ArrayList versus Array

[junpogi]

Hello gurus,
Could you guys help me on translating regular array to using ArrayList?

Let's say I have an array of Employee. Employee has a method called setWhatEver().

Using regular array:

Employee emp = new Employee[5];

for (int i=0; i <5; i++){
emp[i] = new Employee();
emp[i].setWhatEver(); //// How do I do this using ArrayList?
}

So far I can only do:
ArrayList<Employee> emp = ArrayList<Employee>(5);

How can I use the method setWhatEver() using ArrayList in a for-loop similar to above?

Thanks!

[Eranga]

What you have tried so far? Did you get any error messages?

[junpogi]

Hello Eranga,
Thank you for replying. This is what I tried:

ArrayList<Employee> emp = ArrayList<Employee>(5);

for (int i=0; i<5; i++)
{
emp.set(i , new Employee());
emp[i].setWhatEver(); /////////// <----This is not working
}

Any ideas?

[Eranga]

First of all, you should study more about ArrayList. Did you read about it on Java doc.

ArrayList<Employee> emp = new ArrayList<Employee>();

[freddieMaize]

Employee emp = new Employee[5];
ArrayList emp_list = new ArrayList();
for(int i=0;i<emp.length;i++){
emp_list.add(emp[i]);
}

[Norm]

emp[i].setWhatEver(); /////////// <----This is not working

You are using array notation ([i]) with the variable emp.
Is emp an array?
If not, then you need to read the API doc for the type/class that it is to see how to get an element out of that class.

[junpogi]

Thank you guys for replying. What I want to do is "change my array program" using an ArrayList. I want to be able to expand my arrays of emp of type Employee and be able to use its method.

I want to recode a typical array as shown below and use ArrayList instead. Please note that I need to access the method of the Employee. Please see below.

***my regular array program. i would like to recode this using arraylist***
Employee emp = new Employee[5];

for (int i=0; i <5; i++){
emp[i] = new Employee();
emp[i].setWhatEver(); //<----How do I do this using ArrayList?
}

Can this be done? Please read original note. Thanks!

[Norm]

-How do I do this using ArrayList?

Read the API doc for start.

you need to read the API doc for the type/class that it is to see how to get an element out of that class.

[CJSLMAN]

Yes you can turn arrays into arraylist (lists):
String array to arraylist (Java in General (intermediate) forum at JavaRanch)
But the way you're doing it doesn't look right...

emp[i] = new Employee();

... which means that you're trying to instantiate a class to an array (I don't think this is doable).
CJSL

[Eranga]

You must read about ArrayList in Java doc. Completely mess with what you are going to do. So first of all read it and try to get a complete idea.

[Norm]

emp[i] = new Employee()

trying to instantiate a class to an array (I don't think this is doable).

Not sure what you are saying.
The above statement is how you would set the ith element in the emp array to an instance of the Employee class. That assumes that emp is an array of Employee, such as defined by: Employee[] emp;

[CJSLMAN]

yep Norm... your right. I wasn't seeing it as an array of Employee classes... duh... sorry...my bad :(. Just goes to show what 6 hours of sleep can do over a 40 hr period ...

CJSL

[Norm]

Meanwhile I guess the OP is reading the API doc for ArrayList.

[Eranga]

Meanwhile I guess the OP is reading the API doc for ArrayList.

He has to do that. I'm sure with our all post in different explanation, our OP can confuse on Arrays and ArrayList.