So I have to write a program for an invoice where I define the variables locally, instead of globally. So it kinda looks like this the way I have it.
public void setAmount(int anyAmount)
{
int amount;
amount = anyAmount;
}
I then do the display method like this and get an error saying cannot find symbol
public void displayInvoice()
{
System.out.println("Amount: " + amount);
I can easily do this globally, but having troubles with this. Thank you!
When you declare a variable inside a function, such as in your setAmount, it only exists for as long as that function is executing; it only exists between the { and }. That's why you're unable to reference it later in the second function, as it no longer exists. Essentially, what you're doing is setting it, and then getting rid of it right away, through no effort on your code, but simply through the way memory is allocated and used in programs.
The way to get around this would be to use a "global" as you've said, or to pass it back after you set it, and put it into another variable, which you then send to your displayInvoice function. The last method requires that the setAmount and displayInvoice are part of a larger function themselves, and the intermediary variable is declared inside it. Over all, a "global" as you've said, is the easiest and probably best solution given what you've explained.
Unworking Example:
main() {
int amount = 0;
amount = setAmount(5);
displayInvoice(amount);
}
In doing so though, you may as well forgo the setAmount function, as you can see it's fairly redundant. Keeping set amount, you'd need to change it to
Public int setAmount(int anyAmount)
When you declare a variable inside a method it becomes local meaning it's only visible in that method, that is why you are getting that error, you can correct that by making it global.
