything in the project description that says you need an equal(String, String) method. Do you see the difference?

Once you understand that much, you need to define what it means for two Name objects to be "equal". It looks like you are representing a Name internally with three separate Strings (first, middle, and last names). How will you use these to determine if two Names are "equal"?

Layne

[Garrett Rowe]

Don't understand can u explain in more detail.

No problem. What I mean is if your class already holds references to the first, middle and last names; and you (will) have methods to detemine their first, middle, and last itnitital, their names in another order etc. then you dont need to store references to these values. I just reread that and it stlii sounds confusing to me so let me state it another way. In your code you have this method.

public String lastFirstMiddle()
   {
       lastFirstMiddle = (lastName + ", " + firstName + " " + middleName);
       return lastFirstMiddle;
   }    

which should work fine. What I'm saying is that you really dont need a class level variable to reflect this. If you ever want a String containing the names in this order all you have to do is call this method. Therefore this method can be changed to:

public String lastFirstMiddle()
   {
       //Note use of strictly local variable
        String changedOrder = (lastName + ", " + firstName + " " + middleName);
       return changedOrder;
   }    

or even use no variable at all

public String lastFirstMiddle()
   {
       return (lastName + ", " + firstName + " " + middleName);
   }

All I'm saying here is that it is a good idea in geeral to limit all variables to as small a scope as possible.

with the equals I still am not sure I been playing around with it but still nothing

this is what I have at this time.

public boolean equal(String name1, String name2)
       {
          sameName = name1.equals(firstMiddleLast); // SameName  is declared boolean(instead of string) at the top now?????
           boolean equal = firstName.equalsIgnoreCase(name1);
           boolean equal2 = lastName.equalsIgnoreCase(name2);
           
           return sameName;
       }

From the specifications you gave, the signiture of the equals method should look like

public boolean equals(Name otherName)
//Note this equals method compares this Name instance to 
//some other Name instance
{
   //otherName has a first, middle, and last name.
   //compare to se if the equal this first middle and last name
   //if all are equal return true;
   //else return false;    

Hope this helps a little.

Garrett

[Michael Hubele]

Thxs I figured it out. Thxs all for all ur help.