sounds like a job for reflection (java.lang.reflect.*;) Have you looked at java.lang.Class and java.lang.reflect.Field?
-----Original Message----- From: Jerry Jalenak [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] Sent: Monday, September 30, 2002 7:50 AM To: '[EMAIL PROTECTED]' Subject: [OT - Java] How can I do this in Java? OK - off topic, but Sun's java forum sucks, and there are an incredible number of Java guru's on this list, so I thought I'd throw this out here. (That and I am using this in a custom validation routine :-)) Any help would be GREATLY appreciated! Here's the scenario - I've got a series of static constants that represent Java regular expressions. These RE's are used to validate driver license formats for the 50 states + DC. The strings look like this: public static final String AK = "^[0-9]{1,7}$"; public static final String AL = "^[0-9]{7}$"; public static final String AR = "^[0-9]{8,9}$"; public static final String AZ = "^[0-9ABDY][0-9]{8}$|^[A-Z][0-9]{3,6}$|^[A-Z]{2}[0-9]{3,5}$"; public static final String CA = "^[A-Z][0-9]{4,7}$"; public static final String CO = "^[A-Z][0-9]{1,6}$|^[A-Z]{2}[0-9]{1,6}$|^[0-9]{9}$"; etc. etc. etc. On my form I have a drop-down box of states, and a field for the license number. In my custom validator routine, I pick up the value of the state, and build a string to represent the constant - i.e. private static boolean validateDriversLicenseNumber(String licenseState, String licenseNumber) { String licenseConstant = "Constants." + licenseState; I then want to use "licenseConstant" in a Pattern / Match: Pattern p = Pattern.compile(licenseConstant, Pattern.CASE_INSENSITIVE); Match m = p.matcher(licenseNumber); return (m.find()); } Obviously the line "String licenseConstant = "Constants." + licenseState;" does not give me the value of Constant.<state name>; the question I have is, is there a method (or something) that will allow me to build such a string, and return the value (i.e. the regular expression)? Or is there a better way of doing this? TIA! Jerry Jalenak Web Publishing LabOne, Inc. 10101 Renner Blvd. Lenexa, KS 66219 (913) 577-1496 [EMAIL PROTECTED] This transmission (and any information attached to it) may be confidential and is intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to which it is addressed. If you are not the intended recipient or the person responsible for delivering the transmission to the intended recipient, be advised that you have received this transmission in error and that any use, dissemination, forwarding, printing, or copying of this information is strictly prohibited. If you have received this transmission in error, please immediately notify LabOne at (800)388-4675. -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> For additional commands, e-mail: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
