Returning Array from a method

[Manfizy]

Hello Programmers,

I have a method that populates an array and returns it.
I need two methods, one that populates the array and another one that shows the contents of the array. Both methods should be triggered from the main method.
I have done exactly that but i get a null when i try to display contents of the array from the main method.
Someone please check my code and tell me where i'm making a mistakes.

public class ArrayExample {

	public static String[][] personArray;
	public ArrayExample() {
		super();
	}
	/**
     * Demonstates initializing and populating a multi-dimensional array in
     * several statements
     */
    public String[][] multiDimensionalArray() {

       	String[][] personArray =  
       		 {
			  {"John","Phillips","DOB"},
			  {"Manfred","Hahn","DOB"},
			  {"Jane","Dickson","DOB"}
       		 };

	return personArray;

     }
  /**
    *
    */	 
     
   public void showArrayContent(String[][] ar){
	//multiDimensionalArray();        
	int i,j;
	for(i=0; i< ar.length; i++){

		for(j=0; j<ar[i].length; j++){
		
		 System.out.println( "multiDimensionalArray()"+i+". "+ ar[i][j]);
		 }
	}
     		
  }
	/**
	 * @param args
	 */
	public static void main(String[] args) {
		// TODO Auto-generated method stub
		ArrayExample arrays = new ArrayExample();
        arrays.multiDimensionalArray();
        //System.out.println("ARRAY OUT : "+personArray[1][1]);
        arrays.showArrayContent(personArray);
	

	}

}

[Tolls]

In the multiDimensionalArray() method you are creating an array local to that method, not the one that is an attribute of the class.
The attribute array 'personArray' is always null.

[Manfizy]

I know that BUT if i use the array constant "personArray" i get the error "Array constants can only be used in initializers"

public String[][] multiDimensionalArray() {

personArray =
{
{"John","Phillips","DOB"},
{"Manfred","Hahn","DOB"},
{"Jane","Dickson","DOB"}
};

return personArray;

}

In the multiDimensionalArray() method you are creating an array local to that method, not the one that is an attribute of the class.
The attribute array 'personArray' is always null.

[DarrylBurke]

Use code tags, not quote tags for posting code.

Assignment to an array literal in the way you have tried is only valid in conjunction with array declaration. For assigning a previously declared array, the new keyword is required.

personArray = new String[][] {{..}...}

Also, why is personArray a static member?

i use the array constant "personArray"

It's not a constant.

db