How can I print the position in the array?

[Ben Grabouski]

Hello,

So I have an array of JButtons in a grid 13x16. One of my objective in the array is to have it output the position that the ball is in. I have managed to get it to work but it is not in a loop so therefore I would have to write out the code for every space in the array which would take forever and I was hoping someone would be able to tell me how to loop it so that I don't have to do so? this is the code for outputting the space in square 1 of the array, is there a way of saying "IF ball moves down setText new position of the ball"?

	
        if (image_array[Y][X] == image_array[0][0]) {
		square_Field.setText("1");
	}

many thanks
Ben

[Carey Brown]

You already have examples of nested loops traversing your 2D array in your other post. Why not copy that and show us what you've done and where you're still stuck.

[Ben Grabouski]

Well, i need to put one line in the nested 2d array to make it output a value per button. for example, the first button in the array should be button one, I then need it to output that the baby is in that position on the maze in a text field. This is the code for the loop, I need it so when the baby is stood in the button it outputs the baby location. the code for the loop is this:

	mazePanel = new JPanel(new GridLayout(13,16)); 
	mazePanel.setBackground(Color.white);
	for (int a=0; a<13; a++) { 
		for (int h=0; h<16; h++) {
			imgArray[a][h] = new JButton();
                        // here is where I need to add the new line of code
			if (maze[a][h] == 1)
				imgArray[a][h].setIcon(white);
			else if (maze[a][h] == 0)
				imgArray[a][h].setIcon(bricks);
			mazePanel.add(imgArray[a][h]); 
		}

[Norm Radder]

have an array of JButtons in a grid  

Are you asking how to get the row,column location of a button that was clicked on?
One way is to store the button's location inside of the button object so it can be retrieved from the button object when it is passed to a listener.

where I need to add the new line of code

What is that for?

[Ben Grabouski]

I've added the baby image via the imageArray[y][x] to the array and I need a statement saying that if the baby location is equal to the image array location output the value of the button the baby is standing on. I hope that makes sense.

[Ben Grabouski]

Norm how would I do that?

[Carey Brown]

A 2D array doesn't have a position '1', it does have a position (0,0) though.

[Ben Grabouski]

Norm Radder wrote:

have an array of JButtons in a grid  

Are you asking how to get the row,column location of a button that was clicked on?
One way is to store the button's location inside of the button object so it can be retrieved from the button object when it is passed to a listener.

where I need to add the new line of code

What is that for?

that line was so you guys would know where I thought the new line would need to be put telling it to add the values

[Ben Grabouski]

Carey Brown wrote:A 2D array doesn't have a position '1', it does have a position (0,0) though.

I know, I need it to convert that position [0][0] to a string saying 1

[Norm Radder]

how would I do that?

I know of two ways:
1) use the button component's ClientProperty methods to put and get the value
2) extend the button class and add methods to save and retrieve the desired values

[Ben Grabouski]

Ben Grabouski wrote:

Carey Brown wrote:A 2D array doesn't have a position '1', it does have a position (0,0) though.

I know, I need it to convert that position [0][0] to a string saying 1

and then do that for every other button as well with the button [0][1] being 2 and [0][2] being 3

[Carey Brown]

import java.awt.Point;
...
Point babyLocation;
...
babyLocation = new Point(x,y);

[Carey Brown]

Ben Grabouski wrote:

Carey Brown wrote:A 2D array doesn't have a position '1', it does have a position (0,0) though.

I know, I need it to convert that position [0][0] to a string saying 1

In the context of a 2D array [0][0] or (0,0) has meaning. What does '1' mean? For that matter, what does '27' mean?

[Ben Grabouski]

there is a 16x13 grid of jbuttons with icons in them. the baby begins in the first button on the grid. there is a text field called square position. the text field needs to output the number of the square the baby is standing on as a string. the first button in the array is [0][0], i need the square position text field to output that that square is 1. the square next to the first square is [0][1], i need the code so when the baby moves into that space it would display the number 2 in the text field saying that is the second button. i need it to set every button to a value and have that value outputted into the square position textfield only when the baby stands on it.

[Norm Radder]

when the baby stands on it

What values are available when that happens?  
Are row, col (x,y) available?
Or is a reference to a button in the grid?
Or what?

[Carey Brown]

This is your first mention of a TextField. Is there an array of TextFields or only one? If the text field displays '27' what does that tell you?

[Ben Grabouski]

the baby is img_array[X][Y].setIcon(baby);. i have it set up so when i press a button in the direction it will change the x or y value to move the baby location into a different button in the array. what I need to happen is when that location is changed (for example moving right one) it will update the text field and say "now the baby is stood in square: 2"

[Ben Grabouski]

Carey Brown wrote:This is your first mention of a TextField. Is there an array of TextFields or only one? If the text field displays '27' what does that tell you?

there is only one text field, not an array. this text field needs to output what button the baby is currently standing on.

[Carey Brown]

...and what if baby moves down 1?

[Ben Grabouski]

Carey Brown wrote:This is your first mention of a TextField. Is there an array of TextFields or only one? If the text field displays '27' what does that tell you?

if the text field said the number 27 the baby is stood in [11][1]

[Ben Grabouski]

Carey Brown wrote:...and what if baby moves down 1?

if I were to move down 1 it would need to display the number 17 as the numbers should go across the rows 1-16 and when that row finishes it should move onto the next row and say 17#

[Carey Brown]

Ben Grabouski wrote:

Carey Brown wrote:This is your first mention of a TextField. Is there an array of TextFields or only one? If the text field displays '27' what does that tell you?

if the text field said the number 27 the baby is stood in [11][1]

I think you'll find that it is [1][11] instead ([row][col] which is different than (x,y)), which makes my point, you shouldn't be asking the player to have to perform mental arithmetic in order to determine what space '27' (or anything else) is in.

What exactly does your requirements ask for?

[Carey Brown]

Following your logic, you can compute the location by:
square = row * 16 + col + 1;
you shouldn't need to store it.

[Ben Grabouski]

my requirement sheet says:
"The "Square" will be set to the current position of the baby i.e it will be in the range of 0 - 207 when the top left is 0 and the bottom right is 207"

so I need to convert the position of the baby in the grid to a number between 0 - 207.

[Carey Brown]

Well enough.  So....
square = row * 16 + col;
you shouldn't need to store it.

[Ben Grabouski]

Hey I resolved the issue. I had to create another 2d array but of integers instead of buttons and use the array to reference the babies position. And then convert the integer value to a string and output it. Thanks for the help though.

[Ben Grabouski]

hey sorry, I thought I had responded to this post but apparently not. I had solved the issue using an integer array in the same layout as the maze array then I set it up so when the baby moved it read the new integer as a string from the maze and outputted it. Thanks for the help though!

[Campbell Ritchie]

Ben Grabouski wrote:. . . another 2d array . . . .

I am afraid that doesn't strike me as a good solution. What you now have is parallel arrays, which are very error‑prone. It would be better to create a Baby class and a Brick class, each of which has fields recording its location. You can have a move(Direction) method, and an enum for directions.

/*
 * Very incomplete implementation follows.
 * You would do well to add something to implement the movement.
 * That can be something very simple.
 */
enum Direction
{
   UP, DOWN, RIGHT, LEFT;
}

You can get the Baby to test the array for whether there is a route where it is trying to go. Or, more object‑orientedly, create a Location object and a Map to link locations with bricks.