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Head First Java P148 - DotComBust - compile errors

+Pie Number of slices to send: Send
I have what I (as a total beginner) consider an odd problem. I have spent a couple days thinking about, checked out related posts on this forum, and rechecked the typed code; but I can't find the problem. I imagine it will be simple, but I don't get it (at this stage). (I am using Java 6)

There are three classes. DotComBust DotCom GameHelper
DotCom compiles OK
GameHelper compiles OK
DotComBust does not compile - it complains not finding the 'DotCom' symbol.

Below are the classes and error output.

import java.util.*;
public class DotComBust {
private GameHelper helper = new GameHelper();
private ArrayList<DotCom> dotComsList = new ArrayList<DotCom>();
private int numOfGuesses = 0;

private void setUpGame() {
// first make some dot coms and them locations
DotCom one = new DotCom();
one.setName("Pets.com");
DotCom two = new DotCom();
two.setName("eToys.com");
DotCom three = new DotCom();
three.setName("Go2.com");
dotComsList.add(one);
dotComsList.add(two);
dotComsList.add(three);

System.out.println("Your goal is to sink threee dot coms.");
System.out.println("Pets.com, eToys.com, Go2.com");
System.out.println("Try to sink them all in the fewest number of guesses");

for(DotCom dotComToSet : dotComsList){
ArrayList<String> newLocation = helper.placeDotCom(3);
dotComToSet.setLocationCells(newLocation);
} // close loop
} //close set up game Method


private void startPlaying() {
while(!dotComsList.isEmpty()) {
String userGuess = helper.getUserInput("Enter a guess");
checkUserGuess(userGuess);
} //close while
finishGame();
} //close start playing game Method

private void checkUserGuess(String userGuess) {
numOfGuesses++;
String result = "miss";
for(DotCom dotComToTest : dotComsList) {
result = dotComToTest.checkYourself(userGuess);
if(result.equals("hit")) {
break;
}
if (result.equals("kill")) {
dotComsList.remove(dotComToTest);
break;
}
}

System.out.println(result);
}

private void finishGame(){
System.out.println("All Dot Coms are dead! Your stock is now worthless.");
if(numOfGuesses <=18){
System.out.println("It only took you " + numOfGuesses + " guesses.");
System.out.println("You got out before your options sank");
} else {
System.out.println("Took you long enough. " + numOfGuesses + " guesses.");
System.out.println("Fish are dancing with your options.");
}
} //close method

public static void main (String[] args) {
DotComBust game = new DotComBust();
game.setUpGame();
game.startPlaying();

}
}


import java.util.*;

public class DotCom {
private ArrayList<String> locationCells;
private String name;

public void setLocationCells(ArrayList<String> loc) {
locationCells = loc;
}

public void setName(String n) {
name = n;
}

public String checkYourself(String userInput) {
String result = "miss";
int index = locationCells.indexOf(userInput);
if(index>=0) {
locationCells.remove(index);

if(locationCells.isEmpty()) {
result ="kill";
System.out.println("Ouch! you sunk " + name + " : ( ");
} else {
result = "hit";
} // clase if
}
return result;
} // close method
} // close class


import java.io.*;
import java.util.*;

public class GameHelper {
private static final String alphabet = "abcdefg";
private int gridLength = 7;
private int gridSize = 49;
private int [] grid = new int[gridSize];
private int comCount = 0;


public String getUserInput(String prompt) {
String inputLine = null;
System.out.print(prompt + " ");
try {
BufferedReader is = new BufferedReader(
new InputStreamReader(System.in));
inputLine = is.readLine();
if(inputLine.length()==0) return null;
} catch (IOException e) {
System.out.println("IOException: " + e);
}
return inputLine.toLowerCase();
}

public ArrayList<String> placeDotCom(int comSize) {
ArrayList<String> alphaCells = new ArrayList<String>();
String[] alphacoords = new String [comSize];
String temp = null;
int [] coords = new int[comSize];
int attempts = 0;
boolean success = false;
int location = 0;

comCount++;
int incr = 1;
if ((comCount % 2) == 1) {
incr = gridLength;
}

while (!success & attempts++ <200){
location = (int) (Math.random() * gridSize);
//System.out.print(" try " + location);
int x=0;
success = true;
while(success && x < comSize) {
if (grid[location] == 0) {
coords[x++] = location;
location += incr;
if (location >= gridSize) {
success = false;
}
if (x>0 && (location % gridLength ==0)) {
success = false;
}

} else {
//System.out.print(" used " + location);
success = false;
}
}
}
//

int x = 0;
int row = 0;
int column = 0;
//System.out.println("/n");
while (x < comSize) {
grid[coords[x]] = 1;
row = (int) (coords[x] / gridLength);
column = coords[x] % gridLength;
temp = String.valueOf(alphabet.charAt(column));
alphaCells.add(temp.concat(Integer.toString(row)));
x++;
}
//System.out.println("/n");
return alphaCells;
}
}





Thanks, any help would be much appreciated.

Marten
+Pie Number of slices to send: Send
do you have the GameHelper.class and DotCom.class files? are they in the \java\Game directory?

I cut-n-pasted your code, as is, into three notepad documents, saved them all in the same directory, and it compiled with no problems.

I'm not using 1.6, but i don't see how that would matter...
+Pie Number of slices to send: Send
Hi Marten,

It's likely that you've got the CLASSPATH environment variable (which the compiler uses to find classes while it's working) set to something which doesn't include the current directory. From now on, instead of "javac" use "javac -cp ." (that's "javac space dash cp space dot). This will tell the compiler to look for any classes it needs in the current directory, and then things should work fine.
+Pie Number of slices to send: Send
marten kay,

I am working with the same book, would love to talk with ya, chat whatever, to discuss any problems.

Ive ran into quite a few myself, would be great having someone else to talk with who is doing same stuff as me.

We cna arrange to exchange IM/Messenger info if you like.

Let me know..
+Pie Number of slices to send: Send
Hi Fred, Hi Ernest

Thank you both for you help. Both solution worked.

For information
For this particular game I created a new directory and therefore it started playing up.

Ernests "javac -cp ." did work, then I played around with environment variable so that I could use javac again. I set the CLASSPATH through the tabs on 'My Computer', but this did not work. "I needed to clobber it!" using " Set CLASSPATH=..." in the DOS prompt. After I clobbered the new both, everythin work fine again. I did not know what clobbering meant when I started, but now I do.

Again, thank you so much for your help.

Marten
Hey, check out my mega multi devastator cannon. It's wicked. It makes this tiny ad look weak:
a bit of art, as a gift, the permaculture playing cards
https://gardener-gift.com


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