Java.util.properties ? Using Config.getProperty

Question

Hi all,
This one has been causing me a bit of a headache! I am using the Java.util.properties to create a file which looks like this:
#Tue Sep 13 19:15:06 GMT+02:00 2002
User=tristan
Password=bristol
Name=Tristan\ Webb
Rights=Tristan\ Webb
#Tue Sep 13 19:15:35 GMT+02:00 2002
User=adam
Password=newcastle
Name=Adam\ Jones
Rights=Adam\ Jones
The problem comes when I try to read the information back and put it in a Vector. Using the code below, it only ever puts the last users details (i.e. adam, Newcastle etc..) into the file and skips the first one. I have tried adding more users details, but it only ever reads the last entry. Is there anyway of forcing the config.getProperty to read the first entry in the file and then all the subsequesnt user details ?? I am thinking there must be a way of looping through the file, but im not sure where to start and am quite lost!
Many Thanks,
Properties config;
FileInputStream file;
file = new FileInputStream("password.cfg");
config = new Properties();
config.load(file);
User2 = config.getProperty("User");
Password = config.getProperty("Password");
name = config.getProperty("Name");
rights = config.getProperty("Rights");
UserDetails user = new UserDetails(User2, Password, name, rights);
userDetails.add(user);

Answer 1

The java.util.Properties class works like a dictionary: it stores values, which you can access using the keys.
The keys must be unique. In your case, the keys are not unique. If you do: String s = config.getProperty("User"); then how do you expect to get two values back (tristan and adam)?
You must make the keys unique in some way. For example, write your properties file like this:
#Tue Sep 13 19:15:06 GMT+02:00 2002
User.1=tristan
Password=.1bristol
Name.1=Tristan\ Webb
Rights.1=Tristan\ Webb
#Tue Sep 13 19:15:35 GMT+02:00 2002
User.2=adam
Password.2=newcastle
Name.2=Adam\ Jones
Rights.2=Adam\ Jones
Now use for example: String s = config.getProperty("User.1"); to get the name of the first user, etc.
Jesper