Error msg pointing to nonexistent var (WARNING: LONG POST)

Question

I'm sorry to have to post my entire program, but I keep getting an error msg that points to a variable that is NOWHERE in my code. The var is called PwChar. It's mentioned in the error msg, but is nowhere in my code. This is even after saving and recompiling it THREE TIMES. Please, someone, tell me where this error appears in my code, if you even can. Your help will be greatly appreciated. Here is the error msg:
C:\jdk1.2.1\bin>javac PwGenerator.java
PwGenerator.java:228: Incompatible type for =. Can't convert java.lang.Character
to char.
pwChar = new Character((char) (newAsciiRange));
^
PwGenerator.java:234: Incompatible type for =. Can't convert java.lang.Character
to char.
pwChar = new Character((char) (newAsciiRange[0]));
^
2 errors
Now here is my code (sorry for the length):
// My Javafied Password Generator
import javax.swing.*;
import java.awt.*;
import java.awt.event.*;
import java.util.*;
public class PwGenerator extends JApplet
private String pw;
private JPanel centerPanel, northPanel, southPanel;
private JComboBox numchars;
private JCheckBox lettersUpper, lettersLower, numbers, specialChars;
private JButton generate, reset;
private JTextField textfield;
private int asciiRange[], newAsciiRange[];
private String pwLength[] = {"6", "7", "8", "9", "10", "11", "12"};
private int lengthSelected;
private JLabel pwLabel, numCharLabel;
private boolean wantSpecialchars, wantNumbers, wantUppercase, wantLowercase;
public void init()
// instantiate widgets
asciiRange = new int[94];
numCharLabel = new JLabel("Number of characters for password");
numchars = new JComboBox(pwLength);
lettersUpper = new JCheckBox("Uppercase letters");
lettersLower = new JCheckBox("Lowercase letters");
numbers = new JCheckBox("Numbers");
specialChars = new JCheckBox("Special characters");
generate = new JButton("Generate password");
reset = new JButton("Clear");
textfield = new JTextField(12);
pwLabel = new JLabel("Your new password is: ");
// add widgets to the content pane
Container c = getContentPane();
c.setLayout(new BorderLayout());
centerPanel = new JPanel();
centerPanel.setLayout(new GridLayout(3, 2));
centerPanel.add(lettersUpper);
centerPanel.add(lettersLower);
centerPanel.add(numbers);
centerPanel.add(specialChars);
centerPanel.add(generate);
centerPanel.add(reset);
c.add(centerPanel, BorderLayout.CENTER);
northPanel = new JPanel();
northPanel.setLayout(new FlowLayout());
northPanel.add(numCharLabel);
northPanel.add(numchars);
c.add(northPanel, BorderLayout.NORTH);
southPanel = new JPanel();
southPanel.setLayout(new FlowLayout());
southPanel.add(pwLabel);
southPanel.add(textfield);
c.add(southPanel, BorderLayout.SOUTH);
} // end init
public void start()
// connect event handlers to the widgets
numchars.addItemListener(new ItemListener() {
     public void itemStateChanged(ItemEvent e)
     lengthSelected = Integer.parseInt(pwLength[numchars.getSelectedIndex()]);
CheckBoxHandler handler = new CheckBoxHandler();
lettersUpper.addItemListener(handler);
lettersLower.addItemListener(handler);
numbers.addItemListener(handler);
specialChars.addItemListener(handler);
generate.addActionListener(new ActionListener() {
     public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e)
     setAsciiRange();
     trimAsciiRange();
reset.addActionListener(new ActionListener() {
     public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e)
     textfield.setText("");
} // end start
public void setAsciiRange()
int numRange[] = new int[10];
int uppercaseRange[] = new int[26];
int lowercaseRange[] = new int[26];
int specialcharRange[] = new int[32];
System.out.println("Welcome to setAsciiRange!");
if (!wantSpecialchars && !wantNumbers && !wantUppercase && !wantLowercase)
JOptionPane.showMessageDialog(this, "You must make a selection", "Error", JOptionPane.ERROR_MESSAGE);
if (wantNumbers)
