Develop Reference

Comparing objects and its member variable

Suppose I have two objects of same class for example:
public class Example {
String name;
String rollNo;
String address;
String phoneNo;
String city;
}
Example obj1 = new Example();
obj1.name = "Name";
obj1.rollNo = "10";
obj1.address = "Address";
obj1.phoneNo = "Phone Number";
obj1.city = "City";
Example obj2 = new Example();
obj2.name = "Name";
obj2.rollNo = "10";
obj2.address = "Address";
obj2.phoneNo = "Phone Number";
obj2.city = "City";
Here I want to compare obj1 with obj2 the catch is I don't want to do this with if condition i.e. getting each member variable of obj1 then comparing it with obj2 variable.
equals method of java.lang.Object class will not work here as it compares object reference.
My question is, is there any Java API which will compare two objects and its member variables.

#Override
public boolean equals(Object obj) {
if (this == obj)
return true;
if (obj == null)
return false;
if (getClass() != obj.getClass())
return false;
Example other = (Example) obj;
if (address == null) {
if (other.address != null)
return false;
} else if (!address.equals(other.address))
return false;
if (city == null) {
if (other.city != null)
return false;
} else if (!city.equals(other.city))
return false;
if (name == null) {
if (other.name != null)
return false;
} else if (!name.equals(other.name))
return false;
if (phoneNo == null) {
if (other.phoneNo != null)
return false;
} else if (!phoneNo.equals(other.phoneNo))
return false;
if (rollNo == null) {
if (other.rollNo != null)
return false;
} else if (!rollNo.equals(other.rollNo))
return false;
return true;
}
Paste this equals function into your exmaple class and then compare the objects like this:
if(obj1.equals(obj2)) { //will return true now
}

In Java, there is three alternatives to compare objects :
By overriding the Object.equals() method.
Using the Generic java.util.Comparator Interface
Using the java.lang.Comparable interface
Check this question, and this link for more details.

Method that adds elements to set always throwing custom exception

Ok, so I've got a method which adds elements to a list but it is always throwing my custom exception, no matter what, even when there are no elements in the Set I made.
private Set<Plan> planSet = new HashSet<Plan>();
public Plan createPlan(String name) throws DuplicatePlan{
Plan plan = new Plan(name);
if(!planSet.contains(plan)){
planSet.add(plan);
} else {
throw(new DuplicatePlan("Error, duplicate plan"));
}
return plan;
}
I'm thinking that my equals() and hashCode() methods are causing this. Currently I'm using the default overridden Eclipse hashCode() and equals(), this is what I've got there:
#Override
public int hashCode() {
final int prime = 31;
int result = 1;
result = prime * result + ((name == null) ? 0 : name.hashCode());
return result;
}
#Override
public boolean equals(Object obj) {
if (this == obj){
return true;
} if (obj == null){
return false;
} if (getClass() != obj.getClass()){
return false;
}
Plan other = (Plan) obj;
if (name == null) {
if (other.name != null){
return false;
}
} else if (!name.equals(other.name)){
return false;
}
return true;
}
This is what Plan does:
private String name;
private Set<Tables> tablesSet;
public Plan(String name){
this.name = name ;
}
Here's what's supposed to happen if a user sets the same name in the TextField:
newPlan.setOnAction(new EventHandler<ActionEvent>(){
#Override
public void handle(ActionEvent action){
if(!newPlan.getText().isEmpty()){
try {
String name = planName.getText();
plan.createPLan(name);
esquema = esquemas.createPlan(planName.getText());
optionsPlans.getItems().add(plan.getName());
} catch (DuplicatePlan e) {
dialog.errorDialog(planError, duplicate);
}
} else {
dialog.errorDialog(empty, emptySpace);
}
}
});

Had to use Answer because it was too long for comment.
This here looks suspicious to me:
String name = planName.getText();
plan.createPLan(name);
esquema = esquemas.createPlan(planName.getText());
I.e. what's up with createPLan and createPlan? Copy & paste error? Or are you calling the same method twice (which would explain the behavior)?

