Problem matching parameters in a method

Question

Hi, all:
I'm processing a LOT of data for some research. I have millions of lines of data I've generated and am working with. I've created a class that lets me do the things I need to with my data. In that class, I analyze the data (lines of several numbers) by averaging some output based on the input. Here's my problem. Though I've got the class working great when it comes to averaging when I'm only sweeping one parameter, there are problems when I'm trying to sweep over two parameters. The problem comes from the method I'm using to detect whether I've moved to the next set of parameter values. Here's an example of switching from one parameter to the next:
Run, Tick, numSoldiers, randomSeed, strengthBooster, numGreens, numMagentas, winnerOrLoser.
99,120.0,25,1218306701906,0,0.0,8.0,1.0
100,448.0,25,1218306701953,0,0.0,1.0,1.0
101,69.0,50,1218306702015,0,7.0,0.0,0.0
102,514.0,50,1218306702062,0,0.0,1.0,1.0
The third number (numSoldiers) is input; see where it switches from 25 to 50? My method can tell I've moved to the next parameter of 50 instead of 25 when I'm generating output, no problem. Here's right where the problem happens:
1599,176.0,400,1218306810437,0,0.0,7.0,1.0
1600,601.0,400,1218306810515,0,0.0,1.0,1.0
1601,151.0,25,1218306810609,0.5,0.0,2.0,1.0
1602,437.0,25,1218306810656,0.5,0.0,1.0,1.0
See, that fifth number (strengthBooster) is ALSO input, not output. I've moved from an input of 400 (third value) and 0 (fifth value) to inputs of 25 and 0.5. I'm having problems structuring a method that can tell when EITHER of those two parameters have changed (which means that some other methods in the class get executed to calculate averages and write data to a text file, etc, etc.). Here's the method I'm using:
     public void checkTheParameterSweep () {
          lineStorage = new ArrayList <String>();//initializes the main storage for the data.
          sendMe = new ArrayList <Double>();
          for(int k = 0; k < (soldierColumnList.size() - 1); k++) {//for every element in soldier column list,
               sendMe = checkerList.get(k); //go get the checker arraylist out of the master list that corresponds to this index,
               double g = soldierColumnList.get(k);//get the k'th element and cast it to a double.
               if (soldierColumnList.get(k + 1) != null) {//if we're not at the last line,
                    double h = soldierColumnList.get(k + 1);//get the k + 1 element and cast it to a double.
                    if (h > g) {//if the second double is larger than the first (we've switched parameters)
                         executeMeAfterAParameterSweep();
                    else {//if we haven't changed parameters,
                         processARowIntoArrayLists(sendMe);//and send it to be processed.
               else if (soldierColumnList.get(k + 1) == null) {//we're at the last line.
                    executeMeAtTheEndOfTheLists();
               else {
                    System.out.println("There's something wrong here.");
          for(int b = 0; k < (strengthBoosterList.size() - 1); k++) {//for every element in strength booster list,
               sendMe = checkerList.get(b); //go get the checker arraylist out of the master list that corresponds to this index,
               double f = strengthBoosterList.get(b);//get the k'th element and cast it to a double.
               if (strengthBoosterList.get(b+ 1) != null) {//if we're not at the last line,
                    double h = strengthBoosterList.get(b + 1);//get the k + 1 element and cast it to a double.
                    if (h > f) {//if the second double is larger than the first (we've switched parameters)
                         executeMeAfterAParameterSweep();
                    else {//if we haven't changed parameters,
                         processARowIntoArrayLists(sendMe);//and send it to be processed.
               else if (strengthBoosterList.get(k + 1) == null) {//we're at the last line.
                    executeMeAtTheEndOfTheLists();
               else {
                    System.out.println("There's something wrong here.");
     } I need EITHER of those two for loops to work, and I'm not sure how to get them to do so. If I comment out one of the for loops, the output works just fine for either of the two parameters, but not at the same time. What do I do? (Also, suggestions on how to make my code more elegant are very welcome;-)

Answer 1

I wold suggest something more object oriented and modular, along the lines ofpublic class Something {
   private int numSoldiers;
   private int strengthBooster;
   private boolean somethingNeedsToBeDone = false;
   public void checkTheParameterSweep() {
      int paramNumSoldiers = 0;
      int paramStrengthBooster = 0;
      // get the parameters from soldierColumnList
      setNumSoldiers(paramNumSoldiers);
      setStrengthBooster(paramStrengthBooster);
      if (somethingNeedsToBeDone) {
         doSomething();
   public void setNumSoldiers(int numSoldiers) {
      if (this.numSoldiers != numSoldiers && !somethingNeedsToBeDone) {
         this.numSoldiers = numSoldiers;
         somethingNeedsToBeDone = true;
   public void setStrengthBooster(int strengthBooster) {
      if (this.strengthBooster != strengthBooster && !somethingNeedsToBeDone) {
         this.strengthBooster = strengthBooster;
         somethingNeedsToBeDone = true;
   private void doSomething() {
      // do whatever
      somethingNeedsToBeDone = false;
}db