Can I get 2 return datatypes from a method?

Question

I am looking to get a int from a method but also need a boolean value to indicate if it is a valid number which is tested in my method. If it is allowed must I declare the method twice for each datatype?
Edited by: Yucca on Apr 19, 2008 5:26 PM

Answer 1

Hi jverd. This is part of my program from last night. I do test in the method for valid value and throw an exception. However if I leave it at that it will still update my object with value and furthe update my ArrayList with the onject. This is not correct. As u see in my code I am already testing my arrayList with a boolean value and find that if I continue so it will be beneficial as I still have 2 more datatypes that need to be tested.
public void createNew()
     { // start of createNew()
          Person p = new Person();
          String firstName = getName("Create");
          String lastName = getSurname();
          int homeNum = getHome();
          int count =0;
          boolean found = false;
          //Test if the contact is in phonelist already
          for(Person c: phoneList)
               c = phoneList.get(count);
               if((c.name).equals(firstName.trim().toUpperCase())&&(c.surname).equals(lastName.trim().toUpperCase()))
                    JOptionPane.showMessageDialog(null,"You may not enter duplicate contacts. \nPlease abbreviate or change the contacts name/surname.","Error",JOptionPane.ERROR_MESSAGE);
                    found = true;
                    createNew();
                    break;
               count ++;
          // If contact is not in list the update it
          if(found == false)
               p.name = firstName.trim().toUpperCase();
               p.surname = lastName.trim().toUpperCase();
               phoneList.add(p);
public int getHome()
          int homeNum = 0;
          String home = JOptionPane.showInputDialog(null,"Please enter the contacts home number or press cancel to exit.");
          //If a string was entered make sure it is a integer
          if(home.length() > 0)
               try
                    homeNum = Integer.parseInt(home);
               catch(NumberFormatException nfe)
                    JOptionPane.showMessageDialog(null,"You may not use letters as a phone number. Please try again","Error",JOptionPane.ERROR_MESSAGE);
          return homeNum;
     }I want the getHome method to return a boolean value to and pass it up to the part where I test for corectness before updating the arrayList.