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Java Java Objects (Retired) Creating the MVP Comparing Characters

Posted by Daniel Collazo
Daniel Collazo
3,259 Points

Stuck on Comparing Characters challenge.

I get just 1 syntax error I don't understand. Illegal start of expression with <= ('M'). Am I totally off base or is it a simple fix?

ConferenceRegistrationAssistant.java 
public class ConferenceRegistrationAssistant {

  public int getLineFor(String lastName) {
    /* If the last name is between A thru M send them to line 1
       Otherwise send them to line 2 */
  boolean getLineFor = lastName.charAt(0) >= ('A') && <= ('M');
    if (getLineFor) {
      return 1;
    } else {
      return 2;
    }
    int line = 0;
    return line;
  }

}
Daniel Collazo
Daniel Collazo
3,259 Points

Sorry I've been away a bit.. Thank you for reply. I agree and understand now that the comparison is in the if statement. I used same coding.. if (lastName.charAt(0) >= 'A' && <= 'M') {return 1} else {return 2}, Oddly enough I get the same error with the < being illegal start of expression. I'm moving on hopefully I can figure this out eventually. Your help was much appreciated.

Daniel

Daniel Collazo
Daniel Collazo
3,259 Points

Got rid of && to make it work.. if (lastName.charAt(0) <= 'M') { return 1; } else { return 2; }

Thanks again, Daniel

2 Answers

Brandon Adams
Brandon Adams
10,325 Points
Brandon Adams
Brandon Adams
10,325 Points

My friend, almost everything in that code is very wrong, there are many errors. The comparison logic needs to be in the if statement, you don't need a bool. I think you are overthinking it. Try with pseudo code first. Like: 

If (lastName.charAt(0) >= 'A' && <= 'M') {return 1} else if (lastName.charAt(0) >= 'N' && <= 'Z') {return 2};
Michael Zazula
Michael Zazula
555 Points
Michael Zazula
Michael Zazula
555 Points

I know I am a bit late for this but I ran into this myself and I figured it out. You need to put your code after the declaration of the line variable and then change the value of line in your if and else statements. Also you just need to compare the letter to M because we know A is less than M in this case so if the letter is not smaller or equal to M then it must be greater therefore it would be in line 2.

if (lastName.charAt(0)<='M') {
line = 1;
}
else{
line = 2;
}
return line;

}