save input from web form to a .dat file

[Nancy.Nicole]

I'm trying to get the input from the user to a .dat file that I can
sort, read, etc. internally. However, I am having problems with
DataAccessor.load() --> It throws an exception...perhaps part of the
problem?

Here is the method from the class that is the applet:

public int save(String agency, String producer, String insured, String
effectiveDate, String G, int territory, int GSlim, int GSLpayroll,
String GKLLtype, int vehLim, int GKlim, int GKdeduct, String
MPcoverage, int MPlimit, String form, int protcls, String construct,
String replacement, int BLim, int BCim)
{
QuoteEntry onlineEntry = new QuoteEntry();
int quoteNumb = 0;
try{
entryList = DataAccessor.load();
} catch(Exception e) {
EntrySorter entryList = new EntrySorter();
} // end tryentryList = DataAccess.load();

quoteNumb = entryList.sortByQuoteNum();
quoteNumb = quoteNumb + 1;
onlineEntry.insured = insured;
onlineEntry.quoteNum = String.valueOf(quoteNumber);
onlineEntry.effectiveDate = effectiveDate;
onlineEntry.producerID = producer;
onlineEntry.agency = agency;
onlineEntry.state = G;
onlineEntry.territory = String.valueOf(territory);
onlineEntry.gkllSelect = GKLLtype;
onlineEntry.gkllDeduct = String.valueOf(GKdeduct);
onlineEntry.gkllLimit = String.valueOf(GKlim);
onlineEntry.gkllVehLimit = String.valueOf(vehLim);
onlineEntry.gslPayroll = String.valueOf(GSLpayroll);
onlineEntry.gslLimit = String.valueOf(GSlim);
onlineEntry.mpSelect = MPcoverage;
onlineEntry.mpLimit = String.valueOf(MPlimit);
onlineEntry.propReplacement = replacement;
onlineEntry.construct = construct;
onlineEntry.propForm = form;
onlineEntry.protectClass = String.valueOf(protcls);
onlineEntry.blLimit = String.valueOf(BLim);
onlineEntry.bcLimit = String.valueOf(BCim);
StringTokenizer tok = new StringTokenizer(note.getText(), "\n");
for(int i=0; i < QuoteEntry.maxNotes; i++){
onlineEntry.notes = "";
} // end for
try{
while(tok.hasMoreTokens()){
onlineEntry.notes[counter++] = tok.nextToken();
}
} catch(ArrayIndexOutOfBoundsException e){
quoteNumb = -1;
}
entryList.addElement(onlineEntry);
try {
DataAccessor.save(entryList);
} catch(Exception e) {
quoteNumb = 0;
}
try{
entryList = DataAccessor.load();
} catch(Exception e) {
EntrySorter entryList = new EntrySorter();
} // end tryentryList

return quoteNumb;
} // end save

and the DataAccessor class:
class DataAccessor{
static String file = "data.dat";
public static EntrySorter load()throws IOException{
boolean empty = true;
String line;
EntrySorter entryList = new EntrySorter();
try{
BufferedReader input = new BufferedReader(new
FileReader(file));
while((line = input.readLine()) !=null && line.length() !=
0){
empty = false;
int counter = 0;
QuoteEntry entry = new QuoteEntry();
EntryTokenizer dt = new EntryTokenizer(line);
entry.quoteNum = dt.nextToken();
entry.insured = dt.nextToken();
entry.effectiveDate = dt.nextToken();
entry.producerID = dt.nextToken();
entry.agency = dt.nextToken();
entry.state = dt.nextToken();
entry.territory = dt.nextToken();
entry.gkllSelect = dt.nextToken();
entry.gkllDeduct = dt.nextToken();
entry.gkllLimit = dt.nextToken();
entry.gkllVehLimit = dt.nextToken();
entry.gslPayroll = dt.nextToken();
entry.gslLimit = dt.nextToken();
entry.mpSelect = dt.nextToken();
entry.mpLimit = dt.nextToken();
entry.propReplacement = dt.nextToken();
entry.construct = dt.nextToken();
entry.propForm = dt.nextToken();
entry.protectClass = dt.nextToken();
entry.blLimit = dt.nextToken();
entry.bcLimit = dt.nextToken();
entry.CID = dt.nextToken();
input.readLine();
while(!(line = input.readLine()).equals("$$")){
entry.notes[counter++] = line;
}
entryList.addElement(entry);
}
input.close();
}
catch(FileNotFoundException e){
new File(file).createNewFile();
return null;
}
if(empty)
return null;
return entryList;
}

