Thread: Referencing to Method. Incompatible Types Error.

I'm gonna come out straight, this is a homework assignment. I almost got it done, but there is one main issue keeping me from compiling and finishing this. I have two classes. One is a tester (main method) and the other class containing the constructor with the other methods. In a for loop in the tester class, I have a line of code that is written out as:

            distance[index] = fillup[index].calcDistance();

I get the error on this line and and the IDE is pointing to the parentheses at the end of calcDistance saying Incompatible Types.

In the other class with the constructor I have a method written as:

  public void calcDistance  (){
        myDist = myEndMiles - myStartMiles;
    }

and

 public int getDistance (){
        return myDist;
    }

The error explains that it detects a different type, where it expects something but some other type is placed there instead. Well I maintained the int type and there are no arguments so I don't really see what the problem is. I even have it written out similar to the example program. I have all the variables declared and everything. If you need more code to see let me know.

The incompatible types message occurs because you call calcDistance() which is a void method. That is, it does not return anything. But you try and assign the result to distance[index]. You can't assign the result to anything if nothing is being returned.

getDistance() does return something, so perhaps you should think about how it could be used.

Hmm, well I edited

distance[index] = fillup[index].calcDistance();

to say

distance[index] = fillup[index].getDistance();

.

It compiled but my output numbers in the terminal are all F'd up. Worse than before. I got all 0's. I suppose that wasn't the solution. The thing is though in the example program there is something written as:

public void calcTriArea()
    {
        myArea = mySide1 * mySide2 * .5;
    }
 
    public double getTriArea()
    {
        return myArea;
    }

So I have a feeling the way I had it was right, but maybe something else was wrong.

It compiled but my output numbers in the terminal are all F'd up.

That's why I suggested thinking about how getDistance() might be used

getDistance() will return something, so that's good. But you still have to calculate the distance. Have a look at the example program: getTriArea() will have been used to get the area, but calcTriArea() will also have been called somewhere in order to calculate the area that getTriArea() will later return. You have to do something similar.

I thought I did that with myDist = myEndMiles - myStartMiles; in the calcDist method. Sorry I can't think straight. I have been on this literally all day .

Yes calcDist() will correctly calculate the distance. But you have to call this method.

You have to call calcDist() to calculate the distance. And then you can use getDistance() to get the correct distance.

I'm just guessing about the triangle example, but I imagine it would be along the lines of:

 
 
public class RightTriangle 
{
    private double myArea;
    private double mySide1;
    private double mySide2;
 
    public RightTriangle(double s1, double s2)
    {
        mySide1 = s1;
        mySide2 = s2;
    }
 
    public void calcTriArea()
    {
        myArea = mySide1 * mySide2 * .5;
    }
 
    public double getTriArea()
    {
        return myArea;
    }
 
    public static void main(String[] args) 
    {
        RightTriangle test = new RightTriangle(3, 4);
 
        test.calcTriArea();                    // first calculate
        System.out.println(test.getTriArea()); // then get
    }
}

Dang, you guessed pretty good. Though that example is in 2 classes as well. I tried plainly making a separate statement in the main saying something like fillup.calcDistance(); but it didn't recognize the method (cant find symbol). I am like beyond baffled right now. Should I post the entirety of both scripts?

Shouldn't you be saying something like fillup[index].calcDistance();

Yes, I know! you did say that. But do both. First fillup[index].calcDistance(); then whatever=fillup[index].getDistance();

fillup[index].calcDistance(); didn't come up as an error and seemed to be a potential solution. But the thing is I have to go by certain guidelines. For example:

for (int index = 0; index < fillup.length; index++)
{ 
 
            distance[index] = fillup[index].calcDistance();
            mpg[index] = fillup[index].calcMPG(distance[index]); 
            cost[index] = fillup[index].calcCost(); 
            ...
 
}

The above is actually code given to me. Meaning I'm not really supposed to change it. Then the time I'm supposed to use the Getter method is when I'm printing it. It's gotta look something like:

for (int x = 0; x <= 3; x++){
            System.out.printf("%4d %9d %12d %12d %12d %12.2f %11.1f %8.2f %8.2f\n", x+1, fillup[x].getDays(), fillup[x].getStartMiles(), fillup[x].getEndMiles(), 
            fillup[x].distance(), fillup[x].getGallonsUsed(), fillup[x].getGallonsUsed(), mpg[x], fillup[x].getPricePerGallon(), fillup[x].getCost());
        }

Of course there might be a few things that needs to be fixed in the output statement. Perhaps I should try those suggested statements in a separate loop?

That puts you back to square one.

You say you must use "distance[index] = fillup[index].calcDistance();", but calcDistance() is a void method (does not return anything). Under those conditions the compiler message is inevitable.

The whole point of the compiler message is to indicate that *something* must changed. Perhaps you are supposed to write calcDistance() so that it returns a value.

EDIT: Fixed output too. The most obvious mistake I somehow managed to surpass took me almost 24 hours to notice...