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Thread: Random access IO and printing to a laser printer

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    Default Random access IO and printing to a laser printer

    Hello

    At 72, I may be the most clueless newbie this forum has seen! I started programming in 1980 with BASIC, actually sold some financial programs, then moved to QBasic (compiled) and programmed in it for years. Moved to Visual Basic 6 some years ago and have written many programs in this, including a major accounting suite that's in use every day.

    Have looked at dot.net but I mistrust Micro$oft and wonder when they will ditch it. Hence contemplating the move to Java.

    Before embarking on the relearning exercise I have two queries.

    1) Can I write in Java to create and access Random Access files? I am comfortable with these. Where will I find the syntax for open, get, put, close (or whaetver the Java terms are)?

    2) Can I write in Java to print financial reports (formatted) to a laser printer? Printing to a console is far too primitive for my needs. Again, where can I find the syntax?

    Many thanks in advance
    Alan


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    Default Re: Random access IO and printing to a laser printer

    There is a RandomAccessFile class. See the API doc for its methods:
    Java Platform SE 7
    Find the class name in lower left, click on the link and the doc is shown in the main frame.

    I don't know anything about using laser printers.
    If you don't understand my answer, don't ignore it, ask a question.

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    Default Re: Random access IO and printing to a laser printer

    Thank you Norm. Wow! That's a lot of info!

    In Visual Basic we have a thing called User Defined Type, which in Dot Net is Structure. For example, if I have a lot of records in my random access file, each record may have name, dob, membership number, syntax rather like this:-

    Stucture Bloggs
    Name As String * 30 //the max length of the string
    dob As Date //fixed length designated by type
    membershipNo As Int //same as above
    End structure

    (Note: I indented the lines between the start and end lines, but the forum machine discarded the indents!)

    We can address a given field in a given record by Bloggs.Name = "Smith" or Bloggs.dob = Now or Bloggs.membershipNo = Counter. Then Put #1,4 where #1 is the file number and 4 is the record no. Where can I find info about the java equivalent?
    Last edited by alan1; March 10th, 2013 at 08:20 PM. Reason: clarify syntax

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    Default Re: Random access IO and printing to a laser printer

    The tutorial has a lot of info: The Really Big Index

    Your data description reminds me of a class with member variables: classreference.member
    If you don't understand my answer, don't ignore it, ask a question.

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    Default Re: Random access IO and printing to a laser printer

    Quote Originally Posted by alan1 View Post
    Thank you Norm. Wow! That's a lot of info!

    In Visual Basic we have a thing called User Defined Type, which in Dot Net is Structure. For example, if I have a lot of records in my random access file, each record may have name, dob, membership number, syntax rather like this:-

    Stucture Bloggs
    Name As String * 30 //the max length of the string
    dob As Date //fixed length designated by type
    membershipNo As Int //same as above
    End structure

    (Note: I indented the lines between the start and end lines, but the forum machine discarded the indents!)

    We can address a given field in a given record by Bloggs.Name = "Smith" or Bloggs.dob = Now or Bloggs.membershipNo = Counter. Then Put #1,4 where #1 is the file number and 4 is the record no. Where can I find info about the java equivalent?
    Have you looked at Java enums?
    Java Enum Tutorial: 10 Examples of Enum in Java

    The syntax seems similar to what you describe.

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    Default Re: Random access IO and printing to a laser printer

    Thanks. I had trouble following that tutorial owing to the bad grammar, spelling and punctuation. I can't help feeling that there must be a closer equivalent to vb6's UDT or dot.net's Structure if only I can find it.

    Would love to get an answer on laser printers too. Surely, if Java is used for financial applications then printing (hardcopy) formatted financial reports must be a well used feature?

    I am very keen to get started on Java, but not if after masses of study and practice I still cannot use random access files or printers, both absolutely central to the accounting application that I would like to port from vb6!

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    Default Re: Random access IO and printing to a laser printer

    Classes are a user defined type. The syntax to access a class's data is similar to what you posted:
    classRef.memberVar
    If you don't understand my answer, don't ignore it, ask a question.

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    Default Re: Random access IO and printing to a laser printer

    Thanks Norm. I'll have to get my head around what classes actually are! Any luck with printing formatted data to laser printers?

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    Default Re: Random access IO and printing to a laser printer

    I don't do any printing so I have no info about that.

    Look at the PrinterJob class.
    If you don't understand my answer, don't ignore it, ask a question.

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    Default Re: Random access IO and printing to a laser printer

    Norm, is there someone at Oracle I could ask? I really need to know if this requirement can be met before embarking on learning Java. (BTW, I'll also be interested to get anyone's recommendation of a *real* beginners book that assumes nothing and *really* explains classes without just a heap of jargon!

    Cheers
    Alan

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    Default Re: Random access IO and printing to a laser printer

    OOP (and Java) is full of jargon.

    I don't know where you could ask your questions other than on the many java forums.
    If you don't understand my answer, don't ignore it, ask a question.

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    Default Re: Random access IO and printing to a laser printer

    Quote Originally Posted by alan1 View Post
    1) Can I write in Java to create and access Random Access files? I am comfortable with these. Where will I find the syntax for open, get, put, close (or whaetver the Java terms are)?
    You can use the RandomAccessFile class found in the java.io. package. Here is a link containing the syntax and its methods. You may also want to look at the File class, which is treated as a representation of a given file or directory. It is also part of the java.io. package.

    Quote Originally Posted by alan1 View Post
    2) Can I write in Java to print financial reports (formatted) to a laser printer? Printing to a console is far too primitive for my needs. Again, where can I find the syntax?
    I've never done this before (nor thought about it actually) so I did some Googling and it is pretty interesting. I found 2 links from Oracle that would be of some help:
    Lesson: Printing (The Java™ Tutorials > 2D Graphics) (describes the steps you'll need to take)
    javax.print (Java Platform SE 7 ) (details of the javax.print. package in detail)

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