CODEWITHSUNDEEP
javastringvariables
Stephen Cupp
Stephen Cupp

Reputation: 13

Java: Getting a variable name from a string

I have some variables defined like this.

public final static String pDrive = "\\\\fs-innova1\\projects\\";
public final static String hDrive = "\\\\fs-innova1\\hr-department\\";
public final static String iDrive = "\\\\fs-innova1\\innova\\";

Then later in my program I have a string that says "p:\blah\blah\blah" I would like to look at the first char in that string and call the variable like Char(0)+"Drive

Upvotes: 0

Views: 214

Answers (2)

user1633277
user1633277

Reputation: 510

It is impossible to name variables at runtime. Your best bet is to use a map.

Upvotes: 0

Jon Skeet
Jon Skeet

Reputation: 1500525

You should use a Map<String, String> instead:

private static final Map<String, String> DRIVE_MAPPINGS = new HashMap<>();

static {
    DRIVE_MAPPINGS.put("p", "\\\\fs-innova1\\projects\\");
    DRIVE_MAPPINGS.put("h", "\\\\fs-innova1\\hr-department\\");
    DRIVE_MAPPINGS.put("i", "\\\\fs-innova1\\innova\\");
}

Then use

String mapping = DRIVE_MAPPINGS.get(input.substring(0, 1));

(Alternatively, if you're really only ever going to want the key to be a single character, use a Map<Character, String> - it's the same idea.)

I would personally create an immutable map using Guava, but again the principle is the same - that would just make it obvious that you weren't going to change the contents of the map after construction.

Upvotes: 3

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