What is wrong with this incompatible type error?

Question

I can't figure out why I get this error.

Here is the code:

public static int WriteBirdType() {

BufferedReader reader = new BufferedReader( new FileReader ("fugler.txt"));
String         line = null;
StringBuilder  stringBuilder = new StringBuilder();
String         ls = System.getProperty("line.separator");

while( ( line = reader.readLine() ) != null ) {
stringBuilder.append( line );
stringBuilder.append( ls );
}

return stringBuilder.toString();

Here is the error:

test.java:78: error: incompatible types
return stringBuilder.toString();
                             ^
required: int
found:    String
1 error

What can I do to fix this?

Your method has a return type of void, ie. nothing. You can't return anything as it stands. — Sotirios Delimanolis
– Sotirios Delimanolis, Commented Sep 17, 2013 at 22:39
Was supposed to say int, edited it now, i get this error when its written int and not void. — Dabbish
– Dabbish, Commented Sep 17, 2013 at 22:41
If you're returning "String", then your signature should say "String" ;) — paulsm4
– paulsm4, Commented Sep 17, 2013 at 22:42

rgettman · Accepted Answer · 2013-09-17 22:41:25Z

5

You are attempting to return a String when you declared the method to return int. Either return an int, or change the return type of the method to String.

answered Sep 17, 2013 at 22:41

rgettman

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Comments

BlackHatSamurai · Accepted Answer · 2013-09-17 22:41:30Z

Your return type must match the method signature.

If your return type is int, then you need to return and int, not a string. toString() returns a string. If you need to return a String, then change the method signature to String, not int.

Do this:

    //change return type to string
    public static String WriteBirdType() {

    BufferedReader reader = new BufferedReader( new FileReader ("fugler.txt"));
    String         line = null;
    StringBuilder  stringBuilder = new StringBuilder();
    String         ls = System.getProperty("line.separator");

    while( ( line = reader.readLine() ) != null ) {
    stringBuilder.append( line );
    stringBuilder.append( ls );
    }

     return stringBuilder.toString();

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