Find if there is any error in the C#.NET code

Question

I have the below code for the training module :- https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/training/modules/guided-project-develop-conditional-branching-looping/5-exercise-build-loop-new-array-data

When I choose the menuselection 2, in the second switch statement, I am not getting any output. Could someone review the code and please help ?

I am running the code in VS Code.

// the ourAnimals array will store the following: 

string animalSpecies = "";
string animalID = "";
string animalAge = "";
string animalPhysicalDescription = "";
string animalPersonalityDescription = "";
string animalNickname = "";

// variables that support data entry
int maxPets = 8;
string? readResult;
string menuSelection = "";

// array used to store runtime data, there is no persisted data
string[,] ourAnimals = new string[maxPets, 6];

// TODO: Convert the if-elseif-else construct to a switch statement

// create some initial ourAnimals array entries
for (int i = 0; i < maxPets; i++)
{
    switch (i)
    {
        case 0:
            animalSpecies = "dog";
            animalID = "d1";
            animalAge = "2";
            animalPhysicalDescription = "medium sized cream colored female golden retriever weighing about 65 pounds. housebroken.";
            animalPersonalityDescription = "loves to have her belly rubbed and likes to chase her tail. gives lots of kisses.";
            animalNickname = "lola";
            break;

        case 1:

            animalSpecies = "dog";
            animalID = "d2";
            animalAge = "9";
            animalPhysicalDescription = "large reddish-brown male golden retriever weighing about 85 pounds. housebroken.";
            animalPersonalityDescription = "loves to have his ears rubbed when he greets you at the door, or at any time! loves to lean-in and give doggy hugs.";
            animalNickname = "loki";
            break;
        case 2:

            animalSpecies = "cat";
            animalID = "c3";
            animalAge = "1";
            animalPhysicalDescription = "small white female weighing about 8 pounds. litter box trained.";
            animalPersonalityDescription = "friendly";
            animalNickname = "Puss";
            break;
        case 3:

            animalSpecies = "cat";
            animalID = "c4";
            animalAge = "?";
            animalPhysicalDescription = "";
            animalPersonalityDescription = "";
            animalNickname = "";
            break;

        default:

            animalSpecies = "";
            animalID = "";
            animalAge = "";
            animalPhysicalDescription = "";
            animalPersonalityDescription = "";
            animalNickname = "";
            break;
    }

    ourAnimals[i, 0] = "ID #: " + animalID;
    ourAnimals[i, 1] = "Species: " + animalSpecies;
    ourAnimals[i, 2] = "Age: " + animalAge;
    ourAnimals[i, 3] = "Nickname: " + animalNickname;
    ourAnimals[i, 4] = "Physical description: " + animalPhysicalDescription;
    ourAnimals[i, 5] = "Personality: " + animalPersonalityDescription;
}

do
{

    // display the top-level menu options

    Console.Clear();

    Console.WriteLine("Welcome to the Contoso PetFriends app. Your main menu options are:");
    Console.WriteLine(" 1. List all of our current pet information");
    Console.WriteLine(" 2. Add a new animal friend to the ourAnimals array");
    Console.WriteLine(" 3. Ensure animal ages and physical descriptions are complete");
    Console.WriteLine(" 4. Ensure animal nicknames and personality descriptions are complete");
    Console.WriteLine(" 5. Edit an animal’s age");
    Console.WriteLine(" 6. Edit an animal’s personality description");
    Console.WriteLine(" 7. Display all cats with a specified characteristic");
    Console.WriteLine(" 8. Display all dogs with a specified characteristic");
    Console.WriteLine();
    Console.WriteLine("Enter your selection number (or type Exit to exit the program)");

    readResult = Console.ReadLine();
    if (readResult != null)
    {
        menuSelection = readResult.ToLower();
    }

    Console.WriteLine($"You selected menu option {menuSelection}.");
    Console.WriteLine("Press the Enter key to continue");

    // pause code execution
    readResult = Console.ReadLine();

    switch(menuSelection)
    {
        case "1":
                  // List all of our current pet information 
                  for(int i = 0;i < maxPets;i++)
                  {
                    if(ourAnimals[i,0] != "ID #: ")
                    {
                      Console.WriteLine();
                      for(int j=0; j<6;j++)
                      {
                         Console.WriteLine(ourAnimals[i,j]);
                      }
                    }

