HOW TO SET VARIABLE WHEN METHOD HAS PRIVATE ACCESS ? ?

Question

Dear People,
When I try to use an if then else statement the if part is not executed
only the else
if(highestBid != null)
System.out.println( Bid is: + highestBid.getValue());
else
System.out.println(" (no bid) )";
which can only mean that "highestBid is not being set
but since "Class Lot" has a private method
private void setHighestBid(Bid highestBid)
this.highestBid = highestBid;
the error message says:
"TryAuction.java": Error method setHighestBid()
has private access in class
so how do I get a value to "highestBid" so the "if" statement
will have a vaule for "highestBid ?
the showLots() method in the Class "Auction" doesn't print out the bids !
below are the classes
thank you in advance
Stan
package stan_bluej_ch4p90;
//Purpose of project: To demonstrate collections of objects
//Version: 2001.05.31
//How to start this project:
// Create an Auction object.
// Enter a few lots via its enterLot method. Only String
// descriptions of the lots are required.
// Create one or more Person objects to represent bidders.
// Show the lots and select one to bid for.
// Get the required Lot onto the object bench.
// Enter a bid for the lot, passing the Person who is
// bidding to the bidFor method.
public class TryAuction
public static void main(String[] args)
//create the auction
Auction cityAuction = new Auction();
//create the lots for sale
Lot bicycle = new Lot(1,"bicycle");
Lot lamp = new Lot(2, "lamp");
Lot trailer = new Lot(3, "trailer");
//enter the lots into the city Auction
cityAuction.enterLot("A bicycle in so so condition");
cityAuction.enterLot("A brand new lamp");
cityAuction.enterLot("A trailer built in 2001");
//show the lots
System.out.println();
System.out.println("The first lot for sale: " + bicycle.getDescription());
System.out.println("The second lot for sale: " + lamp.getDescription());
System.out.println("The third lot for sale: " + trailer.getDescription());
//create the people who will bid for the lots
Person Steve = new Person("Steve");
Person Maria = new Person("Maria");
//create the people's bids
Bid mariaLampBid = new Bid(Maria, 460);
lamp.setHighestBid(mariaLampBid);
Bid steveLampBid = new Bid(Steve, 510);
//create the people's bids
Bid mariaBicycleBid = new Bid(Maria, 1460);
//bicycle.setHighestBid(mariaBicycleBid);
Bid steveBicycleBid = new Bid(Steve, 1510);
//create the people's bids
Bid steveTrailerBid = new Bid(Steve, 700510);
//trailer.setHighestBid(steveTrailerBid);
Bid mariaTrailerBid = new Bid(Maria, 900460);
//give the bids
bicycle.bidFor(Maria,1460);
bicycle.bidFor(Steve, 1510);
System.out.println("The highest bid for the bicycle is " + bicycle.getHighestBid().getValue() );
lamp.bidFor(Maria,460);
lamp.bidFor(Steve,510);
System.out.println("The highest bid for the lamp is " + lamp.getHighestBid().getValue() );
trailer.bidFor(Steve, 700510);
trailer.bidFor(Maria,900460);
System.out.println("The highest bid for the trailer is " + trailer.getHighestBid().getValue() );
System.out.println(" \nMaria's bicycle bid is : " + mariaBicycleBid.getValue() );
System.out.println("Steve's bicycle bid is : " + steveBicycleBid.getValue() );
System.out.println(" \nMaria's lamp bid is : " + mariaLampBid.getValue() );
System.out.println("Steve's lamp bid is : " + steveLampBid.getValue() );
System.out.println("\nSteve's trailer bid is : " + steveTrailerBid.getValue() );
System.out.println(" Maria's trailer bid is : " + mariaTrailerBid.getValue() );
System.out.println();
cityAuction.showLots();
//cityAuction.close();
//The output I get is:
//The first lot for sale: bicycle
//The second lot for sale: lamp
//The third lot for sale: trailer
//The highest bid for this item is stan_bluej_ch4p90.Bid@f4a24a
//Maria's bicycle bid is : 1460
//Steve's lamp bid is : 1510
//Maria's lamp bid is : 460
//Steve's lamp bid is : 510
//Steve's trailer bid is : 700510
// Maria's trailer bid is : 900460
//1: A bicycle in so so condition
// (No bid)
//2: A brand new lamp
// (No bid)
//3: A trailer built in 2001
// (No bid)
package stan_bluej_ch4p90;
import java.util.*;
//Ex4.14
* A simple model of an auction.
* The auction maintains a list of lots of arbitrary length.
* @author David J. Barnes and Michael Kolling.
* @version 2001.06.08
public class Auction
// The list of Lots in this auction.
private ArrayList lots;
// The number that will be given to the next lot entered
// into this auction.
private int nextLotNumber;
* Create a new auction.
public Auction()
     lots = new ArrayList();
     nextLotNumber = 1;
* Enter a new lot into the auction.
* Lots can only by entered into the auction by an
* Auction object.
* @param description A description of the lot.
public void enterLot(String description)
     lots.add(new Lot(nextLotNumber, description));
     nextLotNumber++;
* Show the full list of lot numbers and lot descriptions in
* this auction. Include any details of the highest bids.
public void showLots()
     Iterator it = lots.iterator();