for (int i=0, j=48; i<numRange.length; i++, j++)
     numRange[i] = j;
System.out.println("Number " + i + " is " + j +"\n");
} // end for
} // end if
if (wantUppercase)
for (int i=0, j=65; i<uppercaseRange.length; i++, j++)
     uppercaseRange[i] = j;
     System.out.println("Uppercase letter " + i + " is " + j + "\n");
} // end for
} // end if
if (wantLowercase)
for (int i=0, j=97; i<lowercaseRange.length; i++, j++)
     lowercaseRange[i] = j;
System.out.println("Lowercase letter " + i + " is " + j + "\n");
} // end for
} // end if
if (wantSpecialchars)
for (int i=0, j=33; i<15; i++, j++)
specialcharRange[i] = j;
     System.out.println("Special char " + i + " is " + j + "\n");
for (int i=15, j=58; i<22; i++, j++)
specialcharRange[i] = j;
System.out.println("Special char " + i + " is " + j + "\n");
for (int i=22, j=91; i<28; i++, j++)
     specialcharRange[i] = j;
     System.out.println("Special char " + i + " is " + j + "\n");
for (int i=28, j=123; i<specialcharRange.length; i++, j++)
     specialcharRange[i] = j;
     System.out.println("Special char " + i + " is " + j + "\n");
} // end if
if (numRange != null)
System.arraycopy(numRange, 0, asciiRange, 0, numRange.length);
if (uppercaseRange != null)
System.arraycopy(uppercaseRange, 0, asciiRange, firstEmptyElement(), uppercaseRange.length);
if (lowercaseRange != null)
System.arraycopy(lowercaseRange, 0, asciiRange, firstEmptyElement(), lowercaseRange.length);
if (specialcharRange != null)
System.arraycopy(specialcharRange, 0, asciiRange, firstEmptyElement(), specialcharRange.length);
for (int i=0; i<asciiRange.length; i++)
System.out.println(asciiRange[i]);
private int firstEmptyElement()
int i;
for (i=0; i<asciiRange.length; i++)
if (asciiRange[i] == 0)
     break;
return i;
private void trimAsciiRange()
newAsciiRange = new int[firstEmptyElement()];
for (int i=0; i<newAsciiRange.length; i++)
newAsciiRange[i] = asciiRange[i];
System.out.println("newAsciiRange element " + i + " is " + newAsciiRange[i]);
public void generatePw (int selectedLength)
int randomNum;
char pwChar;
pw = "";
for (int i=0; i<=lengthSelected; i++)
randomNum = 1 + (int) (Math.random() * newAsciiRange.length);
try {
     pwChar = new Character((char) (newAsciiRange[i]));
     pw += pwChar;
     System.out.print(pwChar + " ");
catch(ArrayIndexOutOfBoundsException e) {
     System.out.print("Setting out-of-bounds index to 0");
     pwChar = new Character((char) (newAsciiRange[0]));
     pw += pwChar;
     System.out.print(pwChar + " ");
System.out.println(pw);
textfield.setText(pw);
private class CheckBoxHandler implements ItemListener
public void itemStateChanged(ItemEvent e)
if (e.getSource() == specialChars)
     if (e.getStateChange() == ItemEvent.SELECTED)
     wantSpecialchars = true;
     else
     wantSpecialchars = false;
} // end outer if
if (e.getSource() == numbers)
     if (e.getStateChange() == ItemEvent.SELECTED)
     wantNumbers = true;
     } // end if
     else
     wantNumbers = false;
     } // end else
} // end if
if (e.getSource() == lettersUpper)
     if (e.getStateChange() == ItemEvent.SELECTED)
     wantUppercase = true;
     else
     wantUppercase = false;
} // end if
if (e.getSource() == lettersLower)
     if (e.getStateChange() == ItemEvent.SELECTED)
     wantLowercase = true;
     else
     wantLowercase = false;
} // end if

Answer 1

I'm sorry to have to post my entire program, Ok - but next time please use code tags (even though it makes it easier this time, it makes it so much easier to read)
but I
keep getting an error msg that points to a variable
that is NOWHERE in my code. Does your editor have a "find" function? In Notepad it's CTL-F
The var is called
PwChar. no, it's called pwChar
It's mentioned in the error msg, but is
nowhere in my code. This is even after saving and
recompiling it THREE TIMES. Please, someone, tell me
where this error appears in my code, if you even can.
