Where are all the symbols!? Poor Java can't find them... :(

Hello! For my computer science class, I have to convert a program with global variables to a program with all instantiated variables. I tried... and, well, the program works. Java gets it! But, I do have 24 errors.

Here is my new code:

Code :

---

//Note: You need to change the input file to the one on your computer!
 
import java.io.*;
import java.util.StringTokenizer;
import java.util.HashSet;
 
public class VowlezRUs {
		//method variables
			private static FileInputStream inFile;
			private static InputStreamReader inReader;
			private static BufferedReader reader;
 
public static void main (String args[]) throws IOException
{
	//Methods
	initFile();
	doStuff();
	inFile.close();
}
 
public static void initFile() throws IOException
{
	//Data Input
		inFile = new FileInputStream ("D:\\My Documents...\\blooby.txt");
		inReader = new InputStreamReader (inFile);
		reader = new BufferedReader (inReader);
}
 
public static void doStuff() throws IOException
{
	int leftmostIndex;
	//Line can't be null for loop to execute
		String line = "start";
		while (line != null) {
			//Data conversion into strings
			line = reader.readLine();
			if (line == null)
				{
				break;
				}
 
	StringTokenizer strTkn;
	strTkn = new StringTokenizer(line);
	String word = strTkn.nextToken();
	String suffix = strTkn.nextToken();
 
	//TEST
	//System.out.print(word);
 
	//add vowels to set for comparing
		HashSet vowels = null;
		vowels = new HashSet();
		vowels.add("A");
		vowels.add("C");
		vowels.add("S");
		vowels.add("L");
 
	//TEST
	//System.out.println(word);
 
	//Set output variables...
		String wordPlural = word;
		String wordSuffix = word;
 
	//reverse word for testing
		for (int i = 0; i < word.length(); i++)
			{
			String wordR = word.substring(i, i+1) + wordR;
			}
 
	//reverse suffix for testing
		for (int i = 0; i < suffix.length(); i++)
			{
			String suffixR = suffix.substring(i, i+1) + suffixR;
			}
 
	//TEST
	//System.out.println(wordR);
 
	//if wordR ends in a consonant
		if (vowels.contains(wordR.substring(0,1)) == false) {
 
			//if wordR ends in more than one consonant
			if (vowels.contains(wordR.substring(1,2)) == false) {
				//Double the last letter, then add ‘H’
				String lastLetter = wordR.substring(0,1);
				String wordPlural = wordR.concat(lastLetter);
				wordPlural = wordR.concat("H");
				System.out.print("plural: " + wordR);
 
				//if suffix ends in a consonant
				if (vowels.contains(suffixR.substring(1,2)) == false) {
					//drop the leftmost letter of the final sequence of either vowels or consonants, then add the suffix
					String vowelSeries = word.substring(word.length()-leftmostIndex, word.length());
					vowelSeries = vowelSeries.substring(1, vowelSeries.length());
					String wordSuffix = wordSuffix.substring(0, leftmostIndex);
					wordSuffix = wordSuffix.concat(vowelSeries);
					wordSuffix = wordSuffix.concat(suffix);
					System.out.println("Suffix: " + wordSuffix);
 
				//if suffix ends in vowel
				}else{
					//add the first letter of the suffix, then add the suffix
					String firstLetter = suffix.substring(0,1);
					wordSuffix = suffix.concat(firstLetter).concat(word);
					System.out.println("Suffix: " + wordSuffix);
					}
 
 
				//if wordR ends in 1 consonant
				}else{
					//original string
					System.out.println("Original String: " + line);
					//add “GH”
					wordPlural = word.concat("GH");
					System.out.println("Plural: " + wordPlural);
					//add the suffix
					wordSuffix = word.concat(suffix);
					System.out.println("Suffix: " + wordSuffix);
				}
 
				//if wordR ends in a vowel
				}else{
					//if wordR ends in more than 1 vowel
					if (vowels.contains(wordR.substring(1,2)) == true) {
					//Index of leftmost of vowel series
						for (int i = 0; i < wordR.length(); i++)
							{
							if (vowels.contains(wordR.substring(i, i+1)))
							{
							leftmostIndex++;
							}else{
							break;
							}
							}
 