                  }
                  Console.WriteLine("Press the Enter key to continue.");
                  readResult = Console.ReadLine();
                  break;
        case "2": 
                  // Add a new animal friend to the ourAnimals array
                  string anotherPet = "y";
                  int petCount =0;
                  for(int i=0; i < maxPets;i++)
                  {
                    if(ourAnimals[i,0] != "ID #:")
                    {
                        petCount += 1;
                    }
                  }

                  if(petCount < maxPets)
                  {
                    Console.WriteLine($"We currently have {petCount} pets that need homes. We can manage {(maxPets - petCount)} more. ");
                  }
                  Console.WriteLine("Press the Enter key to continue.");
                  readResult = Console.ReadLine();
                  break;
        case "3": 
                  Console.WriteLine("this app feature is coming soon - please check back to see progress.");
                  Console.WriteLine("Press the Enter key to continue.");
                  readResult = Console.ReadLine();
                  break;
        case "4": 
                  Console.WriteLine("this app feature is coming soon - please check back to see progress.");
                  Console.WriteLine("Press the Enter key to continue.");
                  readResult = Console.ReadLine();
                  break;
        case "5":
                  Console.WriteLine("this app feature is coming soon - please check back to see progress.");
                  Console.WriteLine("Press the Enter key to continue.");
                  readResult = Console.ReadLine();
                  break;
        case "6": 
                  Console.WriteLine("this app feature is coming soon - please check back to see progress.");
                  Console.WriteLine("Press the Enter key to continue.");
                  readResult = Console.ReadLine();
                  break; 
        case "7":
                  Console.WriteLine("this app feature is coming soon - please check back to see progress.");
                  Console.WriteLine("Press the Enter key to continue.");
                  readResult = Console.ReadLine();
                  break;
        case "8":
                  Console.WriteLine("this app feature is coming soon - please check back to see progress.");
                  Console.WriteLine("Press the Enter key to continue.");
                  readResult = Console.ReadLine();
                  break;
        default :
                  break;
    }

} while (menuSelection != "exit");

Answer 1

Hi @Anonymous , Welcome to Microsoft Q&A,

You need to follow the tutorial step by step. In the code you provided, the loop does not enter correctly and you are not using the new pet 'y'

The correct code should be:

using System;

// the ourAnimals array will store the following: 
string animalSpecies = "";
string animalID = "";
string animalAge = "";
string animalPhysicalDescription = "";
string animalPersonalityDescription = "";
string animalNickname = "";

// variables that support data entry
int maxPets = 8;
string? readResult;
string menuSelection = "";

// array used to store runtime data, there is no persisted data
string[,] ourAnimals = new string[maxPets, 6];

// create some initial ourAnimals array entries
for (int i = 0; i < maxPets; i++)
{
    switch (i)
    {
        case 0:
            animalSpecies = "dog";
            animalID = "d1";
            animalAge = "2";
            animalPhysicalDescription = "medium sized cream colored female golden retriever weighing about 65 pounds. housebroken.";
            animalPersonalityDescription = "loves to have her belly rubbed and likes to chase her tail. gives lots of kisses.";
            animalNickname = "lola";
            break;

        case 1:
            animalSpecies = "dog";
            animalID = "d2";
            animalAge = "9";
            animalPhysicalDescription = "large reddish-brown male golden retriever weighing about 85 pounds. housebroken.";
            animalPersonalityDescription = "loves to have his ears rubbed when he greets you at the door, or at any time! loves to lean-in and give doggy hugs.";
            animalNickname = "loki";
            break;

        case 2:
            animalSpecies = "cat";
            animalID = "c3";
            animalAge = "1";
            animalPhysicalDescription = "small white female weighing about 8 pounds. litter box trained.";
            animalPersonalityDescription = "friendly";
            animalNickname = "Puss";
            break;

        case 3:
            animalSpecies = "cat";
            animalID = "c4";
            animalAge = "?";
            animalPhysicalDescription = "";
            animalPersonalityDescription = "";
            animalNickname = "";
            break;

        default:
            animalSpecies = "";
            animalID = "";
            animalAge = "";
            animalPhysicalDescription = "";
            animalPersonalityDescription = "";
            animalNickname = "";
            break;

