Write a program that reads and writes from binary or text files

[Luke Stamper]

So my pseudo code goes...

Enter name for a file
Choose binary or text
Choose read or write
If read, open file
If write, ask for input to write a line of code
When done with write, ask user if they want to write another line
Ask user if they want to do another file


I know I am having troubles with my if else statements. My errors are...

--------------------Configuration: <Default>--------------------
F:\Object Java\Binary.java:68: error: 'else' without 'if'
else(rw.equals("w") || rw.equals("W")){
^
F:\Object Java\Binary.java:68: error: not a statement
else(rw.equals("w") || rw.equals("W")){
^
F:\Object Java\Binary.java:68: error: ';' expected
else(rw.equals("w") || rw.equals("W")){
^
F:\Object Java\Binary.java:92: error: not a statement
}else(bt.equals("t") || bt.equals("T")){
^
F:\Object Java\Binary.java:92: error: ';' expected
}else(bt.equals("t") || bt.equals("T")){
^
F:\Object Java\Binary.java:124: error: 'else' without 'if'
else(rw.equals("w") || rw.equals("W")){
^
F:\Object Java\Binary.java:124: error: not a statement
else(rw.equals("w") || rw.equals("W")){
^
F:\Object Java\Binary.java:124: error: ';' expected
else(rw.equals("w") || rw.equals("W")){


Can anyone help? Thanks in advance.

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

public class Binary {

    public static void main(String[] args) {

        boolean dofile = true;
        String yn = "n", fname = "", bt = "b", rw = "r", line = null;
        PrintWriter textOut = null;
        ObjectOutputStream outputBinary = null;
        ObjectOutputStream outputText = null;
        ObjectInputStream inputStream = null;
        OutputText ot = null;
        OutputBinary ob = null;

        Scanner keyboard = new Scanner(System.in);

        do{
        	System.out.println("Enter the file name.");
        	fname = keyboard.nextLine();

        	System.out.println("Chose binary or text file (b/t):");
        	bt = keyboard.nextLine();

        	if(bt.equals("b") || bt.equals("B")){

        		try{
        		   	outputBinary = new OutputBinary(new FileOutputStream(fname));

        		}

        		catch (IOException e){
        			System.out.println("Problem creating file.");
        		}


        	System.out.println("Chose read or write (r/w):");
        	rw = keyboard.nextLine();

            if (rw.equals("r") || rw.equals("R")){
        		//System.out.println("You have chosen read");
        		try
        			{
        				inputStream = new ObjectInputStream(new FileInputStream(fname));
        				System.out.println("File contains...");
        				fname = inputStream.readObject();
        				inputStream.close();
        			}

        		catch (FileNotFoundException e){
        			System.out.println("Cannot find data file.");
        		    }

        	     }

       do{

        	    else(rw.equals("w") || rw.equals("W")){

        		  	 try
        		  	 {
        		  	 	System.out.println("Enter a line of information to write to the file:");
        		     	ob = keyboard.nextLine();
        		     	ob.writeObject(fname);
        		     	outputStream.close();
        		     }

        		     catch(IOException e)
        		     {
        		     	System.out.println("Problem with file.");
        		     }

        			System.out.println("Would you like to enter another line? (y/n)");
        			yn = keyboard.nextLine();
        			if(yn.equals("n") || yn.equals("N"))
        			dofile = false;

        	      }

        	    }while(dofile);

        	}else(bt.equals("t") || bt.equals("T")){
        		//System.out.println("You have chosen Text");
        		try
        		{
        		   	File fileObject = new File(filename);
        		   	//BufferedWriter  = new BufferedWriter(new FileWriter(filename + ".txt"));
        		}
        		catch (IOException e){
        			System.out.println(e);
        		}
        	}

        		System.out.println("Chose read or write (r/w):");
        	    rw = keyboard.nextLine();

        	if(rw.equals("r") || bt.equals("R")){
        		//System.out.println("You have chosen read");
        		try
        			{
        				textOut = new PrintWriter(new FileOutputStream(fileObject));
        				System.out.println("File contains: " + fileObject);
        				textOut.close();
        			}

        		catch (FileNotFoundException e){
        			System.out.println("Cannot find datafile.");
        		}

        	}

        do{

        	 else(rw.equals("w") || rw.equals("W")){
        		  	System.out.println("Enter a line of information to write to the file:");

        		  try{
        		    	line = keyboard.nextLine();
        		    	textout.println(line);
        		        outputStream.close();
        		     }

        		   catch(FileNotFoundException e){
        		   	System.out.println("File not found.");
        		   }

        			System.out.println("Would you like to do another file? (y/n)");
        			yn = keyboard.nextLine();
        			if(yn.equals("n") || yn.equals("N"))
        			dofile = false;
        			}

        	    }while(dofile);


        	// see if user wants to continue
        	System.out.println("Would you like to do another file? (y/n)");
        	yn = keyboard.nextLine();
        	if(yn.equals("n") || yn.equals("N"))
        		dofile = false;


        }while(dofile);

  }
}

[Campbell Ritchie]

The else without if error usually means you have too many ; after the if. Maybe like this if (...);
Correct that error, which appears first, and see how many error messages vanish thereafter.

