instantiate problems

hello i use netbeans and i was working on an example program for a class motorcycle
which goes

Motorcycle = new Motorcycle
in this line the program returned an error that said Motorcycle cant be instantiated. pls what does dis mean

When you create a new Object, you need two things.
1) a variable name
2) a constructor

So, if the Motorcycle constructor looked like this:

Code java:

---

public Motorcycle()
{
...
}

---

You need to say:

Code java:

---

Motorcycle motor = new Motorcycle();

---

In this, motor is our variable name and Motorcycle() is our call to Motorcycle's constructor that I mentioned above.

Tell me if that helps.

Please post the code for the Motorcycle class. There are a variety of reasons why the Motorcycle class can't be instantiated:

1. The class is either an interface or declared abstract
2. You're using the wrong syntax (as suggested by aussiemcgr)
3. The class has no accessible constructors (for example a private or protected constructor)

Really grateful 4 d assistance it really helped but i got anoda issue wich i dont quite undastand anytime i write a code like

Code java:

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public static void main (String args[]) {

---

i always get illegal start of expression, and also with something like dis

Code java:

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void showAtts() {

---

If you're making a method you have to include private or public BEFORE the return.

Code java:

---

public void showAtts(){}
//or
private void showAtts(){}

---

Here is how to set up a method:

Code java:

---

Modifier return-type name(parameter param) exceptions { //code }
//example
public String returnStringExample(String stringName) { //code }

---

See this website for more information Defining Methods (The Java™ Tutorials > Learning the Java Language > Classes and Objects)

@Brt93 i dont get you, am i expected to create a new method or can i just replace the method with something like dis

Code java:

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public String returnStringAtts (String showAtts) {

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AM CONFUSED.just a beginner

the web page aint opening,some kinda of error

I don't know why the web page is freaking out. Anyways, all of it depends on what you are trying to do. If I were you I would go through some more tutorials. Here is a good place to start: http://download.oracle.com/javase/tutorial/

I'm assuming what you're trying to do, so please correct me if I am going in the wrong direction.

Code java:

---

public void showAtts(int motorcycleNumber){
   if (motorcycleNumber == 1) { //do motorcycle 1 things }
   if (motorcycleNumber == 2) { //do motorcycle 2 things }
 //ETC...      
}

---

Thanks very much this program is from a text book am reading and it is part of the test programs but each time i write the entire program i dont make any head out of it, i always get error replies. for the showatts i already created the variables indicating the make and color of the motorcycle as follows

Code java:

---

public void showAtts() {
        System.out.println("This motorcycle is a "
                + color +" " + make);
        if (engineState == true)
            System.out.println("The engine is on.");
        else System.out.println("The engine is off.");
 
    public static void main (String args[]) {
        Motorcycle motor = new Motorcycle();
        motor.make = "Yamaha RZ350";
        motor.color = "Yellow";
        System.out.println("Calling showAtts...");
        motor.showAtts();
        System.out.println("........");
        System.out.println("Starting engine...");
        motor.startEngine();
        System.out.println("........");
        System.out.println("Calling showAtts...");
        motor.showAtts();
        System.out.println("........");
        System.out.println("Starting engine...");
        motor.startEngine();
    }
    }

---

now for each step i get illegal start of expression and in the case of the showAtts i get symbol not found

i hope this would give u a beta idea of my problem. really appreciate the time

This should work. I strongly suggest that you go through the tutorials in the link I posted earlier.

Code java:

---

public class motorcycle {
	static String make,color;
	static boolean engineState;
 
	public static void startEngine(){
		engineState = true;
	}
 
	public static void showAtts() {
        System.out.println("This motorcycle is a "
                + color +" " + make);
        if (engineState == true)
            System.out.println("The engine is on.");
        else System.out.println("The engine is off.");
	}
 
    public static void main (String args[]) {
        make = "Yamaha RZ350";
        color = "Yellow";
        System.out.println("Calling showAtts...");
        motorcycle.showAtts();
        System.out.println("........");
        System.out.println("Starting engine...");
        motorcycle.startEngine();
        System.out.println("........");
        System.out.println("Calling showAtts...");
        motorcycle.showAtts();
        System.out.println("........");
        System.out.println("Starting engine...");
        motorcycle.startEngine();
    }
}

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REALLY GRATEFUL