Programmatically Generating Actionevent in Java - java

I'm making an App. in java , in which there is a Button to which I have added an actionlistener. The ActionEvent it(the button) generates executes some code. Now I want this piece of code to run whenever the app. starts and without pressing the button. I mean, I want to generate the Actionevent (without pressing the button) so that the piece of code the ActionPerformed contains gets executed as the app. start. After that, it may run whenever I press the button.

You can create ActionEvents like any other Java Object by just using the constructor. And then you can send them directly to the component with Component.processEvent(..)
However, in this case I think you are better making your code into a separate function which is called both:
By the ActionListener when the button is pressed
Directly by your application startup code (possibility using SwingUtilities.invokeLater() or SwingUtilities.invokeAndWait() if you need it to happen on the event-handling thread)
This way you don't mix up presentation logic with the business logic of whatever the code does....

Yes it can be done, but it doesn't really make sense, since your goal isn't to press a button or to call an ActionListener's code, but rather to have a common behavior on button press and on program start up. To me the best way to achieve this is to have a method that is called by both the actionPerformed method of the ActionListener and by the class at start up.
Here's a simple example. In the code below, a method disables a button, turns the JPanel green, and starts a Timer that in 2 seconds enables the button and resets the JPanel's background color to its default. The method that causes this behavior is called both in the main class's constructor and in the JButton's ActionListener's actionPerformed method:
import java.awt.*;
import java.awt.event.*;
import javax.swing.*;
public class ActionOnStartUp extends JPanel {
private static final int PANEL_W = 400;
private static final int PANEL_H = 300;
private static final int TIMER_DELAY = 2000;
private JButton turnGreenBtn = new JButton("Turn Panel Green for 2 seconds");;
public ActionOnStartUp() {
turnPanelGreen();
turnGreenBtn.addActionListener(new ActionListener() {
#Override
public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e) {
turnPanelGreen();
}
});
add(turnGreenBtn);
}
public void turnPanelGreen() {
setBackground(Color.green);
turnGreenBtn.setEnabled(false);
new Timer(TIMER_DELAY, new ActionListener() {
public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent ae) {
setBackground(null);
turnGreenBtn.setEnabled(true);
((Timer) ae.getSource()).stop(); // stop the Timer
}
}).start();
}
#Override
public Dimension getPreferredSize() {
return new Dimension(PANEL_W, PANEL_H);
}
public static void createAndShowGui() {
JFrame frame = new JFrame("Foo");
frame.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
frame.getContentPane().add(new ActionOnStartUp());
frame.pack();
frame.setLocationRelativeTo(null);
frame.setVisible(true);
}
public static void main(String[] args) {
SwingUtilities.invokeLater(new Runnable() {
public void run() {
createAndShowGui();
}
});
}
}

Usually, the button action event responds to an external event, to notify the application that the user (or rather something or someone) interacted with the application. If your button executes some code that you want to also execute at application start, why not just place everything at it's proper place?
Example:
public class SomeSharedObject {
public void executeSomeCode() { /*....*/ }
}
Set the button with something like
public void setButtonAction(final SOmeSharedObject obj) {
button.addActionListener(new ActionListener() {
public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e) {
obj.executeSomeCode();
}
});
}
And run at application start with something like
public void initApplication(SomeSharedObject obj) {
obj.executeSomeCode();
}
And, if the code you need to execute takes a while to complete, you might want to use a separate thread inside your actionPerformed button event so your application UI does not freeze up.

Just Call JButton.doClick() it should fire the ActionEvent associated with the JButton.

Related

java-update text in a JTextArea before the method is running

I have two classes, GUI and Test.
In GUI, it has a JTextArea and a button. When the button is click, the method running() in Text is called. listener of the button is as follows:
public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent event){
if (event.getSource() == start) //start is the button
{
textArea.setText(" Testing starts!");
pane.updateUI();
new Text().running(this);
}
}
And the running() in class Text as follows:
public void running(GUI gui) {
gui.textArea.setText("clientIP IS:"+clientIP);
gui.pane.updateUI();
.......
}
When I click the start button in GUI, the running method in class Test is performed. However, the text in the textArea is updated after method running() is finished.
How can I update the text before the method is called?
Thanks very much!
You need to execute your update method in defendant thread. so try to wrap your logic with:
SwingUtilities.invokeLater(new Runnable() {
public void run() {
//update
}
});
Read more about Swing Concurrency

