Leetcode 6. ZigZag Conversion

The string "PAYPALISHIRING" is written in a zigzag pattern on a given number of rows like this: (you may want to display this pattern in a fixed font for better legibility)

P   A   H   N
A P L S I I G
Y   I   R

And then read line by line:  "PAHNAPLSIIGYIR"

Write the code that will take a string and make this conversion given a number of rows:

string convert(string text, int nRows);

convert("PAYPALISHIRING", 3) should return "PAHNAPLSIIGYIR".

Analysis: you have to pay attention to the order that the String traverse: How to get the index of the String:

public class Solution {
    public String convert(String s, int numRows) {
      int length = s.length();
      StringBuffer result = new StringBuffer();
      char[] sToArray = s.toCharArray();

      if(numRows == 1)
        return s;

      //This is to append the first row.
      int next = 0;
      while(next < length){
        result.append(sToArray[next]);
        next = next + 2*(numRows - 1);
      }
      
      for(int i = 1; i < numRows - 1; i++){
        boolean zig = true;
        int begin = i;
        int nextEle = i;
        while(nextEle < length){
          //This is to return the result;
          result.append(sToArray[nextEle]);
          //first start with from top to bottom zig order
          if(zig){
            nextEle = nextEle + 2*(numRows - i - 1);
            zig = false;
          }
          else{
            nextEle = nextEle + i *2;
            zig = true;
          }
        }
      }

      //This is to append the elements in the last row.
      next = numRows - 1;
      while(next < length){
        result.append(sToArray[next]);
        next = next + 2*(numRows - 1);
      }
      return result.toString();

    }
}