Lab: Experimenting with Exception Handling

Instructions:Omitted

Getting Ready:Omitted

1. A Simple Example: This part of the lab considers a simple example of exception handling.

Open Example1.java in the editor (e.g. jGrasp).
Compile and execute the application Example1.
What was output by the application when you executed it?
```
The answer is: 2
Done.
```
Change the value of denominator to 0.
Re-compile and re-execute Example1.

What "error" was generated by the application when you executed it?

Exception in thread "main" java.lang.ArithmeticException: / by zero
        at Example1.main(Example1.java:11)

Why was this "error" generated at run-time (rather than at compile-time)?
The compiler can not find errors that result from variables being assigned particular values (since the assignments do not take place until run time).
Add a try-catch statement. Specifically, put only the statement that generated the exception inside of the try block and put no statments in the catch block. (Hint: You should be able to determine what exception to catch and what line generated the exception from the error message that you received during the previous step.)
Re-compile Example1.
What error is generated and why?
```
Example.java:17: variable ratio might not have been initialized
            System.out.println("The answer is: "+ratio);
                                                 ^
```
This error is generated because ratio is initialized in the try block and this assignment will not take place if an exception is thrown before the assignment can be completed.
Move the "output statement" into the try block (as well).
Add the statement System.out.println("Divide by 0."); to the catch block.
Re-compile and re-execute Example1.
What output was generated?
```
Divide by 0.
Done.    
```
Add a call to the printStackTrace() method of the ArithmeticException to the end of the catch block.
Re-compile and re-execute Example1.

What output was generated?

Divide by 0.
java.lang.ArithmeticException: / by zero
        at Example.main(Example.java:13)
Done.

Did the application execute properly or not?
Yes it did. An ArithmeticException was thrown when the division was attempted but it was caught. After it was caught some messages were printed and then the application terminated.

2. A More Complicated Example: This part of the lab considers an example of exception handling within and outside of block statements.

Open Example2.java in the editor (e.g. jGrasp). (Note: Different editors handle tabs/spaces differently. As a result, you may need to fix the indentation of files created by other people. In jGrasp you can do this by first generating a Control Structure Diagram (F2) and then removing the CSD (Shift-F2).)
Compile Example2.

What error was generated?

Example.java:20: variable i might not have been initialized
                               numbers[i]+"/"+numbers[i+1]);
                                       ^

Initialize i to 0 inside of the try block (but before the for loop).
Compile Example2.

What error was generated?

Example.java:21: variable i might not have been initialized
                               numbers[i]+"/"+numbers[i+1]);
                                       ^

It is not possible for i to be used before it is initialized. Why is this error generated anyway? (Hint: Think about block statements.)
The try block is treated as a single (block) statement. This block statement may throw an exception causing the catch block to be entered before the assignment is completed.
Move the initialization of i before the try block.
Compile and execute Example2.
What output is generated?
```
100/10=10
Couldn't calculate 10/0
```
Why aren't all of the divisions even attempted?
During iteration 1 of the loop an exception is thrown. When this happens control leaves the try block and enters the catch block. Control then leaves the catch block and then leaves main which causes the application to terminate.

Fix Example2 so that it executes properly. (Hint: Move the try-catch block inside of the for block.) What did you change?

public class Example2
{
    public static void main(String[] args)
    {
	int        i, ratio;
	int[]      numbers = {100,10,0,5,2,8,0,30};

		
	for (i=0; i < numbers.length-1; i++)
        {		
	    try
            {
		ratio = numbers[i] / numbers[i+1];
		System.out.println(numbers[i]+"/"+numbers[i+1]+"="+ratio);
            }
	    catch (ArithmeticException ae)
            }
		System.out.println("Couldn't calculate "+
				   numbers[i]+"/"+numbers[i+1]);
	    }
	}
    }
}

3. An Inappropriate Use of Exception Handling: This part of the lab considers an inappropriate use of exception handling and how to "fix" it.

Compile and execute Example3 and verify that it outputs all of the values followed by the word "Done".

Modify Example3 so that it loops "properly" and does not need to use a try-catch statement. (Note: The output should not change.) What did you change?

public class Example3
{
    public static void main(String[] args)
    {
	int              i;
	int[]            data = {50, 320, 97, 12, 2000};


	for (i=0; i < data.length; i++)
        {
	    System.out.println(data[i]);
	}
    }
}

4. Some Other Exceptions: This part of the lab will give you some experience with some other exceptions, where they arise, and how they can be used.

What functionality does a StringTokenizer object provide?
It can be used to break a String into component parts, called tokens.
What are the three formal parameters of the explicit value constructor in the StringTokenizer class?
The String that is going to be tokenized, the delimiters to use while tokenizing, and whether or not the delimiters should be returned as tokens.
Compile Example4.java.
Execute Example4 as follows: java Example4 5.3+9.2.
What output is generated?
Result: 14.5
Execute Example4 as follows: java Example4 5.3+.
What output is generated?
Invalid syntax
Why? In particular, what exception is thrown and why?
A NoSuchElementException is thrown by the statement rightString = tokenizer.nextToken();
Execute Example4 as follows: java Example4 5.3+a.
What output is generated?
One or more operands is not a number
Why? In particular, what exception is thrown and why?
A NumberFormatException is thrown by the statement rightOperand = Double.parseDouble(rightString);

5. Programming Practice After the Lab: Here are some small assignments that you can complete (on your own time) to get more practice.

Modify Example4.java so that it supports addition (+), subtraction (-), multiplication (*), and division (/).
Modify Example4.java so that it processes all of the command line arguments rather than just args[0]. (Your program should treat each command line argument as a different expression to evaluate. So, for example, it should be able to be executed as follows: java Example4 5.0+4.1 3.2*9.1.
Modify Example4.java so that it tells you which operand is not a number. (Hint: You may need to use nested try-catch blocks.) when