Welcome to the Treehouse Community

Want to collaborate on code errors? Have bugs you need feedback on? Looking for an extra set of eyes on your latest project? Get support with fellow developers, designers, and programmers of all backgrounds and skill levels here with the Treehouse Community! While you're at it, check out some resources Treehouse students have shared here.

Looking to learn something new?

Treehouse offers a seven day free trial for new students. Get access to thousands of hours of content and join thousands of Treehouse students and alumni in the community today.

Start your free trial

Java Java Objects Creating the MVP Conference Registration Assistant

i can't seem to get this right... any advices !?

i cant seem to get this task to compile. If anyone has advices please do share! Thanks!

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

     */
    char lastNameFirsrChar = lastName.charAt(0);
    if (lastNameFirstChar >= 'A' && lastNameFirstChar <= '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");
  }

}

1 Answer

Hi Jason,

let's first look at the solution and then I'll try to explain how I got there:

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

     */
    char firstCharacter = lastName.charAt(0);

    if(firstCharacter >= 'A' && firstCharacter <= 'M') lineNumber = 1;
    else if(firstCharacter >= 'N' && firstCharacter <= 'Z') lineNumber = 2;
    return lineNumber;
  }
  1. Get the first character of string using "charAt(0)".
  2. Check that Character value using > , < and && operators

A to Z have values , known as ASCII

A is 65 while B is 66 and so on

So basically it's comparing the numbers Let's say lastName = "Brady";

so firstCharacter = "B" or 66 in ASCII

so it simply compares

if(66 > = 65 && 66 < = ASCIIValue of M) lineNumber = 1;

I hope it clears your question , Happy Coding :)

  • Zain