How do you validate a String to make the program continue or not?

**Cleo Millet** · Oct 25 '11, 02:32 AM

I'm not sure if this should be in two separate posts or not. So, I apologize ahead of time if this is the case. However, since I'm trying to do one thing here with two conflicting methods, I thought it should go together.

I'm trying to have a simple 'Do you want to continue?' question at the end of a program. However, I want to validate that information so there are no mistakes. I know there are a TON of ways of doing it - I've been googling it for a week now but most of the codes I've found either don't make any sense to me or simply don't work.

This is the "prototype" I've been working with. I can't figure out what's wrong with it.

Code:

		while (!choice.equalsIgnoreCase("y") && !choice.equalsIgnoreCase("n")) {
			System.out.println("Error.  Do you wish to continue? (y/n): ");
			choice = sc.next();
			System.out.println();
		}

I'd really rather not resort to a long if/else statement for this - although I have worked one out, except for on thing. I understand that it's not good coding practice to use BREAK to exit a program. How else would you do it though?

Code:

System.out.println("Do you want to continue? (y/n): ");
String choice2 = sc.next();
System.out.println();
				 
if (choice2.equals("y")) {
continue;
}
else if (choice2.equals("n")) {
break;
}
else {
System.out.println("Error. Create an Employee or a Customer (e / c): ");
}

Help?