 					//original String
					System.out.println("Original String: " + line);
 
					//double the last letter, then add ‘H’
					lastLetter = wordR.substring(0,1);
					wordPlural = word;
					wordPlural = wordPlural.concat(lastLetter);
					wordPlural = wordPlural.concat("H");
					System.out.println("Plural: " + wordPlural);
 
						//if suffix ends in consonant
						if (vowels.contains(suffixR.substring(1,2)) == false) {
							//drop the leftmost letter of the final sequence of either vowels or consonants, then add the suffix
							vowelSeries = word.substring(word.length()-leftmostIndex, word.length());
							vowelSeries = vowelSeries.substring(1, vowelSeries.length());
							wordSuffix = wordSuffix.substring(0, leftmostIndex);
							wordSuffix = wordSuffix.concat(vowelSeries);
							wordSuffix = wordSuffix.concat(suffix);
							System.out.println("Suffix: " + wordSuffix);
							//if suffix ends in vowel
						}else{
							//add the first letter of the suffix, then add the suffix
							firstLetter = suffix.substring(0,1);
							wordSuffix = suffix.concat(firstLetter).concat(word);
							System.out.println("Suffix: " + wordSuffix);
							}
 
					}else{
						System.out.println("Original String: " + line);
						//drop the final vowel and add ‘G’
						wordPlural = word.substring(0, word.length()-1);
						wordPlural = wordPlural.concat("G");
						System.out.println("Plural: " + wordPlural);
 
						//if suffix ends in consonant
						if (vowels.contains(suffixR.substring(1,2)) == false) {
							//add the first letter of the suffix and then add the suffix
							firstLetter = suffix.substring(0,1);
							wordSuffix = wordSuffix.concat(firstLetter);
							wordSuffix = wordSuffix.concat(suffix);
							System.out.println("Suffix: " + wordSuffix);
 
						//if suffix ends in vowel
						}else{
							//drop the first letter of the suffix and add the rest of the suffix
							suffix = suffix.substring(1, suffix.length());
							wordSuffix = word;
							wordSuffix = word.concat(suffix);
							System.out.println("Suffix: " + wordSuffix);
}
}
} //line
 
} //massive while loop
} //doStuff()
 
} //class VowelsRU

---

And here is the original code:

Code :

---

/*--------------------------------
    Name: Caitlin Connerney
    School: St. George's School
    Course: AP Computer Science
    Project: Vowels R Us
 ---------------------------------*/
 
//Note: You need to change the input file to the one on your computer!
 
import java.io.*;
import java.util.StringTokenizer;
import java.util.HashSet;
 
public class VowelsRUs {
		//method variables
			private static FileInputStream inFile;
			private static InputStreamReader inReader;
			private static BufferedReader reader;
			private static StringTokenizer strTkn;
 
		//string variables
			private static String line, suffix, suffixR, word, wordR, wordPlural, wordSuffix;
			private static String firstLetter, lastLetter, testLetter, vowelSeries, consonantSeries;
 
		//number variables
			private static int leftmostIndex;
 
		//set variables
			private static HashSet vowels = null;
 
 
public static void main (String args[]) throws IOException
{
	//Methods
	initFile();
	doStuff();
	inFile.close();
}
 
public static void initFile() throws IOException
{
	//Data Input
		inFile = new FileInputStream ("D:\\My Documents\\Senior\\APCompsci\\VHS APCS\\Data\\blooby.txt");
		inReader = new InputStreamReader (inFile);
		reader = new BufferedReader (inReader);
}
 
public static void doStuff() throws IOException
{
	//Line can't be null for loop to execute
		line = "start";
		while (line != null) {
 
	//Data conversion into strings
		line = reader.readLine();
		if (line == null)
			{
			break;
			}
 
	strTkn = new StringTokenizer(line);
	word = strTkn.nextToken();
	suffix = strTkn.nextToken();
 
	//TEST
	//System.out.print(word);
 
	//add vowels to set for comparing
		vowels = new HashSet();
		vowels.add("A");
		vowels.add("C");
		vowels.add("S");
		vowels.add("L");
 
	//TEST
	//System.out.println(word);
 