[Luke Stamper]

I checked that and also moved my do while loops. I'm getting this error now...



--------------------Configuration: <Default>--------------------
F:\Object Java\Binary.java:65: error: not a statement
else(rw.equals("w") || rw.equals("W")){
^
F:\Object Java\Binary.java:65: error: ';' expected
else(rw.equals("w") || rw.equals("W")){
^
F:\Object Java\Binary.java:90: error: not a statement
}else(bt.equals("t") || bt.equals("T")){
^
F:\Object Java\Binary.java:90: error: ';' expected
}else(bt.equals("t") || bt.equals("T")){
^
F:\Object Java\Binary.java:122: error: not a statement
else(rw.equals("w") || rw.equals("W")){
^
F:\Object Java\Binary.java:122: error: ';' expected
else(rw.equals("w") || rw.equals("W")){
^
6 errors

Process completed.

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

public class Binary {

    public static void main(String[] args) {

        boolean dofile = true;
        String yn = "n", fname = "", bt = "b", rw = "r", line = null;
        PrintWriter textOut = null;
        ObjectOutputStream outputBinary = null;
        ObjectOutputStream outputText = null;
        ObjectInputStream inputStream = null;
        OutputText ot = null;
        OutputBinary ob = null;

        Scanner keyboard = new Scanner(System.in);

        do{
        	System.out.println("Enter the file name.");
        	fname = keyboard.nextLine();

        	System.out.println("Chose binary or text file (b/t):");
        	bt = keyboard.nextLine();

        	if(bt.equals("b") || bt.equals("B")){

        		try{
        		   	outputBinary = new OutputBinary(new FileOutputStream(fname));

        		}

        		catch (IOException e){
        			System.out.println("Problem creating file.");
        		}


        	System.out.println("Chose read or write (r/w):");
        	rw = keyboard.nextLine();

            if (rw.equals("r") || rw.equals("R")){
        		//System.out.println("You have chosen read");
        		try
        			{
        				inputStream = new ObjectInputStream(new FileInputStream(fname));
        				System.out.println("File contains...");
        				fname = inputStream.readObject();
        				inputStream.close();
        			}

        		catch (FileNotFoundException e){
        			System.out.println("Cannot find data file.");
        		    }
        	     }

        	 else(rw.equals("w") || rw.equals("W")){
        	    do{

        		  	 try
        		  	 {
        		  	 	System.out.println("Enter a line of information to write to the file:");
        		     	ob = keyboard.nextLine();
        		     	ob.writeObject(fname);
        		     	outputStream.close();
        		     }

        		     catch(IOException e)
        		     {
        		     	System.out.println("Problem with file.");
        		     }

        			System.out.println("Would you like to enter another line? (y/n)");
        			yn = keyboard.nextLine();
        			if(yn.equals("n") || yn.equals("N"))
        			dofile = false;

        	      }while(dofile);

        	    }

        	}else(bt.equals("t") || bt.equals("T")){
        		//System.out.println("You have chosen Text");
        		try
        		{
        		   	File fileObject = new File(filename);
        		   	//BufferedWriter  = new BufferedWriter(new FileWriter(filename + ".txt"));
        		}
        		catch (IOException e){
        			System.out.println(e);
        		}
        	}

        		System.out.println("Chose read or write (r/w):");
        	    rw = keyboard.nextLine();

        	if(rw.equals("r") || bt.equals("R")){
        		//System.out.println("You have chosen read");
        		try
        			{
        				textOut = new PrintWriter(new FileOutputStream(fileObject));
        				System.out.println("File contains: " + fileObject);
        				textOut.close();
        			}

        		catch (FileNotFoundException e){
        			System.out.println("Cannot find datafile.");
        		}

        	}

        //do{

        	 else(rw.equals("w") || rw.equals("W")){

        	   do{

        		  System.out.println("Enter a line of information to write to the file:");

        		  try{
        		    	line = keyboard.nextLine();
        		    	textout.println(line);
        		        outputStream.close();
        		     }

        		   catch(FileNotFoundException e){
        		   	System.out.println("File not found.");
        		   }

        			System.out.println("Would you like to do another file? (y/n)");
        			yn = keyboard.nextLine();
        			if(yn.equals("n") || yn.equals("N"))
        			dofile = false;


        	    }while(dofile);
        }


        	// see if user wants to continue
        	System.out.println("Would you like to do another file? (y/n)");
        	yn = keyboard.nextLine();
        	if(yn.equals("n") || yn.equals("N"))
        		dofile = false;


        }while(dofile);

  }
}

[Ben Ooms]

Also you can use a beter equal method for testing the letter entered.

