Develop Reference

When creating an Object of my Gui in another class the frame loads but nothing appears inside

I've made the initialize method public, didn't help and I've set visible to true both here and the external class as seen below, any help would be appreciated. I created the gui using the window builder tool from eclipse
GeneralWindow frame = new GeneralWindow();
frame.setVisible(true);
package gui;
import java.awt.EventQueue;
import javax.swing.JFrame;
import javax.swing.JButton;
import java.awt.event.ActionListener;
import java.awt.event.ActionEvent;
import javax.swing.JTextField;
import javax.swing.UIManager;
import javax.swing.UIManager.LookAndFeelInfo;
import javax.swing.JLabel;
import javax.swing.JTextArea;
import java.awt.Font;
public class GeneralWindow extends JFrame{
private JFrame frame;
private JTextField textField;
/**
* Launch the application.
*/
public static void main(String[] args) {
try {
for (LookAndFeelInfo info : UIManager.getInstalledLookAndFeels()) {
if ("Nimbus".equals(info.getName())) {
UIManager.setLookAndFeel(info.getClassName());
break;
}
}
} catch (Exception e) {
// If Nimbus is not available, you can set the GUI to another look and feel.
}
EventQueue.invokeLater(new Runnable() {
public void run() {
try {
GeneralWindow window = new GeneralWindow();
window.frame.setVisible(true);
} catch (Exception e) {
e.printStackTrace();
}
}
});
}
/**
* Create the application.
*/
public GeneralWindow() {
initialize();
}
/**
* Initialize the contents of the frame.
*/
private void initialize() {
frame = new JFrame();
frame.setBounds(100, 100, 450, 300);
frame.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
frame.getContentPane().setLayout(null);
JButton btnNewButton = new JButton("Order");
btnNewButton.setBounds(309, 12, 115, 23);
frame.getContentPane().add(btnNewButton);
JButton btnNewButton_1 = new JButton("Search");
btnNewButton_1.addActionListener(new ActionListener() {
public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e) {
}
});
btnNewButton_1.setBounds(309, 46, 115, 23);
frame.getContentPane().add(btnNewButton_1);
JButton btnNewButton_2 = new JButton("Stock");
btnNewButton_2.addActionListener(new ActionListener() {
public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent arg0) {
}
});
btnNewButton_2.setBounds(309, 80, 115, 23);
frame.getContentPane().add(btnNewButton_2);
JButton btnNewButton_3 = new JButton("Emplyoees");
btnNewButton_3.setBounds(309, 114, 115, 23);
frame.getContentPane().add(btnNewButton_3);
JButton btnNewButton_4 = new JButton("Price Amend");
btnNewButton_4.setBounds(309, 148, 115, 23);
frame.getContentPane().add(btnNewButton_4);
JButton btnNewButton_5 = new JButton("Total");
btnNewButton_5.setBounds(309, 182, 115, 23);
frame.getContentPane().add(btnNewButton_5);
textField = new JTextField();
textField.setBounds(10, 228, 178, 20);
frame.getContentPane().add(textField);
textField.setColumns(10);
JLabel lblProductcodeBar = new JLabel("Productcode Bar");
lblProductcodeBar.setFont(new Font("Tahoma", Font.BOLD, 11));
lblProductcodeBar.setBounds(10, 209, 125, 14);
frame.getContentPane().add(lblProductcodeBar);
JButton btnEnter = new JButton("Enter");
btnEnter.setBounds(198, 227, 89, 23);
frame.getContentPane().add(btnEnter);
JTextArea textArea = new JTextArea();
textArea.setBounds(10, 11, 277, 196);
frame.getContentPane().add(textArea);
}
}

You're making the frame frame, of type GeneralWindow, visible. But you never add any component to that frame. Instead, your initialize method creates yet another frame, and adds many components to that frame. Don't create another frame, and add the components to this, instead.

In Your initialize() just change the frame to this keyword
e.g
//Remove this line
frame = new JFrame();
//change frame to this keyword
this.setBounds(100, 100, 450, 300);
this.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
this.getContentPane().setLayout(null);
That its u r done...

Whilst the two answers provide here give a correct solution, they both reinforce the view that you should extend JFrame. This is not good advice in general, as you should favour composition over inheritance. Indeed the way you were writing the code to include a JFrame as a private member was the correct instinct.
I've included a stripped down version of your code that doesn't extend JFrame Instead it creates an instance of the JFrame when you call the createAndDisplayFrame() method.
public class GeneralWindow {
private JFrame frame;
private JButton orderButton;
public static void main(final String[] args) {
EventQueue.invokeLater(new Runnable() {
#Override
public void run() {
GeneralWindow window = new GeneralWindow();
window.crateAndDisplayFrame();
}
});
}
public void crateAndDisplayFrame() {
initialize();
frame.setVisible(true);
}
private void initialize() {
frame = new JFrame();
frame.setBounds(100, 100, 450, 300);
frame.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
frame.getContentPane().setLayout(null);
orderButton = new JButton("Order");
orderButton.setBounds(309, 12, 115, 23);
frame.getContentPane().add(orderButton);
}
}