	//Set output variables...
		wordPlural = word;
		wordSuffix = word;
 
	//reverse word for testing
		for (int i = 0; i < word.length(); i++)
			{
			wordR = word.substring(i, i+1) + wordR;
			}
 
	//reverse suffix for testing
		for (int i = 0; i < suffix.length(); i++)
			{
			suffixR = suffix.substring(i, i+1) + suffixR;
			}
 
	//TEST
	//System.out.println(wordR);
 
	//if wordR ends in a consonant
		if (vowels.contains(wordR.substring(0,1)) == false) {
 
	//TEST
	//System.out.print("c ");
 
 
	//if wordR ends in more than one consonant
		if (vowels.contains(wordR.substring(1,2)) == false) {
 
	//TEST
	//System.out.print("2c ");
 
	//Double the last letter, then add ‘H’
		lastLetter = wordR.substring(0,1);
		wordPlural = wordR.concat(lastLetter);
		wordPlural = wordR.concat("H");
		System.out.print("plural: " + wordR);
 
	//if suffix ends in a consonant
		if (vowels.contains(suffixR.substring(1,2)) == false) {
	//drop the leftmost letter of the final sequence of either vowels or consonants, then add the suffix
		vowelSeries = word.substring(word.length()-leftmostIndex, word.length());
		vowelSeries = vowelSeries.substring(1, vowelSeries.length());
		wordSuffix = wordSuffix.substring(0, leftmostIndex);
		wordSuffix = wordSuffix.concat(vowelSeries);
		wordSuffix = wordSuffix.concat(suffix);
		System.out.println("Suffix: " + wordSuffix);
 
	//if suffix ends in vowel
		}else{
	//add the first letter of the suffix, then add the suffix
		firstLetter = suffix.substring(0,1);
		wordSuffix = suffix.concat(firstLetter).concat(word);
		System.out.println("Suffix: " + wordSuffix);
		}
 
 
	//if wordR ends in 1 consonant
		}else{
 
	//TEST
	//System.out.print("1c ");
 
	//original string
		System.out.println("Original String: " + line);
		//add “GH”
		wordPlural = word.concat("GH");
		System.out.println("Plural: " + wordPlural);
		//add the suffix
		wordSuffix = word.concat(suffix);
		System.out.println("Suffix: " + wordSuffix);
		}
 
	//if wordR ends in a vowel
		}else{
 
	//if wordR ends in more than 1 vowel
		if (vowels.contains(wordR.substring(1,2)) == true) {
 
	//TEST
	//System.out.println("2v ");
 
	//Index of leftmost of vowel series
		for (int i = 0; i < wordR.length(); i++)
			{
			if (vowels.contains(wordR.substring(i, i+1)))
			{
			leftmostIndex++;
			}else{
			break;
			}
			}
 
	//test
	//System.out.println(leftmostIndex);
 
	//original String
		System.out.println("Original String: " + line);
 
	//double the last letter, then add ‘H’
		lastLetter = wordR.substring(0,1);
		wordPlural = word;
		wordPlural = wordPlural.concat(lastLetter);
		wordPlural = wordPlural.concat("H");
		System.out.println("Plural: " + wordPlural);
 
	//if suffix ends in consonant
		if (vowels.contains(suffixR.substring(1,2)) == false) {
	//drop the leftmost letter of the final sequence of either vowels or consonants, then add the suffix
		vowelSeries = word.substring(word.length()-leftmostIndex, word.length());
		vowelSeries = vowelSeries.substring(1, vowelSeries.length());
		wordSuffix = wordSuffix.substring(0, leftmostIndex);
		wordSuffix = wordSuffix.concat(vowelSeries);
		wordSuffix = wordSuffix.concat(suffix);
		System.out.println("Suffix: " + wordSuffix);
	//if suffix ends in vowel
		}else{
	//add the first letter of the suffix, then add the suffix
		firstLetter = suffix.substring(0,1);
		wordSuffix = suffix.concat(firstLetter).concat(word);
		System.out.println("Suffix: " + wordSuffix);
		}
 
	}else{
 
	//TEST
	//System.out.println("v ");
 
		System.out.println("Original String: " + line);
 
