Need to Convert Array Output to String Outside of a For Loop

Question

I'm trying to practice with arrays in prep for my Java SE 11 test and I need help getting my random name generator to work. Right now, I'm not concerned about the name being "valid" (a truly random name like Xvtwg is fine).

I have built a loop where a random value between 3 and 10 is generated (length of name) and then a random index between 0 and 25 is chosen for each loop pass to grab a random letter of the alphabet. All of this works, and I am able to take the output array from the loop and turn it into a concatenated string in the loop. The problem occurs later when I need to call the local variable nameFinal as a value for the set function.

I have tried to declare the output string both inside and outside the loop but both ways I return "nameFinal cannot be resolved to a variable." I have also tried moving my output array outside of the loop (and redefining its output), but return the same variable."

I added in a try/catch block to try to illustrate this issue better. Here is my code:

public class Tester {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        //Build random values
        Random rand = new Random();
        
        //Name random index 3-10 char
        int nmax = 10;
        int nmin = 3;
        int rand1 = (int)(Math.random() * (nmax - nmin + 1) + nmin);
        //Create random name from total number of letters
        //Define Array of letters
        String[] letters = {"a","b","c","d","e","f","g","h","i","j","k","l","m","n","o","p","q","r","s","t","u","v","w","x","y","z"};
        //Create random index to pull a random letter over the length of the random index
        int lmax = 25;
        int lmin = 0;
        //I have also tried declaring newName and nameFinal here
        for(int i = 0; i <= rand1; i++) {
            int randl = (int)(Math.random() * (lmax - lmin + 1) + lmin);
            String[] newName;
            newName[i] = letters[i];
            String nameFinal = Arrays.toString(newName);
        }
        //Concatenate array of random letters into a "name"
        try{
            String nameFinal = Arrays.toString(newName);
            System.out.println(nameFinal);
        }catch(Exception e) {
            e.PrintStackTrace()
        }
        //Implementation omitted
    }
}

Answer 1

I have changed your code a bit. Hope this will help you!

public static void main(String[] args) {
    //Build random values
    Random rand = new Random();
    Test test = new Test();
    test.randomName();
    test.createAge();
    test.createSSN();
}

//Name random index 3-10 char
public void randomName() {
    int nmax = 10;
    int nmin = 3;
    int rand1 = (int)(Math.random() * (nmax - nmin + 1) + nmin);
    //Create random name from total number of letters
    //Define Array of letters
    String[] letters = {"a","b","c","d","e","f","g","h","i","j","k","l","m","n","o","p","q","r","s","t","u","v","w","x","y","z"};

    //Create random index to pull a random letter over the length of the random index
    int lmax = 25;
    int lmin = 0;

    ArrayList<String> name = new ArrayList<>(5);
    for(int i = 0; i <= rand1; i++) {
        int randl = (int)(Math.random() * (lmax - lmin + 1) + lmin);
        name.add(letters[rand1]);
    }
    System.out.println(name.toString());
}

//Age random number between 1 and 100
private void createAge(){
    int amax = 100;
    int amin = 1;
    int rand2 = (int)(Math.random() * (amax - amin + 1) + amin);
}

//SSN random 9 digit number
private void createSSN(){
    int smax = 999999999;
    int smin = 100000000;
    int rand3 = (int)(Math.random() * (smax - smin + 1) + smin);
}
   
}