java - Staggered two dimensional arrays? -

so have bunch of id numbers align sort of tree.... example

1               3082                          2986               /      \                      /      \ 2         1233        2344              1233        1634          /    \      /    \                        /    \ 3      0254  0456  1342  0653                    0643  0463 

how make array of array fit scheme or there else do? know make 2-dimensional array (string[][] array = new ...) size each tree different , unknown. 1x1 , others 3x5, @ largest. don't want have make array large either, @ least don't think do.

i using java , starts in jsonarray way.

update: have added examples of id numbers be, kind of irrelevant. if combined 0643 , 0463 1634, if combined 1643 1233, final item 2986. again irrelevant how works.

i want know if possible make 2-dimensional array if size of array unknown, can see column 1 contain 1 id number, column 2 contain 2 id numbers , in cases 1 or 3 id numbers, , column 3 can contain anywhere 1 6 id numbers.

i made demo-program see how 1 implement 2-d array unknown set of columns , rows -- use arraylist class first store unknown set of items, add 2-d array. take note of syntax use in creating ragged 2-d array: (note; ragged 2-d array array different number of columns in each row)

    import javax.swing.joptionpane; import java.util.arraylist; public class ss {     public static void main(string[] args){         joptionpane.showmessagedialog(null, "welcome woodrow's program.\n" +             "here, create 2d array big want..  2d array demo.");          arraylist<string> names = new arraylist<>();             while(true) {                 string nameinput = joptionpane.showinputdialog("enter names here:  hit cancel when done.");                 if(nameinput == null || nameinput.equals(""))                     break;                 names.add(nameinput);             }         string[][] pplinfo = new string[names.size()][];          for(int = 0, accumulator = 0; < names.size(); i++) {             arraylist<string> pets = new arraylist<>();             int inneraccumulator = -1;                     string petinput = "";                     do{                         petinput = joptionpane.showinputdialog("enter names of " + names.get(accumulator) +                                  "'s pets here:  (hit cancel when done)");                         inneraccumulator++;                         if(petinput != null || petinput.equals("")) {                              pets.add(petinput);                          }                     }while(petinput != null && !petinput.equals(""));                      accumulator++;              pplinfo[i] = new string[inneraccumulator];             //the row of person i, going have inneraccumulator columns listing pets.             //now add pets appropriate row             for(int ii = 0; ii < inneraccumulator; ii++)                 pplinfo[i][ii] = pets.get(ii);         }         //now display data have entered in ragged array.         //ragged means number of columns differs each row.         for(int = 0; < pplinfo.length; i++) {//pplinfo.length returns number of rows             system.out.println(names.get(i) + "'s pet list:");             for(int ii = 0; ii < pplinfo[i].length; ii++) //pplinfo[rowindex].length returns  # columns in respective row                 system.out.println((ii+1) + ". " + pplinfo[i][ii]);             system.out.println("======================");         }         system.exit(0);     } } 

i start with:

string[][] str = new string[rows][];

the first box specify int, number of rows in array. leave second bracket blank now; later, specify number of columns in each row doing:

str[index] = new string[columns];

now, have 2-d array size want, , can add items in nested loop.