Passing info from one Jframe to another

I have my original text field in my first frame and I need it to be displayed in my other jframe. The code is:
JButton btnContinue = new JButton("Continue");
btnContinue.addActionListener(new ActionListener() {
public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e) {
String msg = nameL.getText();
frame2 fram = new frame2 ();
fram.setVisible(true);
frame.dispose();
new order (msg) .setVisible(true);
'nameL' is the textbox the user enters their name in.
This code describe where it should be displayed:
public order(String para){
getComponents();
JLabel lblNewLabel_1 = new JLabel("");
lblNewLabel_1.setBounds(91, 27, 254, 84);
contentPane.add(lblNewLabel_1);
lblNewLabel_1.setText(para);
this is my first class where the user inputs their name
public order(String para){
getComponents();
import java.awt.EventQueue;
import javax.swing.JFrame;
import javax.swing.JButton;
import javax.swing.JTextField;
import javax.swing.JTextArea;
import java.awt.Color;
import java.awt.event.ActionListener;
import java.awt.event.ActionEvent;
import java.awt.Font;
public class frame1 {
public JFrame frame;
public JTextField nameL;
public JTextField textField_1;
/**
* Launch the application.
*/
public static void main(String[] args) {
EventQueue.invokeLater(new Runnable() {
public void run() {
try {
frame1 window = new frame1();
window.frame.setVisible(true);
} catch (Exception e) {
e.printStackTrace();
}
}
});
}
/**
* Create the application.
*/
public frame1() {
initialize();
}
/**
* Initialize the contents of the frame.
*/
private void initialize() {
frame = new JFrame();
frame.getContentPane().setEnabled(false);
frame.setResizable(false);
frame.getContentPane().setBackground(Color.GRAY);
frame.setForeground(Color.WHITE);
frame.setBounds(100, 100, 450, 300);
frame.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
frame.getContentPane().setLayout(null);
JButton btnContinue = new JButton("Continue");
btnContinue.addActionListener(new ActionListener() {
public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e) {
String msg = nameL.getText();
frame2 fram = new frame2 ();
fram.setVisible(true);
frame.dispose();
new order (msg) .setVisible(true);
}
}
);
btnContinue.setBounds(0, 249, 450, 29);
frame.getContentPane().add(btnContinue);
JTextArea txtrPleaseEnterYour = new JTextArea();
txtrPleaseEnterYour.setEditable(false);
txtrPleaseEnterYour.setBackground(Color.LIGHT_GRAY);
txtrPleaseEnterYour.setBounds(0, 0, 450, 32);
txtrPleaseEnterYour.setText("\tPlease enter your name and email below\n If you do not have or want to provide an email, Leave the space blank");
frame.getContentPane().add(txtrPleaseEnterYour);
JTextArea txtrEnterYourFull = new JTextArea();
txtrEnterYourFull.setEditable(false);
txtrEnterYourFull.setFont(new Font("Lucida Grande", Font.PLAIN, 15));
txtrEnterYourFull.setBackground(Color.GRAY);
txtrEnterYourFull.setText("Enter your full name");
txtrEnterYourFull.setBounds(52, 58, 166, 29);
frame.getContentPane().add(txtrEnterYourFull);
nameL = new JTextField();
nameL.addActionListener(new ActionListener() {
public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e) {
}
}
);
nameL.setBackground(Color.LIGHT_GRAY);
nameL.setBounds(52, 93, 284, 26);
frame.getContentPane().add(nameL);
nameL.setColumns(10);
JTextArea txtroptionalEnterYour = new JTextArea();
txtroptionalEnterYour.setEditable(false);
txtroptionalEnterYour.setFont(new Font("Lucida Grande", Font.PLAIN, 15));
txtroptionalEnterYour.setBackground(Color.GRAY);
txtroptionalEnterYour.setText("(Optional) Enter your email");
txtroptionalEnterYour.setBounds(52, 139, 193, 29);
frame.getContentPane().add(txtroptionalEnterYour);
textField_1 = new JTextField();
textField_1.addActionListener(new ActionListener() {
public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e) {
}
});
textField_1.setBackground(Color.LIGHT_GRAY);
textField_1.setBounds(52, 180, 284, 26);
frame.getContentPane().add(textField_1);
textField_1.setColumns(10);
}
}
my second class where the text field has to be set
import java.awt.EventQueue;
import javax.swing.JFrame;
import javax.swing.JOptionPane;
import javax.swing.JPanel;
import javax.swing.border.EmptyBorder;
import java.awt.Color;
import javax.swing.JButton;
import java.awt.event.ActionListener;
import java.awt.event.ActionEvent;
import javax.swing.JLabel;
public class order extends JFrame {
/**
*
*/
private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
public JPanel contentPane;
/**
* Launch the application.
*/
public static void main(String[] args) {
EventQueue.invokeLater(new Runnable() {
public void run() {
try {
order frame = new order();
frame.setVisible(true);
} catch (Exception e) {
e.printStackTrace();
}
}
});
}
/**
* Create the frame.
*/
public order() {
setAlwaysOnTop(false);
setTitle("Order Details // Finalization");
setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.DISPOSE_ON_CLOSE);
setBounds(100, 100, 451, 523);
contentPane = new JPanel();
contentPane.setBackground(Color.LIGHT_GRAY);
contentPane.setBorder(new EmptyBorder(5, 5, 5, 5));
setContentPane(contentPane);
contentPane.setLayout(null);
JButton btnNewButton = new JButton("Submit Order");
btnNewButton.addActionListener(new ActionListener() {
public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e) {
setAlwaysOnTop(true);
JOptionPane.showMessageDialog(null, "Your Order Has Been Confirmed", "enjoy your meal", JOptionPane.YES_NO_OPTION);
}
});
btnNewButton.setBounds(164, 466, 117, 29);
contentPane.add(btnNewButton);
}
public order(String para){
getComponents();
JLabel lblNewLabel_1 = new JLabel("");
lblNewLabel_1.setBounds(91, 27, 254, 84);
contentPane.add(lblNewLabel_1);
lblNewLabel_1.setText(para);
}
}

