Head First Java DotCom, DotComBust, GameHelper

[jake dickens]

I only have one error and I can't find a solution for it here is the code.

import java.util.*;

public class DotComBust{
	private GameHelper helper = new GameHelper();
	private ArrayList<DotCom> dotComsList = new ArrayList();
	private int numOfGuesses = 0;
	
	private void setUpGame(){
	DotCom one = new DotCom();
	DotCom two = new DotCom();
	DotCom three = new DotCom();
	one.setName("facebook.com");
	two.setName("Zynga.com");
	three.setName("youtube.com");
	dotComsList.add(one);
	dotComsList.add(two);
	dotComsList.add(three);
	
	System.out.println("Name of the game is sink the dotcoms!!!!!!!!");
	
	for(DotCom dotComToSet : dotComsList){
		ArrayList<String> newlocation = helper.placeDotCom(3);
		dotComToSet.setLocationCells(newlocation);
	}
	}
	
	private void startPlaying(){
		while(!dotComsList.isEmpty()){
			String userGuess = helper.getUserInput("enter guess");
			checkUserGuess(userGuess);
		}
		finishGame();
	}
	
	private void checkUserGuess(String userGuess){
		numOfGuesses++;
		String result = "miss";
		for(int x= 0; x < dotComsList.size(); x++){
			result = dotComsList.get(x).checkYourself(userGuess);
				if(result.equals("hit")){
					break;
				}
				
				if(result.equals("kill")){
					dotComsList.remove(dotComToTest);
					break;
				}
		}
		System.out.println(result);
	}
	
	private void finishGame(){
		System.out.println("You killed all dotcoms");
		if(numOfGuesses <= 18){
			System.out.println("you got out in time" + numOfGuesses +" guesses");
		}else{
			System.out.println("your slow it tool you: " +numOfGuesses + " guesses");
		}
	}
	
	public static void main(String args[]){
		DotComBust game = new DotComBust();
		game.setUpGame();
		game.startPlaying();
	}
}

one file

import java.util.*;

public class DotCom{
	private ArrayList<String> locationCells;
	private String name;
	
	public void setLocationCells(ArrayList<String> loc){
		locationCells = loc;
	}
	
	public void setName(String n){
		name = n;
	}
	
	public String checkYourself(String userInput){
		String result = "miss";
		int index = locationCells.indexOf(userInput);
			if(index >= 0){
				locationCells.remove(index);
					
				if(locationCells.isEmpty()){
					result = "kill";
					System.out.println("you sank " +name+ " : ( ");
				}else{
					result ="hit";
				}
			}
		return result;
	}
}

second file

import java.io.*;
import java.util.*;

public class GameHelper{
private static final String alphabet = "abcdefg";
private int gridLength = 7;
private int gridSize = 49;
private int	[] grid = new int[gridSize];
private int comCount = 0;

public String getUserInput(String prompt){
	String inputLine = null;
	System.out.print(prompt + "  ");
	try{
		BufferedReader is = new BufferedReader(new InputStreamReader(System.in));
		inputLine = is.readLine();
		if(inputLine.length() == 0) return null;
	}catch(IOException e){
		System.out.println("IOException : "+e);
	}
	return inputLine.toLowerCase();
}

public ArrayList<String> placeDotCom (int comSize){
	ArrayList<String> alphaCells = new ArrayList<String>();
	String [] alphacoords = new String [comSize];
	String temp = null;
	int [] coords = new int [comSize];
	int attempts = 0;
	boolean success = false;
	int location = 0;
	
	comCount ++;
	int incr = 1;
	if((comCount % 2) == 1){
		incr = gridLength;
	}
	/*first while*/
		while(!success & attempts++ < 200){
			location = (int) (Math.random() * gridSize);
			System.out.print("try " + location);
			int x = 0;
			success = true;
			/*second while */
			while(success && x < comSize){
			if (grid[location] ==0){
				coords[x++] = location;
				location += incr;
			if(location >= gridSize){
				success = false;
			}
			
			if(x >0 && (location % gridLength ==0)){
				success = false;
			}
			}else{
				System.out.print("used " + location);
				success = false;
			}
			
