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Java Java Objects (Retired) Delivering the MVP Wrapping up

Help me with this easy method

In the Forum class, add a constructor that takes a String for the topic and sets the private field mTopic.

ForumPost.java
public class ForumPost {
  private User mAuthor;
  private String mTitle;
  private String mDescription;

  public User getAuthor() {
    return mAuthor;
  }

  public String getTitle() {
    return mTitle;
  }

  // TODO: We need to expose the description
}
User.java
public class User {

  public User(String firstName, String lastName) {
    // TODO:  Set the private fields here
  }
}
Forum.java
public class Forum {
  private String mTopic;

  public void setTopic(String newTopic) { //This easy method that I have problems with
    mTopic = newTopic;
  }

  public String getTopic() {
    return mTopic;
  }

  public void addPost(ForumPost post) {
      /* When all is ready uncomment this...
      System.out.printf("New post from %s %s about %s.\n",
                         post.getAuthor().getFirstName(),
                         post.getAuthor().getLastName(),
                         post.getTitle());
      */
  }
}
Example.java
public class Example {

  public static void main(String[] args) {
    System.out.println("Starting forum example...");
    if (args.length < 2) {
       System.out.println("first and last name are required. eg:  java Example Craig Dennis");
    }
    // Forum forum = new Forum("Java");
    // Take the first two elements passed args
    // User author = new User();
    // Add the author, title and description
    // ForumPost post = new ForumPost();
    // forum.addPost(post);
  }
}

Watch only Forum.java

2 Answers

Instead of calling that function setTopic, have it be the constructor for the Forum class instead.

public Forum(String topic){
...
}

That way, the commented out code in the Example.java code will work.

You are on the right track here

  public void setTopic(String newTopic) { //This easy method that I have problems with
    mTopic = newTopic;
  }

Two things to change:

  • Your constructor needs to have the same name as the class
  • You do not need to write "void" because constructors do not return values
  public Forum(String newTopic){
    mTopic = newTopic;
  }