Your help will be greatly appreciated. Here is the
e error msg:
C:\jdk1.2.1\bin>javac PwGenerator.java
PwGenerator.java:228: Incompatible type for =. Can't
convert java.lang.Character
to char.
pwChar = new Character((char)
r((char) (newAsciiRange));
^
PwGenerator.java:234: Incompatible type for =. Can't
convert java.lang.Character
to char.
pwChar = new Character((char)
r((char) (newAsciiRange[0]));
^
2 errors
Now here is my code (sorry for the length):
// My Javafied Password Generator
import javax.swing.*;
import java.awt.*;
import java.awt.event.*;
import java.util.*;
public class PwGenerator extends JApplet
private String pw;
private JPanel centerPanel, northPanel,
l, southPanel;
private JComboBox numchars;
private JCheckBox lettersUpper, lettersLower,
r, numbers, specialChars;
private JButton generate, reset;
private JTextField textfield;
private int asciiRange[], newAsciiRange[];
private String pwLength[] = {"6", "7", "8", "9",
", "10", "11", "12"};
private int lengthSelected;
private JLabel pwLabel, numCharLabel;
private boolean wantSpecialchars, wantNumbers,
s, wantUppercase, wantLowercase;
public void init()
// instantiate widgets
asciiRange = new int[94];
numCharLabel = new JLabel("Number of characters
ters for password");
numchars = new JComboBox(pwLength);
lettersUpper = new JCheckBox("Uppercase
case letters");
lettersLower = new JCheckBox("Lowercase
case letters");
numbers = new JCheckBox("Numbers");
specialChars = new JCheckBox("Special
cial characters");
generate = new JButton("Generate password");
reset = new JButton("Clear");
textfield = new JTextField(12);
pwLabel = new JLabel("Your new password is: ");
// add widgets to the content pane
Container c = getContentPane();
c.setLayout(new BorderLayout());
centerPanel = new JPanel();
centerPanel.setLayout(new GridLayout(3, 2));
centerPanel.add(lettersUpper);
centerPanel.add(lettersLower);
centerPanel.add(numbers);
centerPanel.add(specialChars);
centerPanel.add(generate);
centerPanel.add(reset);
c.add(centerPanel, BorderLayout.CENTER);
northPanel = new JPanel();
northPanel.setLayout(new FlowLayout());
northPanel.add(numCharLabel);
northPanel.add(numchars);
c.add(northPanel, BorderLayout.NORTH);
southPanel = new JPanel();
southPanel.setLayout(new FlowLayout());
southPanel.add(pwLabel);
southPanel.add(textfield);
c.add(southPanel, BorderLayout.SOUTH);
} // end init
public void start()
// connect event handlers to the widgets
numchars.addItemListener(new ItemListener() {
     public void itemStateChanged(ItemEvent e)
lengthSelected =
d =
Integer.parseInt(pwLength[numchars.getSelectedIndex()]
CheckBoxHandler handler = new CheckBoxHandler();
lettersUpper.addItemListener(handler);
lettersLower.addItemListener(handler);
numbers.addItemListener(handler);
specialChars.addItemListener(handler);
generate.addActionListener(new ActionListener()
er() {
     public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e)
     setAsciiRange();
     trimAsciiRange();
reset.addActionListener(new ActionListener() {
     public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e)
     textfield.setText("");
} // end start
public void setAsciiRange()
int numRange[] = new int[10];
int uppercaseRange[] = new int[26];
int lowercaseRange[] = new int[26];
int specialcharRange[] = new int[32];
System.out.println("Welcome to setAsciiRange!");
if (!wantSpecialchars && !wantNumbers &&
s && !wantUppercase && !wantLowercase)
JOptionPane.showMessageDialog(this, "You must
u must make a selection", "Error",
