Steps to creating a program with methods

Step 1: Design

• Determine the parts that repeat or that you want to separate
• Pick a name for your class
  
• Pick a name for each part (method)

Step 2: Create the class

• Open BlueJ
• Take menu option Project / Open Project / click on your project
• click "New Class"
• Name the class the name you picked in Step 1
• Delete everything after public class (your name)

Step 3: Create the structure

• Enter Open close brackets under the class {       }
• Enter One line for the main method: public static void main ()
• Enter One line for each method: public static void yourMethodName ()
• Enter Open close brackets under each method {       }
• Compile and see no errors
  

Step 4: Write comments

• Type a comment between /*   */ on the top of the class to describe what the class does.
• Type a comment between /*   */ right on top of the method  to describe what the method does.
• Compile and see no errors

Step 5:  Code the parts (methods)

Inside the method brackets (the ones underneath the method) type the statements needed to  create the part.

Inside the method brackets (the ones underneath the method) type the statements needed to  create the part.

Compile and see no errors.

You can also right click on the class in the BlueJ window and execute the individual methods to be sure they work on their own.

Step 6:  Call the parts (methods)

Inside the main method brackets (the ones underneath the main method):

• Inside the main method brackets (the ones underneath the main method):
  • type the name of the first part you want the computer to do. (You can find the name of the part by looking after "public static void".)
  • type ();
  • repeat for all the parts you want the computer to do, in the order you want them done.
    
• Compile and see no errors