If Else Statements

Hello friends, I'm slowly learning but I've ran into another problem, I'll just C&P the code as it describes what the program is intended to do.
The error is a "can't find symbol" pointing to tempwidth and templength, the reason I'm confused is that I thought I wouldn't have to declare these variable, are they not local to the method??

/* Author: Ryan Peters
   Date: 13/12/2012
   Description: Sorts post into 1 of 5 categories based on dimensions and weight. The categories are letter, large letter, packet, parcel and neither.
 */
 
 
 public class SortPost {
 
 
	// ------------- FIELDS ---------------
	static int length;
	static int width;
	static int weight;
	static int thickness;
	
	// ---------- CONSTRUCTOR --------------
	
	public SortPost(int l, int wi, int t, int we) {
		length = l;
		width = wi;
		thickness = t;
		weight = we;
	}
	
	// ------------ METHODS ----------------
	
	public static void postType() {
		if((length<=240) && (width<=165) && (thickness<=5) && (weight<=100))
			System.out.println("This item is a letter.");
		else if((length<=353) && (width<=250) && (thickness <=25) && (weight<=750))
			    System.out.println("This item is a large letter.");
		else if((length<=610) && (width<=460) && (thickness<=460) && (weight<=1000))
			     System.out.println("This item is a packet.");
		else if((length<=1500) && (width<=1500) && (thickness<=1500) && (weight<=20000))
			    System.out.println("This item is a parcel.");
		else System.out.println("This item is neither a letter, large letter, packet nor parcel.");
	}
	
	private static void switchThickness() {
		tempthickness=thickness;
		tempwidth=width;
		if (thickness>width){
			thickness=tempwidth;
			width=tempthickness;
		}
	}
		
	private static void switchLength() {
		templength=length;
		tempwidth=width;
		if (length<width){
			length=tempwidth;
			width=templength;
		}
	}
}

All variables have to be declared somewhere. If a variable represents part of the state of an object or of the class overall, then it should be declared as a member variable, and its value will survive across method calls. If a variable is only needed as data for a method to operate on, it should be a local variable, declared inside the method or as a parameter.

There is no "undeclared variables are assumed global" rule in Java.

I set the temporary width to width
tempwidth=width

within the method, then if the test is true i was to set width=templength

I'm not sure what part I'm missing as I did include

don't forget to declare variables!

THANKYOU!!

Of course it's something so small!
I'll try to compile the main method now and see if everything works smoothly

Now I'm having another "can't find symbol" error here

In the SortPost.java code I have this

I'm not too sure what to do about this one whereas I noticed the error in the last one straight away.
The line "newSortPost.postType(); " is the problem I think, I just want it to apply the method to it, but not return a value (I think..)

Here is the code for postType()

Did you fix the same issue in switchThickness method?

Oh, yes I did

That class compiles properly now, it's just the other one giving me trouble >.<

I used this

and now it compiles.. But I have no idea why it works?
Is that declaring the "newSortPost" in some way?

why it works?

Because It is ok.

What do you think about idea to read more information about Java Variable Declaration?

For example, here:webpage

I hope, It will be helpful for you.

Rykurex Peters wrote:I used this

//Sort the item using the input values by calling the constructor SortPost newSortPost = new SortPost(length,width,thickness,weight); newSortPost.postType();

and now it compiles.. But I have no idea why it works?
Is that declaring the "newSortPost" in some way?

This: declares the newSortPost variable. That is, it says, "Let there be a variable with this type and this name." We have to do this for every variable we want to use in Java. If we don't declare a variable, and just try to use it, then Java says "I don't know what that newSortPost thing is."

Thanks a lot guys, and the link will be really helpful =]!