JOptionPane.ERROR_MESSAGE);
if (wantNumbers)
for (int i=0, j=48; i<numRange.length; i++,
; i++, j++)
     numRange[i] = j;
System.out.println("Number " + i + " is " + j
is " + j +"\n");
} // end for
} // end if
if (wantUppercase)
for (int i=0, j=65; i<uppercaseRange.length;
ength; i++, j++)
     uppercaseRange[i] = j;
System.out.println("Uppercase letter " + i + " is "
" + j + "\n");
} // end for
} // end if
if (wantLowercase)
for (int i=0, j=97; i<lowercaseRange.length;
ength; i++, j++)
     lowercaseRange[i] = j;
System.out.println("Lowercase letter " + i +
" + i + " is " + j + "\n");
} // end for
} // end if
if (wantSpecialchars)
for (int i=0, j=33; i<15; i++, j++)
specialcharRange[i] = j;
System.out.println("Special char " + i + " is " + j
j + "\n");
for (int i=15, j=58; i<22; i++, j++)
specialcharRange[i] = j;
System.out.println("Special char " + i + " is
i + " is " + j + "\n");
for (int i=22, j=91; i<28; i++, j++)
     specialcharRange[i] = j;
System.out.println("Special char " + i + " is " + j
j + "\n");
for (int i=28, j=123;
j=123; i<specialcharRange.length; i++, j++)
     specialcharRange[i] = j;
System.out.println("Special char " + i + " is " + j
j + "\n");
} // end if
if (numRange != null)
System.arraycopy(numRange, 0, asciiRange, 0,
ge, 0, numRange.length);
if (uppercaseRange != null)
System.arraycopy(uppercaseRange, 0, asciiRange,
Range, firstEmptyElement(), uppercaseRange.length);
if (lowercaseRange != null)
System.arraycopy(lowercaseRange, 0, asciiRange,
Range, firstEmptyElement(), lowercaseRange.length);
if (specialcharRange != null)
System.arraycopy(specialcharRange, 0,
ge, 0, asciiRange, firstEmptyElement(),
specialcharRange.length);
for (int i=0; i<asciiRange.length; i++)
System.out.println(asciiRange[i]);
private int firstEmptyElement()
int i;
for (i=0; i<asciiRange.length; i++)
if (asciiRange[i] == 0)
     break;
return i;
private void trimAsciiRange()
newAsciiRange = new int[firstEmptyElement()];
for (int i=0; i<newAsciiRange.length; i++)
newAsciiRange[i] = asciiRange[i];
System.out.println("newAsciiRange element " + i
" + i + " is " + newAsciiRange[i]);
public void generatePw (int selectedLength)
int randomNum;
char pwChar;
pw = "";
for (int i=0; i<=lengthSelected; i++)
randomNum = 1 + (int) (Math.random() *
om() * newAsciiRange.length);
try {
     pwChar = new Character((char) (newAsciiRange));
     [b]pw += pwChar;
     System.out.print(pwChar + " ");
catch(ArrayIndexOutOfBoundsException e) {
System.out.print("Setting out-of-bounds index to
o 0");
     pwChar = new Character((char) (newAsciiRange[0]));
     pw += pwChar;
     System.out.print(pwChar + " ");
System.out.println(pw);
textfield.setText(pw);
private class CheckBoxHandler implements
ts ItemListener
public void itemStateChanged(ItemEvent e)
if (e.getSource() == specialChars)
     if (e.getStateChange() == ItemEvent.SELECTED)
     wantSpecialchars = true;
     else
     wantSpecialchars = false;
} // end outer if
if (e.getSource() == numbers)
     if (e.getStateChange() == ItemEvent.SELECTED)
     wantNumbers = true;
     } // end if
     else
     wantNumbers = false;
     } // end else
} // end if
if (e.getSource() == lettersUpper)
     if (e.getStateChange() == ItemEvent.SELECTED)
     wantUppercase = true;
     else
     wantUppercase = false;
} // end if
if (e.getSource() == lettersLower)
     if (e.getStateChange() == ItemEvent.SELECTED)
     wantLowercase = true;
     else
     wantLowercase = false;
} // end if