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Java - Improper Checking in For Loop

This is a chunk of code in Java, I'm trying to output random numbers from the tasks array, and to make sure none of the outputs are repeated, I put them through some other loops (say you have the sixth, randomly-chosen task "task[5]"; it goes through the for loop that will check it against every "tCheck" element, and while task[5] equals one of the tCheck elements, it will keep trying to find another option before going back to the start of the checking forloop... The tCheck[i] elements are changed at the end of each overall loop of output to the new random number settled on for the task element).
THE PROBLEM is that, despite supposedly checking each new random task against all tCheck elements, sometimes (not always) there are repeated tasks output (meaning, instead of putting out say 2,3,6,1,8,7,5,4, it will output something like 2,3,2,1,8,7,5,4, where "2" is repeated... NOT always in the same place, meaning it can sometimes end up like this, too, where "4" is repeated: 3,1,4,5,4,6,7,8)
int num = console.nextInt();
String[] tasks = {"1","2","3","4","5","6","7","8"};
String[] tCheck = {"","","","","","","",""};
for(int i = 0; i<= (num-1); i++){
int tNum = rand.nextInt(8);
for(int j = 0; j <=7; j++){
if(tasks[tNum].equals(tCheck[j])){
while(tasks[tNum].equals(tCheck[j])){
tNum = rand.nextInt(8);
}
j = 0;
}
}
tCheck[i] = tasks[tNum];
System.out.println(tasks[tNum]+" & "+tCheck[i]);
}
None of the other chunks of code affect this part (other than setting up Random int's, Scanners, so on; those are all done correctly). I just want it to print out each number randomly and only once. to never have any repeats. How do I make it do that?
Thanks in advance.

Firstly, don't use arrays. Use collections - they are way more programmer friendly.
Secondly, use the JDK's API to implement this idea:
randomise the order of your elements
then iterate over them linearly
In code:
List<String> tasks = Arrays.asList("1","2","3","4","5","6","7","8");
Collections.shuffle(tasks);
tasks.forEach(System.out::println);
Job done.

you can check if a certain value is inside your array with this approach.
for(int i = 0; i<= (num-1); i++){
int tNum = rand.nextInt(8);
boolean exist = Arrays.asList(tasks).contains(tNum);
while(!exist){
//your code
int tNum = rand.nextInt(8);
exist = Arrays.asList(tasks).contains(tNum);
}
}
if you are using an arraylist then you can check it with contains method since you are using an array we have to get the list from the array using asList() and then use the contains method. with the help of the while loop it will keep generating random numbers untill it generates a non duplicate value.

I used to created something similar using an ArrayList
public class Main {
public static void main(String[] args) {
String[] array = { "a", "b", "c", "d", "e" };
List<String> l = new ArrayList<String>(Arrays.asList(array));
Random r = new Random();
while(!l.isEmpty()){
String s = l.remove(r.nextInt(l.size()));
System.out.println(s);
}
}
}
I remove a random position in the list until it's empty. I don't use any check of content. I believe that is kind of effective (Even if I create a list)

2 dimensional array & method calls - beginner

I'm currently working on a homework assignment for a beginner-level class and I need help building a program that tests if a sodoku solution presented as an int[][] is valid. I do this by creating helper methods that check both rows, columns and grids.
To check the column I call a method called getColumn that returns a column[]. When I test it out it works fine. I then pass it out on a method called uniqueEntries that makes sure that there are no duplicates.
Problem is, when I call my getColumn method, it returns an array consisting of only one number (for example 11111111, 22222222, 33333333). I have no idea why it does that. Here is my code:
int[][] sodokuColumns = new int[length][length];
for(int k = 0 ; k < sodokuPuzzle.length ; k++) {
sodokuColumns[k] = getColumn(sodokuPuzzle, k);
}
for (int l = 0; l < sodokuPuzzle.length; l++) {
if(uniqueEntries(sodokuColumns[l]) == false) {
columnStatus = false;
}
}
my helper is as follows
public static int[] getColumn(int[][] intArray, int index) {
int[] column = new int[intArray.length];
for(int i = 0 ; i < intArray.length ; i++) {
column[i] = intArray[i][index];
}
return column;
}
Thanks !