Check object empty

Basically how do you check if an object is null or empty. What I mean is that if I have an object instantiated but all its values or fields are null, the how do I check in code if it is empty?
I have tried;
if (doc != null){
.... do something
But it doesn't seem to work.

You can't do it directly, you should provide your own way to check this. Eg.
class MyClass {
Object attr1, attr2, attr3;
public boolean isValid() {
return attr1 != null && attr2 != null && attr3 != null;
}
}
Or make all fields final and initialize them in constructors so that you can be sure that everything is initialized.

import org.apache.commons.lang3.ObjectUtils;
if(ObjectUtils.isEmpty(yourObject)){
//your block here
}

This can be done with java reflection,This method returns false if any one attribute value is present for the object ,hope it helps some one
public boolean isEmpty() {
for (Field field : this.getClass().getDeclaredFields()) {
try {
field.setAccessible(true);
if (field.get(this)!=null) {
return false;
}
} catch (Exception e) {
System.out.println("Exception occured in processing");
}
}
return true;
}

You should check it against null.
If you want to check if object x is null or not, you can do:
if(x != null)
But if it is not null, it can have properties which are null or empty. You will check those explicitly:
if(x.getProperty() != null)
For "empty" check, it depends on what type is involved. For a Java String, you usually do:
if(str != null && !str.isEmpty())
As you haven't mentioned about any specific problem with this, difficult to tell.

I suggest you add separate overloaded method and add them to your projects Utility/Utilities class.
To check for Collection be empty or null
public static boolean isEmpty(Collection obj) {
return obj == null || obj.isEmpty();
}
or use Apache Commons CollectionUtils.isEmpty()
To check if Map is empty or null
public static boolean isEmpty(Map<?, ?> value) {
return value == null || value.isEmpty();
}
or use Apache Commons MapUtils.isEmpty()
To check for String empty or null
public static boolean isEmpty(String string) {
return string == null || string.trim().isEmpty();
}
or use Apache Commons StringUtils.isBlank()
To check an object is null is easy but to verify if it's empty is tricky as object can have many private or inherited variables and nested objects which should all be empty. For that All need to be verified or some isEmpty() method be in all objects which would verify the objects emptiness.

If your Object contains Objects then check if they are null, if it have primitives check for their default values.
for Instance:
Person Object
name Property with getter and setter
to check if name is not initialized.
Person p = new Person();
if(p.getName()!=null)

I have a way, you guys tell me how good it is.
Create a new object of the class and compare it with your object (which you want to check for emptiness).
To be correctly able to do it :
Override the hashCode() and equals() methods of your model class and also of the classes, objects of whose are members of your class, for example :
Person class (primary model class) :
public class Person {
private int age;
private String firstName;
private String lastName;
private Address address;
//getters and setters
#Override
public int hashCode() {
final int prime = 31;
int result = 1;
result = prime * result + ((address == null) ? 0 : address.hashCode());
result = prime * result + age;
result = prime * result + ((firstName == null) ? 0 : firstName.hashCode());
result = prime * result + ((lastName == null) ? 0 : lastName.hashCode());
return result;
}
#Override
public boolean equals(Object obj) {
if (this == obj)
return true;
if (obj == null)
return false;
if (getClass() != obj.getClass())
return false;
Person other = (Person) obj;
if (address == null) {
if (other.address != null)
return false;
} else if (!address.equals(other.address))
return false;
if (age != other.age)
return false;
if (firstName == null) {
if (other.firstName != null)
return false;
} else if (!firstName.equals(other.firstName))
return false;
if (lastName == null) {
if (other.lastName != null)
return false;
} else if (!lastName.equals(other.lastName))
return false;
return true;
}
#Override
public String toString() {
return "Person [age=" + age + ", firstName=" + firstName + ", lastName=" + lastName + ", address=" + address
+ "]";
}
}
Address class (used inside Person class) :
public class Address {
private String line1;
private String line2;
//getters and setters
#Override
public int hashCode() {
final int prime = 31;
int result = 1;
result = prime * result + ((line1 == null) ? 0 : line1.hashCode());
result = prime * result + ((line2 == null) ? 0 : line2.hashCode());
return result;
}
#Override
public boolean equals(Object obj) {
if (this == obj)
return true;
if (obj == null)
return false;
if (getClass() != obj.getClass())
return false;
Address other = (Address) obj;
if (line1 == null) {
if (other.line1 != null)
return false;
} else if (!line1.equals(other.line1))
return false;
if (line2 == null) {
if (other.line2 != null)
return false;
} else if (!line2.equals(other.line2))
return false;
return true;
}
#Override
public String toString() {
return "Address [line1=" + line1 + ", line2=" + line2 + "]";
}
}
Now in the main class :
Person person1 = new Person();
person1.setAge(20);
Person person2 = new Person();
Person person3 = new Person();
if(person1.equals(person2)) --> this will be false
if(person2.equals(person3)) --> this will be true
I hope this is the best way instead of putting if conditions on each and every member variables.
Let me know !