			}/*end of first if*/
			}/*end of second*/
			int x = 0;
			int row = 0;
			int column = 0;
			System.out.println("\n");
			while(x <comSize){
				grid[coords[x]] = 1;
				row = (int) (coords [x] /gridLength);
				temp = String.valueOf(alphabet.charAt(column));
				
				alphaCells.add(temp.concat(Integer.toString(row)));
				x++;
				//System.out.print("  coord " + x+ " = " alphaCells.get(x-1)); //i get a error while uncommented.
			}
			
			System.out.println("\n");
			
			return alphaCells;
		} 
	}

third file

the error i get is this

DotComBust.java:45: cannot find symbol
symbol : variable dotComToTest
location: class DotComBust
dotComsList.remove(dotComToTest);
^
Please help.


[Edit: put code between [code] and [/code] ubb code blocks]

[Luigi Plinge]

As the error message says, the problem is in line 45 of DotComBust.java. The variable dotComToTest cannot be found because you don't define it anywhere.

For some reason you have a for-loop using an int x just before it, rather than for (DotCom dotComToTest : dotComsList) as in the book. Are you using a version of Java previous to 1.5? If so, you'll have to reference the list element using the index as you did a few lines above. If not, use the proper for-loop syntax as in the book.

[jake dickens]

i read the book again and it said for(DotCom dotComToTest : dotComsList) and all to it but it still says dotComsList.remove(dotComToTest) is still wrong


also i'm using java the newest one 1.6.26.

[Luigi Plinge]

Maybe try saving your file before you re-compile?

[jake dickens]

the book is wrong on it according to the online version of the code and the downloaded one has the GameHelper imported but does not show it in the book.

[Luigi Plinge]

The online code doesn't work so you conclude the book is wrong?

[Andrew Monkhouse]

The error message you are getting is very explicit:

jake dickens wrote:DotComBust.java:45: cannot find symbol
symbol : variable dotComToTest
location: class DotComBust
dotComsList.remove(dotComToTest);

I've pulled out the method that this is referring to. The line numbers are now different, but line 45 in the original source code is equivalent to line 11 in the method shown below:

	private void checkUserGuess(String userGuess){
		numOfGuesses++;
		String result = "miss";
		for(int x= 0; x < dotComsList.size(); x++){
			result = dotComsList.get(x).checkYourself(userGuess);
				if(result.equals("hit")){
					break;
				}
				
				if(result.equals("kill")){
					dotComsList.remove(dotComToTest);
					break;
				}
		}
		System.out.println(result);
	}

The error message is telling you that the first time it found the symbol dotComToTest was in line 45 in your code (line 11 above). Does that make sense to you now? Can you see anywhere else in that method where dotComToTest is mentioned (or, more importantly) defined?

[jake dickens]

i downloaded the chapter 6 and compared it to mine and what you said was to make sure but i'm saying the book is wrong cause the book told me dotComToSet not ToTest

[Andrew Monkhouse]

You are correct, by the way - there is a mistake in the book.

You can find the Errata for Head First Java online, and search for dotComToTest - the problem with the printed copy of the book is mentioned about a third of the way down the page.

As an aside, I recommend you look for errata anytime you look at any technical book.

[Luigi Plinge]

hmm, that's bad if both the book and the online code are wrong!

My copy of the book is correct, at least. Sounds like you're not so lucky.

