Button question, hopefully an easy one...

[Allen DeSantes]

Hi everyone. Just getting into Java and I have a question.
I have 2 Java programs, MenuFrame.java and BoxFrame.java.
My MenuFrame.java has two buttons in it, an "Exit" and "Open" button.
My BoxFrame.java just prints out a line of text.
My question is, how would I code the "Open" button so it creates an instance of the BoxFrame.java program in a new window?
my actionPerformed for my "Exit" button currently looks like this;

public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e) {
String command = e.getActionCommand();
 if (command.equals("EXIT")) { System.exit(0); }
}  

[Ernest Friedman-Hill]

The precise answer would depend on what sort of a class "BoxFrame" is. Is it a subclass of JFrame? Is it something that pritns to System.out?

[Allen DeSantes]

Prints to System.out.
I'm hoping to learn how to call other programs from other programs. Or is the right terminology, creating an instance of one program form another program?

[Ben Wood]

Hi Allen.

I have 2 Java programs

I think the first thing is to start thinking in Java/object oriented terms. Rather than having 2 programs you have 2 Java classes. You can create objects from these classes at runtime, so you can create an instance of BoxFrame within Menuframe when the Open button is clicked...

 
public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e) {
   String command = e.getActionCommand();
   if (command.equals("OPEN")) {
      BoxFrame b = new BoxFrame();
      // If BoxFrame.java has a print method or similar, use it now...e.g
      b.printMessageToScreen();
      // Or if BoxFrame has a display method, use it now...e.g.
      b.display();
      // Or if BoxFrame extends a component like JFrame, add it to the GUI
      contentPane.add(b);
      }
   }  
 

hope this helps you along a little
[ March 02, 2004: Message edited by: Ben Wood ]
[ March 02, 2004: Message edited by: Ben Wood ]

[Allen DeSantes]

Thank you Ben!
That worked perfectly. I appreciate your help. I'm sure I'll be back with more questions as I progress.