Question

I’m having some issues with while loops. I’ve got a task to print a diamond with 2 input variables:
1) Integer to represent number of rows/max number of chars in middle
2) Char to be printed:
Psuedo code:
7 = int
$ = char
Program should print (and account for spaces on the left side):
http://pastebin.com/cspgz3bA

My while loops are a mess it seems. Right now they are printing (* simulate spaces):
http://pastebin.com/cspgz3bA

I’ve discovered that separating the diamond into two triangles (upper & lower) to be the easiest way of tackling this, however my code seems to be complete garbage…

EDIT:: This is for the top half of the triangle only, hence the (rows/2)+1 – it’s meant to stop after finishing the middle row.

    rows = integerInput;
    maxSpace = integerInput;

    while (currentRow <=((rows/2)+1)) {
        spaceReq = ((maxSpace -1)/2);    // determines spaces required
            while (spaces < spaceReq) {  

                System.out.print("*");
                spaces++;
            }
            while (charPrinted < charReq){
                System.out.print(charInput);
                charPrinted++;

            }               
            currentRow++;
            maxSpace--;
            charReq = charReq +2;
            System.out.println("");
        }

Can someone point out why this works for the 1st iteration, but breaks on the next ones?

Thank you!

Answer 1

charPrinted and spaces need to be reset to 0 at the top of the outer loop.