You said:
when I call my getColumn method, it returns an array consisting of only one number (for example 11111111, 22222222, 33333333).
I don't see any issue with your getColumn method other than the fact it's not even needed because getColumn(sodokuPuzzle, k) is the same as sodokuPuzzle[k]. If you're going to conceptualize your 2D array in such a way that your first index is the column then for your purpose of checking uniqueness you only need to write a method to get rows.
The issue you're having would seem to be with another part of your code that you did not share. I suspect there's a bug in the logic that accepts user input and that it's populating the puzzle incorrectly.
Lastly a tip for checking uniqueness (if you're allowed to use it) would be to create a Set of some kind (e.g. HashSet) and add all of your items (in your case integers) to that set. If the set has the same size as your original array of items then the items are all unique, if the size differs there are duplicates.

Java - Trouble reading data from a list of 2D arrays

I have created a list of 2D arrays containing randomly generated number values for different locations.
public static int Prices[][] = new int[Cities.length][ItemNames.length];
public static List<int[][]> CityPrices = new ArrayList<int[][]>();
public static void NewDay()
{
for(int i = 0; i<Cities.length; ++i)
{
Prices[i] = PriceGenerator.ReturnPricesForCity(i);
//This method returns an array of random integers
}
CityPrices.add(Prices);
}
But then later when I want to retrieve the price history for a specific item for the amount of days passed, it returns the same value for each day
int Prices[] = new int[GlobalVariables.CityPrices.size()];
String sTest = "";
for(int i = 0; i < Prices.length; ++i)
{
Prices[i] = GlobalVariables.CityPrices.get(i)[spinCity.getSelectedItemPosition()][spinItem.getSelectedItemPosition()];
sTest = sTest + Prices[i] + ",";
}
In this case, the values returned by sTest was : 6055,6055,6055,6055,6055, for five consecutive days.
If I would for instance add a day, the values would change to a range of a new number, which in this case was : 7294,7294,7294,7294,7294,7294,
Please show me what I am doing wrong, as I have been trying to figure this one out the past 4 days with no luck.

Every element in your CityPrices list is the same: in each case, you are adding the Prices two-dimensional array. Your loop modifies Prices[i], but it doesn't change Prices, which is still a reference to the same two-dimensional array right the way through.
I think you're imagining it will pass the contents of the array in its current state, but it doesn't: it passes a reference to the array to the .add() method, so any subsequent changes to the array will be reflected in the contents of CityPrices.
If at the end of your loop you try
CityPrices.get(0) == CityPrices.get(1)
you'll see it returns true.

In the assignment: Prices[i] = GlobalVariables.CityPrices.get(i)[spinCity.getSelectedItemPosition()][spinItem.getSelectedItemPosition()]; you are basically referencing an int[][] at the same index for both dimensions.
On top of that, the spinCity.getSelectedItemPosition() invocation might be returning the same index at every iteration of your loop, hence your identical values.
It's hard to assume anything further as you haven't posted the code for spinCity.

ArrayList of integer arrays

I'm trying to write a simple game where an enemy chases the player on a grid. I'm using the simple algorithm for pathfinding from the Wikipedia page on pathfinding. This involves creating two lists with each list item containing 3 integers. Here's test code I'm trying out to build and display such a list.
When I run the following code, it prints out the same numbers for each array in the ArrayList. Why does it do this?
public class ListTest {
public static void main(String[] args) {
ArrayList<Integer[]> list = new ArrayList<Integer[]>();
Integer[] point = new Integer[3];
for (int i = 0; i < 10; i++) {
for (int j = 0; j < 3; j++) {
point[j] = (int)(Math.random() * 10);
}
//Doesn't this line add filled Integer[] point to the
//end of ArrayList list?
list.add(point);
//Added this line to confirm that Integer[] point is actually
//being filled with 3 random ints.
System.out.println(point[0] + "," + point[1] + "," + point[2]);
}
System.out.println();
//My current understanding is that this section should step through
//ArrayList list and retrieve each Integer[] point added above. It runs, but only
//the values of the last Integer[] point from above are displayed 10 times.
Iterator it = list.iterator();
while (it.hasNext()) {
point = (Integer[])it.next();
for (int i = 0; i < 3; i++) {
System.out.print(point[i] + ",");
}
System.out.println();
}
}
}

