Numerous 'else' without 'if' errors. HELP!!

im pretty new to java so any thoughts as to why I keep getting this error would be greatly appreciated.
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Code:

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import javax.swing.*;

public class Pets{
        public static void main (String[] args){

                int residence, hoursHome;

                residence = Integer.parseInt(JOptionPane.showInputDialog("PLEASE INDICATE WHICH TYPE OF RESIDENCE YOU LIVE IN.\n" +        "Enter an integer from 1 to 3 where:\n" + "1 = Apartment\n" + "2 = House\n" + "3 = Dormitory"));

                          hoursHome = Integer.parseInt(JOptionPane.showInputDialog("PLEASE INDICATE HOW MANY HOURS YOU ARE HOME.\n" + "Enter an integer from 1 to 5 where:\n" + "1 = 18 or more hours\n" + "2 = 17 to 10 hours\n" + "3 = 9 to 8 hours\n" + "4 = 7 to 6 hours\n" + "5 = 5 to zero hours"));

switch (residence){
    case 1:
        if(hoursHome == 1 || hoursHome ==2);
            {JOptionPane.showMessageDialog(null, "You have indicated you live in an Apartment and are home 10 or more hours.\n" + "The recommended pet is a Cat.");}

        else if(hoursHome == 3 || hoursHome == 4);
            {JOptionPane.showMessageDialog(null, "You have indicated you live in an Apartment and are home less than 10 hours.\n" + "The recommended pet is a Hamster.");}
                                                                      else{JOptionPane.showMessageDialog(null, "You have indicated you live in an Apartment and are home less than 10 hours.\n" + "The recommended pet is a Hamster.");}
        break;

    case 2:
        if (hoursHome == 1);
        {JOptionPane.showMessageDialog(null, "You have indicated you live in a House and are home 18 or more hours.\n" + "The recommended pet is a Pot-bellied Pig.");}
                                                                else if(hoursHome == 2);
        {JOptionPane.showMessageDialog(null, "You have indicated you live in a House and are home 17 to 10 hours.\n" + "The recommended pet is a Dog.");}
                                                                else if(hoursHome == 3 || hoursHome == 4);
        {JOptionPane.showMessageDialog(null, "You have indicated you live in a House and are home less than 10 hours.\n" +"The recommended pet is a Snake.");}
                                                                else{JOptionPane.showMessageDialog(null, "You have indicated you live in a House and are home less than 10 hours.\n" + "The recommended pet is a Snake.");}
        break;

    case 3:
        if(hoursHome == 1 || hoursHome ==2);
        {JOptionPane.showMessageDialog(null, "You have indicated you live in a Dormitory and are home 6 or more hours.\n" + "The recommended pet is a Fish.");}
                                                                else if (hoursHome == 3 || hoursHome ==4);
        {JOptionPane.showMessageDialog(null, "You have indicated you live in a Dormitory and are home 6 or more hours.\n" + "The recommended pet is a Fish.");}

        else{JOptionPane.showMessageDialog(null, "You have indicated you live in a Dormitory and are home less than 6 hours.\n" + "The recommended pet is an Ant Farm.");}
        break;

    default: {JOptionPane.showMessageDialog(null, "You have entered an illegal integer.");}
                }

                System.exit(0);

        }
}

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Code tags added. Please read my signature link to learn how to use these yourself.

You should never have a semicolon at the end of an if boolean test as that will short circuit the if. The compiler thinks that you want to call an empty block if the if statement is true.

So this:

Code:

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if (4 == 3);
  System.out.println("foo");  // why is this line always called?

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Is actually interpretted by the compiler to this:

Code:

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if (4 == 3) {
  ;
}
System.out.println("foo");  // Now we see why the line is always called

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Better to do this:

Code:

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if (4 == 3) { // no semicolon now and braces added.
  System.out.println("foo");
}

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Also, always enclose all blocks in curly braces.

Luck and welcome to the Java-Forums!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Fubarable

Also, always enclose all blocks in curly braces.

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Which help you to avoid unexpected errors in your code, and some may very difficult to track at once. And also it's very clear the code, easy to read, not only for you for other as well. Keep theses practices with you all the way. :) Good luck!