for simple (It's worked in my project).
if null check not mandatory for some fields then exclude it from toString() method as in my above code, I have removed school.
public class Student {
private String name;
private String school;
private Integer roll;
private String section;
//getters and setters
#Override
public String toString() {
return "Student [name=" + name + ", roll=" + roll + ", section=" + section + "]";
}
}
public class StudentRunner {
public static void main(String[] args) {
Student s = new Student();
s.setName("ved");
s.setRoll(12);
s.setSection("A");
s.setSchool(null);//school set null and it removed from toString() method
if(s.toString().contains("null")) {
System.out.println("null value contains");
//do your work here or throw exception
} else {
System.out.println("no null value");
}
}
}
output : no null value

let suppose ,
data = {};
if( if(!$.isEmptyObject(data)))
{
document.write("Object is empty);
}
else{
document.write("Object is not empty);
}
It worked for me and its an easy way to check if object is empty or not

Calling equals method of superclass in Java

I have an issue where I am trying to use test the equals method of a superclass using objects of a subclass:
My superclass is:
public class Excluded_DateTime implements Serializable {
private Date fromDate;
private Time fromTime;
private Date toDate;
private Time toTime;
private Valid active;
And the subclass differs by having an identifier as a key:
public class Classifier_Excluded_DateTime implements Serializable {
private Integer classifierExcludedDateTimeNo;
private Excluded_DateTime classifierExcludedDateTime;
So I want to test the equality of Classifier_Excluded_DateTime objects without using the field classifierExcludedDateTimeNo.
But what I am finding is that the equals method of the superclass is never called.
The NetBeans generated equals and hashCode methods of the superclass are as follows:
#Override
public int hashCode() {
int hash = 7;
hash = 23 * hash + (this.fromDate != null ? this.fromDate.hashCode() : 0);
hash = 23 * hash + (this.fromTime != null ? this.fromTime.hashCode() : 0);
hash = 23 * hash + (this.toDate != null ? this.toDate.hashCode() : 0);
hash = 23 * hash + (this.toTime != null ? this.toTime.hashCode() : 0);
hash = 23 * hash + (this.active != null ? this.active.hashCode() : 0);
return hash;
}
#Override
public boolean equals(Object obj) {
if (obj == null) {
return false;
}
if (getClass() != obj.getClass()) {
return false;
}
final Excluded_DateTime other = (Excluded_DateTime) obj;
if (this.fromDate != other.fromDate && (this.fromDate == null || !this.fromDate.equals(other.fromDate))) {
return false;
}
if (this.fromTime != other.fromTime && (this.fromTime == null || !this.fromTime.equals(other.fromTime))) {
return false;
}
if (this.toDate != other.toDate && (this.toDate == null || !this.toDate.equals(other.toDate))) {
return false;
}
if (this.toTime != other.toTime && (this.toTime == null || !this.toTime.equals(other.toTime))) {
return false;
}
if (this.active != other.active) {
return false;
}
return true;
}
And those of the subclass as follows:
#Override
public int hashCode() {
int hash = 7;
hash = 79 * hash + (this.getClassifierExcludedDateTimeNo() != null ? this.getClassifierExcludedDateTimeNo().hashCode() : 0);
return hash;
}
#Override
public boolean equals(Object obj) {
if (obj == null) {
return false;
}
if (getClass() != obj.getClass()) {
return false;
}
if (! super.equals(obj)) {
return false;
}
final Classifier_Excluded_DateTime other = (Classifier_Excluded_DateTime) obj;
if (this.getClassifierExcludedDateTimeNo() != other.getClassifierExcludedDateTimeNo() && (this.getClassifierExcludedDateTimeNo() == null || !this.classifierExcludedDateTimeNo.equals(other.ClassifierExcludedDateTimeNo))) {
return false;
}
return true;
}
Can I do what I'm trying to do by amending these methods of either class?
I am trying to test whether two instance of Classifier_Excluded_DateTime are the same without including the field classifierExcludedDateTimeNo in the comparison.

