[overule]

Design, write in Java, test and document a program (application) that accepts a short (i.e. less
than 20 character) string from the user and prints it out on the screen in a certain pattern. In
response to the user keeping pressing enter, the program moves it across the page to bounce off
column 20 and return. Then the program terminates. Use “*” characters to fill in the unused
columns.
For example, suppose that the user enters “dipsy”. Here is the output; each line of output is in
response to the user pressing the “enter” key.
Please enter your string: dipsy
dipsy**************
*dipsy*************
**dipsy************
***dipsy***********
...etc ...
*************dipsy*
**************dipsy
*************dipsy*
************dipsy**
...etc...
*dipsy*************
dipsy**************
Program terminated.

[Eclipse]

Well i did it on a TI-83 but that's not in java....

[kvnband]

Except on a Ti-83 you can only fit 16 characters across

[jonassala]

Code:

import java.io.*;

public class Twenty
{
    
    private static final String A = "********************";
    private static final int MAX_CHAR = A.length();;
    
    public static void main(String[] args)
	throws IOException
    {
	// Read input.

	BufferedReader in =
	    new BufferedReader(new InputStreamReader(System.in));
	String input = "";

	// Skip empty lines.
	
	while (input.length() == 0)
	{
	    input = in.readLine();
	}

	// The size of the input string.
	
	int s = input.length();

	// Validate the length.
	
	if (s >= MAX_CHAR)
	{
	    System.out.println("Text must be less than " + MAX_CHAR + " characters.");
	    return;
	}

	// Asterisks in a single line.

	int total = MAX_CHAR - s;
	
	// Do the printout.
	
	for (int i = 0; i < 2 * total + 1; i++)
	{
	    // Asterisks last.
	    // The distance between total and current line number.

	    int last = Math.abs(total - i);

	    // Asterisks first.
	    // The remaining asterisks.
	    
	    int first = total - last;

	    // Print one line.
	    
	    System.out.println(A.substring(0, first) +
			       input +
			       A.substring(0, last));
	}
	System.out.println("Program terminated.");
    }
}

[digioz]

Would be nice to have the program ask for your input. Here is the same thing with two lines added to prompt user for input. I also compiled it, for those who don't have a java compiler.

Code:

 
import java.io.*;
public class Twenty2
{
	
	private static final String A = "********************";
	private static final int MAX_CHAR = A.length();;
	
	public static void main(String[] args)
 throws IOException
	{
		// Ask User for Input
 System.out.println("\nEnter Your Input Here: \n");
		// Read input.
 BufferedReader in =
	 new BufferedReader(new InputStreamReader(System.in));
 String input = "";
 // Skip empty lines.
 
 while (input.length() == 0)
 {
	 input = in.readLine();
 }
 // The size of the input string.
 
 int s = input.length();
 // Validate the length.
 
// Extra empty line for clarity 
System.out.println("\n");
 
 if (s >= MAX_CHAR)
 {
	 System.out.println("Text must be less than " + MAX_CHAR + " characters.");
	 return;
 }
 // Asterisks in a single line.
 int total = MAX_CHAR - s;
 
 // Do the printout.
 
 for (int i = 0; i < 2 * total + 1; i++)
 {
	 // Asterisks last.
	 // The distance between total and current line number.
	 int last = Math.abs(total - i);
	 // Asterisks first.
	 // The remaining asterisks.
	 
	 int first = total - last;
	 // Print one line.
	 
	 System.out.println(A.substring(0, first) +
		  input +
		  A.substring(0, last));
 }
 System.out.println("Program terminated.");
	}
}

[jonassala]

Hey, I'm a server side programmer, I don't bother with user friendlyness ;-)