How do I find a specific string on a bigger string?

Question

I am trying to get rid of multiple specific strings. For instance, I have a string that prints:

1.jedi 2.sith 3.sith 4.sith 5.bounty hunter 6.jedi 7.sith 8.robot

My goal is to remove duplicates so that it prints:

1. jedi
2. sith
3. bounty hunter
4. robot

If I change one of the jedi to "something jedi.", it will not print "something jedi."

Output should be:

1.jedi 2.sith 3.bounty hunter 4.robot 5.something jedi

Right now I am using this code to achieve the task of removing duplicates.

if (department.contains(departmentList.get(empName))){
}
else{
     department += j + ": " + departmentList.get(empName) + "\n";
     j++;
}

I understand where the mistake is. Since I am using .contains(VARIABLE), when it checks "something jedi" it will find that the word JEDI is already there. therefore it returns true and it won't add it to the department.

Answer 1

Create a set to contain the full names of the departments already output. Each time you want to output a department, check if the set contains it already. If not, then output the department name and add it to the set.

For example:

Set<String> usedDepartments = new HashSet<String>();

Then in your loop:

if(!usedDepartments.contains(departmentList.get(empName))) {
    department += j + ": " + departmentList.get(empName) + "\n";
    j++;
    usedDepartments.add(departmentList.get(empName));
}

Answer 2

As your department's value:

department += j + ": " + departmentList.get(empName) + "\n";

You may change your IF statement:

if (department.contains(": " + departmentList.get(empName) + "\n"))

---

SUPPOSE:

department = "1: something jedi.\n";
departmentList.get(empName) = "jedi.";
department.contains(": " + departmentList.get(empName) + "\n"); // will return false

Answer 3

Firstly, split your String into Link. Secondly, make a Set from it, so it will delete all the repetitions.

Answer 4

department should be a Set<String>, not a String:

Set<String> departments = new HashSet<String>();

then every loop:

departments.add(departmentList.get(empName));

and after the loop:

int i = 0;
String output = "";
for (String s : departments)
    output += i + ": " + s + "\n";