Open both JFrames, have them listen to the EventQueue for a custom "string display" event.
Wrap the string to be displayed in a custom event.
Throw that on the event queue, allowing both the JFrames to receive the event, which they will then display accordingly.
---- Edited with an update ----
Ok, so you're a bit new to Swing, but hopefully not too new to Java. You'll need to understand sub-classing and the "Listener" design pattern.
Events are things that Components listen for. They ask the dispatcher (the Swing dispatcher is fed by the EventQueue) to "tell them about events" and the dispatcher then sends the desired events to them.
Before you get too deep in solving your problem, it sounds like you need to get some familiarity with Swing and its event dispatch, so read up on it here.

how to handle events across multiple windows (different jframes) using JAVA?

I am creating an ide which will contain a workarea (a jframe) and a toolbox (another jframe). how do I accomplish the task of handling events across these two jframes? For example, if I click on a tool in the toolbox, an action has to take place in the workarea.
Please help me out
CODE FOR TOOLBOX:
import java.awt.EventQueue;
import javax.swing.JFrame;
import javax.swing.JPanel;
import javax.swing.UIManager;
import javax.swing.UnsupportedLookAndFeelException;
import javax.swing.border.EmptyBorder;
import javax.swing.JButton;
import javax.swing.ImageIcon;
import java.awt.Color;
import java.awt.event.ActionListener;
import java.awt.event.ActionEvent;
public class ToolboxForPDP extends JFrame {
/**
*
*/
private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
private JPanel contentPane;
/**
* Launch the application.
*/
public static void main(String[] args) {
EventQueue.invokeLater(new Runnable() {
public void run() {
try {
ToolboxForPDP frame = new ToolboxForPDP();
frame.setVisible(true);
} catch (Exception e) {
e.printStackTrace();
}
}
});
}
/**
* Create the frame.
*/
public ToolboxForPDP() {
setResizable(false);
try {
UIManager.setLookAndFeel("javax.swing.plaf.nimbus.NimbusLookAndFeel");
} catch (ClassNotFoundException | InstantiationException | IllegalAccessException | UnsupportedLookAndFeelException e) {
e.printStackTrace();
}
setTitle("Toolbox");
setType(Type.UTILITY);
setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
setBounds(100, 100, 157, 445);
contentPane = new JPanel();
contentPane.setBackground(new Color(245, 245, 220));
contentPane.setBorder(new EmptyBorder(5, 5, 5, 5));
setContentPane(contentPane);
contentPane.setLayout(null);
JButton btnNewButton = new JButton("");
btnNewButton.setToolTipText("Select an element in the work area");
btnNewButton.setBackground(new Color(255, 255, 255));
btnNewButton.setIcon(new ImageIcon("D:\\KS\\4-1\\Mini-Project\\PageDesigner PRO(TM)\\PageDesigner PRO(TM)\\resources\\pics\\icons\\toolbox icons\\select.jpg"));
btnNewButton.setBounds(10, 11, 55, 45);
contentPane.add(btnNewButton);
JButton btnNewButton_1 = new JButton("");
btnNewButton_1.addActionListener(new ActionListener() {
public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent arg0) {
}
});
btnNewButton_1.setToolTipText("Insert Image");
btnNewButton_1.setBackground(new Color(255, 255, 255));
btnNewButton_1.setIcon(new ImageIcon("D:\\KS\\4-1\\Mini-Project\\PageDesigner PRO(TM)\\PageDesigner PRO(TM)\\resources\\pics\\icons\\toolbox icons\\image.png"));
btnNewButton_1.setBounds(75, 11, 55, 45);
contentPane.add(btnNewButton_1);
JButton btnNewButton_2 = new JButton("");
btnNewButton_2.setToolTipText("Insert Text");
btnNewButton_2.setIcon(new ImageIcon("D:\\KS\\4-1\\Mini-Project\\PageDesigner PRO(TM)\\PageDesigner PRO(TM)\\resources\\pics\\icons\\toolbox icons\\text.jpg"));
btnNewButton_2.setBackground(new Color(255, 255, 255));
btnNewButton_2.setBounds(10, 67, 55, 45);
contentPane.add(btnNewButton_2);
JButton btnNewButton_3 = new JButton("");
btnNewButton_3.setToolTipText("Insert Hyperlink");
btnNewButton_3.setIcon(new ImageIcon("D:\\KS\\4-1\\Mini-Project\\PageDesigner PRO(TM)\\PageDesigner PRO(TM)\\resources\\pics\\icons\\toolbox icons\\hyperlink.png"));
