object instantiation and arrayList

[lockmac]

Hi. I am reasonably new to Java but know the basics. I am just wandering if i could get some small help...

I am creating an Enrolment System for a University (its my assignment) and I have a class called Unit, and a class called Enrolment. In the Enrolment class, I am writing a method for the user to create a new Unit, but I have the following problem, which might be hard to explain.

Here is some of the code from the top...

Code:

import java.util.ArrayList;
import java.util.Scanner;
public class Enrolment
{
	Scanner scanner = new Scanner(System.in);
	private ArrayList<Unit> units;
	
	public Enrolment()
	{
		units = new ArrayList<Unit>();
	}

and here is the code from where I actually create the unit once I have the information from the user...

Code:

Unit 1005 = new Unit(name,code,sem1,sem2);
units.add(1005);

My question is... where it says '1005' (the name of the instance of Unit that I create)... is their a way so that it will change with every new unit? Perhaps so it will be the name of a variable, such as 'code'?? I tryed something like...

Code:

Unit code = new Unit(....)

but obviously that just created it called 'code'.

Just wandering what ways are their of making this change everytime a new instance is created.

Thanks for your help

[goldhouse]

First correction in the code I like to make is we usually wont create objects of type ArrayList but only List
Second I dont think 1005 is a valid name ....
Ooooooooh enough of finding the mistakes Sorry dude

About your question what I understood you need is the little bit complicated In fact I dont know the way to do that .. ie
"the variable name will be dynamic "

Actually do you really need something like that , From my three years of programming I was happy with the 'static' variables

Cant you tell me a situation you will need this

[lockmac]

Quote:

Originally Posted by goldhouse

First correction in the code I like to make is we usually wont create objects of type ArrayList but only List
Second I dont think 1005 is a valid name ....
Ooooooooh enough of finding the mistakes Sorry dude

About your question what I understood you need is the little bit complicated In fact I dont know the way to do that .. ie
"the variable name will be dynamic "

Actually do you really need something like that , From my three years of programming I was happy with the 'static' variables

Cant you tell me a situation you will need this

Thanks for the reply mate. Well if I keep the name of the instance static (e.g. Unit101) and have that hardcoded into the program, wont everytime a new unit is created it will just point to the previous unit that was created (as they would have the same instance named of Unit101)? I don't really care at all what the name of instance is because it then goes into the ArrayList once created anyway from where I can just access it by index........

OO yeh the name 1005 is just for illustration purpose... and also what do you mean about calling the object List? I thought that was the correct way to use the ArrayList...

cheers

[goldhouse]

Ok ArrayList in Java is an implementation of the interface List, Good programmers using the objects only for instantiation and use the interfaces for all the other purpose so you need not change the code at many places once you want to change the implentation.
That is why I told you to use List instead of ArrayList

[lockmac]

Ok cheers for that I see where your coming from and have now fixed the problem.

Have a good one guys

[goldhouse]

You are welcome