[jake dickens]

Online is fine the book i have is incorrect

the online is correct

import java.util.*;

public class DotComBust {
    private GameHelper helper = new GameHelper();
    private ArrayList<DotCom> dotComsList = new ArrayList<DotCom>();
    private int numOfGuesses = 0;
    
    private void setUpGame() {
        DotCom one = new DotCom();
        one.setName("Pets.com");
        DotCom two = new DotCom();
        two.setName("eToys.com");
        DotCom three = new DotCom();
        three.setName("Go2.com");
        dotComsList.add(one);
        dotComsList.add(two);
        dotComsList.add(three);
        
        System.out.println("Your goal is to sink three dot coms.");
        System.out.println("Pets.com, eToys.com, Go2.com");
        System.out.println("Try to sink them all in the fewest number of guesses");
        
        for (DotCom dotComSet : dotComsList) {
            ArrayList<String> newLocation = helper.placeDotCom(3);
            dotComSet.setLocationCells(newLocation);
        }
    }
    
    private void startPlaying() {
        while (!dotComsList.isEmpty()) {
            String userGuess = helper.getUserInput("Enter a guess");
            checkUserGuess(userGuess);
        }
        finishGame();
    }
    
    private void checkUserGuess(String userGuess)
    {
        numOfGuesses++;
        String result = "miss";
        
        for (DotCom dotComToTest : dotComsList)
        {
            result = dotComToTest.checkYourself(userGuess);
            if (result.equals("hit"))
            {
                break;
            }
            if (result.equals("kill"))
            {
                dotComsList.remove(dotComToTest);
                break;
            }
        }
        System.out.println(result);
    }
    
    private void finishGame() {
        System.out.println("All Dot Coms are dead!  Your stock is now worthless");
        if (numOfGuesses <= 18) {
            System.out.println("It only took you " + numOfGuesses + " guesses");
            System.out.println("You got out before your options sank.");
        }
        else
        {
            System.out.println("Took you long enough. " + numOfGuesses + " guesses.");
            System.out.println("Fish are dancing with your options.");
        }
    }
    
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        DotComBust game = new DotComBust();
        game.setUpGame();
        game.startPlaying();
    }
}

this is correct

I looked at the online code i had two lines wrong i fixed them.

[Andrew Monkhouse]

Jake

Please put code between [code] and [/code] ubb code blocks, otherwise it is too hard to read, and you will find many people will simply move on to easier questions. I fixed your first post for you - you can hit the edit button on that post to see what I have done (or read the link in this post).

As I noted above, this error has been identified in the errata - you are advised to look at it.

[Sean Hoar]

Hi, jNewb here as well. I have built the java files like the book 2e + Errata has defined. My code compiles fine, but the output shows that the locationCells are not being set properly. I figure it is something to do with the placeDotCom setter or setLocationCells, but I also noticed that I don't see anything about setting the cells to an array with randomNum locs like in previous versions of the DotComGame. I will include the 3 java files as well as the printed output. All and any help is appreciated.

GameHelper.java

import java.io.*;
import java.util.*;

public class GameHelper {

	private static final String alphabet = "abcdefg";
	private int gridLength = 7;
	private int gridSize = 49;
	private int[] grid = new int[ gridSize];
	private int comCount = 0;

	public String getUserInput(String prompt) {
		String inputLine = null;
		System.out.print(prompt + " ");
		try{
			BufferedReader is = new BufferedReader( 
			 new InputStreamReader(System.in));
			inputLine = is.readLine();
			if(inputLine.length() == 0) return null;
		} catch (IOException e) {
			System.out.println("IOException: " + e);
		}
		return inputLine.toLowerCase();
	}
	
	public ArrayList<String> placeDotCom( int comSize){
		ArrayList<String> alphaCells = new ArrayList<String>();
		// String [] alphacoords = new String [ comSize];
		String temp = null;
		int [] coords = new int[ comSize];
		int attempts = 0;
		boolean success = false;
		int location = 0;
		
		comCount++;
		int incr = 1;
		if ((comCount % 2 ) == 1) {
			incr = gridLength;
		}
	
		while ( !success & attempts++ < 200 ) {
			location = (int) Math.random() * gridSize;
			System.out.print(" try " + location);
			int x = 0;
			success = true;
			while (success && x < comSize) {
				if (grid[ location] == 0){
					coords[ x++] = location;
					location += incr;
					if (location >= gridSize) {
						success = false;
					}
					if (x>0 && (location % gridLength == 0)) {
						success = false;
					}
				} else {
					System.out.print(" used " + location);
					success = false;
				}
			}
		}
		