	//drop the final vowel and add ‘G’
		wordPlural = word.substring(0, word.length()-1);
		wordPlural = wordPlural.concat("G");
		System.out.println("Plural: " + wordPlural);
 
	//if suffix ends in consonant
		if (vowels.contains(suffixR.substring(1,2)) == false) {
	//add the first letter of the suffix and then add the suffix
		firstLetter = suffix.substring(0,1);
		wordSuffix = wordSuffix.concat(firstLetter);
		wordSuffix = wordSuffix.concat(suffix);
		System.out.println("Suffix: " + wordSuffix);
 
	//if suffix ends in vowel
	}else{
	//drop the first letter of the suffix and add the rest of the suffix
		suffix = suffix.substring(1, suffix.length());
		wordSuffix = word;
		wordSuffix = word.concat(suffix);
		System.out.println("Suffix: " + wordSuffix);
}
}
} //line
 
} //massive while loop
} //doStuff()
 
} //class VowelsRU

---

So you can see the string variables and such that I tried to incorporate into the new code, but I can't figure out what else I can do to get rid of the errors. Here is my error list, should you also require that to assist me:

Code :

---

--------------------Configuration: VowlezRUs - JDK version 1.7.0_02 <Default> - <Default>--------------------
D:\My Documents\JCreator LE\MyProjects\VowlezRUs\src\VowlezRUs.java:88: error: cannot find symbol
		if (vowels.contains(wordR.substring(0,1)) == false) {
		                    ^
  symbol:   variable wordR
  location: class VowlezRUs
D:\My Documents\JCreator LE\MyProjects\VowlezRUs\src\VowlezRUs.java:91: error: cannot find symbol
			if (vowels.contains(wordR.substring(1,2)) == false) {
			                    ^
  symbol:   variable wordR
  location: class VowlezRUs
D:\My Documents\JCreator LE\MyProjects\VowlezRUs\src\VowlezRUs.java:93: error: cannot find symbol
				String lastLetter = wordR.substring(0,1);
				                    ^
  symbol:   variable wordR
  location: class VowlezRUs
D:\My Documents\JCreator LE\MyProjects\VowlezRUs\src\VowlezRUs.java:94: error: wordPlural is already defined in doStuff()
				String wordPlural = wordR.concat(lastLetter);
				       ^
D:\My Documents\JCreator LE\MyProjects\VowlezRUs\src\VowlezRUs.java:94: error: cannot find symbol
				String wordPlural = wordR.concat(lastLetter);
				                    ^
  symbol:   variable wordR
  location: class VowlezRUs
D:\My Documents\JCreator LE\MyProjects\VowlezRUs\src\VowlezRUs.java:95: error: cannot find symbol
				wordPlural = wordR.concat("H");
				             ^
  symbol:   variable wordR
  location: class VowlezRUs
D:\My Documents\JCreator LE\MyProjects\VowlezRUs\src\VowlezRUs.java:96: error: cannot find symbol
				System.out.print("plural: " + wordR);
				                              ^
  symbol:   variable wordR
  location: class VowlezRUs
D:\My Documents\JCreator LE\MyProjects\VowlezRUs\src\VowlezRUs.java:99: error: cannot find symbol
				if (vowels.contains(suffixR.substring(1,2)) == false) {
				                    ^
  symbol:   variable suffixR
  location: class VowlezRUs
D:\My Documents\JCreator LE\MyProjects\VowlezRUs\src\VowlezRUs.java:103: error: wordSuffix is already defined in doStuff()
					String wordSuffix = wordSuffix.substring(0, leftmostIndex);
					       ^
D:\My Documents\JCreator LE\MyProjects\VowlezRUs\src\VowlezRUs.java:132: error: cannot find symbol
					if (vowels.contains(wordR.substring(1,2)) == true) {
					                    ^
  symbol:   variable wordR
  location: class VowlezRUs
D:\My Documents\JCreator LE\MyProjects\VowlezRUs\src\VowlezRUs.java:134: error: cannot find symbol
						for (int i = 0; i < wordR.length(); i++)
						                    ^
  symbol:   variable wordR
  location: class VowlezRUs
