public boolean setField(int maxField, int jobNum, int submitTime,
                            int runTime, int numProc) {
        // need to subtract by 1 since array starts at 0.
        if (jobNum > 0) {
            JOB_NUM = jobNum - 1;
        } else if (jobNum == 0) {
        	throw new IllegalArgumentException("Invalid job number field.");
        } else {
            JOB_NUM = -1;
        }

        // get the max. number of field
        if (maxField > 0) {
            MAX_FIELD = maxField;
        } else {
        	throw new IllegalArgumentException("Invalid max. number of field.");
        }

        // get the submit time field
        if (submitTime > 0) {
            SUBMIT_TIME = submitTime - 1;
        } else {
        	throw new IllegalArgumentException("Invalid submit time field.");
        }

        // get the run time field
        if (runTime > 0) {
            REQ_RUN_TIME = runTime - 1;
        } else {
        	throw new IllegalArgumentException("Invalid run time field.");
        }

        // get the number of processors field
        if (numProc > 0) {
            REQ_NUM_PROC = numProc - 1;
        } else {
        	throw new IllegalArgumentException("Invalid number of processors field.");
        }

        return true;
    }