[SOLVED] NullPointerException - FileInfo Program

[keffie91]

Hello I am writing a Program that gives information about what kind of characters a file contains. The file is read by console.

This is the code:

import java.io.*;
public class FileInfo {
    public static void main(String[] args) throws IOException, FileNotFoundException {
        BufferedReader myIn = new BufferedReader(new InputStreamReader(System.in));
        System.out.println("This program gives info about a file.");
        System.out.print("What is the filename?"); System.out.flush();
        String name = myIn.readLine();
        BufferedReader bufIn = new BufferedReader(new FileReader(name));
        char ch;
        int Letter = 0;
        int Digit = 0;
        while(true){
            String a = bufIn.readLine();
        for(int i = 0; i < a.length(); i++){
             ch = a.charAt(i);
            if(Character.isLetter(ch) == true){
                Letter++;
            }
            else if(Character.isDigit(ch) == true){
                Digit++;
            }
             
        }
          if(a == null)
               break;  
        }
        System.out.println("This file contains: " + Letter + " Letters");
        System.out.println("This file contains: " + Digit + " Digits");
    }

}

But i get a nullpointerexception at line 14 That is where the for statement starts.

I don't know what the exception means in this case and how to solve it.
Can someone explain to me what the exception means in this case and some tips about how to solve it.

Thanks keffie91

[CJSLMAN]

When you get a NPE, it means that your trying to use a variable/object that is null.

for(int i = 0; i < a.length(); i++)

In the above code, the ONLY thing that could be null is "a". What is happening is your trying to read the next line when there is none, "a" becomes null and then you try to use "a" in the for statement which upchucks the NPE.

Solution: change the comparation/check for nulll to directly AFTER the read line assigment.

Luck,
CJSL

[keffie91]

Thanks man, I understand.

keffie91

[CJSLMAN]

Glad to help,

CJSL