Instead of:

bt.equals("t") || bt.equals("T")

write:

bt.equalsIgnoreCase("t")

What you can do to have less errors when writing if's is to start with a empty if like:

if(){

}else{

}

and then fill the conditions and statements. With this method youre less prone for brackets error. You can use the same for classes, methods and so on.
regards,
Ben

[Rob Spoor]

Luke Stamper wrote:

else(rw.equals("w") || rw.equals("W")){
...
}else(bt.equals("t") || bt.equals("T")){
...
else(rw.equals("w") || rw.equals("W")){

You can't add a condition after else. You can add another nested if by simply turning those elses into else ifs.

In short, the syntax is like this:

if (X) {
} else if (Y) {
} else if (Z) {
} else {
}

where you can of course leave out lines 2, 3 and 4.

[Luke Stamper]

Ok...here's where I'm at. I'm getting this error in both output classes...

--------------------Configuration: Exception - JDK version 1.7.0 #5 <Default> - <Default>--------------------
F:\Object Java\OutputBinary.java:31: error: incompatible types
throw new MyException("The file could not be created.");
^
required: Throwable
found: MyException
1 error

Process completed.

I'm not sure why I am getting that.


Secondly,

I am getting these errors from my Binary class.

--------------------Configuration: Exception - JDK version 1.7.0 #5 <Default> - <Default>--------------------
F:\Object Java\Binary.java:23: error: cannot find symbol
OutputText mto = null;
^
symbol: class OutputText
location: class Binary
F:\Object Java\Binary.java:24: error: cannot find symbol
OutputBinary mbo = null;
^
symbol: class OutputBinary
location: class Binary
F:\Object Java\Binary.java:36: error: cannot find symbol
mbo = new OutputBinary(fname);
^
symbol: class OutputBinary
location: class Binary
F:\Object Java\Binary.java:40: error: incompatible types
catch (MyException e){
^
required: Throwable
found: MyException
F:\Object Java\Binary.java:91: error: cannot find symbol
mto = new OutputText(fname);
^
symbol: class OutputText
location: class Binary
F:\Object Java\Binary.java:95: error: incompatible types
catch (MyException e){
^
required: Throwable
found: MyException
6 errors

Process completed.

I have been working on this problem all day, modifiying and changing code. I feel like I am close to having a program that successfully asks the user to create and read binary/text files, but I could really use some help in dealing with these errors. I really have no idea what I am doing wrong.

Thanks in advance,

Luke

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

public class Binary implements Serializable{

    public static void main(String[] args) {

        boolean dofile = true;
        String yn = "n", fname = "", bt = "b", rw = "r", line = null;
        PrintWriter textOut = null;
        ObjectOutputStream binaryOut = null;
        ObjectOutputStream outputStream = null;
        ObjectInputStream inputStream = null;
        OutputText mto = null;
        OutputBinary mbo = null;

        Scanner keyboard = new Scanner(System.in);

        do{
        	System.out.println("Enter the file name.");
        	fname = keyboard.nextLine();

        	System.out.println("Chose binary or text file (b/t):");
        	bt = keyboard.nextLine();

        	if(bt.equalsIgnoreCase("b"));{
        	mbo = new OutputBinary(fname);
        		try{
        		   binaryOut = mbo.createBinaryFile();
        		}
        		catch (MyException e){
        			System.out.println(e);
        		}
        	}

        	System.out.println("Chose read or write (r/w):");
        	rw = keyboard.nextLine();

            if (rw.equalsIgnoreCase("r")){
        		//System.out.println("You have chosen read");
        		try
        			{
        				inputStream = new ObjectInputStream(new FileInputStream(fname));
        			}

        		catch (FileNotFoundException e){
        			System.out.println("Cannot read data file.");
        		    }

                 System.out.println("File contains...");
                // mbo = inputStream.readObject(binaryOut);
                 System.out.println(binaryOut);
                 inputStream.close();
            }

         else if(rw.equalsIgnoreCase("w")){

        	    do{
        		  	 try{
        		  	 	System.out.println("Enter a line of information to write to the file:");
        		     	line = keyboard.nextLine();
        		     	binaryOut.writeObject(line);
        		     	outputStream.flush();
        		     	outputStream.close();
        		     }

        		     catch(FileNotFoundException e){
        		     	System.out.println("Problem with file.");
        		     }

        			System.out.println("Would you like to enter another line? (y/n)");
        			yn = keyboard.nextLine();
        			if(yn.equalsIgnoreCase("n"))
        			dofile = false;