     while(it.hasNext()) {
     Lot lot = (Lot) it.next();
     System.out.println(lot.getNumber() + ": " +
               lot.getDescription());
     // Include any details of a highest bid.
     Bid highestBid = lot.getHighestBid();
     if(highestBid != null) {
          System.out.println(" Highest Bid: " +
                    highestBid.getValue());
     else {
          System.out.println(" (No bid)");
* Return the lot with the given number. Return null
* if a lot with this number does not exist.
* @param number The number of the lot to return.
public Lot getLot(int number)
     if((number >= 1) && (number < nextLotNumber)) {
     // The number seems to be reasonable.
     Lot selectedLot = (Lot) lots.get(number-1);
     // Include a confidence check to be sure we have the
     // right lot.
     if(selectedLot.getNumber() != number) {
          System.out.println("Internal error: " +
                    "Wrong lot returned. " +
                    "Number: " + number);
     return selectedLot;
     else {
     System.out.println("Lot number: " + number + " does not exist.");
     return null;
// public void close()
// Iterator i = lots.iterator();
// while(i.hasNext())
//     System.out.println("The winning amount for the " + bicycle.getDescription()
//     + " is " + bicycle.getHighestBid());
//     System.out.println("The winning amount for the " + lamp.getDescription()
//     + " is " + lamp.getHighestBid());
//     System.out.println("The winning amount for the " + trailer.getDescription()
//     + " is " + trailer.getHighestBid());
package stan_bluej_ch4p90;
* A class that models an auction bid. The bid contains a reference
* to the Lot bid for and the user making the bid.
* @author David J. Barnes and Michael Kolling.
* @version 2001.05.31
public class Bid
// The user making the bid.
private final Person bidder;
// The value of the bid. This could be a large number so
// the long type has been used.
private final long value;
* Create a bid.
* @param bidder Who is bidding for the lot.
* @param value The value of the bid.
public Bid(Person bidder, long value)
     this.bidder = bidder;
     this.value = value;
* @return The bidder.
public Person getBidder()
     return bidder;
* @return The value of the bid.
public long getValue()
     return value;
package stan_bluej_ch4p90;
* A class to model an item (or set of items) in an
* auction: a lot.
* @author David J. Barnes and Michael Kolling.
* @version 2001.06.08
public class Lot
// A unique identifying number.
private final int number;
// A description of the lot.
private String description;
// The current highest bid for this lot.
private Bid highestBid;
* Construct a Lot, setting its number and description.
* @param number The lot number.
* @param description A description of this lot.
public Lot(int number, String description)
     this.number = number;
     this.description = description;
* Attempt to bid for this lot. A successful bid
* must have a value higher than any existing bid.
* @param bidder Who is bidding.
* @param value The value of the bid.
public void bidFor(Person bidder, long value)
     // We trust that lot is genuine. There is nothing to
     // prevent a spurious lot from being bid for, but it
     // would not appear in the auction list.
     if((highestBid == null) ||
     (highestBid.getValue() < value)) {
     // This bid is the best so far.
     setHighestBid(new Bid(bidder, value));
     else {
     System.out.println("\nLot number: " + getNumber() +
               " (" + getDescription() + ")" +
               " has a bid of: " +
               highestBid.getValue());
* @return The lot's number.
public int getNumber()
     return number;
* @return The lot's description.
public String getDescription()
     return description;
* @return The highest bid for this lot. This could be null if
* there are no current bids.
public Bid getHighestBid()
     return highestBid;
* @param highestBid The new highest bid.
private void setHighestBid(Bid highestBid)
     this.highestBid = highestBid;
package stan_bluej_ch4p90;
* Maintain details of someone who participates in an auction.
* @author David J. Barnes and Michael Kolling.
* @version 2001.05.31
public class Person
// The name of this user.
private final String name;
* Create a new user with the given name.
* @param name The user's name.
public Person(String name)
     this.name = name;
* @return The user's name.
public String getName()
     return name;

Answer 1

Are you ready to kick yourself? The problem lies in the class Auction. You are using showLots() to print the lots, which you are trying to show the lot number, the description and the highest bid. But no there is no where in the class where you set the highest bid. In enterLot() you pass the description of the lot and it creates a new lot with the lot number and the description, but you don't give a bid. Then after the bids are done you do not update Auction to reflect the bids. Let the kicking commence. :-)