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Java Java Objects Creating the MVP Conference Registration Assistant

Rohit Datta
Rohit Datta
750 Points

Bummer! There is a compilation error!

Does anyone know if there are any syntax or other issues in the code for the method : public int getLineNumber(String lastName)

ConferenceRegistrationAssistant.java
public class ConferenceRegistrationAssistant {

  /**
   * Assists in guiding people to the proper line based on their last name.
   *
   * @param lastName The person's last name
   * @return The line number based on the first letter of lastName
   */
  public int getLineNumberFor(String lastName) {
    int lineNumber = 0;
    /*
      lineNumber should be set based on the first character of the person's last name
      Line 1 - A thru M
      Line 2 - N thru Z

     */
    if (lastName.indexOf(0) == "A" || "B" || "C" || "D" || "E" || "F" || "G" || "H" || "I" || "J" || "K" || "L" || "M"){
      lineNumber = 1; 
    } else {
      lineNumber = 2;
    }
      return lineNumber;
  }

}
Example.java
public class Example {

  public static void main(String[] args) {
    /*
      IMPORTANT:  You can compare characters using <, >. <=, >= and == just like numbers
     */
    if ('C' < 'D') {
      System.out.println("C comes before D");
    }

    if ('B' > 'A') {
      System.out.println("B comes after A");
    }

    if ('E' >= 'E') {
      System.out.println("E is equal to or comes after E");
    }

    // This code is here for demonstration purposes only...
    ConferenceRegistrationAssistant assistant = new ConferenceRegistrationAssistant();
    /*
      Remember that there are 2 lines.
      Line #1 is for A-M
      Line #2 is for N-Z
     */
    int lineNumber = 0;
    /*
      This should set lineNumber to 2 because
      The last name is Zimmerman which starts with a Z.
      Therefore it is between N-Z
     */
    lineNumber = assistant.getLineNumberFor("Zimmerman");

    /*
      This method call should set lineNumber to 1, because 'A' from "Anderson" is between A-M.
     */
    lineNumber = assistant.getLineNumberFor("Anderson");

    /*
      Likewise Charlie Brown's 'B' is between 'A' and 'M', so lineNumber should be set to 1
     */
    lineNumber = assistant.getLineNumberFor("Brown");
  }

}

3 Answers

Raffael Dettling
Raffael Dettling
32,999 Points

Multiple things first of all itΒ΄s easier to ceck if the char at the beginning is between A and M dont test every letter. Second use charAt(0) ,indexOf(0) returns a number not a char. You also have to use single qoutes 'A' to signal that the letters are chars not strings ^^

-

-

----SPOILER----

public int getLineNumberFor(String lastName) {
    int lineNumber = 0;
    if(lastName.charAt(0) >= 'A' && lastName.charAt(0) <= 'M'){
      return 1;
    }else if(lastName.charAt(0) >= 'N' && lastName.charAt(0) <= 'Z'){
      return 2;
    }
    return lineNumber;
  }
Rohit Datta
Rohit Datta
750 Points

Thank you so much!!! I never knew that you could say <= or >= for the char type. I really appreciate it! Also, so does that mean that Java already knows whats greater than or less than a certain character? Like does it already know the order and everything?

Rohit Datta
Rohit Datta
750 Points

Also, why is it return 1 or 2, why not : lineNumber = 1; or lineNumber = 2;

Raffael Dettling
Raffael Dettling
32,999 Points

Yes java knows the alphabetic order and the return 1 or 2 is just the challenge in reality you can do what you want inside the if statment.

Rohit Datta
Rohit Datta
750 Points

Thank you so much! This has helped me greatly. I really appreciate it!