		int x = 0;
		int row = 0;
		int column = 0;
		System.out.println("\n");
		while (x< comSize) {
			grid[ coords[x]] = 1;
			row = (int) (coords[ x] / gridLength);
			column = coords[ x] % gridLength;
			temp = String.valueOf (alphabet.charAt(column));
			
			alphaCells.add(temp.concat(Integer.toString(row)));
			x++;
			System.out.print(" coord "+x+" = " + alphaCells.get(x-1));
		}	
		 System.out.println("\n");
		
		return alphaCells;
	}
}	
		

DotCom.java

import java.util.*;

public class DotCom {		
	
	private ArrayList<String> locationCells; //an ArrayList of cell locations
	private String name; // the DotCom's name

	public void setLocationCells(ArrayList<String> loc) {
 // A setter method that updates the DotCom's location.
		locationCells = loc;
 // (Random location provided by the GameHelper placeDotCom() method)
	}
	
	public void setName(String n) { // Your basic setter method
		name = n;
	}
	
	public String checkYourself(String userInput){
	
		String result = "miss";
		int index = locationCells.indexOf(userInput);
 /*/ The ArrayList indexOf() method in action!
 If the user guess is one of the entries in the ArrayList, indexOf()
 will return its ArrayList location.  If not, indexOf() will return -1.
 */
		if(index >= 0) {
			locationCells.remove(index);
// Using ArrayList's remove() method to delete an entry
			
			if (locationCells.isEmpty()) { 
// Using the isEmpty() method to see if all of the locations have been guessed
				result = "kill";
				System.out.println("Ouch! You sunk " + name + "     : ( "); 
// Tell the user when a DotCom has been sunk
			} else {
				result = "hit";
			} 
		}		
		return result; // Return: 'miss' or 'hit' or 'kill'
	} // end method
} // close class

DotComBust.java

import java.util.*;

public class DotComBust{
	// declare and intitialize the variable we'll neet 
	private GameHelper helper = new GameHelper();
	private ArrayList<DotCom> dotComsList = new ArrayList<DotCom>();
	private int numOfGuesses = 0;

	private void setUpGame() { 
		// first make some dot coms and give them locations
		// make three DotCom objects, give'em names, and stick'em in the ArrayList
		DotCom one = new DotCom(); 
		one.setName("Pets.com"); 
		DotCom two = new DotCom(); 
		two.setName("eToys.com");	 
		DotCom three = new DotCom(); 
		three.setName("Go2.com"); 
		dotComsList.add(one); 
		dotComsList.add(two); 
		dotComsList.add(three);
		// print brief instructions for user
		System.out.println("Your goal is to sink three dot coms.");
		System.out.println("Pets.com, eToys.com, Go2.com");
		System.out.println("Try to sink them all in the fewest number of guesses");

		for (DotCom dotComToSet : dotComsList) {
  // repeat with each DotCom in the list
			ArrayList<String> newLocation = helper.placeDotCom(3);
 // ask the helper for a DotCom location
			dotComToSet.setLocationCells(newLocation);
 // call the setter method on this DotCom to give it the location you just got from the helper
		} // close for loop
} // close setUpGame method

	public void startPlaying(){
		while (!dotComsList.isEmpty()) {
 // as long as the DotCom list is Not empty
			String userGuess = helper.getUserInput("Enter a guess");
 // get the user input
			checkUserGuess(userGuess);  // call our own checkUserGuess method
		} // close while
		finishGame();
 // call our own finishGame method
	} // close method

	public void checkUserGuess(String userGuess){
 // find out if there's a hit (and kill on any DotCom)
		
		numOfGuesses++; 
// increment the number of guesses the user has made
		String result = "miss";
 // assume its a 'miss', unless told otherwise
		
		for (int x = 0; x < dotComsList.size(); x++) {
 // repeat with all DotComs in the list
			result = dotComsList.get(x).checkYourself(userGuess);
 // ask the DotCom to check the user guess, looking for a hit (or kill)
			if (result.equals("hit")) { 
				break;
 // get out of the loop early, no point in testing the others
			}
			if (result.equals("kill"))	{
				dotComsList.remove(x);
 // this guy's dead, so take him out of the DotComs list then get out of the loop
				// break;
			}
		} // close for
		System.out.println(result); // print the result for the user
	} // close method