btnNewButton_3.addActionListener(new ActionListener() {
public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent arg0) {
}
});
btnNewButton_3.setBackground(new Color(255, 255, 255));
btnNewButton_3.setBounds(75, 67, 55, 45);
contentPane.add(btnNewButton_3);
JButton btnNewButton_4 = new JButton("");
btnNewButton_4.setToolTipText("Change Page Background Properties");
btnNewButton_4.setIcon(new ImageIcon("D:\\KS\\4-1\\Mini-Project\\PageDesigner PRO(TM)\\PageDesigner PRO(TM)\\resources\\pics\\icons\\toolbox icons\\fill color.png"));
btnNewButton_4.setBackground(new Color(255, 255, 255));
btnNewButton_4.setBounds(10, 123, 55, 45);
contentPane.add(btnNewButton_4);
JButton btnNewButton_5 = new JButton("");
btnNewButton_5.setIcon(new ImageIcon("D:\\KS\\4-1\\Mini-Project\\PageDesigner PRO(TM)\\PageDesigner PRO(TM)\\resources\\pics\\icons\\toolbox icons\\textbox.jpg"));
btnNewButton_5.setToolTipText("Insert Textbox");
btnNewButton_5.setBackground(new Color(255, 255, 255));
btnNewButton_5.setBounds(10, 179, 55, 45);
contentPane.add(btnNewButton_5);
JButton btnNewButton_6 = new JButton("");
btnNewButton_6.setIcon(new ImageIcon("D:\\KS\\4-1\\Mini-Project\\PageDesigner PRO(TM)\\PageDesigner PRO(TM)\\resources\\pics\\icons\\toolbox icons\\radio Button.gif"));
btnNewButton_6.setToolTipText("Insert Radio Button");
btnNewButton_6.setBackground(new Color(255, 255, 255));
btnNewButton_6.setBounds(10, 235, 55, 45);
contentPane.add(btnNewButton_6);
JButton btnNewButton_7 = new JButton("");
btnNewButton_7.setIcon(new ImageIcon("D:\\KS\\4-1\\Mini-Project\\PageDesigner PRO(TM)\\PageDesigner PRO(TM)\\resources\\pics\\icons\\toolbox icons\\checkbox.gif"));
btnNewButton_7.setToolTipText("Insert Checkbox");
btnNewButton_7.setBackground(new Color(255, 255, 255));
btnNewButton_7.setBounds(10, 291, 55, 45);
contentPane.add(btnNewButton_7);
JButton btnNewButton_8 = new JButton("");
btnNewButton_8.addActionListener(new ActionListener() {
public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e) {
}
});
btnNewButton_8.setIcon(new ImageIcon("D:\\KS\\4-1\\Mini-Project\\PageDesigner PRO(TM)\\PageDesigner PRO(TM)\\resources\\pics\\icons\\toolbox icons\\hr.jpg"));
btnNewButton_8.setToolTipText("Insert Horizontal Rule");
btnNewButton_8.setBackground(new Color(255, 255, 255));
btnNewButton_8.setBounds(75, 123, 55, 45);
contentPane.add(btnNewButton_8);
JButton btnNewButton_9 = new JButton("");
btnNewButton_9.setIcon(new ImageIcon("D:\\KS\\4-1\\Mini-Project\\PageDesigner PRO(TM)\\PageDesigner PRO(TM)\\resources\\pics\\icons\\toolbox icons\\button.jpg"));
btnNewButton_9.setToolTipText("Insert Button");
btnNewButton_9.setBackground(new Color(255, 255, 255));
btnNewButton_9.setBounds(75, 179, 55, 45);
contentPane.add(btnNewButton_9);
JButton btnNewButton_10 = new JButton("");
btnNewButton_10.setIcon(new ImageIcon("D:\\KS\\4-1\\Mini-Project\\PageDesigner PRO(TM)\\PageDesigner PRO(TM)\\resources\\pics\\icons\\toolbox icons\\drop-down list.png"));
btnNewButton_10.setToolTipText("Insert Drop-Down List");
btnNewButton_10.setBackground(new Color(255, 255, 255));
btnNewButton_10.setBounds(75, 235, 55, 45);
contentPane.add(btnNewButton_10);
JButton btnNewButton_11 = new JButton("");
btnNewButton_11.setIcon(new ImageIcon("D:\\KS\\4-1\\Mini-Project\\PageDesigner PRO(TM)\\PageDesigner PRO(TM)\\resources\\pics\\icons\\toolbox icons\\list.jpg"));
btnNewButton_11.setToolTipText("Insert List");
btnNewButton_11.setBackground(new Color(255, 255, 255));
btnNewButton_11.setBounds(75, 291, 55, 45);
contentPane.add(btnNewButton_11);
JButton btnNewButton_12 = new JButton("");
btnNewButton_12.addActionListener(new ActionListener() {
public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e) {
}
});
btnNewButton_12.setIcon(new ImageIcon("D:\\KS\\4-1\\Mini-Project\\PageDesigner PRO(TM)\\PageDesigner PRO(TM)\\resources\\pics\\icons\\toolbox icons\\icoScript.png"));
btnNewButton_12.setToolTipText("Add Script");
btnNewButton_12.setBackground(new Color(255, 255, 255));
btnNewButton_12.setBounds(42, 347, 55, 45);
contentPane.add(btnNewButton_12);
}
}
CODE FOR WORKAREA:
import java.awt.EventQueue;