First of all, several of the other answers are misleading and/or incorrect. Note that an array is an object. So you can use them as elements in a list, no matter whether the arrays themselves contain primitive types or object references.
Next, declaring a variable as List<int[]> list is preferred over declaring it as ArrayList<int[]>. This allows you to easily change the List to a LinkedList or some other implementation without breaking the rest of your code because it is guaranteed to use only methods available in the List interface. For more information, you should research "programming to the interface."
Now to answer your real question, which was only added as a comment. Let's look at a few lines of your code:
Integer[] point = new Integer[3];
This line creates an array of Integers, obviously.
for (int i = 0; i < 10; i++) {
for (int j = 0; j < 3; j++) {
point[j] = (int)(Math.random() * 10);
}
//Doesn't this line add filled Integer[] point to the
//end of ArrayList list?
list.add(point);
//...
}
Here you assign values to the elements of the array and then add a reference to the array to your List. Each time the loop iterates, you assign new values to the same array and add another reference to the same array to the List. This means that the List has 10 references to the same array which has been repeatedly written over.
Iterator it = list.iterator();
while (it.hasNext()) {
point = (Integer[])it.next();
for (int i = 0; i < 3; i++) {
System.out.print(point[i] + ",");
}
System.out.println();
}
}
Now this loop prints out the same array 10 times. The values in the array are the last ones set at the end of the previous loop.
To fix the problem, you simply need to be sure to create 10 different arrays.
One last issue: If you declare it as Iterator<Integer[]> it (or Iterator<int[]> it), you do not need to cast the return value of it.next(). In fact this is preferred because it is type-safe.
Finally, I want to ask what the ints in each array represent? You might want to revisit your program design and create a class that holds these three ints, either as an array or as three member variables.

I would highly recommend to enclose the integer array of 3 numbers into a meaningful class, that would hold, display and control an array of 3 integers.
Then in your main, you can have an growing ArrayList of objects of that class.

You have an extra ) here:
element = (int[])it.next()); //with the extra parenthesis the code will not compile
should be:
element = (int[])it.next();

Besides the problem in the other answer, you cal it.next() two times, that cause the iterator move forward two times, obviously that's not what you want. The code like this:
element = (int[])it.next());
String el = (String)element;
But actually, I don't see you used el. Although it's legal, it seems meaningless.

Loop/array (Java)

I am having some problems in getting a loop to work. My goal is to create a loop which will allow the user to fill in lottery numbers in several rows (the user may decide how many rows he/she wants to fill out, but it can not be more than a maximum number specified earlier in the code). So far, my code is as follows:
import java.util.Scanner;
public class LotteryTicket {
public LotteryRow[] rows;
public int numberOfRows;
public Player ticketOwner;
public LotteryTicket(int maxNumberOfRows) {
this.rows = new LotteryRow[maxNumberOfRows];
}
Scanner input = new Scanner(System.in);
public void fillInTicket() {
System.out.print("How many rows do you want to fill in? ");
int n = input.nextInt();
while (n < 1 || n > rows.length) {
System.out.println("The number of rows must lie between 1 and " + rows.length);
System.out.print("How many rows do you want to fill in? ");
n = input.nextInt();
}
for (int index = 0; index < n; index++) {
rows[index].fillInRow();
}
numberOfRows = n;
}
When I try to run this in a main-method, and I enter a proper number of rows, I get the error message:
Exception in thread "main" java.lang.NullPointerException
at LotteryTicket.fillInTicket(LotteryTicket.java:24)
Line 24 is the line in which I call upon the fillInRow()-method which I have created in another class, so I suspect the problem lies here. I know that this method works fine, as I have tried it in a test program. However, am I not referring correctly to this fillInRow()-method?
Any help will be much appreciated!

You created an array with size maxNumberOfRows, but you haven't populated it with any objects. It initially just contains null references.
To fix the code, you have to call the LotteryRow constructor to create an object and then put a reference to that object in your array. You can fix your code like this:
for (int index = 0; index < n; index++) {
rows[index] = new LotteryRow();
rows[index].fillInRow();
}

You must create a new object and place it in the array before you call a method on it. Java arrays of objects are initialized to all nulls.

You never initialize rows. Yes, you create the Array with this.rows = new LotteryRow[maxNumberOfRows]; but that does NOT create a new LotteryRow Object for every Array Entry, so the whole array is filled with null. You have to create the LotteryRow Objects by yourself