Java in unfamiliar realms !!

[mgm2010]

I am an amateur programmer and learning languages 'for the sake of learning' and not necessarily for becoming a fire-brand programmer. I had started with C++ and have quite a lot of proficiency with it. Along the way, I found that Java has a familiar code and I have done quite a lot of codes on it as well. I have practised on command prompt(on win98 only), Eclipse, JCreator and drJava, the latter three on both windows. Everything was going well till something like the following arrived.

public class GradeBookTest
   {
      
      public static void main( String args[] )
      {
         
        GradeBook myGradeBook = new GradeBook();

         myGradeBook.displayMessage();
     } 

  }

And everything has gone for a toss. Nothing seems to work and it is so frustrating.
I have installed jdk1.5.0_18( on win98/winXP). On winXP I had continued all my practice without even setting path(Of course, on win98 I had to set path for working on command prompt)
The present situation is that even after setting the path on winXP ,as follows, nothing appears to work.

''""go to MY COMPUTERS
-->properties
-->advanced
-->environment variables

now u have user variables and system variables
below user variables u have 3 options

new edit delete

click on new

a box with varaiable name and variable value gets opened
enter variable name as 'class path'
variable value as

(drivein which java is stored):\program files\java\jdk(version)\lib;

egs: C:\program files\Java\jdk1.6.0\lib;

enter variable name as 'path'
variable value as

(drive in which java is stored):\program files\java\jdk(version)\bin;

egs: C:\program files\Java\jdk1.6.0\bin;''""

What I am curious to know is whether there is a quantum jump in Java due to which it has entered unfamiliar realms requiring substantial change in working environment ??

[logicbug]

What errors are you getting? Do you have the GradeBook class in your project?

[mgm2010]

I am on win98 and on the following code in drJava (which shows compiler jdk5.0_18)

public class GradeBookTest
   {
      
      public static void main( String args[] )
      {
         
        GradeBook myGradeBook = new GradeBook();//Error Here

       
        myGradeBook.displayMessage();
     } 

  }

And I am getting the following error
"""
Error:cannot find symbol
symbol: class GradeBook
location: class GradeBookTest
"""

[logicbug]

yep as I thought, GradeBook is a User written class. Write a GradeBook class and that error will go away.

That code looks familiar, is it out of a book?

[mgm2010]

Write a GradeBook class and that error will go away.

That code looks familiar, is it out of a book?

How do I write ??
Yes, it is out of a book.

[logicbug]

hmm, not to familiar with OO then?

in a seperate file in your project

public class GradeBook {
      public GradeBook() { //This is your constructor }

      // your code calles this method from within GradeBook so you have to write it too
     public void  displayMessage() { System.out.println "GradeBooks display message"; }
}

hope that helps

[mgm2010]

public class GradeBook {
      public GradeBook() { //This is your constructor} 

      // your code calles this method from within GradeBook so you have to write it too
     public void  displayMessage()  //Error: Illegal start of expression
     { 
       System.out.println ("GradeBook display message");
       }
    }        //Error: Expected ;
}

I am very sorry, the code appears to be from chapters I have not attempted yet. However if you wish you may provide help.

[logicbug]

Thats alright, If you have any other questions don't be afraid to ask!

[mgm2010]

Many many thanks !! This code relates to which chapter ??

[logicbug]

no idea, your the one with the book. Which book are you using anyway?

[mgm2010]

In the book I got recently, Java How To Program( I have been practising from other books) this code ,surprisingly, appears very early in chap 3 -- Classes and Objects. Is the student required to know so much so early ??

[Singing Boyo]

Yes... in Java, Classes are the basis of all programs. In fact, it is possible to write a fully functional program using nothing but Classes, however, this can become difficult and make code difficult for a more advanced programmer to understand, as Classes, Interfaces, and Enums are used for different reasons. However, with a bit of work, it is possible to create a class that will imitate an Interface or an Enum, though you cannot use multiple Classes that act as an Interface within a class, as Java does not support multiple inheritance. However, you should definitely focus on learning about Classes, and as for Objects, well, an instance of a Class is, in effect, an Object. If I were you, I would do some very thorough reading of that chapter.

[mgm2010]

Many many thanks, everyone !! It has been an enlightening discussion.