Returning first digit of numbers with charAt

[penguinbob31]

I'm writing a program that is supposed to take the first digit of every number in a list of numbers and count how many times each first digit appears. I can't seem to get the program to work properly. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

import java.io.*;
import java.util.Scanner;
 
public class benford
{
	public static void main(String[]args)throws IOException
	{
		String number;
		Scanner keyboard = new Scanner(System.in);
		System.out.print("Enter the name of the file: ");
		String filename = keyboard.nextLine();
		File file = new File(filename);
		Scanner inputFile = new Scanner(file);
		while (inputFile.hasNext())
		{
			number = inputFile.nextLine();
			firstDigit(number);
		}
		System.exit(0);
	}
	public static String firstDigit(String number)
	{
		int count = 0;
		int one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine;
		switch(number.charAt(0))
		{
			case '1':
						one = count + 1;
						break;
			case '2':
						two = count + 1;
						break;
			case '3':
						three = count + 1;
						break;
			case '4':
						four = count + 1;
						break;
			case '5':
						five = count + 1;
						break;
			case '6':
						six = count + 1;
						break;
			case '7':
						seven = count + 1;
						break;
			case '8':
						eight = count + 1;
						break;
			case '9':
						nine = count + 1;
						break;
		}
		System.out.println("1: " + one);
		System.out.println("2: " + two);
		System.out.println("3: " + three);
		System.out.println("4: " + four);
		System.out.println("5: " + five);
		System.out.println("6: " + six);
		System.out.println("7: " + seven);
		System.out.println("8: " + eight);
		System.out.println("9: " + nine);
		return number;
	}	
}

[r035198x]

Do this in small steps.
First you need to get the first character in a variable.
Then you need to loop through the string counting the occurences of that character.

[JosAH]

Do this in small steps.
First you need to get the first character in a variable.
Then you need to loop through the string counting the occurences of that character.

The question is ambiguous; given this part: "count how many times each first
digit appears" the OP has to add a bit such as:

- as a first digit (the OP's interpretation)
- as a digit in the number(s) (your interpretation) .

kind regards,

Jos