try catch finally

[Jeff Burel]

New to java trying to use try catch finally. With try I am looking to make sure the string length is more than 1 character. I have something wrong but not sure what it is. Please assist.

public class Newbie {
  public static void main(String[] args) {
    String x = null;
    try {
      for (int i = 0; i< x.length; i+) {
        System.out.println("Length of string: " + x.length());
        System.out.println("Second character: " + x.charAt(1));
      }
    }
    catch (NullPointerException err) {
      System.out.println("I can't do that");
    }
    catch (ArrayIndexOutOfBoundsException err) {
      System.out.println("Let's hear it for the invalid index!");
    }
    finally {
     System.out.println("Danger is past");
    }
  }
}

[HENRY: Added Code Tags]

[Henry Wong]

I have something wrong but not sure what it is. Please assist.

It generally helps if you provide more information -- like what error the compiler is showing when you try to compile it.

Henry

[Campbell Ritchie]

So what compiler error are you getting? Hint: go and look through the String class for its length member.

I presume you are trying that out to see what happens if you get a NullPointerException. It's always a good idea to write silly bits of code and see what happens if . . .

[Jeff Burel]

Newbie.java:5: illegal start of expression
for (int i = 0; i< x.length; i+) {
^
Newbie.java:5: not a statement
for (int i = 0; i< x.length; i+) {
^
2 errors

[Vikas Kapoor]

You have used length function in two different ways. (Line 5 and 6)
If your only goal is to try to find a length that you should use String#length function.

[Campbell Ritchie]

Check the correct spelling of the postfix increment operator, maybe here. That will disclose another error when corrected, I expect.

[Andrew Alexander]

Newbie.java:5: illegal start of expression
for (int i = 0; i< x.length; i+) {
^
Newbie.java:5: not a statement
for (int i = 0; i< x.length; i+) {
^
2 errors

Your first error is due to x.length. To call the length method, you have to use parenthesis after length. Something like i<x.length();

Your second error is in fact due to what Campbell said. When you want to increment an int variable in a for loop, you have to use ++.

Here is your code with the two errors fixed:

public class Newbie { 
	public static void main(String[] args) {  
		String x = null;  
		        try {  
		          for (int i = 0; i< x.length(); i++) {  
		            System.out.println("Length of string: " + x.length());  
		            System.out.println("Second character: " + x.charAt(1));  
		          }  
		        }  
		       catch (NullPointerException err) {  
		         System.out.println("I can't do that");  
		       }  
		       catch (ArrayIndexOutOfBoundsException err) {  
		         System.out.println("Let's hear it for the invalid index!");  
		       }  
		       finally {  
		        System.out.println("Danger is past");  
		       }  
		     }  
}  

GL,

Andrew

[Campbell Ritchie]

Welcome to JavaRanch ( ) Andrew, and thank you, but (read the heading of the beginners' forum contents page) we prefer not to give "straight" answers. We think people learn a lot more if they work out the solution for themselves.

[Andrew Alexander]

Ok, that makes sense