Object Dereferencing. [resolved by VirtuallyVB]

[Dillinger4]

Anybody know what that is? Im not too sure myself. The code below works great. But the code under it at compile time i get char cannot be dereferenced. what does that mean?

   try {
    StringBuffer sb = new StringBuffer();
       for(int i = 0; i < c.length; ++i){
           sb.append(c[i]);
            jta.setText(new String(sb)); 
             Thread.sleep(75); 
       }
    }catch(Exception e){System.err.println(e);}

// cannot be derefrenced

  String s = new String(c); 
    for(int i = 0; i < c.length; ++i){
        jta.setText(new String(s.charAt(i).toString()));
          Thread.sleep(75);   
    }

[VirtuallyVB]

The primitive "char" datatype does not have the object method "toString()". Try jta.setText(String.valueOf(s.charAt(i)));

[Dillinger4]

By VirtuallyVB
The primitive "char" datatype does not have the method "toString()".

Now that i understand.

Yes this works now too! Thanks....
jta.setText(String.valueOf(s.charAt(i)));

[CaptainPinko]

this is all nice but you still haven't explained object deferencing is.

[VirtuallyVB]

I think Dil may have a better definition of "object dereferencing" at the ready since he used the term.

I don't see the difference between referencing and dereferencing. I think I first heard the term in C when trying to get at the value pointed at by a C pointer. In Object-Orientation, it may be safe to think of it as a "handle" or "reference to the object" by which we can address its members (When I say "member", I mean variable OR method). Perhaps we "dereference" when we "use the reference" in this object member addressing scheme. -- confirm this before using it as an exam answer.

So, since Dil didn't have an object (since he had a primitive "char"), he could not possibly "dereference an object". char did not reference (or is that "dereference") any members (as objects do).

Hope that helps Cap'.

[Dillinger4]

Sorry, i just got back from Florida today. I looked for some places in Disney world that maybe had a computer so i could post on VB World, but i had no luck. I look up the term and VirtuallyVB basicly summed that one up.