How to Use the Program
- Download the latest release source code zip file, and ensure both Java files (Database.java or Database1.java depending on version, plus Pokemon.java) are included in the zip file.
- Unzip the file and extract the contents into its own folder.
- Install an IDE onto your system (computer).
Visual Studio Code Free Download: https://code.visualstudio.com/Download
JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA Community Free Download: https://www.jetbrains.com/idea/download/?section=windows
When installing IntelliJ, an installer menu may pop up with some configuration options. The only options required is to create a desktop shortcut and to associate IntelliJ as the default program for opening Java files. That said, selecting all the options is okay, too.
- Install the necessary Java extensions and software development kits to compile Java code.
- Start up Visual Studio Code. Navigate to the Extensions tab, and look up 'java'.
- Look for "Extension Pack for Java" by Microsoft. Install it.
- Once the extension is fully installed, restart the Visual Studio Code software.
- Open your browser and look up "free JDK download".
- Download a JDK of your choice. Here's a link to download OpenJDK for free: https://jdk.java.net/25/
- Open the JDK file. This should open up an installer. Choose the folder path they've created for you (usually shown as C:\Program Files\Java\jdk-21 if you're using JDK 21, or something similar) and continue through the prompts of the installer. Wait for the JDK to be installed.
- Open a command prompt on your system. Enter the following command, then hit Enter:
java -version; this will check to make sure the JDK was installed correctly. If it was, the version displayed in the command line's output should match the one you installed. - Run IntelliJ. Once you pick your software's theme (light/dark), IntelliJ should automatically detect the JDK installed on your system. If not, don't worry! You can do this manually by navigating to Project Structure under File, and selecting the "SDKs" option. From there, select the "+" button and choose the path where your JDK is installed (for example, C:\Program Files\Java\jdk-21).
Step 5. Create a new project in your IDE of choice. Upload the Pokedex program files to your project. 6. Navigate to the Database file, and click "Run and Debug".
A terminal should pop up at the bottom of your screen, welcoming you to the Pokedex. You're now using the Pokedex program!
To use the program, type a Pokemon's name or national dex number into the terminal below the welcome output, then hit Enter.
The terminal should then display data for that specific Pokemon, like so:
Note that the search input (the user's search "pikachu") is highlighted in green in this example. It's also worth noting that the Pokedex program is not case-sensitive.
To search the program using a dex number, make sure to always enter three digits, placing leading zeroes in the empty spaces (000). For example, if you wanted to look up number 1 in the Pokedex, you would enter it as 001, like so:
To search for a different Pokemon, simply run the program again.