trying to learn enums and arrays

[Gerrburge]

I am trying to learn how to use arrays and enums. I am just trying to populate the grid with 'empty' in my class. Then I am just trying to print out the values with testArray. But I am obviously missing something VERY important. Can anyone help?
__the class
import java.awt.*;
import java.awt.event.*;
import java.awt.image.*;
import java.net.*;
import java.applet.*;

public class GTicTacToeL
{

public enum Square
{empty,x,o}
Square board[][];
{
for ( int row = 0; row < 3; ++row )
{
for ( int column = 0; column < 3; ++column )
{
board[row][column] = Square.empty;
}
}
}

}
the printing
public class testArray
{
public static void main (String[] args)
{
GTicTacToeL testArray = new GTicTacToeL();

{
for (int x = 0; x<3; ++x)
{
for (int y = 0; y<3; ++y)
{
System.out.println(square[x][y]);
}
}

}
new to this forum and very new to Java...so any advise is good advise.
Thanks

[Fubarable]

I am trying to learn how to use arrays and enums. I am just trying to populate the grid with 'empty' in my class. Then I am just trying to print out the values with testArray. But I am obviously missing something VERY important. Can anyone help?

Your code tags need to be edited as you have a pair above and a pair below the block of code. You need one pair of tags with your code block between the pair.

Regarding your problem, please tell us what is or isn't working, what errors you may be getting. Please read the link in my signature on smart questions for tips on how to make your question more answerable.

[hosscomp]

Trail: Learning the Java Language (The Java™ Tutorials)

[Gerrburge]

I am trying to understand 2 dimensional arrays and enums. I have already been to the Java tutorial sites. I tried to code some on my own with this class

public class GTicTacToeL
  {

    public enum Square
    {empty,x,o}
     Square board[][];
     {
        for ( int row = 0; row < 3; ++row )
            {
                for ( int column = 0; column < 3; ++column )
                    {
             board[row][column] = Square.empty;
                    }
            }
     }
     
}

and this program to just print what was in the array

public class testArray
{
public static void main (String[] args)
    {
         GTicTacToeL testArray = new GTicTacToeL();

    {
     for (int x = 0; x<3; ++x)
         {
            for (int y = 0; y<3; ++y)
            {
                System.out.println(square[x][y]);
            }
         }

     }
    }
}

But I get this error when compiled.

run:
Exception in thread "main" java.lang.NullPointerException
        at GTicTacToeL.<init>(GTicTacToeL.java:18)
        at testArray.main(testArray.java:14)
Java Result: 1
BUILD SUCCESSFUL (total time: 0 seconds)

can anyone help?

[pbrockway2]

That error message does not come from the code you posted (which does not compile).

--------------

A couple of points of style: Start class names with an upper case letter and methods and variables with a lower case one. As a side effect this will mean you don't use the same word as both a class and a variable as you do now with testArray. Also don't put braces around for loops - but use braces for the body of the loop as you are doing.

{
    for (int x = 0; x<3; ++x)
        {
            for (int y = 0; y<3; ++y)
            {
                System.out.println(square[x][y]);
            }
        }

    }
}

should just be

for (int x = 0; x<3; ++x)
    {
        for (int y = 0; y<3; ++y)
        {
            System.out.println(square[x][y]);
        }
    }
}

(Using spaces rather than tabs to indent will result in a more consistent and predictable result when posting on the internet.)

[hosscomp]

 
 System.out.println(square[x][y]);

Where is that lower case square initialized?

[Tolls]

As has been pointed out this doesn't compile, but:

Square board[][];

This is never initialised so is always null.

[hosscomp]

 
 System.out.println(square[x][y]);

Where is that lower case square initialized?

As has been pointed out this doesn't compile, but:

Square board[][];

This is never initialised so is always null.

Okay, but the println statement is trying to print square, not board.

[Tolls]

Sorry, that wasn't directed at you.

Assuming there is (somewhere) some code that actually compiles that looks something like the above code then the NPE is coming from:

board[row][column] = Square.empty;

in the constructor of GTicTacToeL, since that's what the exception is telling us.

And that NPE is because "board" is never initialised.

[hosscomp]

My bad. I didn't look at who posted that.