Methods

[tomelk31]

I am having trouble understanding how to use methods. I have created an example of a program.
I have a a constructor "Something" and then methods. How do I use the method setFirst() to set "first"?
Also I had two classes how would I use setFirst() in a different class?

public class  Something{
	
	private String first, second;
	
	public Something(String f, String s){
		first = f;
		second = s;
	}

	public void setFirst(String f){
		first = f; 
	}
	
	public void setSecond(String s){
		second = s;
	}

             public static void main(String[] args){    

             }

}

[Norm]

how would I use setFirst() in a different class?

Create an instance of the Something class and use its reference to call the method.
objRef.theMethod(theArgs);

[tnrh1]

Remove the main method from the class.
You will create an instance of the class from another class.
Now to use the setFirst method as Norm said you have to create an instance of something class such as:
Something s1 = new Somthing("hello","hello2");
Type s1. and then all the something class methods will be showen.
You might find some other methods in there that you didn't make, because every class inherits from the object class his methods(Such as equals,toString,init etc..).

edit:
I forgot to mention,
when you run methods on an instance you should use "this".
For example: this.first = s;
This means the current object, if the parametter of the method was first for example your method was looked like this:

 public Something(String first, String second){
        first = first;
        second = second;
  }

You don't want that to happens
Yea it's true if you will use diffrent parameters names everything will be fine, but my suggestion is to get used to it(using this).

[Norm]

Have you looked at the Java tutorial?
Trail: Learning the Java Language: Table of Contents (The Java™ Tutorials)

[Junky]

Remove the main method from the class.

Why? It doesn't matter where the main method is.

Type s1. and then all the something class methods will be showen.

Only if you are using an IDE and it has that feature.

when you run methods on an instance you should use "this".

Once again why? I rarely use "this" in my programs.

Yea it'strue if you will use diffrent parameters names everything will be fine, but my suggestion is to get used to it(using this).

We disagree. I have seen code where "this" is used before every usage of an instance variable.

public void doStuff() {
    this.value = this.otherValue - 2;
    this.text = this.text.substring(this.value, this.text.length());
    // etc
}

It gets very ugly, very quickly.

[tnrh1]

It makes more sense to create an instance of a class outside of it. That's the way I learned it by studying from books and school.
of course you can make an instance of a class inside her, but atleast for me it looks better to create it outside of it.
And about "this", you show an excessive example but that doesn't negate the fact that it exists.
I think it more easy to understand the code with "this" and might prevent future errors as I mentioned:

public Something(String first, String second){
       first = first;
       second = second;
 }

Java gives you a toolbox, use it as you wish.

[Junky]

It makes more sense to create an instance of a class outside of it.

Why does it make sense. It makes no more sense than having a main method within the class. In fact you would probably find there are plenty of classes in production that have main methods that were used for testing purposes and never removed. One reason they are not removed would be for regression testing.