import javax.swing.JFrame;
import javax.swing.JPanel;
import javax.swing.UIManager;
import javax.swing.UnsupportedLookAndFeelException;
import javax.swing.border.EmptyBorder;
import javax.swing.ButtonGroup;
import javax.swing.JMenuBar;
import javax.swing.JMenu;
import javax.swing.JMenuItem;
import javax.swing.JRadioButtonMenuItem;
import javax.swing.JCheckBoxMenuItem;
import javax.swing.ImageIcon;
import java.awt.Toolkit;
public class StartScreen extends JFrame {
/**
*
*/
private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
private JPanel contentPane;
/**
* Launch the application.
*/
public static void main(String[] args) {
EventQueue.invokeLater(new Runnable() {
public void run() {
try {
StartScreen frame = new StartScreen();
frame.setVisible(true);
} catch (Exception e) {
e.printStackTrace();
}
}
});
}
/**
* Create the frame.
*/
public StartScreen() {
try {
UIManager.setLookAndFeel("javax.swing.plaf.nimbus.NimbusLookAndFeel");
} catch (ClassNotFoundException | InstantiationException | IllegalAccessException | UnsupportedLookAndFeelException e) {
e.printStackTrace();
}
setIconImage(Toolkit.getDefaultToolkit().getImage("D:\\KS\\4-1\\Mini-Project\\PageDesigner PRO(TM)\\PageDesigner PRO(TM)\\resources\\pics\\logos\\swami_vivekananda2.png"));
setTitle("PageDesigner PRO(TM)");
setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
setBounds(10, 10, 1350, 700);
JMenuBar menuBar = new JMenuBar();
setJMenuBar(menuBar);
JMenu mnFile = new JMenu("File");
menuBar.add(mnFile);
JMenu mnNew = new JMenu("New");
mnNew.setIcon(new ImageIcon("D:\\KS\\4-1\\Mini-Project\\PageDesigner PRO(TM)\\PageDesigner PRO(TM)\\resources\\pics\\icons\\menu icons\\Folder-New-icon.png"));
mnFile.add(mnNew);
JMenuItem mntmNewProject = new JMenuItem("New Project");
mnNew.add(mntmNewProject);
JMenuItem mntmNewPage = new JMenuItem("New Page");
mnNew.add(mntmNewPage);
mnFile.addSeparator();
JMenuItem mntmSave = new JMenuItem("Save");
mntmSave.setIcon(new ImageIcon("D:\\KS\\4-1\\Mini-Project\\PageDesigner PRO(TM)\\PageDesigner PRO(TM)\\resources\\pics\\icons\\menu icons\\save.png"));
mnFile.add(mntmSave);
JMenuItem mntmSaveAs = new JMenuItem("Save As...");
mnFile.add(mntmSaveAs);
mnFile.addSeparator();
JMenuItem mntmAddToProject = new JMenuItem("Add to project");
mnFile.add(mntmAddToProject);
JMenuItem mntmTestThisPage = new JMenuItem("Test this page");
mnFile.add(mntmTestThisPage);
mnFile.addSeparator();
JCheckBoxMenuItem chckbxmntmShowWelcomeScreen = new JCheckBoxMenuItem("Show Welcome screen at startup");
mnFile.add(chckbxmntmShowWelcomeScreen);
mnFile.addSeparator();
JMenuItem mntmExit = new JMenuItem("Exit");
mntmExit.setIcon(new ImageIcon("D:\\KS\\4-1\\Mini-Project\\PageDesigner PRO(TM)\\PageDesigner PRO(TM)\\resources\\pics\\icons\\menu icons\\exit.png"));
mnFile.add(mntmExit);
JMenu mnEdit = new JMenu("Edit");
menuBar.add(mnEdit);
JMenuItem mntmModifyElementProperties = new JMenuItem("Modify Element Properties");
mnEdit.add(mntmModifyElementProperties);
JMenu mnMode = new JMenu("Mode");
menuBar.add(mnMode);
JRadioButtonMenuItem rdbtnmntmBeginnerMode = new JRadioButtonMenuItem("Beginner Mode");
mnMode.add(rdbtnmntmBeginnerMode);
JRadioButtonMenuItem rdbtnmntmAdvancedMode = new JRadioButtonMenuItem("Advanced Mode");
mnMode.add(rdbtnmntmAdvancedMode);
ButtonGroup modeMenuGroup = new ButtonGroup();
modeMenuGroup.add(rdbtnmntmBeginnerMode);
modeMenuGroup.add(rdbtnmntmAdvancedMode);
JMenu mnHelp = new JMenu("Help");
menuBar.add(mnHelp);
JMenuItem mntmUserGuide = new JMenuItem("User Guide");
mntmUserGuide.setIcon(new ImageIcon("D:\\KS\\4-1\\Mini-Project\\PageDesigner PRO(TM)\\PageDesigner PRO(TM)\\resources\\pics\\icons\\menu icons\\manual icon.gif"));
mnHelp.add(mntmUserGuide);
JMenuItem mntmAbout = new JMenuItem("About...");
mntmAbout.setIcon(new ImageIcon("D:\\KS\\4-1\\Mini-Project\\PageDesigner PRO(TM)\\PageDesigner PRO(TM)\\resources\\pics\\icons\\menu icons\\info_black.png"));
mnHelp.add(mntmAbout);
contentPane = new JPanel();
contentPane.setBorder(new EmptyBorder(5, 5, 5, 5));
setContentPane(contentPane);
contentPane.setLayout(null);
}
}

