Objective:

In this assignment you will brush up on Java fundamentals by creating an application that collects and models basic information about a car. The assignment involves most of the topics covered in IST $140,$ namely:

fundamental datatypes $($int$,$ boolean, double, string, etc.$)$;

statements and control structures $($assignments$,$ calls, conditionals, and loops$)$;

primitive collections $($arrays$)$ and usage of basic data structures $($arraylists$)$;

definition and use of static methods;

basic input$/$output $($IO$)$ and exception handling via try$-$catch.

Getting Started:

To get started, create a new IntelliJ project named asg$1($to stay organized, I recommend storing the project$$s folder within your 'assignments' folder for the course$).$ Once the project is created, right click the blue $\text{'}$src$\text{'}$ folder $>$ click 'New' $>$ then click 'package'. Next, add a package called 'edu.psu.ist'.

If you need assistance creating packages or need a refresher on them, consult the recording on packages under M$01-$ Java review.

Part $1$: Adding car information input methods

Whichever car you choose to model, certain information about it will need to be input such as its make$/$model$,$ year released $($must be a positive number$),$ trim, MPG $($must be positive$),$ and the type of car $($restrict this to: Truck, Sedan, Coupe, Station Wagon, or Van$).$

Think carefully about appropriate datatypes for the information listed, then start by adding a static method to:

Prompt for the model of the car and return what was entered by the user. You'll need to use the Scanner class to read this in $($e$.$g$.,$ Corolla, RAV$4,$ Camry, etc. are some examples$).$

Now add a main method and call the method written above and ensure that it works. $($TIP: after writing each method detailed below, call it from the main to ensure it works $---$ don't write ALL the code and then run it $---$ take it one method at a time and don't proceed until you get it working$).$

Next, add static methods to:

Prompt for the car's release year; keep prompting until the user has entered a valid year $($i$.$e$.$: can't be $0$ or negative$).$ Once a valid year is entered, return it$.$

Prompt for the car's trim and return it; note that 'trim' is a car manufacturer label indicating which features are included in the car $($for example: DX$,$ LX$,$ WRX$,$ Sport, etc. are some sample trims$).$ The user should be able to enter as many of these as they like $($including $0)$ and the application should store each one. This should suggest a certain datatype $($hint: don't pack them all into a single string$).$

Prompt for the type of car; acceptable inputs for the car type include: Truck, Sedan, Coupe, Station Wagon, or Van. If the user doesn't input one of these, keep prompting until they enter one of the types listed. Once a valid car type is entered, return it$.$ Consider using an enum datatype to represent the valid types of cars $($this is not required for this assignment$).$

Prompt for the car's MPG $($miles per gallon$)$; keep prompting until the user enters a valid $($non$-$negative$)$ input then return it$.$

Make sure you've called each of the above methods in the order in which they are described above from the main $($they should only be called from the main method$).$

If a given method returns a value, save it in a local variable within the main.

Part $2$: Saving and printing car information

Lastly, add the following static methods $($these should only be called from the main method$)$:

combine, which takes as input all the information returned from the previous methods and and returns it all in a single string $($in the string this method returns, each piece of information should be separated by a newline$).$

write, which takes a string containing the combined information $($returned from the above method$)$ and writes this string to a file called 'car.txt$\text{'}($use exception handling $---$ i$.$e$.$: try$-$catch$).$

read, reads the contents of the 'car.txt$\text{'}$ file line by line, printing out each line using System.out $($use exception handling$).$