        	      }while(dofile);

        	    }

        	else if(bt.equalsIgnoreCase("t")){
        		//System.out.println("You have chosen Text");
        		mto = new OutputText(fname);
        		try{
        		   textOut = mto.createTextFile();
        		}
        		catch (MyException e){
        			System.out.println(e);
        		}
        	}

        		System.out.println("Chose read or write (r/w):");
        	    rw = keyboard.nextLine();

        	if(rw.equalsIgnoreCase("r")){
        		//System.out.println("You have chosen read");
        		try{
        			textOut = new PrintWriter(new FileOutputStream(fname));
        			System.out.println("File contains: " + fname);
        			textOut.close();
        		}

        		catch (IOException e){
        			System.out.println("Cannot read datafile.");
        		}
        	}

        	 else if(rw.equalsIgnoreCase("w")){

        	   do{

        		  System.out.println("Enter a line of information to write to the file:");

        		  try{
        		      line = keyboard.nextLine();
        		      textOut.println(line);
        		      outputStream.flush();
        		      outputStream.close();
        		   }

        		   catch(FileNotFoundException e){
        		   	System.out.println("File not found.");
        		   }

        			System.out.println("Would you like to do another file? (y/n)");
        			yn = keyboard.nextLine();
        			if(yn.equalsIgnoreCase("n"))
        			dofile = false;

        	    }while(dofile);
        }


        	// see if user wants to continue
        	System.out.println("Would you like to do another file? (y/n)");
        	yn = keyboard.nextLine();
        	if(yn.equalsIgnoreCase("n"))
        		dofile = false;

        }while(dofile);
     }
}


import java.io.*;

public class OutputBinary extends java.lang.Exception {

    private String fname = "";


    public OutputBinary() {
    }

    public OutputBinary(String f) {
    	super("File Does Not Exist");
    	fname = f;
    }

    public ObjectOutputStream createBinaryFile(){
    	ObjectOutputStream mbo = null;
    	try{
    	      mbo = new ObjectOutputStream(new FileOutputStream(fname+".bin",false));
    	}
    	catch (IOException e){
    		System.out.println(e);
    		throw new MyException("The file could not be created.");
    	}
    	return mbo;
    }

    public String getFname(){
    	return fname;
    }
    public void setFname(String f){
    	fname = f;
    }

}

import java.io.*;

public class OutputText extends java.lang.Exception {

    private String fname = "";

    public OutputText() {
    }

    public OutputText(String f) {
    	super("File Does Not Exist");
    	fname = f;
    }

    public PrintWriter createTextFile(){
    	PrintWriter pw = null;
    	try{
    		pw = new PrintWriter( new FileOutputStream(fname+".txt",false));
    		FileOutputStream fos = new FileOutputStream(fname+".txt",false);
    	}
    	catch (FileNotFoundException e){
    		System.out.println(e);
    		throw new MyException("The file could not be created.");
    	}
    	return pw;
    }

    public String getFname(){
    	return fname;
    }
    public void setFname(String f){
    	fname = f;
    }
}



public class MyException extends Exception{

    	// default constructor
    	public MyException(){
    		super("Cannot create file");
    	}

    	// set message constructor
    	public MyException(String s){
    		super(s);
    	}

}

[Luke Stamper]

So the code compiles. The program almost runs. I am getting a few errors. I know something is not right. I am in the process of debugging it. Does anyone see any pressing errors?

Here's what happens when I run it...

--------------------Configuration: <Default>--------------------
Enter the file name.
fileOne
Chose binary or text file (b/t):
k
Chose read or write (r/w):
w
Enter a line of information to write to the file:
Hello World
Exception in thread "main" java.lang.NullPointerException
at Binary.main(Binary.java:68)

Process completed.

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

public class Binary implements Serializable{

    public static void main(String[] args) {

        boolean dofile = true;
        String yn = "n", fname = "", bt = "b", rw = "r", line = null;
        PrintWriter textOut = null;
        ObjectOutputStream binaryOut = null;
        ObjectOutputStream outputStream = null;
        ObjectInputStream inputStream = null;
        OutputText mto = null;
        OutputBinary mbo = null;

        Scanner keyboard = new Scanner(System.in);

        do{
        	System.out.println("Enter the file name.");
        	fname = keyboard.nextLine();

        	System.out.println("Chose binary or text file (b/t):");
        	bt = keyboard.nextLine();

        	if(bt.equalsIgnoreCase("b"));{

        	mbo = new OutputBinary(fname);
            binaryOut = mbo.createBinaryFile();

