TreeSet behavior

[solomon_13000]

The result for the code below is "ex [6, 7, b, d] [6, 7, b]". Therefore I am wondering how did the exception take place and why is the value 3 missing?

import java.util.*;

public class Exam6 {
    public static void main(String[] args){
    	TreeSet<String> t1 = new TreeSet<String>();
    	TreeSet<String> t2 = new TreeSet<String>();
    	t1.add("b");
    	t1.add("7");
    	t2 = (TreeSet)t1.subSet("5", "c");
    	try{
    		t1.add("d");
    		t2.add("6");
    		t2.add("3");
    	}catch(Exception e){
    		System.out.println("ex ");
    	}
    	System.out.println(t1 + " " + t2);
    }
}

Thank You.

[JamesCherrill]

Try printing the exception - it's message will help.

ps: subSet gives a "live" view, not a copy

[solomon_13000]

ps: subSet gives a "live" view, not a copy

Therefore I commented a single line of code that contain the subset method:

import java.util.*;

public class Test_2 {
    public static void main(String[] args){
    	TreeSet<String> t1 = new TreeSet<String>();
    	TreeSet<String> t2 = new TreeSet<String>();
    	t1.add("b");
    	t1.add("7");
    	//t2 = (TreeSet)t1.subSet("5", "c");
    	try{
    		t1.add("d");
    		t2.add("6");
    		t2.add("3");
    	}catch(Exception e){
    		System.out.println("ex ");
    	}
    	System.out.println(t1 + " " + t2);
    }
}

The result is [7, b, d] [3, 6] instead of ex [6, 7, b, d] [6, 7, b]. There is a huge difference in terms of the output. After I uncomment the single line of code and place the System.out.println("The size is: " + t1.size());, the output was 2. This means that the value "7,b" was copied to t2. The code below demonstrates my test result:

import java.util.*;

public class Test_2 {
    public static void main(String[] args){
    	TreeSet<String> t1 = new TreeSet<String>();
    	TreeSet<String> t2 = new TreeSet<String>();
    	t1.add("b");
    	System.out.println("T-1");
    	t1.add("7");
    	System.out.println("T-2");
    	t2 = (TreeSet)t1.subSet("5", "c");
    	System.out.println("The size is: "  + t2.size());
    	try{
    		t1.add("d");
    	    System.out.println("T-3");
    		t2.add("6");
    		System.out.println("T-4");
    		t2.add("3");
    		System.out.println("T-5");
    	}catch(Exception e){
    		System.out.println("ex ");
    		System.out.println("T-6");
    	}
    	System.out.println(t1 + " " + t2);
    }
}

[JamesCherrill]

I don't think you read my post properly.
1. Java kindly throws you an Exception which contains a message explaining what and why. You should ALWAYS print the Exception in your catch blocks so you can see that information. It WILL help.
2. I drew your attention to the way that subset works because that's important to understanding this result. I cannot imagine why you removed that line; all that does is to change your program into a different program that nobody is interested in.

Go back to the original code. Add a System.out.println(e); to the catch clause. Read what it prints. Think about how subset works. Get a sheet of paper and write down how t1 and t2 will change after each line of your program. Then you'll understand it.