declaring a different array each time i loop

[MichaelT]

Hi,
I'm writing a program and i'm wondering how i could declare a different array each time i loop through for an unknown number of times. I want the name of each array declared to be one of the values from a different array.

For example:
if array[i] = "cars" then i want the name of the the variable declared that time through the loop to be cars.

Help appreciated.

[Junky]

loop {
    declare array
    other code
}

What don't you understand? Try writing a simple small bit of code to show what you are tring to do.

[MichaelT]

loop {
    declare array
    other code
}

What don't you understand? Try writing a simple small bit of code to show what you are tring to do.

I dont get it because i want a different array to be declared each time through not the same array over and over. Pretty much i want to declare an array that has the name of the value stored in anothervariable

[Toll]

Just to see if I got it right... If the value of a variable is "cars", you want to (codewise) declare a new array called "cars" and be able to use cars.length and cars[0] etc?

[MichaelT]

yea thats it

[Junky]

You are not explaining yourself. You cannot declare the same array again. Once an array is declared initialised it cannot be changed. If I do:

int[] arr;
while(bool) {
    arr = new arr[10];
}

Then a new array will be created each time around the loop. Not the same one.

Are you saying that you want a loop, gather some information, store it in an array and retain it. Then on the next loop have another array filled with different information. So now you have 2 arrays, etc. If so then create a class that represents the data you want to store. Then you can have an array or List of objects of your class.

Foo[] arr = new Foo[10];
int index = 0;
while(bool) {
    // get info
    Foo f = new Foo(info);
    arr[index++] = f;
}

[Junky]

It seems I don't have a friggin clue what you are trying to do.

[Toll]

What I'm wondering is... Why on earth would you need to do such a thing?

[MichaelT]

heres why i need it. Im reading in data from multiple text files but i dont know how many and i need to store all that information in seperate arrays. One array for each text file. I have no idea to accomplish this because i dont know how i can declare arrays for each text file when i dont know how many text files there are.

[Junky]

A common problem noobs have is asking how to enabled their perceived solution to a problem. Instead they should describe what the problem is and more experienced people can offer a more suitable solution.

Contrived analogy:

Help, my knife doesn't work
Is it sharp?
Yes?
Are you using the blade side
Yes?
etc

Finally it is discovererd that they are trying to cut down a tree. Why not use a chainsaw instead?

[MichaelT]

and so do you have a simpler solution to what im trying to do which i just posted one post above ^.

[Junky]

Please stop editing posts to add more details. I read your post before you added those details and if you had not pointed it out would never read that post again.

[Junky]

One solution is as I posted above in reply #6. Use a class to store your information.

Another solution, which is slightly better than using parallel or 2D arrays, is to use a List of arrays.

[MichaelT]

Ok thank you the arrayList will work sry about not being clear enough in the OP.