Key Listener doesn't work in a JFrame when traversing from another JFrame

I have 2 classes.
One extends canvas and inside creates a jframe and add the canvas to that jframe and add another keyadapter class to receive key events. I also have main function to test the code. When running from main, the form is displayed and recieves key events too.
Now i create another class that extends jframe and implements keylistener to receive events in this form.
Once the functionality done in the second class i want to close the second form and show the first form. When showing it from the key event functions in the second class the first class key listener is not working.
Please just have a glimpse at my code and tell me how to correct my prob. Thanks for your time and valuable suggestion.
Class 1
public class Test extends Canvas {
private JFrame container;
public Test() {
container = new JFrame("Space Invaders");
JPanel panel = (JPanel) container.getContentPane();
panel.setPreferredSize(new Dimension(screenSize.width, screenSize.height));
panel.setLayout(null);
setBounds(0, 0, screenSize.width, screenSize.height);
panel.add(this);
container.pack();
container.setResizable(false);
container.setVisible(true);
try {
addKeyListener(new KeyInputHandler(this));
} catch (Exception e) {
e.printStackTrace();
}
requestFocus();
}
private class KeyInputHandler extends KeyAdapter {
public void keyPressed(KeyEvent e) {
//Some Action
}
public void keyReleased(KeyEvent e) {
//Some Action
}
public void keyTyped(KeyEvent e) {
//Some Action
}
}
public static void main(String args[]){
//Running this canvas here works perfectly with all added keylisteners
}
}
Class 2
public class Sample extends JFrame implements KeyListener {
public Sample() {
init();
this.setSize(100, 100);
this.setVisible(true);
Sample.this.dispose();
// Created a window here and doing some operation and finally redirecting
// to the previous test window. Even now the test window works perfectly
// with all keylisteners
new Test();
}
public static void main(String[] args) {
new Sample();
}
private void init() {
addKeyListener(this);
}
#Override
public void keyTyped(KeyEvent e) {
}
#Override
public void keyPressed(KeyEvent e) {
removeKeyListener(this);
Sample.this.dispose();
// But when calling the previous Test window here, the window
// gets displayed but the keylistener is not added to the
// window. No keys are detected in test window.
new Test();
}
#Override
public void keyReleased(KeyEvent e) {
}
}
Simple dont use KeyListener/KeyAdapter that is for AWT components and has known focus issues when used with Swing.
The issues can be got around by making sure your component is focusable via setFocusable(true) and than call requestFocusInWindow() after component has been added/is visible.
Rather use KeyBindings for Swing.
For example say now we wanted to listen for D pressed and released:
public static void addKeyBindings(JComponent jc) {
jc.getInputMap(JComponent.WHEN_IN_FOCUSED_WINDOW).put(KeyStroke.getKeyStroke(KeyEvent.VK_D, 0, false), "D pressed");
jc.getActionMap().put("D pressed", new AbstractAction() {
#Override
public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent ae) {
System.out.println("D pressed");
}
});
jc.getInputMap(JComponent.WHEN_IN_FOCUSED_WINDOW).put(KeyStroke.getKeyStroke(KeyEvent.VK_D, 0, true), "D released");
jc.getActionMap().put("D released", new AbstractAction() {
#Override
public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent ae) {
System.out.println("D released");
}
});
}
We would call this method like:
JPanel ourPanel=new JPanel();
...
addKeyBindings(ourPanel);//adds keybindings to the panel
Other suggestions on code
Always create and manipulate Swing components on Event Dispatch Thread, via SwingUtilities.invokeLater(Runnable r) block
Dont extend JFrame class unnecessarily
Dont implement interfaces on a class unless the class will be used for that purpose, or other classes need access to the interfaces methods.
As mentioned by #AndrewThompson, dont use multiple JFrames, either swap the rest for JDialog, or use CardLayout. See here for an example.

