New To Java: Question about arguments

[Humphrey Bogart]

Hello. I'm new to Java, so sorry about the lame question.

I want to write a quick program that will take an coomand-line argument (a written digit "one", "two", etc, up to "ten") and output the correct numeric digit (1, 2, etc). I'm starting small using only digits one, two, and three.

So I wrote this code:

class Numbers {
	public static void main(String[] arguments) {

		String userIn = argument[0];
		if (userIn == "one")
			System.out.println("1");
		else if (userIn == "two")
			System.out.println("2");
		else if (userIn == "three")
			System.out.println("3");
	}
}

When compiling, I get a "cannot find symbol" error referencing the statement - String userIn = argument[0] -

So I gather I am not defining the userIn variable correctly. Can anyone show me what I am doing wrong?

Thanks again HMB

[mwr1976]

You are slightly skewed on invoking your main method. It doesn't work like you are trying.
there are a couple ways of doing what you are trying to do. I would really suggest doing some more reading or watching of tutorials. Here is a good basic (free) series:Java Video Tutorials: Learn Java the easy way! You need to declare your variables for userIn1.....userIn2...... Then you need to import the java util class. Read the api here:Java Platform SE 7 You have to instantiate the Scanner class to take the input and assign them to the variables you declared(userIn1 and so on). Read the API on the Scanner class. This should point you in the right direction.

Hope it helps!

[Humphrey Bogart]

So, I tried to change the variable definition as follows:

class Numbers {
public static void main(String[] arguments) {

String userIn = "argument[0]";
if (userIn == "one")
System.out.println("1");
else if (userIn == "two")
System.out.println("2");
else if (userIn == "three")
System.out.println("3");
}
}

And this compiled without errors, but the program did not print out anything. When I ran the program - java Numbers one - the program did not print out anything (I was hoping the program would print out: 1).

[Humphrey Bogart]

Hello. Thanks for your reply. Clearly, I have a lot yet to learn, and I appreciate you pointing me to the videos. I will check them out.

I haven't learned yet about the Scanner class, so that goes on my "to do" list.

Thanks again.

You are slightly skewed on invoking your main method. It doesn't work like you are trying.
there are a couple ways of doing what you are trying to do. I would really suggest doing some more reading or watching of tutorials. Here is a good basic (free) series:Java Video Tutorials: Learn Java the easy way! You need to declare your variables for userIn1.....userIn2...... Then you need to import the java util class. Read the api here:Java Platform SE 7 You have to instantiate the Scanner class to take the input and assign them to the variables you declared(userIn1 and so on). Read the API on the Scanner class. This should point you in the right direction.

Hope it helps!

[mkarthik90]

if you want to compare two strings you cannot use "==" operator. This might work in c or C++ but not in Java.
Better use a equals function.

For example
if(userIn.equals("one"))
System.out.println("1");

[JosAH]

The name of your parameter is 'arguments', not 'argument'.

kind regards,

Jos