Replacing words in a text file

[sanelko]

Hello. I am going to be reading from a .txt file line by line in which the lines will have "fill in the blanks" so to say. For example, one of the lines of text might read

both of you <verb> <adverb> to the left. Next, you and

In this case the line would be read, then it will prompt the user for a verb and then replace <verb> with the users input. It would then ask for an adverb and replace the <adverb> with the users next input and so on throughout the entire .txt file. Right now I have

if(line.toLowerCase().indexOf("plural-noun")!=-1)element="plural-noun";
else if(line.toLowerCase().indexOf("verb")!=-1)element="verb";
else if(line.toLowerCase().indexOf("adjective")!=-1)element="adjective";
else if(line.toLowerCase().indexOf("adverb")!=-1)element="adverb";
else if(line.toLowerCase().indexOf("noun")!=-1)element="noun";
else if(line.toLowerCase().indexOf("name")!=-1)element="name";
else if(line.toLowerCase().indexOf("noise")!=-1)element="noise";
else if(line.toLowerCase().indexOf("number")!=-1)element="number";
else if(line.toLowerCase().indexOf("place")!=-1)element="place";
else return;
System.out.print("Please type a "+element+": ");
String userInput=in.next();
line = line.toLowerCase().replace("<"+element+">",userInp ut);

Is there any way that I could just always get the word in between the brackets < >? Thanks!

[marylandfour]

If you focus on where each opening and closing bracket is on the line, you should be able to figure out whats in between.

[sanelko]

Thanks, well I tried to do that and now I'm getting an error I just can't seem to figure out.
I try to run

int openIndex = line.indexOf("<");
int closeIndex = line.indexOf(">");
String marker = line.substring(openIndex+1, closeIndex - openIndex);
System.out.print("Please type a "+marker+": ");
String userInput=in.next();
line = line.replace("<"+marker+">",userInput);

Exception in thread "main" java.lang.StringIndexOutOfBoundsException: String index out of range: -8
at java.lang.String.substring(Unknown Source)
at MadLibs.Game(MadLibs.java:108)
at MadLibs.Create(MadLibs.java:63)
at MadLibs.MadLibs(MadLibs.java:33)
at MadLibs.main(MadLibs.java:21)

This is the first line this runs on "I wannabe a <noun> when I grow up."
Any help would be appreciated

[marylandfour]

From what I see, you're finding the brackets right, but you should take a second look at how you're trying to grab the stuff in between it.

This should help you out.

http://www.javascriptkit.com/javatutors/string4.shtml

[sanelko]

Oh I see. so the open index is at 9 and the closed index is 14 thus the marker goes from <9,5> and substring can't go backwards. I can't think of another way to do it though...

[sanelko]

Wait I got it, that was really simple haha. Thanks for the help I really appreciate it!