hi all

I cant seem to find any syntax to allow searching or sorting in multidimensional arrays. I have a [4][5] array that i need to sort and then binary search to return an index position for any one element. On the sun website the binary search reference shows a single int[] as an argument but there is no mention of multidimensions.

thanks

why not use a map instead? it's basically a binary tree using keys.

Well, multidimensional arrays are simply arrays inside arrays. So if you got it for the one dimensional array then should be able to easily modify it for the multidimensional arrary.

good idea for the map but i am interested in learning about multidimensional arrays. I thought it would just require a small modification too, i spent most of last night looking for how to do this.
(twoD is the array)

int returnPos = Arrays.binarySearch(twoD,intToFind);

this statement wont compile - cannot resolve symbol Array.binarySearch

also Arrays.sort(twoD) wont compile but for a one dimensional it compiles fine.

Is there another command which can return me the index of an element i have searched for ?

thanks so far . .

I guess the short answer is the method only accepts one dimensional arrays, and that's that.


You probably know but remember a multidiemnsional array in java is an array of arrays meaning each array in the array can be a different size rather than say an array 4x2
you can have an array like lke this

int myArray[][]={ {1,2,3},{4,5,6,7,8,9},{2,4},{0,4,5,7,8,10,11,23,56,54}};

with each part/element (what's the name?) of the array having it's only separate length.
something to consider I guess when you do it yourself

yes, thats the conclusion i have come to. Problem is when i write for loops so i can only loop through 1 row i still have compilation errors pointing out its [][]. I guess ill go away and put the first row in a new array, the second row in a new array etc

Im sure there is probably a better method to solve this problem (megaspaz politely suggests map again). But i guess now i've learnt what i wanted to learn about MDimensional arrays . . .

thanks to y'all . .

For what it's worth here's an example using Arrays.binarySearch just to show it can be used:

wow, thanks. if i lived nearer scotland id buy you a pint !!

I cant beleive how long i spent looking for that method last nite - and then i spent an hour tonite to put each multidimensional row in a seperate array, then sort each row and then return index in a really messy way.

Still, theres nothing better than trial by error

this was a school assignment, notice the code for //get position (last two methods near the end of this post). I know I posted this a few weeks later than the original post, but it is for anyone else who is looking for info on how to do this. I am inserting the entire project below:


//**************************************************************************************************** ******************************
//Mark Ennis
//Assignment 14 Chap 9
//November 28, 2003 A WHOLE WEEK BEFORE DUE DATE!!!!!!!
//I must be getting this array stuff!
//**************************************************************************************************** ******************************
import java.io.*;
import java.text.DecimalFormat;

public class A14MEnns
{
static BufferedReader keyboard = new BufferedReader(new InputStreamReader(System.in));

public static void main(String [] args) throws IOException
{
//preload temps
int[][] Temps = {{40,0},{47,29},{59,17},{71,27},{80,22},{95,49},{99,47},{101,71},{105,62},{89,30},{80,5},{77,99}};
String go;
System.out.println("The following program outputs the average high, average low, highest, lowest, \nand the position of each in the array. The temperatures are pre-loaded, but are\nretrieved by the method getData as directed in the assignment.");
System.out.println("Hit 'Enter' to continue");
go = keyboard.readLine();
System.out.println();
//Call the methods, print the temps
System.out.println("High's(COL 0)" + "\t \t" + "Lows(COL 1)");
getData(Temps);
System.out.println();
averageHigh(Temps);
averageLow(Temps);
indexHighTemp(Temps);
indexLowTemp(Temps);
}

//method to print hi's and lo's
public static void getData(int[][] matrix)
{
int row, col;

for(row = 0; row < matrix.length; row++)
{
for(col = 0; col < matrix[row].length; col++)
System.out.print(matrix[row][col] + "\t \t \t");
System.out.println();
}

}
//*NOTE I left this in here for my future refernce*
// public static void sumColumns(int[][] matrix)
// {
// int row, col;
// int sum;

//sum of each individual column
// for(col = 0; col < matrix[0].length; col++)
// {
// sum = 0;
// for(row = 0; row < matrix.length; row++)
// sum = sum + matrix[row][col];
// System.out.println("Sum of column " + (col+1) + " = " + sum);
// }
// }



//method to get the average high temp
public static void averageHigh(int[][] matrix)
{
DecimalFormat twoDecimal = new DecimalFormat("0.00");
double sumhi = 0;
int col = 0;
int row = 0;

for(row = 0; row < matrix.length;row++)
sumhi = sumhi + matrix[row][col] ;
System.out.println("Yearly average high temperature = " + twoDecimal.format(sumhi / 12));
System.out.println();
}

//method to get average low temp
public static void averageLow(int[][] matrix)
{
DecimalFormat twoDecimal = new DecimalFormat("0.00");
double sumlo = 0;
int col = 1;
int row = 0;

for(row = 0; row < matrix.length;row++)
sumlo = sumlo + matrix[row][col];
System.out.println("Yearly average low temperature = " + twoDecimal.format(sumlo / 12));
System.out.println();
}
//method to return the highest temp and its position
public static void indexHighTemp(int[][] matrix)
{
int row = 0;
int col = 0;
int largest;

//Largest element in high's column
for(row = 0; row < matrix.length; row++)
{
largest = matrix[0][col];
for(row = 0; row < matrix.length; row++)
if(largest < matrix[row][col])
largest = matrix[row][col];
System.out.println("Highest temp of the year " + largest);
System.out.println();
}

//get position
int position = 0;
int counter;

for(counter = 1; counter < matrix.length; counter++)
if(matrix[position][0] < matrix[counter][0])
position = counter;

System.out.println("The postion of highest temp in the array is: Row " + position + ", Col " + col);
System.out.println();
}


//method to get lowest temp and its position
public static void indexLowTemp(int[][] matrix)
{
int row = 0;
int col = 1;
int lowest;

//Smallest element in lows column
for(row = 0; row < matrix.length; row++)
{
lowest = matrix[0][col];
for(row = 0; row < matrix.length; row++)
if(lowest > matrix[row][col])
lowest = matrix[row][col];
System.out.println("Lowest temperature of the year " + lowest );
System.out.println();
}
//get position
int position = 0;
int counter;

for(counter = 1; counter < matrix.length; counter++)
if(matrix[position][1] > matrix[counter][1])
position = counter;

System.out.println("The postion of lowest temp int the array is: Row " + position + ", Col " + col);
}

}