D:\My Documents\JCreator LE\MyProjects\VowlezRUs\src\VowlezRUs.java:136: error: cannot find symbol
							if (vowels.contains(wordR.substring(i, i+1)))
							                    ^
  symbol:   variable wordR
  location: class VowlezRUs
D:\My Documents\JCreator LE\MyProjects\VowlezRUs\src\VowlezRUs.java:148: error: cannot find symbol
					lastLetter = wordR.substring(0,1);
					^
  symbol:   variable lastLetter
  location: class VowlezRUs
D:\My Documents\JCreator LE\MyProjects\VowlezRUs\src\VowlezRUs.java:148: error: cannot find symbol
					lastLetter = wordR.substring(0,1);
					             ^
  symbol:   variable wordR
  location: class VowlezRUs
D:\My Documents\JCreator LE\MyProjects\VowlezRUs\src\VowlezRUs.java:150: error: cannot find symbol
					wordPlural = wordPlural.concat(lastLetter);
					                               ^
  symbol:   variable lastLetter
  location: class VowlezRUs
D:\My Documents\JCreator LE\MyProjects\VowlezRUs\src\VowlezRUs.java:155: error: cannot find symbol
						if (vowels.contains(suffixR.substring(1,2)) == false) {
						                    ^
  symbol:   variable suffixR
  location: class VowlezRUs
D:\My Documents\JCreator LE\MyProjects\VowlezRUs\src\VowlezRUs.java:157: error: cannot find symbol
							vowelSeries = word.substring(word.length()-leftmostIndex, word.length());
							^
  symbol:   variable vowelSeries
  location: class VowlezRUs
D:\My Documents\JCreator LE\MyProjects\VowlezRUs\src\VowlezRUs.java:158: error: cannot find symbol
							vowelSeries = vowelSeries.substring(1, vowelSeries.length());
							^
  symbol:   variable vowelSeries
  location: class VowlezRUs
D:\My Documents\JCreator LE\MyProjects\VowlezRUs\src\VowlezRUs.java:158: error: cannot find symbol
							vowelSeries = vowelSeries.substring(1, vowelSeries.length());
							                                       ^
  symbol:   variable vowelSeries
  location: class VowlezRUs
D:\My Documents\JCreator LE\MyProjects\VowlezRUs\src\VowlezRUs.java:158: error: cannot find symbol
							vowelSeries = vowelSeries.substring(1, vowelSeries.length());
							              ^
  symbol:   variable vowelSeries
  location: class VowlezRUs
D:\My Documents\JCreator LE\MyProjects\VowlezRUs\src\VowlezRUs.java:160: error: cannot find symbol
							wordSuffix = wordSuffix.concat(vowelSeries);
							                               ^
  symbol:   variable vowelSeries
  location: class VowlezRUs
D:\My Documents\JCreator LE\MyProjects\VowlezRUs\src\VowlezRUs.java:166: error: cannot find symbol
							firstLetter = suffix.substring(0,1);
							^
  symbol:   variable firstLetter
  location: class VowlezRUs
D:\My Documents\JCreator LE\MyProjects\VowlezRUs\src\VowlezRUs.java:167: error: cannot find symbol
							wordSuffix = suffix.concat(firstLetter).concat(word);
							                           ^
  symbol:   variable firstLetter
  location: class VowlezRUs
D:\My Documents\JCreator LE\MyProjects\VowlezRUs\src\VowlezRUs.java:179: error: cannot find symbol
						if (vowels.contains(suffixR.substring(1,2)) == false) {
						                    ^
  symbol:   variable suffixR
  location: class VowlezRUs
D:\My Documents\JCreator LE\MyProjects\VowlezRUs\src\VowlezRUs.java:181: error: cannot find symbol
							firstLetter = suffix.substring(0,1);
							^
  symbol:   variable firstLetter
  location: class VowlezRUs
D:\My Documents\JCreator LE\MyProjects\VowlezRUs\src\VowlezRUs.java:182: error: cannot find symbol
							wordSuffix = wordSuffix.concat(firstLetter);
							                               ^
  symbol:   variable firstLetter
  location: class VowlezRUs
 
26 errors
 
Process completed.

