Hi guys,
I am a C programmer trying to write in JAVA !!!! (so new to JAVA)
i have declared some public static int variables in my Main class which I want to use in another classes. In one class i have a switch statement
switch (tickerId){
case Main.ftse_contract_id: ftse_data.writeToFile(msg);break;
case Main.ftsefut_contract_id: ftsefut_data.writeToFile(msg);break;
case Main.indu_contract_id: indu_data.writeToFile(msg);break;
case Main.lloy_contract_id:: lloy_data.writeToFile(msg);break;
case Main.barc_contract_id: barc_data.writeToFile(msg);break;
case Main.vix_contract_id: vix_data.writeToFile(msg);break;
}
this is giving me the usual "constant expression required" error. The problem is with Main.xxx_contract_id ints that I declared before to be used everywhere. Can someone please tell me either a better way of having GLOBAL ints or how to make the CASE statements work.

Thank you

I believe the values following the case statement has to be a constant and not a variable. If those values can't be expressed as constants then just replace the switch statement with if then elses.

I agree with you mike. That is why i have declared my variables as public static int. Doesn't the static part do this? is there anotherway i should declare them?

You need to use final which means the value cannot be changed. The link explains a little about the difference between static and final.

hi Mike
changing my variable from public static int to public final int unfortunately just changed the error message from above to this


non-static variable ftse_contract_id cannot be referenced from a static context
--

any ideas ?????