number format

[Maureen Charlton]

I have the following code:

          System.out.println("\nAccount details for:");
          System.out.println("********************");
          
          //display Decimal format to two places
          DecimalFormat twoDecimal = new DecimalFormat ("0.00");
          System.out.println("This is the decimal format to two places:  "+twoDecimal.format(getBalance( ) ) );
 
          //use BigDecimal to deal with finances
          BigDecimal amount = new BigDecimal (getBalance( ) );
          System.out.println("BigDecimal Amount changed to a String for display:  "+amount.toString( ) );
 
          //formating currency i.e GBP i.e. amounts held by BigDecimal objects formatted to pounds
          NumberFormat n = NumberFormat.getCurrencyInstance (Locale.US);
          System.out.println("Formating currency:  "+n );

I am confused to why I am getting the following output to screen:

Account details for:
********************
This is the decimal format to two places: 600.00
Formating currency: java.text.DecimalFormat@67500
Steven Peter Charlton : Account No: 8945 Balance: 600.00

In particular the following line:
Formating currency: java.text.DecimalFormat@67500

Could someone please explain?

[Ilja Preuss]

DecimalFormat doesn't implement the toString method and therefore uses the one inherited by Object. Take a look at the JavaDoc for both classes...

[Maureen Charlton]

Ilja Preuss, many thanks for your post.

Got the following code to work successfully:

          //trying when method getBalance returns a double so converted it into a BigDecimal to deal with finances
          BigDecimal price = new BigDecimal (getBalance( ) );
          String poundSign = NumberFormat.getCurrencyInstance( ).format(price);
          System.out.println("Price:  "+poundSign);