I am college student (computer science) and have just started a C# programming class.
For our assignments I have been using a class called "Display" where I put any console output that could be used several times throughout a project. For example, a request to continue or exit program. Instead of typing it out several times in Main() I just call the method from the Display class.
Another student in a higher level class has told me that I should not do this. That it is poor coding practice and that I should just include all methods within the primary class (containing Main()) and only use other class when absolutely needed.
I am just looking for some input and advice.
I was asked to include code. I was going to originally, but didn't want to make this post too long. I have chosen one assignment that is fairly short. I want to clarify that I am just learning so the code is not as elegant as many of you can write. Constructive criticism is very much welcome.
Ultimately I am just playing with the use of classes. I know that some of the methods in the Display class could just as easily be in Main().
This is the Program class that contains Main()
namespace Chapter_6_10
{
class Program
{
static void Main()
{
string triangle = "", result = " ";;
char printingCharacter = ' ';
int peakNumber = 0;
Display.Instructions();
Display.Continue();
// perform a do... while loop to build triangle up to peak
do
{
Console.Clear();
Request.UserInput(out printingCharacter, out peakNumber);
int counter = 1, rowCounter = 0;
do
{
do
{
triangle += printingCharacter;
rowCounter++;
}
while (rowCounter < counter);
counter++;
rowCounter = 0;
triangle += "\n";
}
while(counter != peakNumber);
// perform a do... while loop to build triangle from peak to base
do
{
do
{
triangle += printingCharacter;
rowCounter++;
}
while (rowCounter < counter);
counter--;
rowCounter = 0;
triangle += "\n";
}
while (counter != 0);
Console.Clear();
Console.WriteLine(triangle); // display triangle
Display.DoAgain(out result); // see if user wants to do another or quit
triangle = "";
}
while (result != "q");
}
}
This is the Display class
namespace Chapter_6_10
{
// This class displays various outputs required by program
class Display
{
// This method display the instructions for the user
public static void Instructions()
{
Console.WriteLine("\nThis program will ask you to enter a character to be used "
+ " to create triangle."
+ "\nThen you will be asked to enter a number that will represent the"
+ "\ntriangles peak."
+ "\nAfter your values have been received a triangle will be drawn.");
}
// This method displays the choice to continue
public static void Continue()
{
Console.WriteLine("\n\nPress the enter key when you are ready to continue...");
Console.ReadLine();
}
// This method displays an error message
public static void Error(string ErrorType)
{
Console.WriteLine("\nYou have entered \"{0}\", which is a value that is not valid!"
+ "\nThis is not rocket science."
+ "\n\nTry agian...", ErrorType);
}
// This method will ask user to press enter to do again or 'q' to quit
public static void DoAgain(out string Result)
{
string input = " ";
Console.WriteLine("\nPress enter to run program again"
+ "\nor type the letter 'q' to close the application.");
input = Console.ReadLine();
// convert input to lowercase so that only one test needed
Result = input.ToLower();
}
}
This is the Request class
namespace Chapter_6_10
{
// This class is used to get user input
class Request
{
public static void UserInput(out char PrintingCharacter, out int PeakNumber)
{
string input = " ";
char testCharacter = ' ';
int testNumber = 0;
// a do... while loop to get Printing Character from user
// use TryParse() to test for correct input format
do
{
Console.Write("\nPlease enter a character to be used to build triangle : ");
input = Console.ReadLine();
bool result = char.TryParse(input, out testCharacter);
if (result)
{
}
else
{
Console.Clear();
Display.Error(input);
input = " ";
}
}
while (input == " ");
// a do... while loop to get number from user
// use TryParse() to test for correct input format
do
{
Console.Write("\nPlease enter a number <between 1 and 10> for the peak of the triangle : ");
input = Console.ReadLine();
bool result = int.TryParse(input, out testNumber);
if (result)
{
if ((testNumber > 0) && (testNumber < 11))
{
}
else
{
Console.Clear();
Display.Error(testNumber.ToString());
input = " ";
}
}
else
{
Console.Clear();
Display.Error(input);
input = " ";
}
}
while (input == " ");
// assigned received values to 'outs' of method
PrintingCharacter = testCharacter;
PeakNumber = testNumber;
}
}
That is it. Would this be considered an inefficeint way to code? How can I improve it?
Thanks for all the input so far. It is very valuable to me.
