Exam question confusion - UML asks for print() method

[Pedro Hall]

I would really appreciate it if somebody could take a look at this. I've studying for an exam on Monday and am a little confused.

I'm working through previous exam papers and the first question always asks the student to write code based on a few UML diagrams.

Some of the classes usually contain methods for toString () and print ().

I can understand why the code should have a toString () method but I don't know what I'm supposed to do with the print() method..

See question 1 here for an example: http://exampapers.cit.ie/pastexams/Computing/KWEBD_8_Y1/2012%20Semester1/KWEBD_8_Y1%20SOFT7004%20Object%20Oriented%20Programming%201.pdf

Thanks.

[Campbell Ritchie]

Welcome to the Ranch

The answer is that whoever wrote those exam papers likes to have a print() method. I don't usually write them as a routine myself. Once you have a toString method you can probably write a print() method very simply like this:-

public class Foo
{
   ...

   @Override public String toString()
   {
      String s = ...;
      return s;
   }

   public void print()
   {
      System.out.println(this);
   }
}

I shall leave you to work out how that print() method works for yourself. It is really quite simple.

[Pedro Hall]

Thanks Campbell

[Campbell Ritchie]

You're welcome