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Thread: Programme producing NullPointerException

  1. #1
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    Question Programme producing NullPointerException

    Am new to programming and am trying to create a system that is similar to a train timetable system.
    I want the user to be able to enter the stops between two stations ( from a preset list of 5 stations ) and this be saved as an array list, and this array list be saved accordingly within a 2D array so if they were to look in [1][2] there would be an arraylist of stops between station 1 and 2.

    I used this to initialise the array of arraylists (in a class i created called stops)
    ArrayList<String>[][] stopsArray= (ArrayList<String>[][])new ArrayList[5][5];
     
    	public void stops(){
    		for (int i = 0; i<5; i++){
    			for (int j=0; j<5; j++){
    				stopsArray[i][j]= new ArrayList<String>();
    			}
    		}
    	}

    Then I use this code to set the stops
     
    	public void setNoStops(int stopsNo){
    		noOfStops = stopsNo;
    	}
     
    	public void setStops(int start, int end ){
    		for (int i=0; i< noOfStops ; i++){
    			System.out.println("Print Stop Number"+(i+1)+" :");
    			stopsArray[start][end].add(scanner.nextLine());
    		}
    	}
    The bottom written line of code is mentioned in the null pointer error I recieve

    Then in my main programme I declare the new object and use these methods
    the method options displays the list of five stations with a number reference

     
    System.out.println("Please choose a start station :");
    						options();
    						place1 = scanner.nextInt();
    						System.out.println();
     
    						System.out.println("Please choose an end station :");
    						options();
    						place2 = scanner.nextInt();
    						System.out.println();
     
    						System.out.println("Enter number of stops");
    						stopsno = scanner.nextInt();	
    						mystops.setNoStops(stopsno);
    						mystops.setStops(place1-1,place2-1);

    mystops is the object I created to store the information.

    when compiling I recieve no errors
    when I run the program it runs smoothly, asks for the number of stops, allows the user to enter a number, then says enter stop 1, I enter a word and the program crashes giving the error java.lang.NullPointerException

    can someone please explain where my program is going wrong?
    thanks!


  2. #2
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    Default Re: Programme producing NullPointerException

    Please post the full text of the error message.
    To fix a NPE, look at the line where the error occurs, find the variable with the null value and backtrack to find out why that variable does not have a valid value.

    For debugging 2D arrays, the Arrays class's deepToString() method will format the array's contents for printing.
    System.out.println("an ID "+ java.util.Arrays.deepToString(theArrayName));
    If you don't understand my answer, don't ignore it, ask a question.

  3. #3
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    Default Re: Programme producing NullPointerException

    Exception in thread "main" java.lang.NullPointerException
    at myCourseworkPackage.stops.setStops(stops.java:26)
    at train.main(train.java:179)

    Thats the full error message
    line 26 of stops is the
    stopsArray[start][end].add(scanner.nextLine());

    and line 179 of main is
    mystops.setStops(place1-1,place2-1);

    as seen in the code of my original post

  4. #4
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    Default Re: Programme producing NullPointerException

    Did you try printing out the contents of the array to see if it had any null entries?
    Also does scanner have a valid non-null value? Print it to see.
    If you don't understand my answer, don't ignore it, ask a question.

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    Default Re: Programme producing NullPointerException

    I have printed the array out because what I am trying to do is have the user input an arraylist into various array values. For example for [1][3]'s value I would try add the places "derby" and "nottingham" as an arraylist?

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    Default Re: Programme producing NullPointerException

    Not sure what the last post has to do with finding the variable with the null value.
    Have you found the variable with the null value yet?
    If you don't understand my answer, don't ignore it, ask a question.

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    Default Re: Programme producing NullPointerException

    I used the code you gave me and it is saying all the values are null which I am guessing is the problem?
    I want the users input to change the value from null to the input?
    Could you explain why my code isn't doing that?

    Thank you for helping out, I'm new at this and finding it hard to get my head around

  8. #8
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    Default Re: Programme producing NullPointerException

    it is saying all the values are null
    Yes that would give you a NPE.

    Does the code assign a value to the contents of the array BEFORE trying to use its contents?
    Make sure it is given a value before trying to use it.

    I want the users input to change the value from null to the input?
    The array is supposed to contain ArrayList objects which will initially be empty, not null. The code tries to add the user's input to the ArrayList. However the array has null values not ArrayList objects.
    If you don't understand my answer, don't ignore it, ask a question.

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