Your question is how to pass information from one JFrame to another, and this can be done as simply as having one class call a method of the other class. That you haven't done this, and that you've only posted a skeleton program, one with components but with no logic suggests to me that you are still very much a beginner Java programmer, and so my main suggestion is that first and foremost you strive to learn to code, and in particular learn about object oriented principles and how they relate to Java. Without these rudiments under your belt, we can give you code and pointers, but it won't help you much. I suggest that you go to the Java Tutorials and start there, but also that you get a decent book or two on the subject such as Bruce Eckel's Thinking in Java, and/or Head First Java.
As for your actual code I suggest that you not create classes that extend JFrame since that locks you into a JFrame, and again as per my comment above, your tool window should be a non-modal JDialog not a JFrame. If you gear your code towards creating JPanels, then you can place them into JFrames, JDialogs, other JPanels, etc... wherever needed, and so this gives you a lot more flexibility.
The main difficulty in the situation of your program is not passing information from one window to another, one object to another, really, but rather when to do so, since the program is event driven. Myself, I like to use PropertyChangeListeners for this, basically using an observer interface that is already part of the Swing GUI structure. For example in the code below I create two main JPanels, one is displayed within a JFrame, the other within a non-modal JDialog, and I pass button press information (the actionCommand String of the button) to the JTextArea in the main GUI via a PropertyChangeListener:
import java.awt.BorderLayout;
import java.awt.Dialog.ModalityType;
import java.awt.GridLayout;
import java.awt.event.ActionEvent;
import java.beans.PropertyChangeEvent;
import java.beans.PropertyChangeListener;
import javax.swing.*;
public class Foo3 {
private static void createAndShowGui() {
final MainPanel1 mainPanel1 = new MainPanel1();
final ToolPanel1 toolPanel1 = new ToolPanel1();
JFrame frame = new JFrame("Foo3");
frame.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
frame.getContentPane().add(mainPanel1);
frame.pack();
frame.setLocationRelativeTo(null);
frame.setVisible(true);
JDialog dialog = new JDialog(frame, "Toolbar", ModalityType.MODELESS);
dialog.add(toolPanel1);
dialog.pack();
dialog.setLocationByPlatform(true);
dialog.setVisible(true);
toolPanel1.addPropertyChangeListener(ToolPanel1.ACTION_COMMAND, new PropertyChangeListener() {
#Override
public void propertyChange(PropertyChangeEvent evt) {
mainPanel1.appendActionCommand((String) evt.getNewValue());
}
});
}
public static void main(String[] args) {
SwingUtilities.invokeLater(new Runnable() {
public void run() {
createAndShowGui();
}
});
}
}
class MainPanel1 extends JPanel {
private JTextArea actionCommandArea = new JTextArea(30, 50);
private JScrollPane scrollPane = new JScrollPane(actionCommandArea);
public MainPanel1() {
scrollPane.setVerticalScrollBarPolicy(JScrollPane.VERTICAL_SCROLLBAR_ALWAYS);
setLayout(new BorderLayout());
add(scrollPane, BorderLayout.CENTER);
}
public void appendActionCommand(String text) {
actionCommandArea.append(text + "\n");
}
}
class ToolPanel1 extends JPanel {
public static final String ACTION_COMMAND = "action command";
public static final String[] BTN_TEXTS = {
"Select Element",
"Insert Image",
"Insert Text",
"Insert Hyperlink",
"Change Page Background",
"Insert Textbox",
"Insert Radio Button",
"Insert Checkbox",
"Insert Horizontal Rule",
"Insert Button",
"Insert Drop-Down List",
"Insert List",
"Add Script"
};
private String actionCommand = "";
public ToolPanel1() {
int rows = 0; // variable number of rows
int cols = 2; // 2 columns
int hgap = 5;
int vgap = hgap;
setLayout(new GridLayout(rows, cols, hgap, vgap));
setBorder(BorderFactory.createEmptyBorder(hgap, hgap, hgap, hgap));
for (String btnText : BTN_TEXTS) {
add(new JButton(new ButtonAction(btnText)));
}
}
public String getActionCommand() {
return actionCommand;
}
private class ButtonAction extends AbstractAction {
public ButtonAction(String name) {
super(name);
}
#Override
public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e) {
String oldValue = "";
String newValue = e.getActionCommand();
actionCommand = newValue;
ToolPanel1.this.firePropertyChange(ACTION_COMMAND, oldValue, newValue);
}
}
}
A more robust design would be to use a Model-View-Controller type design, but this is a bit more advanced, and you'll need to get some more code experience under your belt before using this, I think. also check out these links to similar questions/answers.

