/*
 * You should give your class a package as it is truely frowned upon these days
 * to place your classes in the "main" namespace.
 */
 
import javax.swing.*;
 
public class pro1111 {
 
  public static void main (String [] args) {
    /*
     *  I assume you have your own TextFileInput and TextFileOutput
     *  classes as these are no part of the JDK.  And if so, you have not
     *  imported them.
     */
    TextFileInput in = new TextFileInput("Dates.txt");
    TextFileOutput out = new TextFileOutput("Dates1.txt");
    String line = in.readLine();  // I also assume these classes handle the exceptions
    while ( line != null ) {
      // StringTokenizer is a bit old fashioned.  You should probably look into
      // Scanner and or String.split().  But what you really want is to simply read
      // the entire String and not break it down into pieces.
      StringTokenizer st = new StringTokenizer(line, "/"); 
      int monthNumber = Integer.parseInt(st.nextToken());
      int day = Integer.parseInt(st.nextToken());
      int year = Integer.parseInt(st.nextToken());
      out.println(monthNumberToName(monthNumber) + " " + day + ", " + year);
      // You should also be storing the dates here rather than simply printing them
      // out.  Probably with an ArrayList.  Then, after you have them read in and
      // stored somewhere, you can start using another loop or two to compare them
      // and get them into the proper order.
      line = in.readLine();
    }
  }
 
  private static compareDate(string date1, string date2) {
    // Why do you designate two dates (in String format and it should be String not
    // string) and then define two new date Strings.  You also have not defined a
    // return type.
    String date1 = "09/27/2004";
    String date2 = "05/04/2002";
    // calling compareDate here is recursion.  Is this really what you want to do?
    // I don't think so.  Also, doing it when the method defines it own date Strings
    // guarntees infinite recursion.
    if (compareDate(date1, date2) < 0)
      System.out.println("date1 is earlier than date2.");
    return 0;
  }
 
  private static void display(short[] numbers, int lengthFilled) {
    // Why are the declared arguments here a short array and an int when according
    // to your assignment it should be a String array (and suppossedly of student
    // names which I don't understand at all since the entire has been concerning
    // dates up until this point.  I think you copied that wrong.) and an int.
    // Other than that, this method actually looks like it might do something for
    // you.  Where did you copy it from?
    final String lineBreak = System.getProperty("line.separator");
    // Create text area for output:
    JTextArea textArea = new JTextArea();
    textArea.setEditable(false);
    // Print numbers to output text area:
    for ( int i = 0; i < lengthFilled; i++ )
      textArea.append(numbers[i] + lineBreak);
    // Display the output text area via a message dialog box:
    JOptionPane.showMessageDialog(null, textArea);
  }
 
  /*
   * Where are all the rest of the listed methods?  Should they generate
   * themselves?  Really, you could at least put a few skeleton methods for
   * them in here so that it at least looks like you tried.  You also have not
   * placed a closing brace "}" for your class.
   */