			System.out.println("Chose read or write (r/w):");
        	rw = keyboard.nextLine();

            if (rw.equalsIgnoreCase("r")){
        		//System.out.println("You have chosen read");
        		try{
        		    inputStream = new ObjectInputStream(new FileInputStream(fname));
        		}

        		catch (IOException e){
        			System.out.println("Cannot read file before it is created.");
                    mbo.printStackTrace();
                }

                 System.out.println("File contains...");
                 //mbo = inputStream.readObject(binaryOut);
               	 System.out.println(binaryOut);
                // inputStream.close();

            }
         	else if(rw.equalsIgnoreCase("w")){

        	    do{
        		  	 try{
        		  	 	System.out.println("Enter a line of information to write to the file:");
        		     	line = keyboard.nextLine();
        		     	binaryOut.writeObject(line);
        		     	outputStream.flush();
        		     	outputStream.close();
        		     }

        		     catch(IOException e){
        		     	System.out.println("Problem with file.");
        		     }

        			System.out.println("Would you like to enter another line? (y/n)");
        			yn = keyboard.nextLine();
        			if(yn.equalsIgnoreCase("n"))
        			dofile = false;

        	      }while(dofile);
         	}


        	}else if(bt.equalsIgnoreCase("t")){
        		//System.out.println("You have chosen Text");
        		mto = new OutputText(fname);
        	    }

        		System.out.println("Chose read or write (r/w):");
        	    rw = keyboard.nextLine();

        	if(rw.equalsIgnoreCase("r")){

        		try{
        			textOut = new PrintWriter(new FileOutputStream(fname));
        		}

        		catch (IOException e){
        			System.out.println("You have to create a file before you can read it!");
        		}
        		System.out.println("File contains: " + fname);
        			textOut.close();
        	}

        	 else if(rw.equalsIgnoreCase("w")){

        	   do{

        		  System.out.println("Enter a line of information to write to the file:");

        		  try{
        		      line = keyboard.nextLine();
        		      textOut.println(line);
        		      outputStream.flush();
        		      outputStream.close();
        		   }

        		   catch(IOException e){
        		   	System.out.println("File not found.");
        		   }

        			System.out.println("Would you like to do another file? (y/n)");
        			yn = keyboard.nextLine();
        			if(yn.equalsIgnoreCase("n"))
        			dofile = false;

        	    }while(dofile);
             }

        	System.out.println("Would you like to do another file? (y/n)");
        	yn = keyboard.nextLine();
        	if(yn.equalsIgnoreCase("n"))
        		dofile = false;

        }while(dofile);

     }

}


import java.io.*;

public class OutputBinary extends java.lang.Exception {

    private String fname = "";


    public OutputBinary() {
    }

    public OutputBinary(String f) {
    	super("File Does Not Exist");
    	fname = f;
    }

    public ObjectOutputStream createBinaryFile(){
    	ObjectOutputStream mbo = null;
    	try{
    	      mbo = new ObjectOutputStream(new FileOutputStream(fname+".bin",false));
    	}
    	catch (IOException e){
    		System.out.println("Error: the file could not be created.");
    	}
    	return mbo;
    }

    public String getFname(){
    	return fname;
    }
    public void setFname(String f){
    	fname = f;
    }

}




import java.io.*;

public class OutputText extends java.lang.Exception {

    private String fname = "";

    public OutputText() {
    }

    public OutputText(String f) {
    	super("File Does Not Exist");
    	fname = f;
    }

    public PrintWriter createTextFile(){
    	PrintWriter pw = null;
    	try{
    		pw = new PrintWriter( new FileOutputStream(fname+".txt",false));
    		FileOutputStream fos = new FileOutputStream(fname+".txt",false);
    	}
    	catch (FileNotFoundException e){
    		System.out.println(e);

    	}
    	return pw;
    }

    public String getFname(){
    	return fname;
    }
    public void setFname(String f){
    	fname = f;
    }
}


public class MyException extends Exception{

    	// default constructor
    	public MyException(){
    		super("Cannot create file");
    	}

    	// set message constructor
    	public MyException(String s){
    		super(s);
    	}

}

[Jason Koonce]

Look over your if...else's again. I went over them and found one last extra else statement. After that, it ran just fine for me.

[Campbell Ritchie]

Why have you got such a long main method? You ought to divide that code up into several smaller methods.

[Ove Lindström]

Why are all you classes extending Exception when they are not exceptions?

I think that you have to look into what Extends actually does.

[Luke Stamper]

Jason,

Can you elaborate on that? I cannot find my bracket error and it is driving me insane.