    }

    ourAnimals[i, 0] = "ID #: " + animalID;
    ourAnimals[i, 1] = "Species: " + animalSpecies;
    ourAnimals[i, 2] = "Age: " + animalAge;
    ourAnimals[i, 3] = "Nickname: " + animalNickname;
    ourAnimals[i, 4] = "Physical description: " + animalPhysicalDescription;
    ourAnimals[i, 5] = "Personality: " + animalPersonalityDescription;
}

do
{
    // display the top-level menu options

    Console.Clear();

    Console.WriteLine("Welcome to the Contoso PetFriends app. Your main menu options are:");
    Console.WriteLine(" 1. List all of our current pet information");
    Console.WriteLine(" 2. Add a new animal friend to the ourAnimals array");
    Console.WriteLine(" 3. Ensure animal ages and physical descriptions are complete");
    Console.WriteLine(" 4. Ensure animal nicknames and personality descriptions are complete");
    Console.WriteLine(" 5. Edit an animal’s age");
    Console.WriteLine(" 6. Edit an animal’s personality description");
    Console.WriteLine(" 7. Display all cats with a specified characteristic");
    Console.WriteLine(" 8. Display all dogs with a specified characteristic");
    Console.WriteLine();
    Console.WriteLine("Enter your selection number (or type Exit to exit the program)");

    readResult = Console.ReadLine();
    if (readResult != null)
    {
        menuSelection = readResult.ToLower();
        // NOTE: We could put a do statement around the menuSelection entry to ensure a valid entry, but we
        //  use a conditional statement below that only processes the valid entry values, so the do statement 
        //  is not required here. 
    }

    // use switch-case to process the selected menu option
    switch (menuSelection)
    {
        case "1":
            // List all of our current pet information
            for (int i = 0; i < maxPets; i++)
            {
                if (ourAnimals[i, 0] != "ID #: ")
                {
                    Console.WriteLine();
                    for (int j = 0; j < 6; j++)
                    {
                        Console.WriteLine(ourAnimals[i, j]);
                    }
                }
            }
            Console.WriteLine("\n\rPress the Enter key to continue");
            readResult = Console.ReadLine();

            break;

        case "2":
            // Add a new animal friend to the ourAnimals array
            string anotherPet = "y";
            int petCount = 0;
            for (int i = 0; i < maxPets; i++)
            {
                if (ourAnimals[i, 0] != "ID #: ")
                {
                    petCount += 1;
                }
            }

            if (petCount < maxPets)
            {
                Console.WriteLine($"We currently have {petCount} pets that need homes. We can manage {(maxPets - petCount)} more.");
            }

            while (anotherPet == "y" && petCount < maxPets)
            {
                bool validEntry = false;
                
                // get species (cat or dog) - string animalSpecies is a required field 
                do
                {
                    Console.WriteLine("\n\rEnter 'dog' or 'cat' to begin a new entry");
                    readResult = Console.ReadLine();
                    if (readResult != null)
                    {
                        animalSpecies = readResult.ToLower();
                        if (animalSpecies != "dog" && animalSpecies != "cat")
                        {
                            //Console.WriteLine($"You entered: {animalSpecies}.");
                            validEntry = false;
                        }
                        else
                        {
                            validEntry = true;
                        }
                    }
                } while (validEntry == false);

                // build the animal the ID number - for example C1, C2, D3 (for Cat 1, Cat 2, Dog 3)
                animalID = animalSpecies.Substring(0, 1) + (petCount + 1).ToString();

                // get the pet's age. can be ? at initial entry.
                do
                {
                    int petAge;
                    Console.WriteLine("Enter the pet's age or enter ? if unknown");
                    readResult = Console.ReadLine();
                    if (readResult != null)
                    {
                        animalAge = readResult;
                        if (animalAge != "?")
                        {
                            validEntry = int.TryParse(animalAge, out petAge);
                        }
                        else
                        {
                            validEntry = true;
                        }
                    }
                } while (validEntry == false);

