Java method call gives syntax error

Question

Eclipse claims I have a syntax error in my call to a method on an object (quarterOneBudget). I don't understand what makes it say "Syntax error on token 'addCategory', Identifer expected after this token."

public class BudgetSpreadSheetTest {
    // Create a new spreadsheet and add some budget categories.
    BudgetSpreadSheet quarterOneBudget = new BudgetSpreadSheet();
    quarterOneBudget.addCategory();
    quarterOneBudget.addCategory();

}

It seems to me like my method call is just fine. I have defined "addCategory" in my BudgetSpreadSheet as follows.

public void addCategory(){
    // Create a new category
    BudgetCategory category = new BudgetCategory();

    // Add it to the array list
    categories.add(category);

    // Update the distribution chart
    this.distributionChart.addItem(category.getName(), category.getSpent());
}

Does anybody see why I am getting the syntax error?

Answer 1

You're trying to make those calls to addCategory() directly inside a class, instead of in a method within the class. You need to put that code either in a method or in an initializer block.