The method setVisible(boolean) is undefined for the type orbital_app

This is the code. My main frame is orbital_app and I would like it to when I click on JButton (button), data is being saved, the current window closes and another window orbital_app opens.
public class signup_try {
private JFrame frame;
private JTextField txtname;
private JTextField textusername;
private JTextField txtpass;
private JTextField textmail;
/**
* Launch the application.
*/
public static void main(String[] args) {
EventQueue.invokeLater(new Runnable() {
public void run() {
try {
signup_try window = new signup_try();
window.frame.setVisible(true);
} catch (Exception e) {
e.printStackTrace();
}
}
});
}
/**
* Create the application.
*/
public signup_try() {
initialize();
}
Connection connection=null;
/**
* Initialize the contents of the frame.
*/
private void initialize() {
connection=dbase.dBase();
frame = new JFrame();
frame.setBounds(100, 100, 450, 300);
frame.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
frame.getContentPane().setLayout(null);
JLabel label = new JLabel("Orbital");
label.setForeground(SystemColor.activeCaption);
label.setFont(new Font("Arial Black", Font.BOLD, 17));
label.setBounds(170, 11, 71, 25);
frame.getContentPane().add(label);
JLabel label_1 = new JLabel("Name:");
label_1.setForeground(SystemColor.activeCaption);
label_1.setFont(new Font("Arial Black", Font.PLAIN, 12));
label_1.setBounds(21, 66, 46, 14);
frame.getContentPane().add(label_1);
txtname = new JTextField();
txtname.setColumns(10);
txtname.setBounds(102, 63, 200, 22);
frame.getContentPane().add(txtname);
textusername = new JTextField();
textusername.setColumns(10);
textusername.setBounds(102, 108, 200, 22);
frame.getContentPane().add(textusername);
txtpass = new JTextField();
txtpass.setColumns(10);
txtpass.setBounds(102, 150, 200, 22);
frame.getContentPane().add(txtpass);
textmail = new JTextField();
textmail.setColumns(10);
textmail.setBounds(102, 192, 200, 22);
frame.getContentPane().add(textmail);
JLabel label_2 = new JLabel("Username:");
label_2.setForeground(SystemColor.activeCaption);
label_2.setFont(new Font("Arial Black", Font.PLAIN, 12));
label_2.setBounds(21, 111, 71, 14);
frame.getContentPane().add(label_2);
JLabel label_3 = new JLabel("Password:");
label_3.setForeground(SystemColor.activeCaption);
label_3.setFont(new Font("Arial Black", Font.PLAIN, 12));
label_3.setBounds(21, 154, 71, 14);
frame.getContentPane().add(label_3);
JLabel label_4 = new JLabel("Email:");
label_4.setForeground(SystemColor.activeCaption);
label_4.setFont(new Font("Arial Black", Font.PLAIN, 12));
label_4.setBounds(21, 196, 46, 14);
frame.getContentPane().add(label_4);
JButton button = new JButton("Sign Up");
button.addActionListener(new ActionListener() {
public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent arg0) {
try {
String query="insert into Users(Name, Username, Password, Email) values(?,?,?,?)";
PreparedStatement prepstat=connection.prepareStatement(query);
prepstat.setString(1, txtname.getText());
prepstat.setString(2, textusername.getText());
prepstat.setString(3, txtpass.getText());
prepstat.setString(4, textmail.getText());
prepstat.execute();
JOptionPane.showMessageDialog(null, "Data saved");
prepstat.close();
} catch (SQLException e) {
JOptionPane.showMessageDialog(null, e);
}
I get the error saying that The method setVisible(boolean) is undefined for the type orbital_app. what should I do to fix this? Here I want to close this present frame(signup_try) and go to other frame (orbital_app).. setVisible is underlined red and says "The method setVisible(boolean) is undefined for the type orbital_app".
frame.dispose();
orbital_app orb=new orbital_app();
orb.setVisible(true);
}
});
button.setBounds(170, 239, 91, 23);
frame.getContentPane().add(button);
}
}
Orbital_app code(in this code setVisible works properly without any error):
package project;
import java.awt.EventQueue;
import javax.swing.JFrame;
import javax.swing.JLabel;
import javax.swing.SwingConstants;
import java.awt.Font;
import java.awt.SystemColor;
import javax.swing.JButton;
import java.awt.event.ActionEvent;
import java.awt.event.ActionListener;
import java.awt.Color;
import javax.swing.UIManager;
public class orbital_app{
private JFrame frame;
/**
* Launch the application.
*/
public static void main(String[] args) {
EventQueue.invokeLater(new Runnable() {
public void run() {
try {
orbital_app window = new orbital_app();
window.frame.setVisible(true);
} catch (Exception e) {
e.printStackTrace();
}
}
});
}
/**
* Create the application.
*/
public orbital_app() {
initialize();
}
/**
* Initialize the contents of the frame.
*/
private void initialize() {
frame = new JFrame();
frame.getContentPane().setBackground(UIManager.getColor("Button.background"));
frame.setResizable(false);
frame.setBounds(100, 100, 450, 260);
frame.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
frame.getContentPane().setLayout(null);
JLabel toplbl = new JLabel("Orbital");
toplbl.setForeground(SystemColor.activeCaption);
toplbl.setFont(new Font("Arial Black", Font.BOLD, 17));
toplbl.setVerticalAlignment(SwingConstants.TOP);
toplbl.setBounds(182, 11, 71, 25);
frame.getContentPane().add(toplbl);
JLabel infolbl = new JLabel("Multipurpose app == orbital 1.0\r\n");
infolbl.setFont(new Font("Arial", Font.PLAIN, 11));
infolbl.setForeground(SystemColor.activeCaption);
infolbl.setBounds(138, 47, 165, 25);
frame.getContentPane().add(infolbl);
JButton signup_btn = new JButton("Sign Up");
signup_btn.addActionListener(new ActionListener() {
public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent arg0) {
frame.dispose();
signup_form sup_for=new signup_form();
3.setVisible works here
sup_for.setVisible(true);
}
});
signup_btn.setFont(new Font("Arial", Font.PLAIN, 11));
signup_btn.setForeground(SystemColor.activeCaption);
signup_btn.setBounds(61, 133, 91, 23);
frame.getContentPane().add(signup_btn);
JButton signin_btn = new JButton("Sign In");
signin_btn.addActionListener(new ActionListener() {
public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent arg0) {
frame.dispose();
signin_form log_for=new signin_form();
4.and here too
log_for.setVisible(true);
}
});
signin_btn.setFont(new Font("Arial", Font.PLAIN, 11));
signin_btn.setForeground(SystemColor.activeCaption);
signin_btn.setBounds(285, 133, 91, 23);
frame.getContentPane().add(signin_btn);
JLabel notelbl = new JLabel("note: click Sign Up for new account or Sign In for existing account.");
notelbl.setHorizontalAlignment(SwingConstants.CENTER);
notelbl.setBounds(10, 199, 406, 25);
frame.getContentPane().add(notelbl);
}
}

I faced the same problem, it is solved by exteding the JFrame class.
Your class should extends JFrame, because setVisible() method belongs to JFrameclass.

