Take string and compare to multiple enum types all at once

Question

I really need help here.

If I have my separate class, lets call it FileType.java, and it looks like this:

 public enum FileType
 {
     JPG,GIF,PNG,BMP,OTHER
 }

and then I grab a string from the user, call it inputString, how can I compare "inputString" to every single enum value, with the most minimal amount of code?

EDIT: Here is what I have tried:

    System.out.print("Please enter your photo's file type. It must be: JPG, GIF, PNG, BMP, or OTHER");
    typeInput = kb.nextLine();

    boolean inputMatches = false;

    while(inputMatches == false)
    {
        System.out.print("Invalid input. Please enter your photo's file type. It must be: JPG, GIF, PNG, BMP, or OTHER");

        if(typeInput.equalsIgnoreCase(FileType.values()))
        {
            inputMatches = true;
        }
    }

Ps. I am well aware that I can just set individual variables to equal the same strings as the enum values. I;m also aware that I could use .valueOf() for every single value.

alright here's what I've tried, but it's flawed at the moment. — Chisx, Feb 17 '14 at 05:39
why don't you use `FileType.valueOf(userInput)`? If it throws `IllegalArgumentException` the input is invalid otherwise it gives you the enum value. — Karthik Kalyanasundaram, Feb 17 '14 at 05:47

score 6 · Accepted Answer · answered Feb 17 '14 at 05:47

6

You can convert input to enum instead

System.out.print("Please enter your photo's file type. It must be: JPG, GIF, PNG, BMP, or OTHER");
boolean typeInput = kb.nextLine();

inputMatches = true;
try{
    FileType fileType = FileType.valueOf(inputString.toUpperCase().trim());
}catch (IllegalArgumentException e) {
    inputMatches = false;
}

answered Feb 17 '14 at 05:47

Ajinkya

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@Chisx: Just to remove spaces – Ajinkya Feb 17 '14 at 05:50
I'm sorry but this is confusing me. Is this the conditional? Like to put in the loop? I would use this, but this is advanced for what we're doing. We have not learned exceptions yet – Chisx Feb 17 '14 at 05:51
I've never seen "try" and "catch", but this is a great answer regardless @Karna – Chisx Feb 17 '14 at 05:57
Hey what is the 'e' after the IllegalArgumentException?? @Karna – Chisx Feb 17 '14 at 06:20
1

@Chisx [Lesson: Exceptions](http://docs.oracle.com/javase/tutorial/essential/exceptions/) – Radiodef Feb 17 '14 at 06:38
@Chisx: Please read some tutorials before you jump and start coding. – Ajinkya Feb 17 '14 at 07:33
Thank you Karna, I agree completely, but we have not covered exceptions in my college's sophomore level "Intro II" course. That is why I was not even thinking about using an exception. @Karna – Chisx Feb 17 '14 at 17:18

Take string and compare to multiple enum types all at once

1 Answers1