public static void save(EntrySorter entryList)throws IOException{
FileWriter fw = new FileWriter(file);
BufferedWriter bw = new BufferedWriter(fw);
PrintWriter outFile = new PrintWriter(bw);
for(int i=0; i < entryList.size(); i++){
QuoteEntry entry = (QuoteEntry) entryList.elementAt(i);
outFile.print("*" + entry.quoteNum);
outFile.print("~*");
outFile.print(entry.insured);
outFile.print("~*");
outFile.print(entry.effectiveDate);
outFile.print("~*");
outFile.print(entry.producerID);
outFile.print("~*");
outFile.print(entry.agency);
outFile.print("~*");
outFile.print(entry.state);
outFile.print("~*");
outFile.print(entry.territory);
outFile.print("~*");
outFile.print(entry.gkllSelect);
outFile.print("~*");
outFile.print(entry.gkllDeduct);
outFile.print("~*");
outFile.print(entry.gkllLimit);
outFile.print("~*");
outFile.print(entry.gkllVehLimit);
outFile.print("~*");
outFile.print(entry.gslPayroll);
outFile.print("~*");
outFile.print(entry.gslLimit);
outFile.print("~*");
outFile.print(entry.mpSelect);
outFile.print("~*");
outFile.print(entry.mpLimit);
outFile.print("~*");
outFile.print(entry.propReplacement);
outFile.print("~*");
outFile.print(entry.construct);
outFile.print("~*");
outFile.print(entry.propForm);
outFile.print("~*");
outFile.print(entry.protectClass);
outFile.print("~*");
outFile.print(entry.blLimit);
outFile.print("~*");
outFile.print(entry.bcLimit);
outFile.print("~*");
outFile.print(entry.CID);
outFile.println();
outFile.println("$$");
for(int j=0; j < QuoteEntry.maxNotes; j++){
if(entry.notes[j] != ""){
outFile.println(entry.notes[j]);
}
}
outFile.println("$$");
}
outFile.close();
}
}


Do you know what the problem is? I really need to figure this out and I
just can't seem to.

Thanks!

 

[Andrew Thompson]

I'm trying to get the input from the user to a .dat file that I can
sort, read, etc. internally. However, I am having problems with
DataAccessor.load() --> It throws an exception...

...What exception?
A CodeIsFormingAnIndependentRepublicException exception?
Something else**, perhaps?

...perhaps part of the problem?

Exceptions, especially ones that cannot be readily
explained, often are part of the problem.

Here is the method from the class that is the applet:

Is your applet signed?

public int save(String agency, String producer, String insured, String

I will trim most of your 180 lines of code snippets*,
to point out that any applet that performs actions
that require 'trust' will fail in an unsigned applet.

public static void save(EntrySorter entryList)throws IOException{
FileWriter fw = new FileWriter(file); ...

Do you know what the problem is? I really need to figure this out and I
just can't seem to.

...and getting access to writing a file on the end user's
machine is something that is only accessible to a
'trusted' applet. That applet gains this by being signed
and accepted by the user.

* As an aside, please refrain from posting 180 lines of
code snippets. Code snippets are usually not that helpful
in solving code problems (I am simply making random
guesses about a very common problem).

Further, it rarely requires 180 lines of code to express
a problem. I note that in line after line of your posted
snippets, there were very similar code - did you try
trimming or commenting entire sections of that code
to confrim that the problem perstisted?

Much more effective for communicating a problem
(and shorter, in this instance) would be an SSCCE,
for more explanantion and tips, read here..
<http://www.physci.org/codes/sscce/>

Just before I forget, there are a lot of places in the
code where it catch's an Exception but proceeds
processing. I suggest you change any code like..

try {
....do stuff
} catch(Exception e) {
...do other stuff
}

To..

try {
....do stuff
} catch(Exception e) {
e.printStackTrace();
...do other stuff
}

** Then it should be possible to give us more details
on those exceptions. ;-)

HTH

Andrew T.

 

[Nancy.Nicole]

..What exception?
* As an aside, please refrain from posting 180 lines of
code snippets. Code snippets are usually not that helpful
in solving code problems (I am simply making random
guesses about a very common problem).

Uh, an IOException which was in my code...part of why I posted it.

..and getting access to writing a file on the end user's
machine is something that is only accessible to a
'trusted' applet. That applet gains this by being signed
and accepted by the user.

I am not attempting to read a file on the user's machine; I want
to read a file located on my server.

did you try
trimming or commenting entire sections of that code
to confrim that the problem perstisted?

Of course. I know that I can read the file...but when I sort it,
the program dies. What's weird is that I can perform the same function
from a separate class and it works perfectly.

Other than that; I've never done this before....

 

[Oliver Wong]

Uh, an IOException which was in my code...part of why I posted it.


I am not attempting to read a file on the user's machine; I want
to read a file located on my server.