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

public class Binary implements Serializable{

    public static void main(String[] args) {

        boolean dofile = true;
        String yn = "n", fname = "", bt = "b", rw = "r", line = "";
        PrintWriter textOut = null;
        ObjectOutputStream binaryOut = null;
        ObjectOutputStream outputStream = null;
        ObjectInputStream inputStream = null;
        OutputText mto = null;
        OutputBinary mbo = null;

        Scanner keyboard = new Scanner(System.in);

        do{
        	System.out.println("Enter the file name.");
        	fname = keyboard.nextLine();

        	System.out.println("Chose binary or text file (b/t):");
        	bt = keyboard.nextLine();

        	if(bt.equalsIgnoreCase("b"));{

        		mbo = new OutputBinary(fname);
            	binaryOut = mbo.createBinaryFile();

				System.out.println("Chose read or write (r/w):");
        		rw = keyboard.nextLine();

            	if (rw.equalsIgnoreCase("r")){

        			try{
        		    	inputStream = new ObjectInputStream(new FileInputStream(fname));
        		    	String binaryOut = inputStream.readUTF();
        		    	System.out.println("File contains..." + binaryOut);
        			}

        			catch (IOException e){
        				System.out.println("The file is blank, please write in it.");
                	}

                 	binaryOut.close();

            	}
         		else if(rw.equalsIgnoreCase("w")){

        	    	do{
        	    		System.out.println("Enter a line of information to write to the file:");
        	    		
        		  	 	try{
        		     		line = keyboard.nextLine();
        		     		binaryOut.writeObject(line);
        		     		outputStream.flush();
        		     		outputStream.close();
        		     	}

        		     	catch(IOException e){
        		     		System.out.println("Problem writing to file.");
        		     	}
        	    	
        				System.out.println("Would you like to enter another line? (y/n)");
        				yn = keyboard.nextLine();
        				if(yn.equalsIgnoreCase("n"))
        				dofile = false;

        	      	}while(dofile);
         		}
        	      	
         	}  	
        	else if(bt.equalsIgnoreCase("t")){

        		mto = new OutputText(fname);
        	    }

        		System.out.println("Chose read or write (r/w):");
        	    rw = keyboard.nextLine();

        		if(rw.equalsIgnoreCase("r")){

        			try{
        				BufferedReader inputStream = new BufferedReader(new FileReader(fname));
        			}

        			catch (IOException e){
        				System.out.println("You have to write something in a file before you can read it!");
        			}
        			
        			System.out.println("File contains: " + fname);
        				char next = (char)inputStream.read();
        				textOut.close();
        	 	}
        	 	else if(rw.equalsIgnoreCase("w")){

        	   		do{

        		  		System.out.println("Enter a line of information to write to the file:");

        		  		try{
        		      		line = keyboard.nextLine();
        		      		textOut = new PrintWriter(new FileOutputStream(fname));
        		      		textOut.println(line);
        		      		outputStream.flush();
        		      		outputStream.close();
        		   		}

        		   		catch(IOException e){
        		   		System.out.println("Problem writing to file.");
        		   		}

        				System.out.println("Would you like to do another file? (y/n)");
        				yn = keyboard.nextLine();
        				if(yn.equalsIgnoreCase("n"))
        				dofile = false;

        	    		}while(dofile);
        	    
             		}

        		System.out.println("Would you like to do another file? (y/n)");
        		yn = keyboard.nextLine();
        		if(yn.equalsIgnoreCase("n"))
        			dofile = false;

        }while(dofile);

     }

  }

[Luke Stamper]

Scratch that last post. I found it.

[Luke Stamper]

Right now, my issues are...
1. Read text and read binary are not working
2. If a user selects no after writing to a text file, the program should start over

I have commented out where I think the problems are. Can anyone help me?

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

public class Binary implements Serializable{

    public static void main(String[] args) {

        boolean dofile = true;
        boolean dofile1 = true;
        String yn = "n", fname = "", bt = "b", rw = "r", line = "";
        PrintWriter textOut = null;
        Scanner inputStream = null;
        ObjectInputStream inputBinary = null;
        ObjectOutputStream outputBinary = null;
        OutputText mto = null;
        OutputBinary mbo = null;
        ObjectOutputStream binaryOut = null;
        //StringBuffer contents = new StringBuffer();


        Scanner keyboard = new Scanner(System.in);

        do{
        	System.out.println("Enter the file name.");
        	fname = keyboard.nextLine();

        	System.out.println("Chose binary or text file (b/t):");
        	bt = keyboard.nextLine();

        	if(bt.equalsIgnoreCase("b")){

        		mbo = new OutputBinary(fname);
            	binaryOut = mbo.createBinaryFile();

				System.out.println("Chose read or write (r/w):");
        		rw = keyboard.nextLine();

            	if (rw.equalsIgnoreCase("r")){                 //My read binary file is not working.

        			try{
        		    	inputBinary = new ObjectInputStream(new FileInputStream(fname + ".bin"));
        		    	inputBinary.readUTF();
        		    	System.out.println("File contains..." + inputBinary);
						inputBinary.close();
        			}

        			catch (IOException e){
        				System.out.println("The file is blank, please write in it.");
                	}

