3D Array....

[Hugh Mclaughlin]

Hi there I was wondering if anyone could give me a clue as to what I am doing wrong with this code, I think I may be declaring the Random method in the wrong place? I am trying to apply one of R,G,B from colourArray at random to one of the points in the array myBigArray...

The compiler returns: '.class' expected. int x = Math.random() * char colourArray.Length(); and the same for the related line myBigArray [wC] [dC] [hC] = char colourArray[x];

  class BigArray {

public static final int maxDimension = 8;
public static void main(String[] args) throws IOException {

char [] [] [] myBigArray = new char[maxDimension] [maxDimension] [maxDimension];

char[] colourArray = {new char['R'], new char['G'], new char['B']};

int wC = 0;
int dC = 0;
int hC = 0;

int x = Math.random() * char colourArray.Length();

while ( hC < maxDimension)
{
dC = 0;
while ( dC < maxDimension)
{
wC = 0;
while ( wC < maxDimension)
{

myBigArray [wC] [dC] [hC] = char colourArray[x];


System.out.println("location of point: X=" +(hC+1)+" Y="+(dC+1)+" Z="+(wC+1));
wC++;
}
dC++;
}
hC++;
}
/*
for (int length = 0; length < Array.length; column++)
for (int width = 0; row < Array[column].length; row++)
for (int depth = 0; depth <Array[column].length; row++)
Array[length][width][depth] = point;
*/
}
}  

If anyone has any suggestions or ideas, that would be great because I've hit a brick wall! Cheers people.

[Ulf Dittmer]

Hello "javajavajava"-

You've been around the ranch long enough to know that we have a policy on screen names. Basically, it must consist of a first name, a space, and a last name, and not be obviously fictitious. Since yours does not conform with it, please take a moment to change it, which you can do right here.

As to the problem, what is the "char" doing in those two lines? Also, arrays don't have a method called "Length()", they have a property called "length" (no parentheses und lowercase).
[ November 02, 2006: Message edited by: Ulf Dittmer ]

[Hugh Mclaughlin]

Hi there Ulf, apologies for that, all changed now. As for the parathenses that's just me being a twit, thanks for pointing that one out! The char is because, the array created prior to that is of type char, and therefore I thought any method declaring that array must also be of type char? Am I wrong? Thank you for your help Ulf, much appreciated.
[ November 02, 2006: Message edited by: Hugh Mclaughlin ]

[Ulf Dittmer]

The char is because, the array created prior to that is of type char, and therefore I thought any method declaring that array must also be of type char? Am I wrong?

I'm not making sense of this. Are you attempting to cast the array to something? What happens if you simply remove the "char"?
I'm not sure if you can assign a 1D array to a 3D array, like you are doing in the second problematic statement, though. You may have to copy it one element at a time.

[Hugh Mclaughlin]

The array myBigArray is creating a 3D cube of dimensions 8x8x8.

Then with colourArray I am trying to assign every single point in that array one of R,G,B completely randomly. So essentially assigning a member of colourArray (1D) to myBigArray (3D), is that not possible the way I am going about it?

Thanks again.

[Hugh Mclaughlin]

Dear Ulf, I now see your point about those chars, that was entirely incorrect, the new lines are below, but now the compiler returns the " ']' expected " error on the line where I declare my 1D array...

 
//Declare the 1D array:
char[] colourArray = new char['R', 'G', 'B'];
 
//Pick one of R,G,B at random from the array:
int x = Math.random() * (colourArray.length);
 
//Give every element in myBigArray one of R,G,B, 
//as a property, from colour array at random:
myBigArray [wC] [dC] [hC] = colourArray[x];
 

[Ulf Dittmer]

You got the syntax slightly wrong. Instead of

new char['R', 'G', 'B'];

it should be

new char[] {'R', 'G', 'B'};

[Jim Yingst]

Or, since the array is being created in an array variable declaration, a more compact form is allowed:

char[] colourArray = {'R', 'G', 'B'};

[Hugh Mclaughlin]

Cheers guys I'll give that go, I've just got in. I knew it was staring me right in the face! thanks again!

[Hugh Mclaughlin]

Cheers chaps, I got it all working now, had some small issues with doubles/ints confusion but it's all grand now!