Question

i am new to java, and would like some advice on the following

i have two files:

SongsList.java and SongsMenu.java

SongsMenu.java (http://pastie.org/private/cm0zpembkqnfjif0pgdadq) lines 38 / 39

import java.util.Scanner;
import java.util.InputMismatchException;

public class SongsMenu {
public static void main(String[] args) {
Scanner in = new Scanner(System.in);

...

switch (listMenuItem) {
case 1:
System.out.println("Album");
SongsList sl = new SongsList();
System.out.println(sl);
    break;

and SongsList.java (http://pastie.org/private/qljonhfdronvbq4ahcqgmq)

public class SongsList {

public static void main(String args[]) throws Exception {
    // reads the file and returns a list of my Music.txt file
    ...

when i run the SongsList, i get:

 $java SongsList
 Track 58                   Reggae  1637918 81          58  59      18/02/2010 21:02    28/01/2012 14:07    160 44100       MPEG audio file                             khinester:Users:khinester:Music:iTunes:iTunes Music:Unknown Artist:Unknown Album:58 Track 58.mp3
 Track 59                   Reggae  4239191 211         59  59      18/02/2010 21:02    28/01/2012 14:07    160 44100       MPEG audio file                             khinester:Users:khinester:Music:iTunes:iTunes Music:Unknown Artist:Unknown Album:59 Track 59.mp3

 ...

but when i run the SongsMenu

$java SongsMenu
  1) Album
  ...

1
Album
SongsList@50ef5502

How do i return the list, instead of ‘SongsList@50ef5502’ i would like to ultimately be able to list this in order of Album, Name and make searches.

Any advice much appreciated.

Answer 1

The problem is with this line

::line number 39 System.out.println(sl);

If you try to print an object, it will only print the hashcode of the given object.

Better rewrite the program as further explained:

You can move you logic into a method and explictly call the method (or move the logic into default contructor), for example:

Songlist Class should be like this:

public class SongsList {
    public SongsList(){
        runMyCode();
    }
    public void runMyCode(){
        // SongList logic here
    }
}

And call songlist in songsmenu like this:

case 1:
    System.out.println("Album");
    SongsList sl = new SongsList();
    s1.runMyCode();
    // do something...
        break;

Hope this will help you. Better learn some OOP concepts buddy… It is bad to have doubts in such a basic Java code.
Try to learn java from Head first java book: Head First Java.pdf

It is quite simple and fun to learn it.