            	}
         		else if(rw.equalsIgnoreCase("w")){

        	    	do{
        	    		System.out.println("Enter a line of information to write to the file:");

        		  	 	try{
        		     		line = keyboard.nextLine();
        		     		binaryOut.writeUTF(line);
        		     		binaryOut.flush();
        		     		binaryOut.close();
        		     	}

        		     	catch(IOException e){
        		     		System.out.println("Problem with file output.");
        		     	}

        				System.out.println("Would you like to enter another line? (y/n)");
        				yn = keyboard.nextLine();
        				if(yn.equalsIgnoreCase("n"))
        				dofile1 = false;

        	      	}while(dofile1);                   //If the user selects no, how to make sure program ends.
        	      	                                            //if user selects yes, have the program start over

         		}

         	}
        	else if(bt.equalsIgnoreCase("t")){

        		mto = new OutputText(fname);
				textOut = mto.createTextFile();
        	    }

        		System.out.println("Chose read or write (r/w):"); 
        	    rw = keyboard.nextLine();

        		if(rw.equalsIgnoreCase("r")){                                       //**********My code for reading a text file is not working

					try {
						 inputStream = new Scanner(new FileInputStream(textOut+".txt"));
    				}

					catch (Exception e) {
        				System.out.println(e);
					}

        			System.out.println("File contains: " + textOut);
        				line = inputStream.nextLine();
        				inputStream.close();
        	 	}
        	 	else if(rw.equalsIgnoreCase("w")){

        	   		do{
        		  		System.out.println("Enter a line of information to write to the file:");
						line = keyboard.nextLine();

        		  		try{
        		      		textOut = mto.createTextFile();
        		   		}

        		   		catch(Exception e){
        		   			System.out.println(e);
        		   		}

        		   		textOut.println(line);
        		      	textOut.flush();
        		      	textOut.close();

        				System.out.println("Would you like to enter another line? (y/n)");
        				yn = keyboard.nextLine();
        				if(yn.equalsIgnoreCase("n"))
        				dofile = false;

        	    		}while(dofile);

             		}

        		System.out.println("Would you like to do another file? (y/n)");
        		yn = keyboard.nextLine();
        		if(yn.equalsIgnoreCase("n"))
        			dofile = false;

        }while(dofile);

     }

}



public class MyException extends Exception{

    	// default constructor
    	public MyException(){
    		super("Cannot create file");
    	}

    	// set message constructor
    	public MyException(String s){
    		super(s);
    	}

}


import java.io.*;

public class OutputBinary extends java.lang.Exception {

    private String fname = "";

    public OutputBinary() {
    }

    public OutputBinary(String f) {
    	super("File Does Not Exist");
    	fname = f;
    }

    public ObjectOutputStream createBinaryFile(){
    	ObjectOutputStream mbo = null;
    	try{
    	      mbo = new ObjectOutputStream(new FileOutputStream(fname+".bin",false));
    	}
    	catch (IOException e){
    		System.out.println("Error: the file could not be created.");
    	}
    	return mbo;
    }

    public String getFname(){
    	return fname;
    }
    public void setFname(String f){
    	fname = f;
    }

}


import java.io.*;

public class OutputText extends java.lang.Exception {

    private String fname = "";

    public OutputText() {
    }

    public OutputText(String f) {
    	super("File Does Not Exist");
    	fname = f;
    }

    public PrintWriter createTextFile(){
    	PrintWriter pw = null;
    	try{
    		pw = new PrintWriter( new FileOutputStream(fname+".txt",false));
    		FileOutputStream fos = new FileOutputStream(fname+".txt",false);
    	}
    	catch (FileNotFoundException e){
    		System.out.println("Problem creating file.");

    	}
    	return pw;
    }

    public String getFname(){
    	return fname;
    }
    public void setFname(String f){
    	fname = f;
    }
}

[Tina Smith]

                if(rw.equalsIgnoreCase("r")){                                       //**********My code for reading a text file is not working  
  
                    try {  
                         inputStream = new Scanner(new FileInputStream(textOut+".txt"));  
                    }  
  
                    catch (Exception e) {  
                        System.out.println(e);  
                    }  
  
                    System.out.println("File contains: " + textOut);  
                        line = inputStream.nextLine();  
                        inputStream.close();  
                }  

Maybe I just missed it, but where do you actually read and do something with the contents of the file? And what does "not working" mean? Try starting with reading the entire file line by line and printing to console.

Also...

System.out.println("File contains..." + inputBinary);  

This will call the toString() method on the ObjectInputStream. Unless I miss my guess, the you're going to get ObjectInputStream@someNumber as a result. Try printing the contents of the stream rather than the stream itself?