There seems to be a few issues with your code.
Most importantly: You have multiple entry points in your program.
You should only have one public static void main(String[] args) ... function in your application, that is where the 'program starts'.
The error message you get (The method setVisible(boolean) is undefined for the type orbital_app) comes from the fact that the class orbital_app don´t have a setVisible function, one of its members does, but that doesn't matter.
Your orbital_app have a private member that is a JFrame, which makes it possible for you to call the JFrames methods from inside the orbital_app by accessing the frame, but you cant reach it from outside.
It seems you have mixed up inheritance and ownership.
If you wish your orbital_app class to be a JFrame, you need to inherit from the JFrame. Else you could just implement the methods you wish to make public for your other classes.
Or you could just create a getter for the private JFrame object so that you can access it from outside.

Switching between jpanels with a click of a button using CardLayout [duplicate]

This question already has answers here:
Implementing back/forward buttons in Swing
(3 answers)
Closed 8 years ago.
I want to know how do you go to another panel by pressing a button.
The codes for my main GUI is below:
import java.awt.Color;
import java.awt.EventQueue;
import java.awt.Font;
import java.awt.event.ActionEvent;
import java.awt.event.ActionListener;
import javax.swing.JButton;
import javax.swing.JFrame;
import javax.swing.JLabel;
import javax.swing.JPanel;
import javax.swing.JTextField;
import javax.swing.border.LineBorder;
public class MainMenu extends JFrame {
private JPanel contentPane, confirmPage_Panel;
private JTextField NumberofSoups_TEXTFIELD;
private JTextField NumberofSandwiches_TEXTFIELD;
private JTextField totalCost_TEXTFIELD;
private JTextField OrderNumber_TEXTFIELD;
private int Soupclicks = 0;
private int Sandwichclicks = 0;
/**
* Launch the application.
*/
public static void main(String[] args) {
EventQueue.invokeLater(new Runnable() {
public void run() {
try {
MainMenu frame = new MainMenu();
frame.setVisible(true);
} catch (Exception e) {
e.printStackTrace();
}
}
});
}
/**
* Create the frame.
*/
public MainMenu() {
super("Welcome Yo!");
setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
setBounds(100, 100, 1268, 716);
contentPane = new JPanel();
contentPane.setBackground(Color.DARK_GRAY);
contentPane.setBorder(new LineBorder(new Color(255, 200, 0), 4, true));
setContentPane(contentPane);
contentPane.setLayout(null);
JPanel Header_Panel = new JPanel();
Header_Panel.setBackground(Color.DARK_GRAY);
Header_Panel.setBounds(145, 11, 977, 35);
contentPane.add(Header_Panel);
JLabel Header_Label = new JLabel("Super Sandwich Store");
Header_Label.setForeground(Color.PINK);
Header_Label.setFont(new Font("Tahoma", Font.PLAIN, 22));
Header_Panel.add(Header_Label);
JPanel Soup_Panel = new JPanel();
Soup_Panel.setBackground(Color.PINK);
Soup_Panel.setBounds(10, 71, 459, 339);
contentPane.add(Soup_Panel);
Soup_Panel.setLayout(null);
JButton Confirm_Button = new JButton("Confirm Now");
Confirm_Button.setFont(new Font("Tahoma", Font.PLAIN, 14));
Confirm_Button.setBounds(511, 558, 121, 23);
contentPane.add(Confirm_Button);
JButton Exit_Button = new JButton("Exit");
Exit_Button.addActionListener(new ActionListener() {
public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent arg0) {
System.exit(0);
}
});
Exit_Button.setFont(new Font("Tahoma", Font.PLAIN, 13));
Exit_Button.setBounds(641, 558, 111, 23);
contentPane.add(Exit_Button);
}// end of MainMenu()
}
And when i clicked the confirm button it will invoke this page :
public class ConfirmationGUI extends JFrame {
private JPanel contentPane;
private JTextField ConfirmedOrder_Field;
private JTextField totalCost_Field;
/**
* Launch the application.
*/
public static void main(String[] args) {
EventQueue.invokeLater(new Runnable() {
public void run() {
try {
ConfirmationGUI frame = new ConfirmationGUI();
frame.setVisible(true);
} catch (Exception e) {
e.printStackTrace();
}
}
});
}
/**
* Create the frame.
*/
public ConfirmationGUI() {
super("Confirmation Yo!");
setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
setBounds(100, 100, 668, 457);
contentPane = new JPanel();
contentPane.setBackground(Color.DARK_GRAY);
contentPane.setBorder(new LineBorder(Color.ORANGE, 4, true));
setContentPane(contentPane);
contentPane.setLayout(null);
JPanel Top_Panel = new JPanel();
Top_Panel.setBackground(Color.DARK_GRAY);
Top_Panel.setBounds(5, 5, 637, 93);
contentPane.add(Top_Panel);
Top_Panel.setLayout(null);
JLabel lblNewLabel = new JLabel("Super Sandwich Store");
lblNewLabel.setForeground(Color.PINK);
lblNewLabel.setBounds(245, 11, 185, 45);
Top_Panel.add(lblNewLabel);
lblNewLabel.setFont(new Font("Tahoma", Font.PLAIN, 18));
}
}
It would be much of a help,
Thank you :)

To switch between JFrames, call setVisible(true) for the JFrame you want to reveal and setVisible(false) for the one you want to hide. CardLayout doesn't apply here.
Suggestions: read the Swing tutorial on layouts, don't use null layouts with absolutely positioning, and familiarize yourself with the differences between ordinary containers and top-level containers.