Checking Input Against Items in a String Array in Java

Question

I have the following code that I am working on for my college assignment. I am asked to use arrays, which I am using. I am asked to use for-loops and if-statement that I am doing already. I have come up with the following code:

class HardwareStore2 {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        Scanner in = new Scanner(System.in);

        System.out.printf("%55s", "**WELCOME TO THE HARDWARE STORE**\n");
        System.out.printf("%55s", "=================================\n");

        String [] codes = {"G22", "K13", "S21", "I30"};
        String [] description = {"STICKY Construction Glue", "CAR-LO Key Ring", "SCREW-DUP Screwy Screws", "LET-IT-RAIN Padlock"};
        List<String> codeList = Arrays.asList(codes);
        String output = "";
        int i = 1000;
        String [] userCode = new String[i];
        char dolSymb = '$';
        int [] pricesAndTax = {10989, 5655, 1099, 4005, 20};
        int [] weight = {};
        int [] userQuantity = {1};
        int [] userPrice = new int[i];
        int userStickyPrice = 0;
        int userKeyringPrice = 0;
        int userScrewyPrice = 0;
        int userPadlockPrice = 0;
        int userPreWithTax = 0;
        int userTotal = 0;
        int userPreTotal = 0;
        int userShipping = 0;

        System.out.printf("%-10s%-40s%-15s%-10s\n", "CODE", "DESCRIPTION", "WEIGHT", "PRICE\n");
        System.out.printf("%-10s%-55s%s%d.%02d\n", codes[0], description[0], dolSymb, pricesAndTax[0]/100, pricesAndTax[0]%100);
        System.out.printf("%-10s%-55s%s%d.%02d\n", codes[1], description[1], dolSymb, pricesAndTax[1]/100, pricesAndTax[1]%100);
        System.out.printf("%-10s%-55s%s%d.%02d\n", codes[2], description[2], dolSymb, pricesAndTax[2]/100, pricesAndTax[2]%100);
        System.out.printf("%-10s%-55s%s%d.%02d\n", codes[3], description[3], dolSymb, pricesAndTax[3]/100, pricesAndTax[3]%100);

        System.out.println("PLEASE ENTER YOUR ORDER:");
        System.out.print("NAME: ");
        String username = in.nextLine();
        System.out.print("ADDRESS Line 1: ");
        String address1 = in.nextLine();
        System.out.print("ADDRESS Line 2: ");
        String address2 = in.nextLine();
        System.out.print("POSTAL CODE: ");
        String postalcode = in.nextLine();

        for (i = 0;; i++) {
            System.out.print("CODE (X to QUIT):");
            userCode[i] = in.nextLine();

            if (userCode[i].equalsIgnoreCase("x")) {
                break;
            }

            System.out.print("QUANTITY: ");
            userQuantity[i] = in.nextInt();
            in.nextLine();

            if (userCode[i].equalsIgnoreCase(codes[0])) {
                userStickyPrice += userQuantity[i]*pricesAndTax[0];

            }
            else if (userCode[i].equalsIgnoreCase(codes[1])) {
                userKeyringPrice += userQuantity[i]*pricesAndTax[1];

            }
            else if (userCode[i].equalsIgnoreCase(codes[2])) {
                userScrewyPrice += userQuantity[i]*pricesAndTax[2];

            }
            else if (userCode[i].equalsIgnoreCase(codes[3])) {
                userPadlockPrice += userQuantity[i]*pricesAndTax[3];

            }
            else if (!codeList.contains(userCode)) {
                i = i - 1;
            }
        }
     }
}

Now, everything is working seamlessly with a million ifs, and elses but I want to know if there is a way to replace all the if-else-if statements wirht one or two that do something like this:

if (userCode[i].contains(codes[0], codes[1], codes[2], codes[3] {}

Or maybe something better like:

if (userCode.contains(any.one.item.in.codeList) {
    then.get.the.price.of.that.item.and.do.item.specific.operations
    }

Please let me know if the question is not clear enough. And once again, this is a college assignment so I would appreciate explanations.

I have upvoted all the answers because they have all been helpful. I am accepting @dasblinkenlights 's answer because Hashmaps are something I haven't been taught about in my college and I would like to see if I can work with them. If I am unsuccessful with Hashmaps, then I will use Switch statements for now or put up a new question. Thanks everyone.

dasblinkenlight · Accepted Answer · 2012-01-23 01:52:34Z

up vote 4 down vote accepted

Without changing the rest of your data structures for something more efficient (say, a Map) you could achieve the same effect with a single if and a nested loop:

boolean found = false;
for (int j = 0 ; !found && j != codes.length ; j++) {
    if (userCode[i].equalsIgnoreCase(codes[j])) {
        userScrewyPrice += userQuantity[i]*pricesAndTax[j];
        found = true;
    }
}
if (!found) {
    i--;
}

answered Jan 23 '12 at 1:52

dasblinkenlight
117k1279167

If "Map"s are better then I do have both the time and energy to look in that direction. Since I am a newbie with Java, do you mean Hashmaps or am I completely off here? – nickecarlo Jan 23 '12 at 2:13

1

@nickecarlo Hashmap is correct, just make sure that you use a generic version Hashmap<K,T> (it gives you a better type safety). You will define a local variable, like this: Map<String,Integer> codeToPriceAndTax = new HashMap<String,Integer>; You will then add code/price+tax pairs to that map during initialization. Inside your main loop, you will use int priceAndTax = codeToPriceAndTax.get(userCode[i]) to loop up the price+tax by their code. – dasblinkenlight Jan 23 '12 at 2:19

I will check out Hashmaps, thanks. – nickecarlo Jan 23 '12 at 2:45

feedback

Gevorg · Answer 2 · 2012-01-23 01:55:54Z

up vote 2 down vote

The variable codeList is a List and it has a contains function that could be helpful if I understood what you're trying to do.

Also, since Java 7 you can use strings as an argument of switch statements and that would make your code look nicer.

answered Jan 23 '12 at 1:55

Gevorg
2,9062824

feedback

Adam · Answer 3 · 2012-01-23 02:03:37Z

I didn't read the full question so this may only be a part answer... but you ask if you could use:

if (userCode[i].contains(codes[0], codes[1], codes[2], codes[3] {}

You may be able to use something like...

if(new string[]{"a","b","c"}.Contains("a")) {}

or to put this into custom array types...

arrayType[] a = new arrayType[]{item1, item2, item3}
if (arrayType.Contains(searchItem)) {}

Basically - you can do what you asked, just need to change the order of the syntax. But this, I'm sure, is only a part answer to get you thinking.

Adam · Answer 4 · 2012-01-23 02:09:06Z

up vote 1 down vote

Anytime that you have multiple "if" statements you should also look at using a "switch" statement instead.

Looks like a switch statement would save quite a bit of lines here.

answered Jan 23 '12 at 2:09

Adam
1677

feedback

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Checking Input Against Items in a String Array in Java

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