You are not declaring Classifier_Excluded_DateTime as a subclass of Excluded_DateTime. To do that, you would need to say:
public class Classifier_Excluded_DateTime extends Excluded_DateTime {
Right now, it seems more like you are treating Excluded_DateTime as a kind of delegate of Classifier_Excluded_DateTime, as you have a member instance variable inside of Classifier_Excluded_DateTime that is of type Excluded_DateTime (the place where you say private Excluded_DateTime classifierExcludedDateTime;). I don't think that's your intent, since you are talking about subclasses and superclasses in your post.
(Update: removed error where I thought there was not an explicit super.equals() call).

How to sort an ArrayList using multiple sorting criteria?

I have an array list that contains Quote objects. I want to be able to sort alphabetically by name, by change, and by percent change. How can I sort my arraylist?
package org.stocktwits.model;
import java.io.Serializable;
import java.text.DecimalFormat;
public class Quote implements Serializable {
private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
public String symbol;
public String name;
public String change;
public String percentChange;
public String open;
public String daysHigh;
public String daysLow;
public String dividendYield;
public String volume;
public String averageDailyVolume;
public String peRatio;
public String marketCapitalization;
public String yearHigh;
public String yearLow;
public String lastTradePriceOnly;
public DecimalFormat df = new DecimalFormat("#,###,###,###,###,##0.00");
public DecimalFormat vf = new DecimalFormat("#,###,###,###,###,##0");
public String getSymbol() {
return symbol;
}
public void setSymbol(String symbol) {
this.symbol = symbol;
}
public String getName() {
return name;
}
public void setName(String name) {
this.name = name;
}
public String getChange() {
return change;
}
public void setChange(String change) {
if(change.equals("null")){
this.change = "N/A";
}
else{
float floatedChange = Float.valueOf(change);
this.change = (df.format(floatedChange));
}
}
public String getPercentChange() {
return percentChange;
}
public void setPercentChange(String percentChange) {
if(percentChange.equals("null"))
percentChange = "N/A";
else
this.percentChange = percentChange;
}
public String getOpen() {
return open;
}
public void setOpen(String open) {
if(open.equals("null"))
this.open = "N/A";
else
this.open = open;
}
public String getDaysHigh() {
return daysHigh;
}
public void setDaysHigh(String daysHigh) {
if(daysHigh.equals("null"))
this.daysHigh = "N/A";
else{
float floatedDaysHigh = Float.valueOf(daysHigh);
this.daysHigh = (df.format(floatedDaysHigh));
}
}
public String getDaysLow() {
return daysLow;
}
public void setDaysLow(String daysLow) {
if(daysLow.equals("null"))
this.daysLow = "N/A";
else{
float floatedDaysLow = Float.valueOf(daysLow);
this.daysLow = (df.format(floatedDaysLow));
}
}
public String getVolume() {
return volume;
}
public void setVolume(String volume) {
if(volume.equals("null")){
this.volume = "N/A";
}
else{
float floatedVolume = Float.valueOf(volume);
this.volume = (vf.format(floatedVolume));
}
}
public String getDividendYield() {
return dividendYield;
}
public void setDividendYield(String dividendYield) {
if(dividendYield.equals("null"))
this.dividendYield = "N/A";
else
this.dividendYield = dividendYield;
}
public String getAverageDailyVolume() {
return averageDailyVolume;
}
public void setAverageDailyVolume(String averageDailyVolume) {
if(averageDailyVolume.equals("null")){
this.averageDailyVolume = "N/A";
}
else{
float floatedAverageDailyVolume = Float.valueOf(averageDailyVolume);
this.averageDailyVolume = (vf.format(floatedAverageDailyVolume));
}
}
public String getPeRatio() {
return peRatio;
}
public void setPeRatio(String peRatio) {
if(peRatio.equals("null"))
this.peRatio = "N/A";
else
this.peRatio = peRatio;
}
