Month class

[FOX427]

Hi All! Here is the exercise which asks to transform numbers from 1 to 12 into the corresponding month names january, feb and etc. Need to implement class whose constructor parameter is the month number and whose getName method returns the month name. It also gives hint: Make a very long string "January February....", in which you add spaces such that each month name has the same length.Then use substring to extract the month you want.

basically, I just have the beginning only:
Month class:

import java.util.Scanner;

public class Month {
	public Month()
	{
		Scanner in = new Scanner(System.in);
		System.out.println("Please enter month digit");
		digit = in.nextInt();
		
	}
	public String getName()
	{
		String monthName = new String("JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec");
		String january = monthName.substring(0,2);
		String february = monthName.substring(3,5);
                //the same method for other months as above
	
		return monthName;
	}
	private int digit;

}

and MonthTester class:

public class MonthTester {

	/**
	 * @param args
	 */
	public static void main(String[] args) {
		// TODO Auto-generated method stub
		Month month = new Month();
		month.getName();

	}

}

Ok, I understand what should I do but I cannot digit with the month I need, what should I use here? Integer.parseInt, Integer.toString? How to connect them? Thanks for help!

[awinston]

Are you required to follow the "hint"?

I ask because this seems like a very complex way of going about a simple task. A better way to solve the problem is by utilizing an array: Arrays (The Java™ Tutorials > Learning the Java Language > Language Basics)

[FOX427]

I am following the book, I didn't study arrays yet, so I better to use the hint :)

[FlipPoker@gmail.com]

It looks like this is an exercise in loops. The first thing you should do is fix your month string. Since "September" is the largest name, you have to pad your month names to 9 spaces: "January February March April May ...

[cselic]

From this: String monthName = new String("JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec"); make new array of Strings. For example lets call it monthArray.
monthArray[0] = "Jan";
monthArray[1] = "Feb";
...
...
monthArrat[11] = "Dec";

then, when you need to show for example 4th month you can just return monthArray[3].

[FlipPoker@gmail.com]

There are many ways to solve this problem. But the original requirement is to declare a month string and walk it using the substring method. Here's one way to do this:

    
public static String getMonthName(int i) {
    	if ((i < 1) || (i > 12))  // user must enter 1 - 12
    	{
    		System.err.println("error - invalid month index:  " + i);
    		return "";
    	}
    	
    	String monthName = "January  February March    April    May      June     July     August   SeptemberOctober  November December "; 
    	int startIndex = (i-1)*9;
    	int endIndex = startIndex + 9;
    	return monthName.substring(startIndex, endIndex);

}

The key to understanding this is lines 8-10.

[FOX427]

thanks, but I haven't study arrays yet...

[FOX427]

Thanks, but I haven't study decisions yet, have to use hint for exercise...

[JosAH]

Enums? Or haven't you studied them either? Using enums you don't need arrays of Strings nor any hanky panky with single Strings.

kind regards,

Jos

[FOX427]

I haven't studied them either! :D It's ok, I will move to the next exercise and will come back to this after I learn enum, arrays ordecisions :))Thanks!