---

Also, here is what consists of the text file I'm using for the input stream:

Code :

---

XQAC ZVM
PDAE AV
SNIC SY
AAAB BB

---

Essentially, I am given a fictional word, and need to add a fictional suffix to the end. My main problem with the program, as you can see, is that I am having trouble declaring variables properly. If you would like the assignment prompt, please say so, as I would be happy to offer any documents that would help you help me!

Thank you in advance!

A few things to keep in mind:

1. You must declare and initialize your variables before you use them.

2. A local variable's scope exists entirely inside of the block it was declared in. When you enter that block, that variable is "created" and comes into scope. When you leave that block, that variable goes out of scope and can no longer be used. Note that when you re-enter the block, even though the variable may have the same name, it must be created because the old variable has gone out of scope and no longer exists.

3. Scopes can nest. So variables declared in a block is accessible from every block nested inside of the block it was declared in as long as it follows rule 1.

I think these rules should be able to solve every one of your compile errors.

For example, here's your first compiler error:

Code java:

---

for (int i = 0; i < word.length(); i++)
			{
			String wordR = word.substring(i, i+1) + wordR;
			}

---

Here, on each iteration through the for loop you're re-creating the variable wordR, then trying to initialize it to some string + wordR. But what is wordR? You haven't initialized it yet for that iteration, and whatever variable existed prior no longer exists. So what is being add to the end word.substring(i,i+1)? The compiler has no idea, and that's why it's complaining. So how should you fix this problem? Hint: take a look at rule 3 and rule 1.

Take a look at the compiler output and go to the lines it's complaining about. Try to apply the above rules and see if you can't figure out how to solve the other compiler errors.

Thank you, I will try looking at all of these and see where I get. I got it down to one error, but when I fix that one error, another pops up somewhere! Frustrating.

Thanks again!

I've been trying to fix this but it keeps telling me that my variables have not been initialized. I'm getting very confused and frustrated.. Help?
Here's my attempt at fixing the code...

Code :

---

//Note: You need to change the input file to the one on your computer!
 
import java.io.*;
import java.util.StringTokenizer;
import java.util.HashSet;
 
public class VowelsWeAre {
		//method variables
			private static FileInputStream inFile;
			private static InputStreamReader inReader;
			private static BufferedReader reader;
			private static StringTokenizer strTkn;
 
public static void main (String args[]) throws IOException
{
	//Methods
	initFile();
	doStuff();
	inFile.close();
}
 
public static void initFile() throws IOException
{
	//Data Input
		inFile = new FileInputStream ("D:\\My Documents\\Senior\\APCompsci\\VHS APCS\\Data\\blooby.txt");
		inReader = new InputStreamReader (inFile);
		reader = new BufferedReader (inReader);
}
 
public static void doStuff() throws IOException
{
		String line = "start";					//Line can't be null for loop to execute
		while (line != null){
			line = reader.readLine();			//Data conversion into strings
					if (line == null)
						{
						break;
						}
 
			strTkn = new StringTokenizer(line);
			String word = strTkn.nextToken();
			String suffix = strTkn.nextToken();
 
			HashSet vowels = null;
			vowels = new HashSet();		//add vowels to set for comparing
			vowels.add("A");
			vowels.add("C");
			vowels.add("S");
			vowels.add("L");
 
										//TEST
										//System.out.println(word);
			String wordPlural = word;
			String wordSuffix = word;			//Set output variables...
 
			String wordR, suffixR, firstLetter,lastLetter, vowelSeries;
			int leftmostIndex;
 
	//if wordR ends in a consonant
		if (vowels.contains(wordR.substring(0,1)) == false) {
 
											//TEST
											//System.out.print("c ");
 
 
		//if wordR ends in more than one consonant
		if (vowels.contains(wordR.substring(1,2)) == false) {
				lastLetter = wordR.substring(0,1);
				wordPlural = wordR.concat(lastLetter);	//Double the last letter, then add ‘H’
				wordPlural = wordR.concat("H");
				System.out.print("plural: " + wordR);
 
