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Java Java Objects (Retired) Meet Objects Privacy and Methods

Posted by Brandyn lee murtagh
Brandyn lee murtagh
432 Points

Privacy and methods *Help with code please*

Hi so I am currently working through the Privacy and methods. When I try to run the .getCharacterName I added as shown below, I get the 'Error cannot find symbol' also shown below. Can anyone help?

Example.java:8: error: cannot find symbol
dispenser.getCharacterName);
^
symbol: variable getCharacterName
location: variable dispenser of type PezDispenser
1 error

My code :

public class Example {

public static void main(String[] args) {
    // Your amazing code goes here...
  System.out.println("We are making a new Pez Dispenser");
  PezDispenser dispenser = new PezDispenser();
  System.out.printf("The dispenser character is %s\n",
                    dispenser.getCharacterName); 

}

}

PezDispenser.java :

public class PezDispenser { private String mCharacterName = "Yoda";

public String getCharacterName() { return mCharacterName; } }

All replies are appreciated. Thanks!

2 Answers

Dan Martin
Dan Martin
33,150 Points
Dan Martin
Dan Martin
33,150 Points

I had some issues with this too, but If i remember correctly you are just missing the parentheses to call getCharacterName.

public static void main(String[] args) {
    // Your amazing code goes here...
  System.out.println("We are making a new Pez Dispenser");
  PezDispenser dispenser = new PezDispenser();
  System.out.printf("The dispenser character is %s\n",
                    dispenser.getCharacterName()); 

}
Kevin McFarland
Kevin McFarland
5,122 Points
Kevin McFarland
Kevin McFarland
5,122 Points

Hi Brandyn,

I would say that Dan is correct in that anytime we call a method, either with or without arguments... "( )" are required. Think of them as a portal(door) through which data passes.