Method Error

Good afternoon all,

I'm working on homework for my intro to programming class and am getting an error I can't figure out. Here's the question:

Write a method that is passed three Strings (first, middle, and last name) and returns one String in the format lastName, firstName middleInitial. (Sample data: sent Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, returns Longfellow, Henry W.)

Here's my code:

Code:

---

import java.util.Scanner;

public class Test
{
        public static void main(String[] args)
  {
               
                System.out.println("Enter first name, middle name and last name");
                Scanner in = new Scanner(System.in);
                String first = in.next();
                String middle = in.next();
                String last = in.next();
        }
        public static void String nameRearrange(String first, String middle, String last)
        {
                System.out.println(last + ", " + first + middle.charAt(1) + ".");
        }
}

---

Here's the error I'm getting:
Test.java:14: error: '(' expected
public static void String nameRearrange(String first, String middle, String last)

(the ^ is under "n" in nameRearrange)

Thank you for your help!!!
~Jaime

A method has to return something or return "void" -- it can't return both.

Also note that your nameRearrange method should not have a System.out.println(...) of any kind inside of it. The method's goal is not to display anything but rather to return something.

Ok...this was the other way I was thinking, however I'm getting the following error:

Test.java:13: error: method nameRearrange in class Test cannot be applied to given types;
System.out.println(nameRearrange(name));

required: String,String,String
found: String
reason: actual and formal argument lists differ in length

I'm thinking it's because the method is looking for 3 Strings (first, middle and last) but it's only printing 1. However, I'm not sure why that's a problem.

Here's the code:

Code:

---

import java.util.Scanner;

public class Test
{
        public static void main(String[] args)
  {
                String name;
                System.out.println("Enter first name, middle name and last name");
                Scanner in = new Scanner(System.in);
                String first = in.next();
                String middle = in.next();
                String last = in.next();
                System.out.println(nameRearrange(name));
        }
        public static String nameRearrange(String first, String middle, String last)
        {
                String name;
                name = (last + ", " + first + middle.charAt(1) + ".");
                return name;
        }
}

---

Your nameRearrange method is declared to expect three Strings when you call it. So look at where you are calling it, and check how many Strings are you passing into it.

I'm not sure I'm following....from what I think I'm seeing, I'm passing it 3 Strings which is what it's calling for on line 15. The only thing I can think of is moving line 13 after the method. Like this:

Code:

---

import java.util.Scanner;

public class Test
{
        public static void main(String[] args)
  {
                String name;
                System.out.println("Enter first name, middle name and last name");
                Scanner in = new Scanner(System.in);
                String first = in.next();
                String middle = in.next();
                String last = in.next();
        }
        public static String nameRearrange(String first, String middle, String last)
        {
                String name;
                name = (last + ", " + first + middle.charAt(1) + ".");
                return name;
        }
        System.out.println(nameRearrange(name));
}

---

...which (of course) is giving me another host of errors.

I always thought I was pretty smart until I started this class. I've never felt more stupid. Please continue to work me through this and don't lose patience!

~Jaime

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by jmscarlet9

I'm not sure I'm following....from what I think I'm seeing, I'm passing it 3 Strings which is what it's calling for on line 15.

---

Check how you call the method:

Code:

---

nameRearrange(name)

---

name is a single String, which is not how the method should be called. Since you've declared it to require three Strings when called (and this is correct by the way), you need to call it that way:

Code:

---

nameRearrange(string1, string2, string3)

---

You've happened to have 3 Strings handy just before you call the method, and maybe you should use them... hmmmm...

Quote:

---

The only thing I can think of is moving line 13 after the method. Like this:

Code:

---

import java.util.Scanner;

public class Test
{
        public static void main(String[] args)
  {
                String name;
                System.out.println("Enter first name, middle name and last name");
                Scanner in = new Scanner(System.in);
                String first = in.next();
                String middle = in.next();
                String last = in.next();
        }
        public static String nameRearrange(String first, String middle, String last)
        {
                String name;
                name = (last + ", " + first + middle.charAt(1) + ".");
                return name;
        }
        System.out.println(nameRearrange(name));
}

---

...which (of course) is giving me another host of errors.

---

As it should since you're trying to call a method naked in the class and outside of any method or constructor. Don't do this.

Quote:

---

I always thought I was pretty smart until I started this class. I've never felt more stupid. Please continue to work me through this and don't lose patience!

~Jaime

---

Don't lose hope. None of us mortals were born learning to program (except a few Java deities), and have to learn through study and trial. So keep studying, keep trying and you will get better. Promise.

THANK YOU. I hate that I can get it to a point where it's just something ridiculously simple to change.

Any chance you'll be online for a while? I have 3 more pieces of code to write and am completely lost. :)

You're welcome. I'll be here on and off over this weekend, but regardless there are many smarter people around who can help. If you have a new question, then you'll want to start a new Thread in this forum.

Best of luck!

Thank you. While there may be smarter people, you are encouraging about it. I appreciate that greatly. New thread started. Here we go!