class to return an object array with member attributes that can be accessed from main class -

i'm new java, concepts , terminology fuzzy, i'm trying! need create class take data in string, parse , return object (array) member attributes can accessed main class. i've read better solution having multiple indexed arrays pointx[], pointy[], pointz[], etc.., if need perform operations swapping or sorting.

so, i'd access array object's members main test[0].x, test[100].y, etc. however, i'm frustratingly getting exception in thread "main" java.lang.nullpointerexception , don't understand how proceed.

here's how i'm calling parse main:

parse = new parse();  parse[] test = a.convert("1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4"); // <- ** error here **  system.out.printf("%.2f %.2f %.2f %d\n", test[0].x, test[0].y, test[0].z, test[0].r); 

here's parse class:

public class parse {      parse[] point = new parse[1000];     public float x;     public float y;     public float z;     public int r;      parse() {      }      public parse[] convert(string vertices) {          // parse string vertices -> object          point[0].x = 10; // <- ** error here **         point[0].y = 100;         point[0].z = 50;         point[0].r = 5;          return point;     } } 

thanks in advance parse class & related java pointers continue learning java , enjoyment of programming!

when create array of parse objects array empty , doesn't contain objects, null references. need create objects , store them in array.

furthermore, point member of parse class when should local variable of convert method, should static, since doesn't rely on particular instance.

you invoke conversion follows:

parse[] test = parse.convert("this string not used yet");  system.out.printf("%.2f %.2f %.2f %d\n", test[0].x, test[0].y, test[0].z, test[0].r); 

here's parse class:

public class parse {      public float x;     public float y;     public float z;     public int r;      parse() {      }      public static parse[] convert(string vertices) {          // parse string vertices -> object          parse[] point = new parse[1000];         point[0] = new parse();         point[0].x = 10;         point[0].y = 100;         point[0].z = 50;         point[0].r = 5;          return point;     } }