how to store into array.char cannot dereference

[dark_metal]

im encounter a problem on how to store the value generated by random function into an array.it requires me not to repeat asking the same alphabets in the question..The question is like this:

Write a graphical user interface (GUI) application to be used to test Kindergarten children on the alphabet (‘A’-‘Z’).

The application will ask questions like:

What comes after D?

A child is expected to answer the question and the application will inform the child if the answer is correct or wrong. The application will ask a total of 20 questions. After all 20 questions have been answered, the application will display a score (from 0 to 20) to inform the child how many questions he or she answered correctly. The application will also list all the letters that were asked.

The letters tested are from ‘A’ up to ‘Y’. Do not include the letter ‘Z’. The letters are selected randomly. No letters are to be repeated, that is, each letter is only asked once in the 20 questions.

my code is as below:

import javax.swing.*;	
import java.awt.*;
import java.awt.event.*;
import java.util.Random;

public class lol1 extends JFrame implements ActionListener
{	
//	private JLabel lblQuesNo;
	private JLabel lblPromptQues;
	private JLabel lblDisplayLetter;
	private JLabel lblAnswer;
	private JLabel lblCorrectWrong;
	private JButton btnClear;
	private JButton btnSubmit;
	private JTextField txtInput;
	
		//Array to hold the preload letter
	private char [] storeLetter = new char[25];
		//Hold the letter each time it is created
	private	char letter;

		//Array to hold letter generated
	//private char [] genLetter = new char[25];
	
	private	int count=0;
	private int score=0;
	private int j;
	private int i;
	
	public lol1(){
		setSize(220,220);
		setLocation(300,500);
		
		btnSubmit = new JButton("Submit");
		btnSubmit.addActionListener(this);
		
		btnClear  = new JButton("Clear");
		btnClear.addActionListener(this);
		
		letter   = (char)((int)'A'+Math.random()*((int)'Y'-(int)'A'+1));
		
		if(storeLetter[i]==0){
			storeLetter[i] = letter;
			i++;
			for(i=0; i<storeLetter[i].length(); i++){
				if (storeLetter[i] == letter)
					letter   = (char)((int)'A'+Math.random()*((int)'Y'-(int)'A'+1));
			}
		}
		//lblQuesNo = new JLabel("Question No");
		lblPromptQues = new JLabel("What letter comes after ");
		lblDisplayLetter = new JLabel(Character.toString(letter) + "?");
	
		txtInput=new JTextField(5);
		Container c;
		JPanel p1;
		JPanel p2;
		JPanel p3;
		
		p1 = new JPanel();
		p1.setLayout(new FlowLayout());
		//p1.add(lblQuesNo);
		p1.add(lblPromptQues);
		p1.add(lblDisplayLetter);
		
		p2 = new JPanel();
		p2.setLayout(new FlowLayout());
		p2.add(new JLabel("Answer                 :"));
		p2.add(txtInput);

		lblCorrectWrong = new JLabel();
		
		p3 = new JPanel();
		p3.add(btnSubmit);
		p3.add(btnClear);
		p3.add(lblCorrectWrong);

		c = getContentPane();
		c.setLayout(new GridLayout(3,1));
		c.add(p1, BorderLayout.NORTH);
		c.add(p2, BorderLayout.CENTER);
		c.add(p3, BorderLayout.SOUTH);
	}
	public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e){
		
 		JButton clickedButton = (JButton)e.getSource();
		String buttonText = clickedButton.getText();
			
		if(buttonText.equals("Submit")){
			
			if(txtInput.getText().length() <1)
			{
				lblCorrectWrong.setText("Input is blank.Key in your answer:");
				
			}else if(txtInput.getText().length() >0 && count<20){				
				count++;	
				while(j<=count){
					if(letter==storeLetter[j])
						break;
				j++;		
				}
				
				if(Character.toUpperCase(txtInput.getText().charAt(0))==letter+1){
					score++;
					lblCorrectWrong.setText("Answer is correct!");
					
				}else{
					lblCorrectWrong.setText("Answer is incorrect!");
				}
				
				if(count>=20){
					lblCorrectWrong.setText("Your score is " + Integer.toString(score) + " out of " + "20");
				}
				letter   = (char)((int)'A'+Math.random()*((int)'Y'-(int)'A'+1));
     			lblDisplayLetter.setText(Character.toString(letter) + "?");
			}
		}
		if(buttonText.equals("Clear"))
			txtInput.setText("");
	}
	public static void main(String[] args){		
		lol1 gui = new lol1();
		gui.setVisible(true);
		gui.setDefaultCloseOperation(EXIT_ON_CLOSE);	
	}
}

[JosAH]

Why don't you use a Collection, such as a List for those purposes; the following little method creates 20 unique (and randomly shuffled) letters and stores them in a List:

public static List<Character> createQuestions() {
	List<Character> q= new ArrayList<Character>();
		
	for (char c= 'A'; c < 'Z'; q.add(c++));
	Collections.shuffle(q);
	for (int i= 0; i < 5; q.remove(i++));
		
	return q;
}

kind regards,

Jos

[dark_metal]

thanks for suggesting the kind of method to me
but i never learn that before.if i want to use the method that u suggested,where shall i put it in?

