Vector of byte arrays - how to get my data out?

[Ichiro Takeshita]

Hi,

This is my first post here at Java Ranch. I'm wondering if someone can educate me.

I have a vector (fileDataList). Within a loop I am adding arrays of bytes (the return value from readFile(filename)) thus:

for (int i = 0; i < fileRecordList.size(); i++) {
    FileSystemFile fsFile = (FileSystemFile)fileRecordList.elementAt(i);
    filename = fsFile.getFilename();
    fileDataList.addElement(readFile(filename));
}

As you can see from the second line of the example above I am comfortable with casting object back to their original type when reading them from a vector.

But how do I get my byte arrays back out of the fileDataList? What cast can I use? The code below won't work because we can't convert from Object to byte[]

byte[] data;
 
for (int i = 0; i < fileDataList.size(); i++) {
   // Type mismatch: can not convert from Object to byte[]
   data = fileDataList.elementAt(i);
}

Is there a simple answer?

I.

[Ernest Friedman-Hill]

Hi,

Welcome to JavaRanch!

"data = (byte[]) fileDataList.elementAt(i)" would work just fine.

[Ichiro Takeshita]

Ernest,

Thanks for such a fast reply.

As an experienced programmer, yet Java beginner I often find myself able to write some amazing code in no time at all, only to be stumped for eternity on a simple problem such as this.

Thanks for saving me from further frustration.

I.