Better method than switch?

Question

I have the following code.
public Animalinfo(int animalInfo){
        switch (animalInfo) {
            case 1:File inputFile1 = new File("monkey.txt"); FileInputAnimal monkey = new FileInputAnimal(inputFile1);break ;
            case 2:File inputFile2 = new File("rooster.txt"); FileInputAnimal rooster = new FileInputAnimal(inputFile2);break ;
            case 3:File inputFile3 = new File("dog.txt"); FileInputAnimal dog = new FileInputAnimal(inputFile3);break ;
            case 4:File inputFile4 = new File("boar.txt"); FileInputAnimal boar = new FileInputAnimal(inputFile4);break ;
            case 5:File inputFile5 = new File("rat.txt"); FileInputAnimal rat = new FileInputAnimal(inputFile5);break ;
            case 6:File inputFile6 = new File("ox.txt"); FileInputAnimal ox = new FileInputAnimal(inputFile6);break ;
            case 7:File inputFile7 = new File("tiger.txt"); FileInputAnimal tiger = new FileInputAnimal(inputFile7);break ;
            case 8:File inputFile8 = new File("rabbit.txt"); FileInputAnimal rabbit = new FileInputAnimal(inputFile8);break ;
            case 9:File inputFile9 = new File("dragon.txt"); FileInputAnimal dragon = new FileInputAnimal(inputFile9);break ;
            case 10:File inputFile10 = new File("snake.txt"); FileInputAnimal snake = new FileInputAnimal(inputFile10);break ;
            case 11:File inputFile11 = new File("horse.txt"); FileInputAnimal horse = new FileInputAnimal(inputFile11);break ;
            case 12:File inputFile12 = new File("sheep.txt"); FileInputAnimal sheep = new FileInputAnimal(inputFile12);break ;
//where fileinputanimal prints the text file in the window
        }It works and i can't see much else to addto it. But i was just wondering if anyone had other possible improvements on it, like a way of not adding a number to the end of each File inputFilex. Also, is there an alternate method to switce. I can't think of any myself, but that means i'll have to start working on a switch like above but containing around 500 cases in it this time.
Any suggestions appreciated.

Answer 1

Sazazezer_Mililipili wrote:
Jeez, so much help in fifteen minutes alone. I feel bad for taking a day to respond.
The animalInfo int comes from the user input. The user types in their date of birth. It then converts to a float so i can do 'year % 12', Okay, that makes sense. But an int would be better.
Now...to learn about maps.Nah, since it's always going to be 0-11, and it's the numerical value that has significance, not some arbitrary "key", it's simpler to just stick with the switch statement. Do pay attention to the simplifications I gave you though, and rather than having the constructor do anything besides initialize the state of an object, after construction, call a print or display or whatever method.
EDIT: Or, possibly better, go with the other poster's suggestion of an array of Strings, whose values are the file names.
Edited by: jverd on Sep 25, 2008 2:15 PM