Is your data accessor class running on the client or the server?

if (on the client) {
You'll need to provide an URL that the client can connect to to download
the file.
} else {
You'll need to provide a way for the client to connect to your data
accessor to get the info it wants.
}

- Oliver

 

[Nancy.Nicole]

Is your data accessor class running on the client or the server?

if (on the client) {
You'll need to provide an URL that the client can connect to to download
the file.
} else {
You'll need to provide a way for the client to connect to your data
accessor to get the info it wants.
}

- Oliver

It is running on my server. I call the file from DataAccessor. Also, I
have now included the full path to the file, but it still doesn't
work...

class DataAccessor{
static String file = "L\\public\\Garage\\data.dat";
......}

Shouldn't my class be trying to find this filepath on my server?

Thanks!

 

[Oliver Wong]

It is running on my server. I call the file from DataAccessor. Also, I
have now included the full path to the file, but it still doesn't
work...

class DataAccessor{
static String file = "L\\public\\Garage\\data.dat";
.....}

Shouldn't my class be trying to find this filepath on my server?

Assuming "my class" refers to DataAccessor, and assuming it's running on
the server, yes. (I'm not sure what OS would recognize the "L" prefix
though).

However there's still the question of how the client gains the ability
to communicate with this class. Sockets? HTTP? Something else?

- Oliver

 

[Nancy.Nicole]

Assuming "my class" refers to DataAccessor, and assuming it's running on
the server, yes. (I'm not sure what OS would recognize the "L" prefix
though).

However there's still the question of how the client gains the ability
to communicate with this class. Sockets? HTTP? Something else?

- Oliver

My applet is running inside of a web page. The information gathered
from the user should be saving to the .dat file. If I run a separate
program (that performs the same functions) internally, the data is
saved. However, from the web page it is not captured.

 

[Oliver Wong]

My applet is running inside of a web page. The information gathered
from the user should be saving to the .dat file. If I run a separate
program (that performs the same functions) internally, the data is
saved. However, from the web page it is not captured.

Applets are run on the client machine, not the server. If you want the
applet running on the client machine to be able to access the file on the
server, you need to provide access to that file somehow. If you're doing
read-only, the easiest way is to server that file over HTTP.

- Oliver

 

[Nancy.Nicole]

Applets are run on the client machine, not the server. If you want the
applet running on the client machine to be able to access the file on the
server, you need to provide access to that file somehow. If you're doing
read-only, the easiest way is to server that file over HTTP.

- Oliver

I need to be able to write to the file using the data from the applet.
If I publish the file so that I can call it from a web browser, will I
be able to write to it?

 

[Andrew Thompson]

...
I need to be able to write to the file using the data from the applet.
If I publish the file so that I can call it from a web browser, will I
be able to write to it?

That would require some help from an application on the server.
The applet sends data to the server pogram, which writes the file.

Andrew T.

 

[Nancy.Nicole]

That would require some help from an application on the server.
The applet sends data to the server pogram, which writes the file.

Andrew T.

Hmm... I actually started out doing something like that. See I have an
internal database interface that I wrote so that the input I'm getting
online could be modified and such. I originally tried to send my data
to that program and write it from there and I wasn't doing it right I
guess. Can I just call that program and method such as Class.Method()?
That's what I was doing but my program would still die at that point.

Thanks.

 

[Andrew Thompson]

.....
Hmm... I actually started out doing something like that. See I have an
internal database interface that I wrote so that the input I'm getting
online could be modified and such. I originally tried to send my data
to that program and write it from there and I wasn't doing it right I
guess. Can I just call that program and method such as Class.Method()?
That's what I was doing but my program would still die at that point.

The applet cannot 'just call' methods in the application
that exists on the server, if that is what you mean.

The server application requires some form of public
interface that the applet accesses. It might be as simple
as the applet encoding the data in the URL parameters and
calling a particular servlet or PHP script.

OTOH, allowing 'the public' to update infromation on your
server is a dangerous proposition - will this applet be
available on the big bad internet, or a nice 'safe' little intranet?

Andrew T.

 

[Nancy.Nicole]

OTOH, allowing 'the public' to update infromation on your
server is a dangerous proposition - will this applet be
available on the big bad internet, or a nice 'safe' little intranet?

Andrew T.

Well, my applet is a quoting system. Agents will be able to log in on a
secure site and get a quote for their customers. I want the quote to be
saved to a database so that the underwriters at my company can see the
quote for reference (it's a liability thing). On the internal side, my
underwriters have an interface where they can add quotes, delete
quotes, and modify quotes with notes and such. What I originally did
was send the data from the quote that the agent got and sent that data
to the internal interface. My internal interface has about 4
subclasses, one of which it calls to save the file each time the
interface is opened. I originally sent the online data to that
interface and attempted to save the quote in the same manner as one of
my internal underwriters would input a quote.

Does that make any sense?

