array multidimensional

Question

I study Java and I build a program with array:

com[0]="one";
com[1]="two";
com[2]="three";
[...]
com[9]="ten";

Every string of array is a commandment (my program is The 10 Commandment).

I'd like check if a commandment is already read. So, I think use a multidimensional array with string array and boolean array.

Is it possibile? What is the best way to do this?

thanks!

• NimChimpsky: an array can't have two different types, have a look at hashmap
• nhahtdh: You can keep them separately in 2 arrays, same index referring to the same pair. Or you can define a new class and create an array of such object of that class.

Answer 1

There is no need for a multidimensional array here, this only adds complexity. You just need a class Commandment:

public class Commandment {
 private String commandment;
 private boolean read;
 public Commandment(String commandment) {
 this.commandment = commandment;
 }
 public void setRead(boolean read) {
 this.read = read;
 }
 public boolean isRead() {
 return this.read;
 }
}

Then you create an array of Commandments:

com[0]= new Commandment("one");
com[1]= new Commandment("two");
com[2]= new Commandment("three");

To change to 'read':

com[2].setRead(true);

Answer 2

Have a separate array, same length and the indexes of that relate to those in your String array.

Probably a better way is to create an object like

public class Commandment {
 private String com;
 private String read;
 public (String com) {
 this.com = com;
 this.read = false;
 }
 public getCom() {
 return com;
 }
 public isRead() {
 return read;
 }
 public beenRead() {
 read = true;
 }
}

And make an array of those objects instead.

Commandment[] coms = new Commandment[10];
coms[0] = new Commandment("com1");
System.out.println(coms[0].getCom()+", has been read? "+coms[0].isRead());
coms[0].beenRead();
System.out.println(coms[0].getCom()+", has been read? "+coms[0].isRead());

Will create it, put in the first commandment as "com1" and then check if its been read, make it read, and check it again.

Answer 3

Or you can use two collections

String[] commandments="zero,one,two,three,four,five,six,seven,eight,nine,ten".split(",");
BitSet read = new BitSet(commandments.length);