How to test if input is in array + number?

Question

Hi, I have an array, [0, 1, 2], and also a stored number: 5
If I ask the user to input a number, how do I make the user continue input until the number is either one of the numbers in the array or the stored number?
I can do this with a while loop, a for loop, and an if, else loop, but it's too complicated:
               boolean match = false;
               DONE: while (match != true) {
                    for (int i =0; i < number; i++) {
                         if (userInput == array[i] || userInput == -1) {
                              match = true;
                              break DONE;
                         } else {
                              match = false;
                    System.err.printf("\nERROR: Input not in array or stored number.\n\n");
                    System.out.printf("Input again:\n    ");
                    userInput = input.nextInt();
               }Is there an easier method? Could someone point me in the right direction? I'm wondering if it might be faster if I create a new array that includes the original array + the stored number, then test to see if the input is simply in this new array.
Thanks for any help.
Edited by: fishy on Feb 23, 2009 11:16 AM

Answer 1

Hello,
To check the number against the array, you would have to loop through the entire array checking each element for the input value. A for loop should do the trick:
private static int checkArray(int [] a, int inputNumber)
for (i = 0; i < a.length; i++) { 
if (a[i] == inputNumber)
      return 1;
return 0;
}Then you can use a do while for the input:
do {
   System.out.println("Enter a number: ");
   userInput = sc.nextInt;
} while ( (checkArray(userInput) == 0) & (number != userInput) ); This should ask the user for input as long as the number they enter is not in the array and it's not the stored number.
Hope this helps,
~Vin