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Thread: illegal start of expression

  1. #1
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    Default illegal start of expression

    I am getting the error "Line 54, illegal start of expression". Line 54 is where my "for" starts. It was running ok earlier, now I can't get this error to go away? Not sure what happened? Any help

    public static void main(String[] args) {
    	double salary;
    	double commission;
    	double totalSales;
    	double annualComp;
    	double salesTarget;
    	double incentive;
    	double accel;
    	double incentive1;
    	double notAccel;
    	double increment;
     
    	//annualComp=commission+salary;
     
    	Scanner keyboard = new Scanner(System.in);
    	System.out.print("What was the salary of the salesperson this year?: ");
    	salary=keyboard.nextDouble();
     
    	System.out.print("What were their total sales for the year?: ");
    	totalSales=keyboard.nextDouble();
     
    	System.out.print("What is the sales target for the salesperson? ");
    	salesTarget=keyboard.nextDouble();
    	accel=(totalSales*.07)+salary;
    	notAccel=(totalSales*.05)+salary;
     
    	if (totalSales >= (.8*salesTarget))
    	{
    	System.out.println("Congrats! You qualify for 7% commission. Your total compensation for the year is " + accel);
    	}
    	else
    	{
    	System.out.println ("Sorry, you didn't qualify for the program. No commission was earned on sales. When you reach " + (salesTarget*.8)+ " you can try me again");
    	};
     
    	String answer;
    	double projSales;
    	double sales1;
     
    	System.out.print("Would you like to see your potential earnings? ");
    	System.out.print("Type 'Y' for Yes  or  'N' for NO ");
    	answer=keyboard.next();
    	sales1=((.5*totalSales)+totalSales);
    	projSales=totalSales;
    	commission = .05 * totalSales;
    	increment= +5000;
     
    	System.out.println("Total Sales   Potential Commission");
    	System.out.println("--------------------------------");
            System.out.println(projSales + "\t\t" + commission);
     
    	for (totalSales=totalSales; totalSales < ((totalSales / .5)+totalSales); totalSales = += increment);
    	{ 
    	if (totalSales > salesTarget)
    	{
    	System.out.println(totalSales + "\t\t" + (totalSales*.07));
    	}
    	else  //(projSales < salesTarget)
    	 {
    	 System.out.println(totalSales + "\t\t" + (totalSales*.05));
    	 };
     
     
    }
    }
    }


  2. #2
    Super Moderator Norm's Avatar
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    Default Re: illegal start of expression

    It was running ok earlier,
    What did you change? Try removing the last change to see if that is where the error is.

    Also please post the full text of the error message that shows where the error is. It has a ^ beneath where the error happens. Wrap the error message in code tags to keep the ^ in the correct location.
    If you don't understand my answer, don't ignore it, ask a question.

  3. The Following User Says Thank You to Norm For This Useful Post:

    Summer (August 20th, 2014)

  4. #3
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    Default Re: illegal start of expression

    Thats the thing. I dont recall changing it. I copied and pasted the code out into a notepad file (because I was working on an online coder temporarily). I wanted to give something a try that I looked up so I went back to the coder, copied and pasted it back in and now this error is showing.

  5. #4
    Member Ada Lovelace's Avatar
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    Default Re: illegal start of expression

    ; += increment);
    I'm not sure that semicolon should be at the end of the loop condition.

    Also, I could be wrong as I am unsure of your logic, but the incremental
    condition of a for loop is generally

    ++increment

    Wishes Ada xx
    If to Err is human - then programmers are most human of us all.
    "The Analytical Engine offers a new, a vast, and a powerful language . . .
    for the purposes of mankind
    ."
    Augusta Ada Byron, Lady Lovelace (1851)

  6. #5
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    Default Re: illegal start of expression

    Interesting. Not sure why it wasn't erroring earlier.

    Next question:
    	System.out.println("Total Sales   Potential Commission");
    	System.out.println("--------------------------------");
            System.out.println(projSales + "\t\t" + commission);
     
    	for (totalSales=totalSales; totalSales < ((totalSales / .5)+totalSales); totalSales = ++ increment)
    	{ 
    	if (totalSales > salesTarget)
    	{
    	System.out.println(totalSales + "\t\t" + (totalSales*.07));
    	}
    	else  //(projSales < salesTarget)
    	 {
    	 System.out.println(totalSales + "\t\t" + (totalSales*.05));
    	 };

    So, no matter what number I put in, it is still calculating the table out to be just the 5%. It wont calculate a number for 7% when it is meant to. Also, I need the table to output the original sales total with the compensation and then keep outputting in 5000$ sales total increments until 150% of the sales total shows. I can only get it to do one line in the table, showing the original sales amount and thats it.

  7. #6
    Member Ada Lovelace's Avatar
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    Default Re: illegal start of expression

    else //(projSales < salesTarget)
    {
    System.out.println(totalSales + "\t\t" + (totalSales*.05));
    };
    <-- get rid

    Get rid of the semicolon here - it may cause (probably is in this case) undefined behaviour
    which is causing the statement to execute as true no matter what you input. When the
    code executes, the first if statement is being ignored.

    Wishes Ada xx
    If to Err is human - then programmers are most human of us all.
    "The Analytical Engine offers a new, a vast, and a powerful language . . .
    for the purposes of mankind
    ."
    Augusta Ada Byron, Lady Lovelace (1851)

  8. #7
    Super Moderator Norm's Avatar
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    Default Re: illegal start of expression

    It wont calculate a number for 7%
    What are the values in the variables used in the if statement that controls whether or not the 7% code is executed? Add a println() before the if statement that prints the values used in the if so you can see what the computer sees when it executes that code.
    If you don't understand my answer, don't ignore it, ask a question.

  9. #8
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    Default Re: illegal start of expression

    Thanks. checking it out now

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