                // get a description of the pet's physical appearance/condition - animalPhysicalDescription can be blank.
                do
                {
                    Console.WriteLine("Enter a physical description of the pet (size, color, gender, weight, housebroken)");
                    readResult = Console.ReadLine();
                    if (readResult != null)
                    {
                        animalPhysicalDescription = readResult.ToLower();
                        if (animalPhysicalDescription == "")
                        {
                            animalPhysicalDescription = "tbd";
                        }
                    }
                } while (animalPhysicalDescription == "");

                // get a description of the pet's personality - animalPersonalityDescription can be blank.
                do
                {
                    Console.WriteLine("Enter a description of the pet's personality (likes or dislikes, tricks, energy level)");
                    readResult = Console.ReadLine();
                    if (readResult != null)
                    {
                        animalPersonalityDescription = readResult.ToLower();
                        if (animalPersonalityDescription == "")
                        {
                            animalPersonalityDescription = "tbd";
                        }
                    }
                } while (animalPersonalityDescription == "");

                // get the pet's nickname. animalNickname can be blank.
                do
                {
                    Console.WriteLine("Enter a nickname for the pet");
                    readResult = Console.ReadLine();
                    if (readResult != null)
                    {
                        animalNickname = readResult.ToLower();
                        if (animalNickname == "")
                        {
                            animalNickname = "tbd";
                        }
                    }
                } while (animalNickname == "");

                // store the pet information in the ourAnimals array (zero based)
                ourAnimals[petCount, 0] = "ID #: " + animalID;
                ourAnimals[petCount, 1] = "Species: " + animalSpecies;
                ourAnimals[petCount, 2] = "Age: " + animalAge;
                ourAnimals[petCount, 3] = "Nickname: " + animalNickname;
                ourAnimals[petCount, 4] = "Physical description: " + animalPhysicalDescription;
                ourAnimals[petCount, 5] = "Personality: " + animalPersonalityDescription;

                // increment petCount (the array is zero-based, so we increment the counter after adding to the array)
                petCount = petCount + 1;

                // check maxPet limit
                if (petCount < maxPets)
                {
                    // another pet?
                    Console.WriteLine("Do you want to enter info for another pet (y/n)");
                    do
                    {
                        readResult = Console.ReadLine();
                        if (readResult != null)
                        {
                            anotherPet = readResult.ToLower();
                        }

                    } while (anotherPet != "y" && anotherPet != "n");
                }
            }

            if (petCount >= maxPets)
            {
                Console.WriteLine("We have reached our limit on the number of pets that we can manage.");
                Console.WriteLine("Press the Enter key to continue.");
                readResult = Console.ReadLine();
            }

            break;

        case "3":
            // Ensure animal ages and physical descriptions are complete
            Console.WriteLine("Challenge Project - please check back soon to see progress.");
            Console.WriteLine("Press the Enter key to continue.");
            readResult = Console.ReadLine();
            break;

        case "4":
            // Ensure animal nicknames and personality descriptions are complete
            Console.WriteLine("Challenge Project - please check back soon to see progress.");
            Console.WriteLine("Press the Enter key to continue.");
            readResult = Console.ReadLine();
            break;

        case "5":
            // Edit an animal’s age");
            Console.WriteLine("UNDER CONSTRUCTION - please check back next month to see progress.");
            Console.WriteLine("Press the Enter key to continue.");
            readResult = Console.ReadLine();
            break;

        case "6":
            // Edit an animal’s personality description");
            Console.WriteLine("UNDER CONSTRUCTION - please check back next month to see progress.");
            Console.WriteLine("Press the Enter key to continue.");
            readResult = Console.ReadLine();
            break;
        
        case "7":
            // Display all cats with a specified characteristic
            Console.WriteLine("UNDER CONSTRUCTION - please check back next month to see progress.");
            Console.WriteLine("Press the Enter key to continue.");
            readResult = Console.ReadLine();
            break;

        case "8":
            // Display all dogs with a specified characteristic
            Console.WriteLine("UNDER CONSTRUCTION - please check back next month to see progress.");
            Console.WriteLine("Press the Enter key to continue.");
            readResult = Console.ReadLine();
            break;

        default:
            break;
    }

} while (menuSelection != "exit");

Best Regards,

Jiale

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