Another question?? being able to send byte arrays containing multiple types

Question

Hi,
I have a question which I would really appreciate any help on.
I am trying to send a byte array, that contains multiple types using a UDP app. and then receive it on the other end.
So far I have been able to do this using the following code. Please note that I create a new String, Float or Double object to be able to correctly send and receive. Here is the code:
//this is on the client side...
String mymessage ="Here is your stuff from your client" ;
int nbr = 22; Double nbr2 = new Double(1232.11223);
Float nbr3 = new Float(8098098.809808);
ByteArrayOutputStream baos = new ByteArrayOutputStream();
ObjectOutputStream oos = new ObjectOutputStream(baos);
oos.writeObject(mymessage);
oos.writeInt(nbr);
oos.writeObject(nbr2);
oos.writeObject(nbr3);
oos.close();
byte[] buffer = baos.toByteArray();
socket.send(packet);
//this is on the server side...
byte [] buffer = new byte [5000];
String mymessage = null; int nbr = 0; Double nbr2 = null;
Float nbr3 = null;
mymessage = (String)ois.readObject();
nbr = ois.readInt();
nbr2 = (Double) ois.readObject();
nbr3 = (Float) ois.readObject();
My main question here is that I have to create a new Float and Double object to be able to send and receive this byte array correctly. However, I would like to be able to have to only create 1object, stuff it with the String, int, Float and Double, send it and then correctly receive it on the other end.
So I tried creating another class, and then creating an obj of this class and stuffing it with the 4 types:
public class O_struct{ 
//the indiv. objects to be sent...
public String mymessage; public int nbr; public Double nbr2;
public Float nbr3;
//construct...
public O_struct(String mymessage_c, int nbr_c, double nbr2_c, float nbr3_c){
my_message = my_message_c;
nbr = nbr_c;
nbr2 = new Double(nbr2_c);
nbr3 = new Float(nbr3_c);
Then in main, using this new class:
in main():
O_struct some_obj_client = new O_struct("Here is your stuff from your client", 22, 1232.1234, 890980980.798);
oos.writeObject(some_obj_client);
oos.close();
send code....according to UDP
However on the receiving side, I am not sure how to be able to correctly retrieve the 4 types. Before I was explicitely creating those objects for sending, then I was casting them again on the receiving side to retrieve then and it does work.
But if I create a O_struct object and cast it as I did before with the indiv objects on the receiving end, I can't get the correct retrievals.
My code, on the server side:
O_struct some_obj_server = new O_struct(null, null, null. null);
some_obj_server = (O_struct)ois.readObject();
My main goal is to be able to send 4 types in a byte array, but the way I have written this code, I have to create a Float and Double obj to be able to send and receive correctly. I would rather not have to directly create these objects, but rather just create one object and be able to send and receive the information on both ends
I might be making this more complicated than needed, but this was the only way I could figure out how to do this and any help will be greatly appreciated.
If there an easier way to do I certainly will appreciate that advise as well.
Thanks.

Answer 1

which forum should I be posting this on?Serialization.
To get you started...
public class O_struct implements Serializable {