Case Expressions must be Constant expressions

Fruity_Grebbles123

So I get this error: "case expressions must be constant expressions" When I run this code:

    switch(int(character)) {
      case int("a"):
      case int("A"):

I'm converting the strings to primitives, why doesn't it work in the switch/case format?

Fruity_Grebbles123

Not the full code btw. I know it's a snippet.

koogs

case 'a':
case 'A':

should work.

you've got a method where it's expecting a constant. it needs to know the value at compile time but it can't if this is a method (even a simple one like int())

(int(i) is a processing method for casting a value, the java equiv would be (int)i. i've never liked this.)

GoToLoop

int() is a Processing's function. While (int) is a native Java cast operator.

And as @koogs has mentioned above, Java gotta know the switch () expression at compile time! @-)
Java compiler won't run function int() at so early stage in order to statically establish the result as a known compiler literal! :P

Who knows some1 might invent an über Java compiler which can guess compiler constants outta some standard math functions.
Like sin(), sqrt(), round(), etc.! ^_^

I prefer the native operator for most primitive type conversions though.
However for more complex conversions, like String and whole arrays, we gotta use int()! :P

Fruity_Grebbles123

So, some of the strings I'm checking are multiple letters long. I looked at the reference for "int()", and it says it will convert strings to integers.

Fruity_Grebbles123

Well, I decided I'm just going to use an if/else if structure. For every letter of the alphabet... sigh...

GoToLoop

So, some of the strings I'm checking are multiple letters long.

You haven't hinted that your question was String related. We all thought it was char primitives?! :O)

Java 7+ accepts literal String constants for switch () / case : commands!
So there's no need to convert them. Just make sure their values can be determined at compile time! :-SS

PhiLho

"Well, I decided I'm just going to use an if/else if structure. For every letter of the alphabet... sigh..."
If you explain what is your problem, we probably can give a better (less typing!) solution...