Help needed creating a linked list program

Question

I have been trying to create a linked list program that takes in a word and its definition and adds the word to a link list followed by the definition. i.e. java - a simple platform-independent object-oriented programming language.
the thing is that of course words must be added and removed from the list. so i am going to use the compareTo method. Basically there a 2 problems
1: some syntax problem which is causing my add and remove method not to be seen from the WordList class
2: Do I HAVE to use the iterator class to go thru the list? I understand how the iterator works but i see no need for it.
I just need to be pointed in the right direction im a little lost.................
your help would be greatly appreciated i've been working on this over a week i dont like linked list..........
Here are my 4 classes of code........
* Dictionary.java
* Created on November 4, 2007, 10:53 PM
* A class Dictionary that implements the other classes.
* @author Denis
import javax.swing.JOptionPane;
/* testWordList.java
* Created on November 10, 2007, 11:50 AM
* @author Denis
public class Dictionary {
    /** Creates a new instance of testWordList */
    public Dictionary() {
        boolean done=false;
String in="";
while(done!=true)
in = JOptionPane.showInputDialog("Type 1 to add to Dictionary, 2 to remove from Dictionary, 3 to Print Dictionary, and 4 to Quit");
int num = Integer.parseInt(in);
switch (num){
case 1:
String toAdd = JOptionPane.showInputDialog("Please Key in the Word a dash and the definition.");
add(toAdd);
break;
case 2:
String toDelete = JOptionPane.showInputDialog("What would you like to remove?");
remove(toDelete);
break;
case 3:
for(Word e: list)
System.out.println(e);
break;
case 4:
System.out.println("Transaction complete.");
done = true;
break;
default:
done = true;
break;
   }//end switch
  }//end while
}//end Dictionary
}//end main
import java.util.Iterator;
/* WordList.java
* Created on November 4, 2007, 10:40 PM
*A class WordList that creates and maintains a linked list of words and their meanings in lexicographical order.
* @author Denis*/
public class WordList{
    WordNode list;
    //Iterator<WordList> i = list.iterator();
    /*public void main(String [] args)
    while(i.hasNext())
    WordNode w = i.next();
    String s = w.word.getWord();
    void WordList() {
      list = null;
    void add(Word b)
        WordNode temp = new WordNode(b);
        WordNode current,previous = null;
        boolean found = false;
        try{
        if(list == null)
            list=temp;
        else{
            current = list;
            while(current != null && !found)
                if(temp.object.getWord().compareTo(current.object.getWord())<0)
                    found = true;
                else{
                previous=current;
                current=current.next;
            temp.next=current;
            if(previous==null)
                list=temp;
            else
                previous.next=temp;
            }//end else
        }//end try
        catch (NullPointerException e)
            System.out.println("Catch at line 46");
    }//end add
/*WordNode.java
* Created on November 4, 2007, 10:40 PM
*A class WordNode that contains a Word object of information and a link field that will contain the address of the next WordNode.
* @author Denis
public class WordNode {
    Word object;//Word object of information
    WordNode next;//link field that will contain the address of the next WordNode.
    WordNode object2;
    public WordNode (WordNode wrd)
         object2 = wrd;
         next = null;
    WordNode(Word x)
        object = x;
        next = null;
    WordNode list = null;
    //WordNode list = new WordNode("z");
    Word getWord()
        return object;
    WordNode getNode()
        return next;
import javax.swing.JOptionPane;
/* Word.java
* Created on November 4, 2007, 10:39 PM
* A class Word that holds the name of a word and its meaning.
* @author Denis
public class Word {
    private String word = " ";
    /** Creates a new instance of Word with the definition*/
    public Word(String w) {
        word = w;
    String getWord(){
        return word;
}

Answer 1

zoemayne wrote:
java:26: cannot find symbol
symbol  : method add(java.lang.String)
location: class Dictionary
add(toAdd);this is in the dictionary class
generic messageThat's because there is no add(...) method in your Dictionary class: the add(...) method is in your WordList class.
To answer your next question "+how do I add things to my list then?+": Well, you need to create an instance of your WordList class and call the add(...) method on that instance.
Here's an example of instantiating an object and invoking a method on that instance:
Integer i = new Integer(6); // create an instance of Integer
System.out.println(i.toString()); // call it's toString() method and display it on the "stdout"