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This is probably an elementary question. However, I have completed reading the 5th Chapter of Java Programming for the Absolute Beginner and have approached the Challenges section. I cannot quite understand the question.

The question asks:

"Create a Holder class so that it maintains a list of objects, possibly represented by Strings, which you can add to or take from by using its methods. Hint: try overriding the Vector class."

I have looked at the int [] [] convert --to--> Vector<Vector<Double>> page and saw an example of a simple Vector at the last response, but I am still having difficulty understanding the question.

I think that my main problem is understanding how to override the Holder class.

An answer to this question can potentially aid many new Java programmers in understanding Vectors and overriding.

For Your Information:
The second question states:

"Create a subclass of the Holder class. Use your imagination. Consider a Refrigerator class that holds food and keeps it cold, or a Wallet that holds money, perhaps. Try overriding methods defined in the Holder class. Try creating some overloaded methods as well.

This is the complete question, I will add some instances of examples in the chapter to allow you to better understand where my problem is. I DO NOT want a coding answer (unless necessary), just this question explained in more basic terms.

These are the examples provided within the chapter: are these the techniques I have to incorporate into my answer?

Simple Class Definition: 

public class SimpleCardDeck {
String[] cards = {“2C”, “3C”, “4C”, “5C”, “6C”, “7C”, “8C”,
“9C”, “10C”, “JC”, “QC”, “KC”, “AC”,
“2D”, “3D”, “4D”, “5D”, “6D”, “7D”, “8D”,
“9D”, “10D”, “JD”, “QD”, “KD”, “AD”,
“2H”, “3H”, “4H”, “5H”, “6H”, “7H”, “8H”,
“9H”, “10H”, “JH”, “QH”, “KH”, “AH”,
“2S”, “3S”, “4S”, “5S”, “6S”, “7S”, “8S”,
“9S”, “10S”, “JS”, “QS”, “KS”, “AS”};
public void list() {
for (int c=0; c < cards.length; c++) {
System.out.print(cards[c] + “ “);
}
}
}

Creating and Testing the Object: 

public class SimpleCardDeckTest {
public static void main(String args[]) {
SimpleCardDeck deck = new SimpleCardDeck();
System.out.println(deck.cards[0]);
System.out.println(deck.cards[10]);
System.out.println(deck.cards[51]);
deck.list();
}
}

A Class Example: 

public class Automobile {
public static final String DEFAULT_COLOR = “white”;
public String name;
public boolean running;
public String color;
public int numMiles;
public Automobile() {
this(false, DEFAULT_COLOR, 0);
}
public Automobile(boolean running, String color, int numMiles) {
this.running = running;
this.color = color;
this.numMiles = numMiles;
name = null;
}
public void start() {
if (running) {
System.out.println(“Can’t start, already running.”);
}
else {
running = true;
System.out.println(“The automobile has been started.”);
}
}
public void shutOff() {
if (!running) {
System.out.println(“Can’t shut off, not running.”);
}
else {
running = false;
System.out.println(“The automobile has been shut off.”);
}
}
public String getColor() {
return color;
}
public void setColor(String color) {
this.color = color;
}
public void drive() {
if (running) {
numMiles += 10;
System.out.println(“You have driven 10 miles”);
}
else {
System.out.println(“You need to start the automobile first.”);
}
}
public int getNumMiles() {
return numMiles;
}
public String toString() {
String str;
str = “name = “ + name
+ “, running = “ + running
+ “, color = “ + color
+ “, numMiles = “ + numMiles;
return str;
}
}

Class Test Example: 

public class AutomobileTest {
public static void main(String args[]) {
Automobile auto1 = new Automobile();
System.out.println(“Auto 1: “ + auto1.toString());
Automobile auto2 = new Automobile(true, “green”, 37000);
auto2.name = “INGRID”;
System.out.println(“Auto 2: “ + auto2.toString());
System.out.println(“Driving Auto 1...”);
auto1.drive();
System.out.println(“Driving Auto 2...”);
auto2.drive();
System.out.println(“Starting Auto 1...”);
auto1.start();
System.out.println(“Starting Auto 2...”);
auto2.start();
System.out.println(“Giving Auto 1 a paint job...”);
auto1.setColor(“red”);
System.out.println(“Auto 1 is now “ + auto1.getColor());
System.out.println(“Renaming Auto 1...”);
auto1.name = “CHRISTINE”;
System.out.println(“Auto 1 is named “ + auto1.name);
System.out.println(“Shutting off Auto 2...”);
auto2.shutOff();
System.out.println(“Shutting off Auto 2 AGAIN...”);
auto2.shutOff();
System.out.println(“Auto 1: “ + auto1.toString());
System.out.println(“Auto 2: “ + auto2.toString());
}
}