ActionListener call blocks MouseClick event

I have a window with a MenuItem "maddbound3" with the following ActionListener:
maddbound3.addActionListener
(
new ActionListener()
{
public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e)
{
menu_addbound3();
}
}
);
When the menu is clicked this listener calls menu_addbound3() below:
void menu_addbound3()
{
while(getEditMode() != EditMode.NONE)
{
System.out.println("!... " + getEditMode());
synchronized(this)
{
try
{
wait();
}
catch(InterruptedException e)
{
e.printStackTrace();
}
}
}
}
A MouseClicked event alters the value of the edit mode and issues a notifyAll() so that the while loop should exit. However, tests have shown that when the system is running through the while loop, the MouseClicked event never occurs on clicking the mouse.
Does the ActionListener block the MouseClicked event? How can I resolve this issue?
Thanks
Don't have a while(true) on the Swing event thread, and likewise don't call wait() on the Swing event thread -- you'll freeze the whole GUI making it completely unresponsive. You need to understand that the main Swing event thread or "event dispatch thread" is responsible for all Swing drawing and user interaction, and so if you tie it up with long-running or freezing code, you lock your entire GUI.
Instead, change the state of your program -- perhaps by setting a variable or two, and have the behavior of your program depend on this state. If you need more specific advice, please tell us what behavior you're trying to achieve, and we can perhaps give you a better way of doing it.
For more on the Swing event thread, please read: Lesson: Concurrency in Swing
Edit
You state:
When the user clicks the menu item I want to obtain information via a series of "discrete" mouse clicks from the window. Hence, on clicking the menu, the user would be prompted to "select a point in the window". So, what I need is for my ActionListener function (menu_addbound3) to then wait for a mouse click. Hence the wait/notify setup. A mouse click changes the edit_mode and notifyAll() causes the wait in the while loop to exit which then causes the while loop to exit and I can then prompt for my next bit of information within the menu_addbound3 function, repeating this as as I need to.
Thanks for the clarification, and now I can definitely tell you that you are doing it wrong, that you most definitely do not want to use the while loop or wait or notify. There are many ways to solve this issue, one could be to use some boolean or enum variables to give the program a state and then alter its behavior depending on the state. Your EditMode enum can be used in the MouseListener to let it know that its active, and then you could also give the MouseListener class a boolean variable windowPointSelected, set to false, and then only set it true after the first click has been made.
Edit 2
For example:
import java.awt.Color;
import java.awt.Dimension;
import java.awt.Point;
import java.awt.event.ActionEvent;
import java.awt.event.MouseAdapter;
import java.awt.event.MouseEvent;
import javax.swing.*;
#SuppressWarnings("serial")
public class ProgState extends JPanel {
private static final int PREF_W = 400;
private static final int PREF_H = PREF_W;
private static final Color EDIT_COLOR = Color.red;
private EditMode editMode = EditMode.NONE;
private boolean firstPointSelected = false;
private JMenuBar jMenuBar = new JMenuBar();
private JTextField firstPointField = new JTextField(15);
private JTextField secondPointField = new JTextField(15);
public ProgState() {
add(firstPointField);
add(secondPointField);
JMenu menu = new JMenu("Menu");
menu.add(new JMenuItem(new AbstractAction("Edit") {
#Override
public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent arg0) {
setEditMode(EditMode.EDITING);
setFirstPointSelected(false);
}
}));
jMenuBar.add(menu);
addMouseListener(new MouseAdapter() {
#Override
public void mousePressed(MouseEvent mEvt) {
if (getEditMode() == EditMode.EDITING) {
Point p = mEvt.getPoint();
String pStr = String.format("[%d, %d]", p.x, p.y);
if (!isFirstPointSelected()) {
firstPointField.setText(pStr);
setFirstPointSelected(true);
} else {
secondPointField.setText(pStr);
setEditMode(EditMode.NONE);
}
}
}
});
}
public void setEditMode(EditMode editMode) {
this.editMode = editMode;
Color c = editMode == EditMode.NONE ? null : EDIT_COLOR;
setBackground(c);
}
public EditMode getEditMode() {
return editMode;
}
public void setFirstPointSelected(boolean firstPointSelected) {
this.firstPointSelected = firstPointSelected;
}
public boolean isFirstPointSelected() {
return firstPointSelected;
}
#Override
public Dimension getPreferredSize() {
return new Dimension(PREF_W, PREF_H);
}
public JMenuBar getJMenuBar() {
return jMenuBar;
}
private static void createAndShowGui() {
ProgState progState = new ProgState();
JFrame frame = new JFrame("EditMode");
frame.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
frame.getContentPane().add(progState);
frame.setJMenuBar(progState.getJMenuBar());
frame.pack();
frame.setLocationRelativeTo(null);
frame.setVisible(true);
}
public static void main(String[] args) {
SwingUtilities.invokeLater(new Runnable() {
public void run() {
createAndShowGui();
}
});
}
}
enum EditMode {
NONE, EDITING
}
From the discussion it seems that having your class assume a number of states is the best way to proceed. We can achieve this by one or more enum variables. The reason I found this so hard to grasp initially is that I couldn't see the benefit of having all of ones code in the MouseClicked function. This is ugly and unmanageable at best.
However, using multiple enums and splitting processing into a number of external functions, we do indeed achieve a nice system for what we want.