 

[Oliver Wong]

Well, my applet is a quoting system. Agents will be able to log in on a
secure site and get a quote for their customers. I want the quote to be
saved to a database so that the underwriters at my company can see the
quote for reference (it's a liability thing). On the internal side, my
underwriters have an interface where they can add quotes, delete
quotes, and modify quotes with notes and such. What I originally did
was send the data from the quote that the agent got and sent that data
to the internal interface. My internal interface has about 4
subclasses, one of which it calls to save the file each time the
interface is opened. I originally sent the online data to that
interface and attempted to save the quote in the same manner as one of
my internal underwriters would input a quote.

Does that make any sense?

Security isn't easy to get right. If this is for a "real" business, and
if you're not quite sure what you're doing, you should strongly consider
hiring a consultant or another developer. Otherwise, you risk allowing the
public unfettered access to all your business internals.

- Oliver

 

[Nancy.Nicole]

I think what I need to do is create an instance of my AddressBook class
in order to sort from it. However, the constructor for AddressBook
throws an IOException. If I call the following:

Method save() throws Exception
{
quoteNumber = AddressBook.methodThatThrowsException();
}

I get errors because ActionPerformed() calls save() and apparently
ActionPerformed can not throw an Exception.

If I use
Try{
AddressBook ab = new AddressBook();
} catch(Exception e){
// do something here
}

It always falls to the catch and my instance is never created.
How do I get around this? Is this the way to solve?

 

[Oliver Wong]

I think what I need to do is create an instance of my AddressBook class
in order to sort from it. However, the constructor for AddressBook
throws an IOException. If I call the following:

Method save() throws Exception
{
quoteNumber = AddressBook.methodThatThrowsException();
}

I get errors because ActionPerformed() calls save() and apparently
ActionPerformed can not throw an Exception.

If I use
Try{
AddressBook ab = new AddressBook();
} catch(Exception e){
// do something here
}

It always falls to the catch and my instance is never created.
How do I get around this? Is this the way to solve?

The solution depends on which exception is being thrown.

Read http://java.sun.com/docs/books/tutorial/essential/exceptions/

- Oliver

 

[Nancy.Nicole]

The solution depends on which exception is being thrown.

Read http://java.sun.com/docs/books/tutorial/essential/exceptions/

- Oliver

Thanks. It throws an IOException

 

[Nancy.Nicole]

Okay, I think I've found the problem. My applet class tries to send the
data to my interface class. The interface class can work independently
and can save, modify and delete entries. However, if I try to save data
from the applet (passing as parameters to the interface), the program
dies. If I create an instance of my interface class (which is what I am
doing when I am working with it independently), my program should
work....I think. However, when I try to create an instance of my
interface from my applet (i.e. DataClass dc = new DataClass()), I have
a problem. DataClass() the constructor throws an IOException.

If I use try{}catch(){}, it always falls to catch and if I try to throw
an IOException on the method that creates an instance of DataClass(),
ActionPerformed yells. ActionPerformed calls getQuote()throws Exception
which calls DataClass()throws Exception. ActionPerformed cannot throw
exceptions.... How in the world am I supposed to fix this? I tried to
read the guide Oliver suggested, but I don't think I'm quite
understanding...

Thanks!

 

[Oliver Wong]

Okay, I think I've found the problem. My applet class tries to send the
data to my interface class. The interface class can work independently
and can save, modify and delete entries. However, if I try to save data
from the applet (passing as parameters to the interface), the program
dies. If I create an instance of my interface class (which is what I am
doing when I am working with it independently), my program should
work....I think. However, when I try to create an instance of my
interface from my applet (i.e. DataClass dc = new DataClass()), I have
a problem. DataClass() the constructor throws an IOException.

If I use try{}catch(){}, it always falls to catch and if I try to throw
an IOException on the method that creates an instance of DataClass(),
ActionPerformed yells. ActionPerformed calls getQuote()throws Exception
which calls DataClass()throws Exception. ActionPerformed cannot throw
exceptions.... How in the world am I supposed to fix this? I tried to
read the guide Oliver suggested, but I don't think I'm quite
understanding...

The root problem is that code running on the client's machine cannot
directly invoke the methods of an object running on the server's machine.
You have to provide some sort of webservice via PHP or JSP, or create a
client/server architecture via sockets or RMI.

- Oliver

 

[Nancy.Nicole]

The root problem is that code running on the client's machine cannot
directly invoke the methods of an object running on the server's machine.
You have to provide some sort of webservice via PHP or JSP, or create a
client/server architecture via sockets or RMI.

- Oliver

Ohhh... Thank you very much for your help, Oliver. I hate to be such a
pain, but I'm a computer science student and I've really gone above my
level of expertise in the internship I've got here. Do you know where I
could learn about PHP, JSP or the such so that I may fix this? I don't
know much about the networking side...

Thank you so much. You have been worlds of help.