Help with char and command line arguments

Question

I am writing a program that takes 2 command line arguments (such as 4 b, or 3 4, etc.). It uses the first argument to determine the height of a triangle (how many rows high), and the second is the character with which the triangle is drawn.
My problem is I tend to code backwards - go for the bigger part and then figure out the smaller things. So, I've written a program that prints out this triangle, BUT I can't figure out how to get the command line arguments into it properly. A number works fine because I can:
size = Integer.parseInt(args[0]);
but what do I do if the second argument is a character? Args is a String array (I've been fighting with it for the past 4 hours, so I KNOW its a String array) - so how can I get a char to be read as args[1]?
Here is my code before adding in the second argument (the char):
public class Triangle
public static final void main(String[] args)
int size;
if (args.length > 0)
try
size = Integer.parseInt(args[0]);
catch(NumberFormatException e)
System.out.println("Input Error");
createFilledTriangle(size);
System.out.println();
public static void createFilledTriangle(int size)
int i = 0;
int j = 0;
for(i = size, j = 1; i > 0; i--, j +=2)
printChar(" ", i);
printChar("*", j); <-----Instead of using * I want to use the second command line arg
System.out.println();
private static void printChar(String str, int total)
for(int i = 0, i < total; i++)
if(i%2 == 1)
System.out.print(str);
else
System.out.print(" ");
Thank you for any help in advance!

Answer 1

I was sure i send it the other day, i probably send it to the wron guy.
This will give you more idea about drawing.
import java.awt.*;
import java.awt.event.*;
public class Args extends Frame
     Panel panel = new Tpan();
     int   arg1;
     char  arg2;
public Args(int a1, char a2) 
     super();
     arg1 = a1;
     arg2 = a2;
     setBounds(1,1,600,400);     
     setLayout(new BorderLayout());
     addWindowListener(new WindowAdapter()
     {     public void windowClosing(WindowEvent ev)
          {     dispose();
               System.exit(0);
     add("Center",panel);
     setVisible(true);     
public class Tpan extends Panel
public Tpan()
public void paint(Graphics g)
     super.paint(g);
     g.setColor(Color.blue);
     g.drawLine(120,110-arg1,80,110);
     g.drawLine(120,110-arg1,160,110);
     g.drawLine(80,110,160,110);
     g.setColor(Color.red);
     g.drawLine(120,110-arg1,120,110);
     g.setColor(Color.black);
     g.drawString(""+arg2,116,110-arg1/2+10);
public static void main (String[] args) throws InterruptedException
// get the 2 arguments from the args insread of a1= , a2=
     int  a1  = 60;
     char a2 = 'a';
     new Args(a1,a2);
Noah
import java.awt.*;
import java.awt.event.*;
public class Args extends Frame
     Panel panel = new Tpan();
     int arg1;
     char arg2;
public Args(int a1, char a2)
     super();
     arg1 = a1;
     arg2 = a2;
     setBounds(1,1,600,400);     
     setLayout(new BorderLayout());
     addWindowListener(new WindowAdapter()
     {     public void windowClosing(WindowEvent ev)
          {     dispose();
               System.exit(0);
     add("Center",panel);
     setVisible(true);     
public class Tpan extends Panel
public Tpan()
public void paint(Graphics g)
     super.paint(g);
     g.setColor(Color.blue);
     g.drawLine(120,110-arg1,80,110);
     g.drawLine(120,110-arg1,160,110);
     g.drawLine(80,110,160,110);
     g.setColor(Color.red);
     g.drawLine(120,110-arg1,120,110);
     g.setColor(Color.black);
     g.drawString(""+arg2,116,110-arg1/2+10);
public static void main (String[] args) throws InterruptedException
// get the 2 arguments from the args insread of a1= , a2=
     int a1 = 60;
     char a2 = 'a';
     new Args(a1,a2);