[JosAH]

thanks for suggesting the kind of method to me
but i never learn that before.if i want to use the method that u suggested,where shall i put it in?

First try to exercise that small method a bit:

public class Test {
   public static List<Character> createQuestions() { ... }

   public static void main(String[] args) {
      List<Character> questions= createQuestions();
      System.out.println(questions);
   }
}

This little class calls the method (which generates the questions) and the main method prints all the questions. See if it works for you, build your program step by step; babysteps.

kind regards,

Jos

[dark_metal]

hmm..i think i would rather stick to array since im not used to Collection method.
by the way, why this line of code not works?

if(storeLetter[i]==0){
  storeLetter[i] = letter;
  i++;
  for(i=0; i<storeLetter[i].length(); i++){
	if (storeLetter[i] == letter)
        	letter   = (char)((int)'A'+Math.random()*((int)'Y'-(int)'A'+1));
  }
}
my problem is to store into array and make no repeat of the alphabets
if i can store it and no repeat then i will get my thing done :)

[JosAH]

by the way, why this line of code not works?

Define "does not work". Doesn't it compile? Does it throw an Exception at runtime? Erroneous behaviour? Daemons flying out of your nose?

kind regards,

Jos

ps. Collections are much more flexible than arrays. Try to study them. In the (near) future you'll need them.

[dark_metal]

here is some refinement but the problem still occurs.
<<char cannot be dereferenced>>

import javax.swing.*;	
import java.awt.*;
import java.awt.event.*;
import java.util.Random;

public class lol extends JFrame implements ActionListener
{	
	private JLabel lblPromptQues;
	private JLabel lblDisplayLetter;
	private JLabel lblAnswer;
	private JLabel lblCorrectWrong;
	private JButton btnClear;
	private JButton btnSubmit;
	private JTextField txtInput;
	
		//Array to hold the letter generated
	private char [] storeLetter = new char[25];
		//Hold the letter each time it is created
	private	char letter;
	private	int count=0;
	private int score=0;
	private int j;
	private int i;
	
	public lol(){
		setSize(220,220);
		setLocation(300,500);
		
		letter   = (char)((int)'A'+Math.random()*((int)'Y'-(int)'A'+1));
		
		btnSubmit = new JButton("Submit");
		btnSubmit.addActionListener(this);
		
		btnClear  = new JButton("Clear");
		btnClear.addActionListener(this);
		
		lblPromptQues = new JLabel("What letter comes after ");
		lblDisplayLetter = new JLabel(Character.toString(letter) + "?");
	
		txtInput=new JTextField(5);
		Container c;
		JPanel p1;
		JPanel p2;
		JPanel p3;
		
		p1 = new JPanel();
		p1.setLayout(new FlowLayout());
		p1.add(lblPromptQues);
		p1.add(lblDisplayLetter);
		
		p2 = new JPanel();
		p2.setLayout(new FlowLayout());
		p2.add(new JLabel("Answer                 :"));
		p2.add(txtInput);

		lblCorrectWrong = new JLabel();
		
		p3 = new JPanel();
		p3.add(btnSubmit);
		p3.add(btnClear);
		p3.add(lblCorrectWrong);

		c = getContentPane();
		c.setLayout(new GridLayout(3,1));
		c.add(p1, BorderLayout.NORTH);
		c.add(p2, BorderLayout.CENTER);
		c.add(p3, BorderLayout.SOUTH);
	}
	public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e){
		
 		JButton clickedButton = (JButton)e.getSource();
		String buttonText = clickedButton.getText();
		
		//perform verification if "Submit" button is entered
		if(buttonText.equals("Submit")){
			//check if there is any input
			if(txtInput.getText().length() <1){
				lblCorrectWrong.setText("Input is blank.Key in your answer:");	
			//check if there is input and question asked is less than 20
			}else if(txtInput.getText().length() >0 && count<20){
				//check if input is integer or character
				if(Character.isLetter(txtInput.getText().charAt(0))){
					count++;	
					while(j<=count){
						if(letter==storeLetter[j])
							break;
					j++;		
					}
					if(storeLetter[i]==0){
  						storeLetter[i] = letter;
  						i++;
  						for(i=0; i<storeLetter[i].length(); i++){
							if (storeLetter[i] == letter)
        							letter   = (char)((int)'A'+Math.random()*((int)'Y'-(int)'A'+1));
  						}
					}
					//converting lowercase to uppercase, check if input is correct
					if(Character.toUpperCase(txtInput.getText().charAt(0))==letter+1){
						score++;
						lblCorrectWrong.setForeground(Color.red);			
						lblCorrectWrong.setText("Answer is correct!");
						
