Thread: Post variable set to non-null vlaues

Hi,

I would appreciate help in resolving this issue.

My specification for Class Employee states:

Employee()
//post variables set to non-null values;
Employee (String nme, char sex, Date dob, int id, Date start)
//pre start !=null
//post variables initialised with params passed in

Class Employee extends class Person.

This is what i have done for the constructors which I have taken the details from the specification for.

public class Employee extends Person
{
    //instance variables
    protected int id;
    protected Date start;
    protected float salary;
 
    //start constructors
    public Employee()
    {
      super();
      id=0;
      salary=0;
      [COLOR="Red"]start=[/COLOR]
 
    }
 
    public Employee(String nme, char sex, Date dob, int number, Date start)
    {
       super (nme, sex, dob);
       id=number;
       start= new Date(start);
       salary=0;
    }
    //end of constructors

the problem i have is with setting the date (the section highlighted in red) to a non-null value. How do i do this? I have looked over my previous work and found nothing where we have set the initial state for a date.

Your help will be greatly appreciated.

Many Thanks

With regards to setting to the current date, i have done that and it works, so thank you.

As for the constructor itself, to be honest I have a list of things which i need to double check with my tutor, this being one of them.

The specification requires both constructors, as it states:

Design and code class Employee, which inherits from Person.
protected variables
int id;
Date start;
float salary
constructor
Employee()
// post variables set to non-null values;
Employee (String nme, char sex, Date dob, int id, Date
start)
// pre start != null
// post variables initialised with params passed in
Note that both these constructors should also call the
inherited constructor.
The clone constructor should also call the inherited
constructor.

I am unsure of the need for the two constructors, as I understand the second alone would be sufficient.