Basic Java Calculator Code Problem

[SerbianSergeant]

Hello forums for the first time. I am new to Java and am looking to learn it for my A2 computing project. I'm using the latest Eclipse IDE.

Here is my code so far:

class Calculator {

public static void main(String[] args) throws Exception {
	int num1,num2,result;
	char Letter1;
	System.out.println("Enter number 1...");
	num1 = (int)System.in.read();
	System.out.println("Enter number 2...");
	num2 = (int)System.in.read();
	System.out.println("add, sub or mul?");
	Letter1 = (char)System.in.read();
	if (Letter1 == 'a')
		result = num1 + num2;
	if (Letter1 == 's')
		result = num1 - num2;
	if (Letter1 == 'm')
		result = num1 * num2;
	System.out.println(result);
	}	
}

Forgive me if there are any signs of bad programming practice. But anyway, if i run this code it says that 'result may not have been initialized'. If i assign 'result' with a value of zero for example it runs, but not correctly. Can anyone help me?

[JosAH]

Note that System.in.read() reads just a single byte; you don't want that. Read the API documentation for the Scanner class.

kind regards,

Jos

[sunde887]

Also; what if Letter1(should be letter1), is not a, s or m? What value will result be then?

[SerbianSergeant]

Thanks for your help.

This is the page i looked at to help me, hopefully it can help others who look at this post: Scanner class

[SerbianSergeant]

I have changed the variable declaration to 'letter1'. Ahh ok that makes sense, if i don't declare 'result' with a value it doesn't run for that very reason. If i declare it with zero it runs and if someone enters something that is not a, s or m then it simply returns with the value of zero.

I'm more familiar with pascal since that is what we've been learning this year. Is there some form of loop in java similar to the "Repeat...Until" in pascal that i can use? I will use this so that the user cannot enter a value other than what is asked for.

[sunde887]

You can use a do...while, while, or a for loop. A switch statement is also very helpful for doing something based on a character of input. Google java tutorial <term> to find out about them.

[chipp]

Read the API documentation for the Scanner class.

can you give a link?

[DarrylBurke]

Bookmark this page: Java Platform SE 6

db