public String getMarketCapitalization() {
return marketCapitalization;
}
public void setMarketCapitalization(String marketCapitalization) {
if(marketCapitalization.equals("null"))
this.marketCapitalization = "N/A";
else
this.marketCapitalization = marketCapitalization;
}
public String getYearHigh() {
return yearHigh;
}
public void setYearHigh(String yearHigh) {
if(yearHigh.equals("null"))
this.yearHigh = "N/A";
else
this.yearHigh = yearHigh;
}
public String getYearLow() {
return yearLow;
}
public void setYearLow(String yearLow) {
if(yearLow.equals("null"))
this.yearLow = "N/A";
else
this.yearLow = yearLow;
}
public String getLastTradePriceOnly() {
return lastTradePriceOnly;
}
public void setLastTradePriceOnly(String lastTradePriceOnly) {
if(lastTradePriceOnly.equals("null")){
this.lastTradePriceOnly = "N/A";
}
else{
float floatedLastTradePriceOnly = Float.valueOf(lastTradePriceOnly);
this.lastTradePriceOnly = (df.format(floatedLastTradePriceOnly));
}
}
#Override
public int hashCode() {
final int prime = 31;
int result = 1;
result = prime * result + ((change == null) ? 0 : change.hashCode());
result = prime * result
+ ((daysHigh == null) ? 0 : daysHigh.hashCode());
result = prime * result + ((daysLow == null) ? 0 : daysLow.hashCode());
result = prime
* result
+ ((lastTradePriceOnly == null) ? 0 : lastTradePriceOnly
.hashCode());
result = prime
* result
+ ((marketCapitalization == null) ? 0 : marketCapitalization
.hashCode());
result = prime * result + ((name == null) ? 0 : name.hashCode());
result = prime * result + ((open == null) ? 0 : open.hashCode());
result = prime * result + ((peRatio == null) ? 0 : peRatio.hashCode());
result = prime * result
+ ((percentChange == null) ? 0 : percentChange.hashCode());
result = prime * result + ((symbol == null) ? 0 : symbol.hashCode());
result = prime * result + ((volume == null) ? 0 : volume.hashCode());
result = prime * result
+ ((yearHigh == null) ? 0 : yearHigh.hashCode());
result = prime * result + ((yearLow == null) ? 0 : yearLow.hashCode());
return result;
}
#Override
public boolean equals(Object obj) {
if (this == obj)
return true;
if (obj == null)
return false;
if (getClass() != obj.getClass())
return false;
Quote other = (Quote) obj;
if (change == null) {
if (other.change != null)
return false;
} else if (!change.equals(other.change))
return false;
if (daysHigh == null) {
if (other.daysHigh != null)
return false;
} else if (!daysHigh.equals(other.daysHigh))
return false;
if (daysLow == null) {
if (other.daysLow != null)
return false;
} else if (!daysLow.equals(other.daysLow))
return false;
if (lastTradePriceOnly == null) {
if (other.lastTradePriceOnly != null)
return false;
} else if (!lastTradePriceOnly.equals(other.lastTradePriceOnly))
return false;
if (marketCapitalization == null) {
if (other.marketCapitalization != null)
return false;
} else if (!marketCapitalization.equals(other.marketCapitalization))
return false;
if (name == null) {
if (other.name != null)
return false;
} else if (!name.equals(other.name))
return false;
if (open == null) {
if (other.open != null)
return false;
} else if (!open.equals(other.open))
return false;
if (peRatio == null) {
if (other.peRatio != null)
return false;
} else if (!peRatio.equals(other.peRatio))
return false;
if (percentChange == null) {
if (other.percentChange != null)
return false;
} else if (!percentChange.equals(other.percentChange))
return false;
if (symbol == null) {
if (other.symbol != null)
return false;
} else if (!symbol.equals(other.symbol))
return false;
if (volume == null) {
if (other.volume != null)
return false;
} else if (!volume.equals(other.volume))
return false;
if (yearHigh == null) {
if (other.yearHigh != null)
return false;
} else if (!yearHigh.equals(other.yearHigh))
return false;
if (yearLow == null) {
if (other.yearLow != null)
return false;
} else if (!yearLow.equals(other.yearLow))
return false;
return true;
}
}

