Untitled

 //Compares how much the blocks on two boards differ by
  //Use to determine how much distance there is between one board configuration and
  //the goal configuration
  //addition from ashley.
  public int compareBoards (board a) {
    board currBoard = new board (this.blockList);
    board goalBoard = new board (a.blockList);
    int totalDist = 0;
    if(!goalBoard.blockList.isEmpty()) {
      Iterator<Block> iter = goalBoard.blockList.iterator();
      while(iter.hasNext()) {
        totalDist = totalDist + currBoard.compareBoardsHelper(iter.next());
      }
    }

    return totalDist;
  }

  public int compareBoardsHelper (Block goal) {
    int totalDist = 0;
    int index = 0;
    int minDist = 10000;
    if (!this.blockList.isEmpty()) {
      Iterator<Block> iter = this.blockList.iterator();
      while(iter.hasNext()) {
        Block n = iter.next();
        if (goal.isSameSize(n)) {
          if (goal.compareBlocks(n) < minDist) {
            minDist = goal.compareBlocks(n);
            index = this.blockList.indexOf(n);
          }
          this.blockList.remove(index);
          totalDist = totalDist + minDist;
        } else {
          //do nothing
        }
      }
    }
    return totalDist;
  }