How can I define a variable within an object with another variable

Question

The title might be a little confusing but what I want to know is how can I change the ' b ' part in mainsave.b so that it will define it within the object.

Here is my code so far

public void getItem(int a, String b)
{
    mainsave.b = a;
}

The values are being sent from this piece of code in another class called Story. I want them to be stored in the object of class SaveFile which is what 'mainsave' is

if (command_string.equals("1"))
        {
           try {Thread.sleep(1500);} catch (InterruptedException e) {} 
           System.out.println("You search the shed thouroughly and find an axe but not much else...");
           int item = 1;
           String axe = "axe";
           getItem(item,axe);
           try {Thread.sleep(1500);} catch (InterruptedException e) {}   
           area1();
        }

The error I get when trying to compile the first part is "cannot find symbol - variable b"

"so that it will define it within the object" - Can you elaborate, or at least use fewer pronouns? — Zircon
– Zircon, Commented Apr 21, 2016 at 18:36
@Zircon mainsave. b = a should come out to something like mainsave.axe = 1 — Tristan
– Tristan, Commented Apr 21, 2016 at 18:38

Suresh Atta · Accepted Answer · 2016-04-21 18:38:25Z

1

Simply you cannot since Java is a statically typed language. So variables names must realize at compile time.

I don't suggest but possible with reflection coding.

answered Apr 21, 2016 at 18:38

Suresh Atta

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2 Comments

Tristan Over a year ago

So would I have to create a method for each individual item that I want to pass on?

Suresh Atta Over a year ago

@Tristan Yes. Overloading.

lkq · Accepted Answer · 2016-04-21 18:43:37Z

0

Usually you define getters and setters for each of you fields.

Though it's not recommended, you could achieve this by reflections.

Object a = new A();

Class<?> c = a.getClass();

Field fieldValue = c.getDeclaredField("value");

fieldValue.setInt(a, 10);

Getting and Setting Field Values

answered Apr 21, 2016 at 18:43

lkq

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4 Comments

RecursiveExceptionException Over a year ago

-1, because for as trivial things as storing some data in a SaveFile class nobody should be using Reflection. (nobody should use it for non-trivial things either, for that matter)

RecursiveExceptionException Over a year ago

OP could also use ASM to edit the bytecode at runtime to implement non-statically typed languages features in Java. But just because you can do it, doesn't mean you should.

RecursiveExceptionException Over a year ago

Don't be silly. Nobody should do something as stupid as that

RecursiveExceptionException Over a year ago

sorry, kinda in a bad mood at the moment

Community · Accepted Answer · 2017-05-23 11:59:38Z

0

That doesn't work since Java is a Statically-Typed Language unlike JavaScript or Lua.

So,

I would suggest you use some sort of List for actually storing the data instead of a lot of fields in your SaveFile class.

edited May 23, 2017 at 11:59

CommunityBot

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answered Apr 21, 2016 at 18:48

RecursiveExceptionException

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