If you (almost) always want to use that order you can add the Comparable interface to Quote and implement a compareTo method.
public int compareTo(Quote quote) {
int result = this.getName().compareTo(quote.getName());
if (result == 0) {
result = this.getChange().compareTo(quote.getChange());
}
if (result == 0) {
result = this.getPercentChange().compareTo(quote.getPercentChange());
}
return result;
}
Then use a sorted collection, or sort a list, and the quotes will be sorted.
For ad hoc sorting, a separate, possibly anonymous, Comparator is better.

Everybody is right that you want to use Comparators. Extending on that idea, if you want to be able to sort on multiple criteria, then a class like this will work for you:
public class MultiComparator<T> implements Comparator<T> {
private List<Comparator<T>> comparators;
public MultiComparator(List<Comparator<T>> comparators) {
this.comparators = comparators;
}
public int compare(T o1, T o2) {
for (Comparator<T> comparator : comparators) {
int comparison = comparator.compare(o1, o2);
if (comparison != 0) return comparison;
}
return 0;
}
}
Then you just write really simple comparators for whichever fields you desire and you can combine them into more complex comparators more easily and with more reuse.

Have a look at the ComparatorChain from the Apache Commons Collection. This should do the job. Don't implement logic if is already available and tested.
At the following site I have a tutorial: Sorting Objects By Multiple Attributes"

Create an appropiate Comparator that will compare two items according to your desired criteria. Then use Collections.sort() on your ArrayList.
If at a later time you want to sort by different criteria, call Collections.sort() again with a different Comparator.

Sun has devoted big part of its tutorial to sorting in Java collections:
http://download.oracle.com/javase/tutorial/collections/interfaces/order.html
It discusses both Comparable and Comparator interfaces with examples.

See Collections.sort with an explicit Comparator (or the Collections.sort kind that requires the input to implement Comparable, if you prefer).

There are two things:
Sorting on multiple fields of an object
Multilevel sorting (Here sorting done on first field and then next sorting applied on grouping done on similar items in previous sort)
For #2: I found this below article very much close to what i desire
http://strangeoptics.blogspot.com/2011/09/sorting-objects-by-multiple-attributes.html