Linear array search(without Arraylist)

**Usoda** · November 17th, 2011, 03:02 AM

I have a method that is SUPPOSE to prompt the user to enter the name of the item to search for. If it exist then say it was found and return the index number. if it doesn't then tell them it doesn't.

I am not allowed to use Arraylist either.

I honestly don't know where to start...

If I run this it gives me my else print statement in a loop until exit condition is satisfied.

 public static void searchList( String[] list,  int currentSize){
 
		String item;
 
		System.out.println("Enter the item you want to search for: ");
		item = in.nextLine();
 
	for (int n=0; n < list.length; n++)
		if(list[n] != null && list[n].equals(item))
			System.out.println ("The item was found, and the index of the array element is" + n);
		else
			System.out.println ("The item you enter does not exist in the list");
	}

**Mr.777** · November 17th, 2011, 05:17 AM

Looking at your code, there can be three possibilities.
1. Either the list you are passing to function is has no values. Or
2. There is no such item.
3. Case doesn't match. (Either use equalsIgnoreCase() )

**Usoda** · November 17th, 2011, 12:01 PM

All i need to do is somehow stop the loop from printing my else statement if IF is true. It will run through both if and else and print them and will print only my IF when it finds the index?

**Tjstretch** · November 17th, 2011, 01:09 PM

You might want to look into break.

Break Statement in Java,Java Break Statement,Java Break Example

**Mr.777** · November 17th, 2011, 11:57 PM

Originally Posted by Tjstretch

You might want to look into break.

Break Statement in Java,Java Break Statement,Java Break Example

I have never seen any condition in which if (IF part) executes successfully, (Else part) will execute too. break is for breaking out of the loop. OP doesn't want to break out the loop but to avoid printing the else part if (IF part) is true. And this can never happen that after executing IF part, else part executes too.

@USODA: Can you provide the values for list and all the variables that need values?

Hint: You need to have a flag that will keep track if an item is found or not and after completion of your loop, check the flag, if true, it means, item found and if false, item couldn't find.

**Usoda** · November 18th, 2011, 12:18 AM

This is my working code. It works for what I have tested it for, but I am not sure if I have ran all the conditions for it too pass. Other than that I believe this is solved. Unless you guys see something I will run into later with it that will give me an error?

 public static void searchList( String[] list,  int currentSize){
 
		String item;
		int n=0;
		boolean flag = false;
 
		System.out.println("Enter the item you want to search for: ");
		item = in.nextLine();
 
		for (n=0; n < list.length; n++)
			if (list[n] != null && list[n].equalsIgnoreCase(item))
		break;
		System.out.println ("The item was found, and the index of the array element is " + n);
		flag = true;
 
			if(flag != true)
					System.out.println ("The item you enter does not exist in the list");

**Tjstretch** · November 18th, 2011, 12:24 AM

Wow never mind apparently Junky posted right after me.

You will need to pick some arbitrary value that you return if nothing is found, such as a negative number. I would also recommend not saying anything in the actual searching method, do that all in the main method (unless your teacher specified otherwise of course), because it would be much easier to read.

/*
 * Assume list is an initialized array of strings.
 */
int index = searchList(list, list.length);
if(index < 0)
  System.out.println("Nothing was found");
else
{
  System.out.printf("Found %s at %d.", list[index], index);
  System.out.println();
}

**Junky** · November 18th, 2011, 12:24 AM

Originally Posted by Usoda

If it exist then say it was found and return the index number.

Since your method is void it is not doing this. What you need to do inside the if statement is to return the index and get rid of the else. At the end of the method return a negative number (an invalid list index). Then in the calling method capture the returned value and use it in an if statement there to print out the result.

**Usoda** · November 18th, 2011, 12:58 AM

Sorry guys it isn't suppose to RETURN anything.. However it is suppose to have print statements for the user inside the method as requested by the instructor. This quote below, as posted before - I believe is the working method unless you guys see any errors I will run into down the road?

If not once again thank you guys for your time and brain power. Much much appreciated!

Originally Posted by Usoda

This is my working code. It works for what I have tested it for, but I am not sure if I have ran all the conditions for it too pass. Other than that I believe this is solved. Unless you guys see something I will run into later with it that will give me an error?

 public static void searchList( String[] list,  int currentSize){
 
		String item;
		int n=0;
		boolean flag = false;
 
		System.out.println("Enter the item you want to search for: ");
		item = in.nextLine();
 
		for (n=0; n < list.length; n++)
			if (list[n] != null && list[n].equalsIgnoreCase(item))
		break;
		System.out.println ("The item was found, and the index of the array element is " + n);
		flag = true;
 
			if(flag != true)
		System.out.println ("The item you enter does not exist in the list");

**Mr.777** · November 18th, 2011, 01:12 AM

What if you couldn't find any element?
What will happen? You code will never go to

if(flag !- true)

part. That's why it is recommended to use opening and closing brackets for the beginners. Specify { and } for your if and for. Let's say it doesn't find any thing. It will skip out the loop and print

"The item was found at the index of the array element is: list.length+1"

and will mark the flag true.

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