	private void finishGame(){
		// print a message telling the user how he/she did in the game
		System.out.println("All Dot Coms are dead! Your stock is now worthless.");
		if (numOfGuesses <= 18) {
			System.out.println("It only took you " + numOfGuesses + " guesses.");
			System.out.println(" You got out before your options sank.");
		} else {
			System.out.println("Took you long enough. " + numOfGuesses + " guesses.");
			System.out.println("Fish are dancing with your options.");
		}
	}// close method
	
	public static void main(String[] args){
		DotComBust game = new DotComBust(); 
//create the game object
		game.setUpGame(); 
// tell the game object to set up the game
		game.startPlaying();
 // tell the game object to start the main game play loop (keeps asking for user input and checking the guess)
	}
}

Printed Output:

$ java DotComBust
Your goal is to sink three dot coms.
Pets.com, eToys.com, Go2.com
Try to sink them all in the fewest number of guesses
try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0 try 0

coord 1 = a0 coord 2 = a0 coord 3 = a0

try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0

coord 1 = a0 coord 2 = a0 coord 3 = a0

try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0 try 0 used 0

coord 1 = a0 coord 2 = a0 coord 3 = a0

Enter a guess a0
hit
Enter a guess a0
hit
Enter a guess a0
Ouch! You sunk Pets.com : (
hit
Enter a guess a0
hit
Enter a guess a0
hit
Enter a guess a0
Ouch! You sunk eToys.com : (
kill
Enter a guess a0
hit
Enter a guess a0
Ouch! You sunk Go2.com : (
kill
All Dot Coms are dead! Your stock is now worthless.
It only took you 8 guesses.
You got out before your options sank.

[Steve Bradshaw]

Hi Sean Hoar,

IN your game helper class you left out brackets in the while loop

while ( !success & attempts++ < 200 ) {
location = (int) (Math.random() * gridSize);
System.out.print(" try " + location);
int x = 0;
success = true;

this threw the calculations off, as computers read it from right to left

[Campbell Ritchie]

Welcome to the Ranch , Sean Hoar

Please don’t use such long lines inside the code tags; I have had to put new lines in to make them legible.

Steve Bradshaw, what do you mean about right to left? That sounds incorrect. What you actually mean is that the cast has a higher precedence that multiplication, so (int)a * b has to be changed to (int)(a * b). That is a common mistake; if you cast the random number to an int like the first attempt, you always get 0.

[Campbell Ritchie]

But well done finding that line

[Alex Lychak]

Hey guys, I know that it has been like 6 years since all these discussions were around, but I am now reading the book and struggling with another problem found in the code.
I don't get any errors, but I can't find the error in the code's logic.
I would never get a 'Hit!!!' or 'Kill!!!' no matter what number I input. Seems like this method is merely not works out for some reason:

    private void checkUserGuess(String userGuess) {
        numOfGuesses++;
        String result = "Miss!!!";

        for (DotCom dotComToTest: dotComsList) {
            result = dotComToTest.checkYourself(userGuess);
            if (result.equals("Hit!!!")) {
                break;
            }

            if (result.equals("Kill!!!")) {
                dotComsList.remove(dotComToTest);
                break;
            }
        }

        System.out.println(result);
    }

I am trying to dig into code, but I see no mistakes. Maybe you can help me if you guys are still around...

[Alex Lychak]

Well, actually, it seems I didn't get the rules clear. I was trying to hit them using only integers, instead of using the correct -'a1'- like format.
The code turns out to be working fine. Just needs some usability boost...

[Campbell Ritchie]

Well done solving your problem and telling us the answer

. . . and welcome to the Ranch

[Alex Lychak]

@Campbell-Ritchie, thanks a lot. I sincerely hope Ranch will help me move on with my Java knowledge and experience gaining