help capturing input from drop down

[javalearner1234]

Working on an assignment and just need a little help or point in the right direction to capture the information in the drop down. I was able to capture the text if it is manually entered but using the drop down is messing with me. I can either use a drop down or select the 3 options from check boxes.

import java.io.*;
import java.awt.*;
import java.text.DecimalFormat;    //import java.text for decimal formatting
import java.lang.Math;             //import java math class for formulas and calculations
import javax.swing.JOptionPane;    //import a Java swing components for display messages and accept user input via dialog boxes
public class Mortgage_Calc
{
	public static void main(String[] args)   //method header
	{
      //declare variables
		int numMonths,iVar,iMenuInt;
		int numYears=0;
		int years[] = {7,15,30};    //static number of years 
		double intRates[]={.0535,.055,.0575};   //static interest rates
		double loanAmount,monthlyPayment,newloanAmount,curMInterest,curMPrincipal;
		double annualInterestRate=0.0;
		double monthInterestRate=0.0;
		String totalLoan,interestLoan,pmtSched,iMenu,termLoan;
		String sample[] = {"7 years at 5.35%","15 years at 5.5%","30 years at 5.75%"};
            
		//set decimal formats
		DecimalFormat money = new DecimalFormat("$###,###.00");
		DecimalFormat percent = new DecimalFormat("#.00%");
		
		//start loop
		do
		{
			iMenu=JOptionPane.showInputDialog(null, "Option 0 - Exit program.\nOption 1 - To input amount, then select a predetermined term, and interest rate.\n\nenter 1 to run program or O (zero) to quit");
			iMenuInt = Integer.parseInt(iMenu);
			
			if (iMenuInt>0)
			{
				//ask for loan amount
				totalLoan=JOptionPane.showInputDialog(null, "What is the amount of the mortgage?\n\nexample ($200,000 = 200000)  do not enter , or $");
				loanAmount = Double.parseDouble(totalLoan);
				
				switch (iMenuInt)
				{
					case 1:		//display dropdown selection 
					String option = (String)JOptionPane.showInputDialog(null,"Which loan option?","Options",JOptionPane.QUESTION_MESSAGE,null,sample,sample[sample.length-1]);
					break;
				}

				monthInterestRate=annualInterestRate/12;  //interest rate broken down by month
				numMonths = numYears*12;                  //converts years to months
				monthlyPayment=loanAmount*(monthInterestRate/(1-(Math.pow((1+monthInterestRate),0-numMonths))));    //monthly payment formula

				//monthly payment output
				JOptionPane.showMessageDialog(null,"A mortgage loan of " + money.format(loanAmount) + " for " + numYears +" years \nwith an interest rate of " + percent.format(annualInterestRate) + " will result in a\nmonthly payment of " + money.format(monthlyPayment) + " for the life of the loan.\n\nPlease click OK to see the amortization schedule.","Thank you!",JOptionPane.INFORMATION_MESSAGE);

				//amortization output
				iVar=0;
				pmtSched="\nMonth            ";
				pmtSched+="Balance                   ";
				pmtSched+="Interest             ";
				pmtSched+="Principal\n";
				do
					{
						iVar++;
						curMInterest=loanAmount*monthInterestRate;     //payment that is applied  to the interest on the loan
						curMPrincipal=monthlyPayment-curMInterest;    //payment that is applied to the principal of the loan
						newloanAmount=loanAmount-curMPrincipal;       //remaining balance of the loan at the end of the month
						pmtSched+=String.valueOf(iVar)+"                     ";
						pmtSched+=money.format(loanAmount)+"           ";
						pmtSched+=money.format(curMInterest)+"           ";
						pmtSched+=money.format(curMPrincipal)+"\n";
						loanAmount=newloanAmount;
						
						if ( iVar % 25 == 0) {
						pmtSched+="\n\n\nMonth            ";
						pmtSched+="Balance                   ";
						pmtSched+="Interest              ";
						pmtSched+="Principal\n";
					}

				} while (iVar<numMonths);
				JOptionPane.showMessageDialog(null,new TextArea(pmtSched,30,60),"Your Loan Payment Amortization Schedule",JOptionPane.INFORMATION_MESSAGE);
			}
		} 		while (iMenuInt>0);
			System.exit(0);
	}
}

[Mr.Beans]

Are you looking for a drop down menu class?

Try JComboBox

[Fubarable]

Your JOptionPane.showInputDialog returns a String. Have you had a look at the String returned? If not, you should...

            switch (iMenuInt) {
               case 1: // display dropdown selection
                  String option = (String) JOptionPane.showInputDialog(null,
                           "Which loan option?", "Options",
                           JOptionPane.QUESTION_MESSAGE, null, sample,
                           sample[sample.length - 1]);

                  // !! I added this.  See what's returned.  Perhaps you can use it.
                  System.out.println("Option selected: " + option);
                  
                  break;
            }

[javalearner1234]

Thanks fubarable-- I added your line and it did not help. I am thinking I am going to have to start over on this. My last assignment just wanted everything manually entered, which worked. So I was just trying to tweak that program to work from a drop down. The 3rd assignement just combines both of these options so that is easier if I can get past this.

thanks again

[Fubarable]

Thanks fubarable-- I added your line and it did not help.

My line was not a direct solution to your problem but to allow you to see what that String held. If you know what the String holds, you should be smart enough to compare it with the source Strings in the sample array and thereby come up with a solution, no?

[javalearner1234]

Thanks fubarable. I will continue to research this...