If it's still not "working", post back with a clear description of what "not working" means - are you getting an error, is the output not what you expect and if so what DO you expect to see...

[Luke Stamper]

So everything appears to be working except for when I try and show the contents of a text file, I get this error:

Exception in thread "main" java.lang.NullPointerException
at Binary.main(Binary.java:118)

and when I try and show the contents of a binary file, this exception is printed...

catch (IOException e){
System.out.println("The file is blank, please write in it.");
}

I can't seem to grasp how to display the contents of a .txt or a .dat file.

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

public class Binary implements Serializable{

    public static void main(String[] args) {

        boolean dofile = true;
        boolean dofile1 = true;
        String yn = "n", fname = "", bt = "b", rw = "r", line = "", readBinary = "";
        PrintWriter textOut = null;
        Scanner inputStream = null;
        ObjectInputStream inputBinary = null;
        ObjectOutputStream outputBinary = null;
        OutputText mto = null;
        OutputBinary mbo = null;
        ObjectOutputStream binaryOut = null;
        StringBuffer contents = new StringBuffer();


        Scanner keyboard = new Scanner(System.in);

        do{
        	System.out.println("Enter the file name.");
        	fname = keyboard.nextLine();

        	System.out.println("Chose binary or text file (b/t):");
        	bt = keyboard.nextLine();

        	if(bt.equalsIgnoreCase("b")){

        		mbo = new OutputBinary(fname);
            	binaryOut = mbo.createBinaryFile();

				System.out.println("Chose read or write (r/w):");
        		rw = keyboard.nextLine();

            	if (rw.equalsIgnoreCase("r")){

        			try{
        		    	inputBinary = new ObjectInputStream(new FileInputStream(fname + ".dat"));
        		    	readBinary = inputBinary.readUTF();
        		    	System.out.println("File contains..." + readBinary);
						inputBinary.close();
        			}

        			catch (IOException e){
        				System.out.println("The file is blank, please write in it.");
                	}

            	}
         		else if(rw.equalsIgnoreCase("w")){

        	    	do{
        	    		System.out.println("Enter a line of information to write to the file:");

        		  	 	try{
        		     		line = keyboard.nextLine();
        		     		binaryOut.writeUTF(line);
        		     		binaryOut.flush();
        		     		binaryOut.close();
        		     	}

        		     	catch(IOException e){
        		     		System.out.println("Problem with file output.");
        		     	}

        				System.out.println("Would you like to enter another line? (y/n)");
        				yn = keyboard.nextLine();
        				if(yn.equalsIgnoreCase("n"))
        				dofile1 = false;

        	      	}while(dofile1);

         		}

         	}
        	else if(bt.equalsIgnoreCase("t")){

        		mto = new OutputText(fname);
				textOut = mto.createTextFile();


        		System.out.println("Chose read or write (r/w):");
        	    rw = keyboard.nextLine();

        		if(rw.equalsIgnoreCase("r")){

					try {
						 inputStream = new Scanner(new FileInputStream(textOut+".txt"));
						 String textLine = null;

						 while((textLine = inputStream.nextLine()) != null){
						 		contents.append(textLine)
						 			.append(System.getProperty("line.separator"));
						 }
    				}

					catch (FileNotFoundException e) {
        				System.out.println("Cannot find file.");
					}finally {
						try {
								if (inputStream != null) {
									inputStream.close();
									}
							} catch (Exception e) {
								e.printStackTrace();
								}
							}

						System.out.println(contents.toString());
        				inputStream.close();
        	 	}
        	 	else if(rw.equalsIgnoreCase("w")){

        	   		do{
        		  		System.out.println("Enter a line of information to write to the file:");
						line = keyboard.nextLine();

        		  		try{
        		      		textOut = mto.createTextFile();
        		   		}

        		   		catch(Exception e){
        		   			System.out.println(e);
        		   		}

        		   		textOut.println(line);
        		      	textOut.flush();
        		      	textOut.close();

        				System.out.println("Would you like to enter another line? (y/n)");
        				yn = keyboard.nextLine();
        				if(yn.equalsIgnoreCase("n"))
        				dofile1 = false;

        	    	}while(dofile1);

        	 	  }

             	}else
        		System.out.println("What kind of bizzare choice is " + bt);


        		System.out.println("Would you like to do another file? (y/n)");
        		yn = keyboard.nextLine();
        		if(yn.equalsIgnoreCase("n"))
        			dofile = false;



     }while(dofile);

   }

}

[Tina Smith]

For the null pointer exception, take a look at line 118 of your source. Ask yourself what are all the objects in that line, and how could one of them be null.

For the binary file, examine the cause of the exception, usually given in e.getMessage(). That should give you a start on what you need to do. If that's not helpful, try printing a message after each line where the problem is occurring to see which line is throwing the exception.