Unsure how to calculate the variables stated

Question

    double Euro = 1.37;
    double USAD = 1.81;
    double JapYen = 190.00;
    double Zloty = 5.88;

    //First menu choice screen
    if (MenuChoice == 1) {
        System.out.println("Which of the following currencies do you wish to exchange into sterling?");
        System.out.println("Euro - EUR");
        System.out.println("USA Dollar - USD");
        System.out.println("Japanese Yen - JPY");
        System.out.println("Polish Zloty - PLN");
        System.out.print("Please enter the three letter currency:   ");

        //Currency input validation
        String CurChoice = "";
        boolean isCorrectCurrency = false;
        do {
            CurChoice = keybStr.next();
            isCorrectCurrency = CurChoice.matches("^EUR|USD|JPY|PLN$");

            if (isCorrectCurrency) {
                System.out.println("");
            } else {
                System.out.print("Invalid Currency Entered. Please Retry: ");
            }

        } while (!isCorrectCurrency);

        //Exchange amount calculator
        System.out.print("Enter the amount you wish to exchange of " + CurChoice + ": ");
        double ExcAmount = keybStr.nextInt();

        if (CurChoice == "EUR") {
            double result = ExcAmount / Euro;
            System.out.println(ExcAmount + " in " + CurChoice + " = £" + result);
        } else if (CurChoice == "USD") {
            double result = ExcAmount / USAD;
            System.out.println(ExcAmount + " in " + CurChoice + " = £" + result);
        } else if (CurChoice == "JPY") {
            double result = ExcAmount / JapYen;
            System.out.println(ExcAmount + " in " + CurChoice + " = £" + result);
        } else if (CurChoice == "PLN") {
            double result = ExcAmount / Zloty;
            System.out.println(ExcAmount + " in " + CurChoice + " = £" + result);
        } else {
            System.out.println("");
        }

    }//if

So this is what I got so far. I want the code to say (as an example) "500.00 in EUR = £364.96" though when I run the code it just ends after the user inputs which currency they wish to use. Any help? I wasn't sure whether i needed to put the if statement within a loop or something.

Hint: using `==` with Strings, or objects in general, is almost never correct. (Why this is not a mandated compiler warning after years of bugs still surprises me.) — user2864740, Dec 26 '14 at 18:00
http://stackoverflow.com/questions/513832/how-do-i-compare-strings-in-java — user2864740, Dec 26 '14 at 18:01
So how would I go about amending my piece of code to add the .equalsTo — MezyToke, Dec 26 '14 at 18:08

score 1 · Accepted Answer · edited May 23 '17 at 10:26

As mentioned in this answer using == for strings checks if they are the same item. In this case even though both CurChoice and one of the literal strings "EUR" may have the same value it will still be false as this is comparing references. So what's happening is they are all false and the system prints out a blank line from the else. To fix this use .equals() for your comparisons.

    if (CurChoice.equals("EUR")) {
        double result = ExcAmount / Euro;
        System.out.println(ExcAmount + " in " + CurChoice + " = £" + result);
    } else if (CurChoice.equals("USD")) {
        double result = ExcAmount / USAD;
        System.out.println(ExcAmount + " in " + CurChoice + " = £" + result);
    } else if (CurChoice.equals("JPY")) {
        double result = ExcAmount / JapYen;
        System.out.println(ExcAmount + " in " + CurChoice + " = £" + result);
    } else if (CurChoice.equals("PLN")) {
        double result = ExcAmount / Zloty;
        System.out.println(ExcAmount + " in " + CurChoice + " = £" + result);
    } else {
        System.out.println("");
    }

score 0 · Answer 2 · answered Dec 26 '14 at 18:21

If you are using Java 1.7+, switch also works:

switch (CurChoice) {
case "EUR":
    double result = ExcAmount / Euro;
    System.out.println(ExcAmount + " in " + CurChoice + " = £" + result);
    break;
case "USD":
    double result = ExcAmount / USAD;
    System.out.println(ExcAmount + " in " + CurChoice + " = £" + result);
    break;
...
default:
    System.out.println("");
}

But the best approach is to set all currency code and exchange rate into a map, e.g.

HashMap<String, Double> = new HashMap<>();
curMap.put("EUR", Euro);
curMap.put("USD", USAD);
...
Double rate = curMap.get(CurChoice);
if (rate == null) {
    System.out.println("");
} else {
    double result = ExcAmount / Double.valueOf(rate);
    System.out.println(ExcAmount + " in " + CurChoice + " = £" + result);
}

Unsure how to calculate the variables stated

2 Answers2