					}else{
						lblCorrectWrong.setForeground(Color.red);
						lblCorrectWrong.setText("Answer is incorrect!");
					}
					//display output when total question asked is 20
					if(count>=20){
						lblCorrectWrong.setText("Your score is " + Integer.toString(score) + " out of " + "20");
					}
				letter   = (char)((int)'A'+Math.random()*((int)'Y'-(int)'A'+1));
	   			lblDisplayLetter.setText(Character.toString(letter) + "?");
				}else{
					lblCorrectWrong.setForeground(Color.red);
					lblCorrectWrong.setText("Input must be a character");
					txtInput.setText("");	
				}
			}
		}
		//clear the textbox if "clear" button is entered
		if(buttonText.equals("Clear"))
			txtInput.setText("");
							
	}
	public static void main(String[] args){		
		lol gui = new lol();
		gui.setVisible(true);
		gui.setDefaultCloseOperation(EXIT_ON_CLOSE);	
	}
}

[JosAH]

here is some refinement but the problem still occurs.
<<char cannot be dereferenced>>

I guess it's a compilation error; why don't you mention the offending line? Programming and problem solving is not a guessing game; if you want help please help us to help you and be as clear and explicit as possible. We are not compilers.

kind regards,

Jos

[dark_metal]

import javax.swing.*;
import java.awt.*;
import java.awt.event.*;
import java.util.Random;

public class lol1 extends JFrame implements ActionListener
{
// private JLabel lblQuesNo;
private JLabel lblPromptQues;
private JLabel lblDisplayLetter;
private JLabel lblAnswer;
private JLabel lblCorrectWrong;
private JButton btnClear;
private JButton btnSubmit;
private JTextField txtInput;

//Array to hold the preload letter
private char [] storeLetter = new char[25];
//Hold the letter each time it is created
private char letter;

//Array to hold letter generated
//private char [] genLetter = new char[25];

private int count=0;
private int score=0;
private int j;
private int i;

public lol1(){
setSize(220,220);
setLocation(300,500);

btnSubmit = new JButton("Submit");
btnSubmit.addActionListener(this);

btnClear = new JButton("Clear");
btnClear.addActionListener(this);

letter = (char)((int)'A'+Math.random()*((int)'Y'-(int)'A'+1));

if(storeLetter[i]==0){
storeLetter[i] = letter;
i++;
for(i=0; i<storeLetter[i].length(); i++){
if (storeLetter[i] == letter)
letter = (char)((int)'A'+Math.random()*((int)'Y'-(int)'A'+1));
}
}
//lblQuesNo = new JLabel("Question No");
lblPromptQues = new JLabel("What letter comes after ");
lblDisplayLetter = new JLabel(Character.toString(letter) + "?");

txtInput=new JTextField(5);
Container c;
JPanel p1;
JPanel p2;
JPanel p3;

p1 = new JPanel();
p1.setLayout(new FlowLayout());
//p1.add(lblQuesNo);
p1.add(lblPromptQues);
p1.add(lblDisplayLetter);

p2 = new JPanel();
p2.setLayout(new FlowLayout());
p2.add(new JLabel("Answer :"));
p2.add(txtInput);

lblCorrectWrong = new JLabel();

p3 = new JPanel();
p3.add(btnSubmit);
p3.add(btnClear);
p3.add(lblCorrectWrong);

c = getContentPane();
c.setLayout(new GridLayout(3,1));
c.add(p1, BorderLayout.NORTH);
c.add(p2, BorderLayout.CENTER);
c.add(p3, BorderLayout.SOUTH);
}
public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e){

JButton clickedButton = (JButton)e.getSource();
String buttonText = clickedButton.getText();

if(buttonText.equals("Submit")){

if(txtInput.getText().length() <1)
{
lblCorrectWrong.setText("Input is blank.Key in your answer:");

}else if(txtInput.getText().length() >0 && count<20){
count++;
while(j<=count){
if(letter==storeLetter[j])
break;
j++;
}

if(Character.toUpperCase(txtInput.getText().charAt (0))==letter+1){
score++;
lblCorrectWrong.setText("Answer is correct!");

}else{
lblCorrectWrong.setText("Answer is incorrect!");
}

if(count>=20){
lblCorrectWrong.setText("Your score is " + Integer.toString(score) + " out of " + "20");
}
letter = (char)((int)'A'+Math.random()*((int)'Y'-(int)'A'+1));
lblDisplayLetter.setText(Character.toString(letter ) + "?");
}
}
if(buttonText.equals("Clear"))
txtInput.setText("");
}
public static void main(String[] args){
lol1 gui = new lol1();
gui.setVisible(true);
gui.setDefaultCloseOperation(EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
}
}


char cannot be dereference

[JosAH]

char cannot be dereference

Your compile whines about this line:

for(i=0; i<storeLetter[i].length(); i++){

storeLetter is an array of chars; storeLetter[i] is a single char and it doesn't have a field .length, i.e. you can't dereference it with the '.' member operator.

kind regards,

Jos