How do you add objects to arrays?

[Jacob Coddaire]

I'm creating a Connect Four program, and the first part of it prompts the user for the number of players. The minimum allowed is two and the max is four. Once that is determined, it then progresses to allow the users to input their names. These names need to be stored in an array (or arrayList, it doesn't matter). Here's my code so far. Keep in mind that some string isn't being used yet. ANy suggestions?

import javax.swing.JOptionPane;
	
public class Input {
	
	public static void main(String[] args) {
		[code=java]

String name, start, size, win;
String playerSTR;
int player;

String[] array = {null, null, null, null};

playerSTR = JOptionPane.showInputDialog("How many players?");
player = Integer.parseInt(playerSTR);

for (int i=0; i<player; i++)
{
name = JOptionPane.showInputDialog("Enter a name:");
// this is where the array should add name

}

}

}[/code]

[Jacob Coddaire]

import javax.swing.JOptionPane;
	
public class Input {
	
	public static void main(String[] args) {
		
		String name, start, size, win;
		String playerSTR;
		int player;
		
		String[] array = {null, null, null, null};
		
		playerSTR = JOptionPane.showInputDialog("How many players?");
		player = Integer.parseInt(playerSTR);

		for (int i=0; i<player; i++)
			{
				name = JOptionPane.showInputDialog("Enter a name:");
			}
		
		}

	}

[Janeice DelVecchio]

See if you find some help in this Array tutorial.....


Edit: And WELCOME to JavaRanch!!

[marc weber]

Welcome to the Ranch!

To access elements of an array, use the array name followed by the index enclosed in brackets. For example...

array[0] = "Shannon";
array[1] = "Tina";

[marc weber]

Jacob Coddaire wrote:

...
String[] array = {null, null, null, null};
...

Note that the shortcut syntax for arrays can be helpful if you know the elements at the time of declaration. For example...

String[] array = { "Shannon", "Tina", "Caroline", "Tracy" };

But if you're simply creating the array for elements to be added later, you can use the "new" syntax and just specify the array size. The elements will be initialized to null by default.

String[] array = new String[4];

Also, "array" might not be the most descriptive name for your variable. You might consider calling it something like "playerNames" instead.

[Jacob Coddaire]

To access elements of an array, use the array name followed by the index enclosed in brackets. For example...

array[0] = "Shannon";
array[1] = "Tina";

The problem with this approach is I do not have definite names. So instead of that, I could put in the string variable, name.

So if i did

array[0] = name;
array[1] = name;
array[2] = name;
array[3] = name;

It would put one name for four "slots." Not four names.
How can I create a loop that assigns one name to one "slot" in the array?

[Janeice DelVecchio]

hint: use the loop index

[Jacob Coddaire]

So like this?

import javax.swing.JOptionPane;
	
public class Input {
	
	public static void main(String[] args) {
		
		String name, start, sizeSTR, winSTR;
		String playerSTR;
		int player, size, win;
		
		String[] playerArray = new String[4];
		
		playerSTR = JOptionPane.showInputDialog("How many players?(2-4)");
		player = Integer.parseInt(playerSTR);

		for (int i=0; i<player; i++)
			{
				name = JOptionPane.showInputDialog("Enter a name:");
				playerArray[i] = name;
/*
 * Hypothetically this should assign the name to 0, cycle through to a new name,
 * assign the new name to 1, etc, etc. Correct me if I'm wrong?
 */
			}
		start = JOptionPane.showInputDialog("Which player will go first?"); 
		
		sizeSTR = JOptionPane.showInputDialog("Enter the board size (10-25)");
		size = Integer.parseInt(sizeSTR);
		
		winSTR = JOptionPane.showInputDialog("Enter the number of connects needed to win (4-8)");
		win = Integer.parseInt(winSTR);
		}
	}

[Janeice DelVecchio]

Perfect

[Campbell Ritchie]

Please avoid long lines in code tags; they make the code difficult to read.