Creating variables with names of strings

Question

I am making an API kind of thing for school for a custom XML writer. I have:

public Document CreateDocument(int loops, int attr, String data[], String dataattr[][][]) {
    Document BetterDoc = DocumentHelper.createDocument();
    Element root = BetterDoc.addElement("root");
    for (int i = 0; i < loops; i++) {
        Element(Object) data[i] = root.addElement(data[i])
        for (int i2 = 0; i < attr; i++) {
            .addAtribute(dataattr[i][i2][0], dataattr[i][i2][1])
        };
    }

    return BetterDoc;
}

The line that I want help with is:

Element(Object) data[i] = root.addElement(data[i])

I want to create an element with the same name of the data[i].

I am using the dom4j XML .jar in this, by the way.

I have heard of something called a hashmap and if this is the correct method, would someone please explain how to use it.

Please, follow Java coding conventions. Take a look at http://stackoverflow.com/questions/23738010/java-print-string-c-equivalent — Dmitry Ginzburg, Sep 22 '14 at 12:11
take a look at http://stackoverflow.com/questions/19153930/how-to-create-java-beans-dynamically — Leo, Sep 22 '14 at 12:18

Suresh Atta · Answer 1 · 2014-09-22T12:15:58.107

3

No. Simply you can't do that. You can't create/access a variable dynamically with it's name. With Reflection you can access but you can't create.

I guess, a map can do the task here just like

map.put(data[i],root.addElement(data[i]);

Above is just an example code to throw some light.

edited Sep 22 '14 at 12:15

answered Sep 22 '14 at 12:08

Suresh Atta

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rightyo thanks alot is there any other method you would suggest to do it? – Piemansam5 Sep 22 '14 at 12:09
@Piemansam5 update my post with some possible solution. Is it what you are looking for ? – Suresh Atta Sep 22 '14 at 12:16

NoDataFound · Accepted Answer · 2014-09-22T13:15:07.107

You can't create dynamic variable unlike Groovy, PHP or Javascript, but you can create an array or reuse an existing variable:

With an existing variable:

public Document CreateDocument(int loops, int attr, String data[], String dataattr[][][]) {
    Document BetterDoc = DocumentHelper.createDocument();
    Element root = BetterDoc.addElement("root");
    for (int i = 0; i < loops; i++) {
        Element _data = root.addElement(data[i]);
        for (int i2 = 0; i < attr; i++) {
            _data.addAtribute(dataattr[i][i2][0], dataattr[i][i2][1])
        };
    }    
    return BetterDoc;
}

With an array:

public Document CreateDocument(int loops, int attr, String data[], String dataattr[][][]) {
    Document BetterDoc = DocumentHelper.createDocument();
    Element root = BetterDoc.addElement("root");
    Element[] _data = new Element[loops];
    for (int i = 0; i < loops; i++) {
        _data[i] = root.addElement(data[i]);
        for (int i2 = 0; i < attr; i++) {
            _data[i].addAtribute(dataattr[i][i2][0], dataattr[i][i2][1])
        };
    }    
    return BetterDoc;
}

You can replace array with an ArrayList if you prefer.

Notice that the first example was updated (compile error, data already defined) and unless you really need the `_data` array, use the first solution. — NoDataFound, Sep 22 '14 at 13:15

Creating variables with names of strings

2 Answers2