Subclass of Automobile:

public class BigTruck extends Automobile {

protected boolean trailer;
public BigTruck() {
this(false, DEFAULT_COLOR, 0);
}
public BigTruck(boolean running, String color, int numMiles) {
super(running, color, numMiles);
trailer = false;
}
public void attachTrailer() {
if (trailer) {
System.out.println(“There is already a trailer attached.”);
}
else {
trailer = true;
System.out.println(“Attached a trailer.”);
}
}
public void detachTrailer() {
if (trailer) {
trailer = false;
System.out.println(“Detached the trailer.”);
}
else {
System.out.println(“There is no trailer attached.”);
}
}
public void haul() {
if (trailer) {
drive();
}
else {
System.out.println(“There is nothing to haul.”);
}
}
public String toString() {
String str = super.toString();
str += “, trailer = “ + trailer;
return str;
}
}

Subclass Test: 

public class BigTruckTest {
public static void main(String args[]) {
BigTruck truck = new BigTruck();
System.out.println(truck);
System.out.println(“Starting...”);
truck.start();
System.out.println(“Driving...”);
truck.drive();
System.out.println(“Attaching Trailer...”);
truck.attachTrailer();
System.out.println(“Hauling...”);
truck.haul();
System.out.println(“Detaching trailer...”);
truck.detachTrailer();
System.out.println(“Shutting off...”);
truck.shutOff();
System.out.println(“Painting...”);
truck.setColor(“black”);
System.out.println(truck);
}
}

Vector Victor: 

import java.util.Vector;
public class VectorVictor {
public static void main(String args[]) {
Vector v = new Vector(5, 5);
System.out.println(“size, capacity”);
System.out.println(v.size() + “, “ + v.capacity());
v.add(new String(“Fuzzy”));
System.out.println(v.size() + “, “ + v.capacity());
v.add(new String(“Wuzzy”));
System.out.println(v.size() + “, “ + v.capacity());
v.add(new String(“was”));
System.out.println(v.size() + “, “ + v.capacity());
v.add(new String(“a”));
System.out.println(v.size() + “, “ + v.capacity());
v.add(new String(“bear”));
System.out.println(v.size() + “, “ + v.capacity());
v.add(new String(“Fuzzy”));
System.out.println(v.size() + “, “ + v.capacity());
v.add(new String(“Wuzzy”));
System.out.println(v.size() + “, “ + v.capacity());
v.add(new String(“had”));
System.out.println(v.size() + “, “ + v.capacity());
v.add(new String(“no”));
System.out.println(v.size() + “, “ + v.capacity());
v.add(new String(“hair”));
System.out.println(v.size() + “, “ + v.capacity());
v.add(new String(“Fuzzy”));
System.out.println(v.size() + “, “ + v.capacity());
v.add(new String(“Wuzzy”));
System.out.println(v.size() + “, “ + v.capacity());
v.add(new String(“wasn’t”));
System.out.println(v.size() + “, “ + v.capacity());
v.add(new String(“fuzzy”));
System.out.println(v.size() + “, “ + v.capacity());
v.add(new String(“was”));
System.out.println(v.size() + “, “ + v.capacity());
v.add(new String(“he”));
System.out.println(v.size() + “, “ + v.capacity());
v.trimToSize();
System.out.println(v.size() + “, “ + v.capacity());
String[] str = new String[v.size()];
v.copyInto(str);
for (int s=0; s < str.length; s++) {
System.out.print(str[s] + “ “);
}
}
}
Community
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2 Answers2

4

So given that this book is over 10 years old I have a feeling that the terminology might be a little outdated. I would suspect they wanted you to subclass the Vector class or create a class which was a wrapper around a Vector (ie: a class that had a a Vector as a member). Generics have made the Vector class as its used in your book irrelevant. Generics were added in Java I believe in 2004. See: Java Generics Tutorial

I also would highly recommend picking up a new Java book to learn from. The Java programming language has changed quite a bit since 2002 and you aren't really doing yourself much good learning such an outdated version of the language.

I would highly recommend checking out the Java Tutorials. They are an excellent way to get introduced to programming in general and the Java language: Java Tutorials

Ian Dallas
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1

I think the purpose of the question is to help you get used to the concepts of inheritance and generics. At the same time, the "take from" wording is not the most appropriate one which makes me think that they don't want to stress the Collections/Containers -related aspect of the question.

The second part of the question seems to stress the concepts of generics, in the sense that you should extend Holder "qualified" with an instantiated generic type (FoodItem, Money)

     public class Holder<T> extends Vector<T>{

           public addTo(T item){
               super.add(item);
           }

           public takeFrom(T item){
                super.remove(item);
           }
     }


     public class Refrigerator extends Holder<FoodItem>{
     }

     public class Wallet extends Holder<Money>{
     }
Razvan
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  • This book was printed before Generics were added to Java. – Ian Dallas Aug 22 '12 at 21:56
  • Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Generics_in_Java. In the comments of the question user1604490 says this book was released in 2002 and Generics weren't added to Java till 2004. – Ian Dallas Aug 22 '12 at 22:04
  • The OP said the book was from 2002 in this comment: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/12081737/java-challenge-as-listed-in-java-programming-for-the-absolute-beginner#comment16141677_12081737 – barrowc Aug 22 '12 at 22:05