Simple memory game with replay button

I want to build a simple memory game. I want to put a replay button, which is play again the memory game.
I have built a class named MemoryGame and a main class.
Here is the part of the ButtonListener code.
public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e) {
if (exitButton == e.getSource()) {
System.exit(0);
}
else if (replayButton == e.getSource()) {
//How can I declare it?
}
}
If I declare the replay button as :
new MemoryGame();
It's work fine, but it pops up another windows.
I want to clear the current display and return to the beginning, without a new windows. How can I do that?
EDIT :
I think I need to rewrite the code of my program, because my program does not have the init() method as suggested which is the initial state of the program.
My Java knowledge is very limited and usually I create less method and dump most into a method.
I will try to redo my program.
Thanks for the suggestions.
Show us what is inside the MemoryGame how you create its initial state. Effectively what folks are suggesting here is for you is to have an initial method which will set-up the game state which the MemeoryGame constructor will call. Then on replay-button of the game you call this method.
Something along these lines:
void init(){
this.x = 10;
this.y = 10;
}
public MemoryGame(){
init();
}
public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e) {
if (exitButton == e.getSource()) {
System.exit(0);
}
else if (replayButton == e.getSource()) {
init();
}
}
one way you can do it although it might be dirty, is to grab your MemoryGame constructor, and put the stuff inside it inside another method, and call that method in your constructor and inside the button event.
as an example i have made the following class and it resets itself with the use of the previous technique:
public class App extends JFrame{
public static void main(String[] args){
new App();
}
public App(){
init();
}
private JButton changeColorButton;
private JButton resetAppButton;
private JPanel panel;
private void init() {
changeColorButton=null;
resetAppButton=null;
panel=null;
this.setSize(200,400);
this.setVisible(true);
this.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
panel = new JPanel();
panel.setBackground(Color.white);
panel.setPreferredSize(new Dimension(200,400));
changeColorButton = new JButton("Change");
changeColorButton.addActionListener(new ActionListener() {
public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e) {
panel.setBackground(Color.black);
panel.repaint();
}
});
changeColorButton.setPreferredSize(new Dimension(100,100));
resetAppButton = new JButton("Reset");
resetAppButton.addActionListener(new ActionListener() {
public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e) {
init();
}
});
resetAppButton.setPreferredSize(new Dimension(100,100));
panel.add(changeColorButton);
panel.add(resetAppButton);
this.add(panel);
this.validate();
}
}
what this app does is it has two buttons. one changes the color and the other resets the app itself.
You should think about re-factoring your code so that the MemoryGame class does not create the GUI, then you wont be recreating it whenever you initialise a new Game.
It's a good idea to keep program logic separate to UI code.
What you could do is you could call dispose() on your JFrame. This will get rid of it and go to your title screen like this:
Here's the button code
public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent event)
{
if (closeButton = event.getSource())
{
System.exit(0);
}
if (playAgainButton = event.getSource())
{
Game.frame.dispose(); // Your class name, then the JFrame variable and call dispose
}
}
This will work but you may have a few problems reseting your program. If so then create a reset method where you can reset all your variables and call when playAgainButton is clicked. For example:
public void reset()
{
// Right here you'd reset all your variables
// Perhaps you have a gameOver variable to see if it's game over or not reset it
gameOver = false;
}

Setting a key-binding to perform the same action as in my action listener

I have a JButton that's attached to an ActionListener, but I also wanted to add a shortcut key to the button to be more user-friendly. Say, the user can click the button and the program performs some function "f" or the user can also press "Enter" on the keyboard to perform the same function f. So here's what the gist of my code looks like
private JButton button;
public static void main(String[] args){
Action buttonListener = new AbstractAction() {
public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e) {
//Perform function f
}
};
button.getInputMap(JComponent.WHEN_IN_FOCUSED_WINDOW).put(KeyStroke.getKeyStroke("ENTER"),
"test");
button.getActionMap().put("test",
buttonListener);
button.addActionListener(new OtherListener());
}
private class OtherListener implements ActionListener{
public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e){
//Perform function f
}
}
Seems a bit tedious having to add an Action and an ActionListener to do the same thing. Maybe I'm not seeing it, but is there a way to cut the code down so I can eliminate the Action and just use the actionListener? I was thinking switching the buttonListener parameter in the getActionMap().put() method to but the method only takes Action types.
Action extends ActionListener, so you should be able to define a single Action and use it wherever you need an ActionListener.
e.g.
public static void main(String[] args){
Action buttonListener = new Action() {
public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e) {
//Perform function f
}
};
button.getInputMap(JComponent.WHEN_IN_FOCUSED_WINDOW)
.put(KeyStroke.getKeyStroke("ENTER"), "test");
button.getActionMap().put("test", buttonListener);
button.addActionListener(buttonListener);
}
JRootPane has a method setDefaultButton(...) that will do what you want. You will need to get the root pane from the top-level container, then you can call this method passing a reference to your JButton, and it will perform its action when enter is pressed on the GUI. And this makes sense when you think about it as "enter" is a special key, one whose behavior should be the responsibility of the GUI, not a single button.

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