Need assistance with importing an array for a programing newbie

Question

I'm doing an assignment for uni, for which I have to create a class file (ProcessMarks.class) that will calculate the max, min, range, mode, median etc. from an array of 125 integers that have been provided to us by our Lecturer in a class called Marks.class, that generates an array of 125 'marks' between 0 and 100.

So far I'm stuck on multiple fronts for this assignment, however the main issue I'm having currently (which I'm sure is probably basic stuff but I still can't seem to get it to work), is I'm trying to get my ProcessMarks.class that I created to import and use the marks created in the Marks.class file and then to hold the results (of marks.class) to use as needed when a user wants to calculate Min, Max, Mean etc.

I cant get eclipse to allow me import the class to be used by my ProcessMarks.class; I just keep getting an error that it cant be resolved.

Do I need to put the Marks.java or Marks.class in a specific folder?
Should I just run the Marks.class, and then copy, paste and initialise the results manually?
Is there anything obvious that I'm missing or maybe some basic java fundamentals I'm not understanding properly?

Also I'm not looking for anyone to do the work for me, I just need to be pointed in the correct direction.

import java.util.Random;

/**
 * A class that provides a random array of marks,
 * approximately normally distributed.
 * @author Ken Lodge
 */

public class Marks {
    private static final int NMARKS = 125;
    private static final double mean = 65.0;
    private static final double std = 15.0;

    /**
     * Returns an array of NMARKS integer marks approximately normally distributed,
     * with specified mean (mean) and standard deviation (std),
     * and with values outside 0..100 removed.
     * @return the array of marks.
     */
    public static int[] getMarks() {
        Random rand = new Random(1001L);
        int mark;
        int[] theMarks = new int[NMARKS];
        int n = 0;
        while (n < NMARKS) {
            mark = (int) Math.round(std*rand.nextGaussian() + mean);
            if (mark >= 0 && mark <= 100)
                theMarks[n++] = mark;
        }
        return theMarks;
    }

    /**
     * Test code
     * @param args not used
     */
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        int[] testMarks = getMarks();
        for (int n = 0; n < testMarks.length; n++) {
            System.out.print(testMarks[n] + " ");
            if (n % 10 == 9)
                System.out.println();
        }
    }
}

Can you post examples of the **.Java** files (Preferably **Marks.Java**)? If so, we should be able to point you in the right direction — Draken, Apr 19 '16 at 08:10
Show us the errors you get, what you have done so far and the classes you have at hand. — Thush-Fdo, Apr 19 '16 at 08:11
@Julian if it helped and solved your issue for the moment, can you please mark it as the accepted answer. Glad I could be of assistance! — Draken, Apr 19 '16 at 11:52

score 0 · Answer 1 · edited May 23 '17 at 10:28

This should get you started, put it inside your ProcessMarks.java:

public class ProcessMarks(){
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        int[] marksArray = Marks.getMarks();
        //Do something with the marksArray 
    }
}

Your teacher has created it the class with static variables, that means we do not need to initialize it with the standard new Marks(); format. We can instead just called Marks.getMarks(); to get the data. This will return us 125 integers being generated by your professor's code.

Just make sure this ProcessMarks.java and Marks.java are in the same folder. I would suggest using an IDE to help you do the work as well, a common one is Eclipse.

Good luck!

[EDIT] Also read up here to learn the difference between class files and java files, you seem to be a little confused what the difference is

Need assistance with importing an array for a programing newbie

1 Answers1