asked on

Basic Text Input

For some very easy pints could someone tell me what the basic command is to read text entered and put it in a variable.
ie when i print out

System.out.println("Enter subject name: ");

I want to put it in a string variable called subject. How do I read it into the variable? Pathetically simple i know but it's wreckin my head and i can't find any question as simple as this on the website anywhere. Thanks

imladris

You can use System.in and do a read to get an array of bytes, and then convert that to a string:

byte chars[]=new byte[250];
int num=System.in.read(chars);
String input=new String(chars,0,num);

applekanna

an example code

*******
import java.io.*;

public class ReadKeys {

public String readKeys() {
BufferedReader console = new BufferedReader(new InputStreamReader(System.in));
System.out.print(": ");
String name = null;

try {
name = console.readLine();
}

catch (IOException e) {
name = "<" + e + ">";
}
return name;
}

public static void main(String[] args) {
ReadKeys obj = new ReadKeys();
System.out.println("You entered '" + obj.readKeys() + "'");
}
}
*******

Source
http://www.planet-source-code.com/

liamgannon

ASKER

Is there no simpler way of reading in like readline() or something similar of just one line?

applekanna

isnt this what you were asking? ;)

name = console.readLine();

liamgannon

ASKER

I thought that there was something simpler than a buffered reader, something just on one line that works the same way as println. The way that you suggested will work but i wanted something simpler that does't require a new class or a buffered reader. Is there no basic io api or somethin?

liamgannon

ASKER

Surely there must be a simpler way of reading in without having to use a try and catch block each time

applekanna

AFAIK this is as small the programm can get

import java.io.*;

public class ReadKeys1 {

public static void main(String[] args) throws IOException{
BufferedReader console = new BufferedReader(new InputStreamReader(System.in));
System.out.print("Enter text for subject :" );
String subject = null;
subject = console.readLine();
System.out.println("You entered '" + subject + "'");
}
}

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

applekanna

membership

This solution is only available to members.

To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.

Start Free Trial

applekanna

cooment for Complete Reference for java by Herbert Schildt and patrick naughton

"Java does not have a generalized console input that parallels the standard C function scanf() or C++ input operators"

:)

Hope this clarifies your question.
Cheers!

liamgannon

ASKER

Thanks, that cleared it up and the code works fine. Thanks again

applekanna

thx for the points :)