	//if suffix ends in a consonant
		if (vowels.contains(suffixR.substring(1,2)) == false) {
	//drop the leftmost letter of the final sequence of either vowels or consonants, then add the suffix
		vowelSeries = word.substring(word.length()-leftmostIndex, word.length());
		vowelSeries = vowelSeries.substring(1, vowelSeries.length());
		wordSuffix = wordSuffix.substring(0, leftmostIndex);
		wordSuffix = wordSuffix.concat(vowelSeries);
		wordSuffix = wordSuffix.concat(suffix);
		System.out.println("Suffix: " + wordSuffix);
 
	//if suffix ends in vowel
		}else{
	//add the first letter of the suffix, then add the suffix
		firstLetter = suffix.substring(0,1);
		wordSuffix = suffix.concat(firstLetter).concat(word);
		System.out.println("Suffix: " + wordSuffix);
		}
 
 
	//if wordR ends in 1 consonant
		}else{
 
	//TEST
	//System.out.print("1c ");
 
	//original string
		System.out.println("Original String: " + line);
		//add “GH”
		wordPlural = word.concat("GH");
		System.out.println("Plural: " + wordPlural);
		//add the suffix
		wordSuffix = word.concat(suffix);
		System.out.println("Suffix: " + wordSuffix);
		}
 
	//if wordR ends in a vowel
		}else{
 
	//if wordR ends in more than 1 vowel
		if (vowels.contains(wordR.substring(1,2)) == true) {
 
	//TEST
	//System.out.println("2v ");
 
	//Index of leftmost of vowel series
		for (int i = 0; i < wordR.length(); i++)
			{
			if (vowels.contains(wordR.substring(i, i+1)))
			{
			leftmostIndex++;
			}else{
			break;
			}
			}
 
	//test
	//System.out.println(leftmostIndex);
 
	//original String
		System.out.println("Original String: " + line);
 
	//double the last letter, then add ‘H’
		lastLetter = wordR.substring(0,1);
		wordPlural = word;
		wordPlural = wordPlural.concat(lastLetter);
		wordPlural = wordPlural.concat("H");
		System.out.println("Plural: " + wordPlural);
 
	//if suffix ends in consonant
		if (vowels.contains(suffixR.substring(1,2)) == false) {
	//drop the leftmost letter of the final sequence of either vowels or consonants, then add the suffix
		vowelSeries = word.substring(word.length()-leftmostIndex, word.length());
		vowelSeries = vowelSeries.substring(1, vowelSeries.length());
		wordSuffix = wordSuffix.substring(0, leftmostIndex);
		wordSuffix = wordSuffix.concat(vowelSeries);
		wordSuffix = wordSuffix.concat(suffix);
		System.out.println("Suffix: " + wordSuffix);
	//if suffix ends in vowel
		}else{
	//add the first letter of the suffix, then add the suffix
		firstLetter = suffix.substring(0,1);
		wordSuffix = suffix.concat(firstLetter).concat(word);
		System.out.println("Suffix: " + wordSuffix);
		}
 
	}else{
 
	//TEST
	//System.out.println("v ");
 
		System.out.println("Original String: " + line);
 
	//drop the final vowel and add ‘G’
		wordPlural = word.substring(0, word.length()-1);
		wordPlural = wordPlural.concat("G");
		System.out.println("Plural: " + wordPlural);
 
	//if suffix ends in consonant
		if (vowels.contains(suffixR.substring(1,2)) == false) {
	//add the first letter of the suffix and then add the suffix
		firstLetter = suffix.substring(0,1);
		wordSuffix = wordSuffix.concat(firstLetter);
		wordSuffix = wordSuffix.concat(suffix);
		System.out.println("Suffix: " + wordSuffix);
 
	//if suffix ends in vowel
	}else{
	//drop the first letter of the suffix and add the rest of the suffix
		suffix = suffix.substring(1, suffix.length());
		wordSuffix = word;
		wordSuffix = word.concat(suffix);
		System.out.println("Suffix: " + wordSuffix);
}
}
} //line
 
} //massive while loop
} //doStuff()
 
} //class VowelsRU

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Here's your declaration of leftmostIndex:
int leftmostIndex;

Now with that in mind, when you use that variable, what do you expect to get? what value do you need it to be?
It's saying you need to initialise the variable, to a default value.