Java For Loop - Change This “Class Variable”

Question

I am new to Java (and asking questions on this site.)and am trying to change the itemList variable from inputs.Items.itemlist1 every time the for loop runs from itemlist1 to itemList2 then itemList3 . Here is my code:

items.java

public class Items {

public static Object[][] itemList1 = new Object[][]{
    {"book", 12.49f, "BOOK"},
    {"Music CD", 14.99f, "OTHERS"},
    {"chocolate bar", 0.85f, "FOOD"},};
public static Object[][] itemList2 = new Object[][]{
    {"imported box of chocolates", 10.00f, "IMPORTED_FOOD"},
    {"imported bottle of perfume", 47.50f, "IMPORTED_OTHER"},};
public static Object[][] itemList3 = new Object[][]{
    {"imported bottle of perfume", 27.99f, "IMPORTED_OTHER"},
    {"bottle of perfume", 18.99f, "OTHERS"},
    {"packet of headache pills", 9.75f, "MEDICAL"},
    {"box of imported chocolates", 11.25f, "IMPORTED_FOOD"}
};

public static Object[] possibleListLength = new Object[]{itemList1.length, itemList2.length, itemList3.length};
public static Object[] possibleList = new Object[][]{itemList1, itemList2, itemList3};

}

DetermineItem.java

package tax;
import java.util.Arrays;
import java.util.ArrayList;
public class DetermineItem {
    public static String itemPriceString = "";
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        //System.out.println(Arrays.deepToString(inputs.Items.itemList1));
        Object arrayLength = inputs.Items.possibleList.length;
        int arrayLengthInt = (Integer) arrayLength + 1;
        for (int j = 1; j < 4; j++) {
            System.out.println("Output " + j + ":");
            for (int i = 0; i < arrayLengthInt; i++) {
                Object[][] itemList = inputs.Items.itemList1;
                Object itemTypeObject = itemList[i][2];
                String itemTypeString = itemTypeObject.toString();
                if (itemTypeString.equals("BOOK") || itemTypeString.equals("FOOD") || itemTypeString.equals("MEDICAL")) {
                    System.out.println("1 " + itemList[i][0] + ": " + itemList[i][1]);
                } else if (itemTypeString.equals("IMPORTED_FOOD") || itemTypeString.equals("IMPORTED_OTHER")) {
                    Object itemPriceObject = itemList[i][1];
                    itemPriceString = itemPriceObject.toString();
                    CalculateImportTax.calculateImportTax();
                    System.out.println("1 " + itemList[i][0] + ": " + CalculateImportTax.price);
                } else {
                    Object itemPriceObject = itemList[i][1];
                    itemPriceString = itemPriceObject.toString();
                    CalculateSalesTax.calculateTax();
                    System.out.println("1 " + itemList[i][0] + ": " + CalculateSalesTax.price);
                }
            }
        }
    }
}

Thanks.

Answer 1

This is what methods are for. In outline, and with poorly-chosen method naming (!),

    private void doOneList(Object[][] itemList) {
        for (int j=1; j<4; j++) {
           ... do stuff with itemList ...
        }
     }

and then in main

    doOneList(itemList1);
    doOneList(itemList2);
    doOneList(itemList3);

I underscore my comment that this is not an off-the-shelf solution, it's just a sketch of how to proceed.

For what it's worth, I'd define a more specific type than arrays of 'Object'. Something like:

 static class Item {
     String description;
     Double tax;
     String type;
 }

and then use a single-dimensional Item[]