Return Multiple Arrays Using for Loop Inside toString Class

Question

This is what I have so far. What this program basically does is take user input(their social security numbers), verifies that their input is in the proper format (XXX-XX-XXXX), adds the verified input to the arrays list. Now the final step is to create a toString() method that will return a human readable String representation of all social security numbers added to the array. This method must use a for loop, and must print 1 social security number entry per line. For example:

"The Social Security Numbers you entered are:
345-43-5674
456-62-8435
910-70-0053"

package SSNServerStorage;

public class SSNArray
{
    private String[] SSNNumber;
    private int arrayCount;

    public SSNArray(){
        SSNNumber = new String[300];
        arrayCount = 0;
    }

    public SSNArray(int arraySize){
        SSNNumber = new String[arraySize];
        arrayCount = 0;
    }

    public String[] getSSNNumber(){
        return SSNNumber;
    }

    public int getArrayCount(){
        return arrayCount;
    }

    public boolean validateSSNNumber(String SSNFormat){
        return SSNFormat.matches("\\d{3}-\\d{2}-\\d{4}");
    }

    public String addSSN(String SSNFormat){
        if (validateSSNNumber(SSNFormat)){
            return SSNNumber[arrayCount++] = SSNFormat;
        }else{
            return null;
        }
    }

    public String toString(){
        System.out.println("The Social Security Numbers you entered are:");

        for()
        {
            //
            //
            //
            //
        }
    }
}

Have you tried anything or is this just a request to write code for you? You should not print the output in the toString method. That method should be used to create and return the String representation of an object, not print it. — fabian
– fabian, Commented Sep 25, 2015 at 17:08
@fabian I think the question is just misusing the word "print", but a clarification from OP might be good. — Andreas
– Andreas, Commented Sep 25, 2015 at 17:10

Sva.Mu · Accepted Answer · 2015-09-25 17:18:38Z

4

Your toString method doesn't have correct signature, it should return String. This should do what you need:

@Override
public String toString(){
    StringBuilder sb = new StringBuilder("The Social Security Numbers you entered are:\n");

    for (int i = 0; i < arrayCount; i++) {
        sb.append(SSNNumber[i]).append("\n");
    }

    return sb.toString();
}

Also remember to use the @Override annotation.

edited Sep 25, 2015 at 17:18

answered Sep 25, 2015 at 17:10

Sva.Mu

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1 Comment

Sva.Mu Over a year ago

@Andreas you're right, thanks for heads up - didn't notice that upon first reading. Answer corrected.

user3437460 · Accepted Answer · 2015-09-25 17:16:47Z

2

You can declare a String to concatenate all the SSNumbers.

@Override
public String toString(){
    String str = "The Social Security Numbers you entered are:\n";
    for(int x=0; x< arrayCount; x++)
        str += SSNumber[x] + "\n";
    return str;
}

Since it is a toString() method, you will want to return the string representation of the class instead of doing println().

edited Sep 25, 2015 at 17:16

answered Sep 25, 2015 at 17:06

user3437460

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5 Comments

Andreas Over a year ago

Never use String += String in a loop. Use StringBuilder.

user3437460 Over a year ago

@Andreas This looks like a school assignment, according to my knowledge in universities and colleges, they don't expect you to use StringBuilder. String is suffice for them.

user3437460 Over a year ago

@Andreas Thanks dude, changed.

Andreas Over a year ago

You may have a point on "school assignment", it's just very bad form, and hits a nerve. ;-)

Andreas Over a year ago

You got my up-vote. Add \n after :, and it's more common to use i as index variable.

Animesh Kumar Paul · Accepted Answer · 2015-09-25 17:16:07Z

0

Just concatenate :

@Override
public String toString(){
String s = "The Social Security Numbers you entered are:\n";
    for(int i =0; i < SSNNumber.length; i ++)
        s +=SSNNumber[i]+"\n";
    return s;
}

edited Sep 25, 2015 at 17:16

answered Sep 25, 2015 at 17:08

Animesh Kumar Paul

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3 Comments

Andreas Over a year ago

Never use String += String in a loop. Use StringBuilder.

fabian Over a year ago

Also it looks like not every element in the array needs to contain a String.

Andreas Over a year ago

Loop should be limited to arrayCount.

Shriram · Accepted Answer · 2015-09-25 17:17:07Z

0

StringBuilder strbul = new StringBuilder()
    for(int i=0;i<SSNNumber.length;i++)
            {
                strbul.append(SSNNumber[i]).append("\n");
            }
return strbul.toString();

edited Sep 25, 2015 at 17:17

answered Sep 25, 2015 at 17:05

Shriram

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1 Comment

Andreas Over a year ago

Loop should be limited to arrayCount.

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