Retrieving a Component from a SplitPane

[Joel Cochran]

I am trying to write my first real Swing Application. I have a JFrame with a JMenuBar, JToolBar, and a JSplitPane. I have JToolTips, JMenuItems, ActionListeners, the works.
Now I want one of the action listeners to update a JLabel on a JPanel on the left side of the JSplitPane.
I have found the JSplitPane.getLeftComponent() method but I seem to be at a loss as to how I actually make it work. I can't instantiate a Component, but if I try:

   JPanel left = new JPanel();
   left = this.splitPane.getLeftComponent();

the compiler says that they are incompatible types.
I'm sure this is a simple question, like casting or something, but I am simply stumped.
After I accomplish this, how do I get my JLabel out of the JPanel and update it?
All the books show you how to build this stuff but don't seem to do a very good job telling you how to manipulate it once it's out there!
Thank in advance,

[cardwell cupp]

Sounds like you are having fun! I believe that a JPanel extends from a JComponent which also extends from a Component, so you could type cast it:
JPanel left = (JPanel)splitPane.getLeftComponent();
But I see that you want to get a JLabel out of the left pane. Where did you put the JLabel?
If you instaniated it and it is member of you class, you can just acces it that way. I am not sure how to get it otherwise...?
Did you ?
private JLabel label = new JLabel ("text");

or

leftPane.add(new JLabel("text"));
Cardwell

[Joel Cochran]

Thanks CC, that did it!
I knew it had to be something simple... I think by the time I wrote the message I was severly brain fried!
As far as the updating, I may have to simply clear the existing JLabel and replace it with a new one. Here is the code used to create the splitPane...

  
// Create Main Window as Split Pane
    private JSplitPane buildMainPane()
    {
        // Create Left Side of Main Window
        JPanel left = new JPanel();
        JLabel currentRecordMessage = new JLabel( "There is No Record Selected." );
        left.add( currentRecordMessage );
        // Create Right side of Main Window as Desktop Pane
        JDesktopPane right = new JDesktopPane();
        right.setBackground( Color.gray );
        
        JSplitPane newSplitPane = new JSplitPane( JSplitPane.HORIZONTAL_SPLIT , left , right ); 
        newSplitPane.setContinuousLayout( true ); 
   newSplitPane.setOneTouchExpandable( true ); 
        newSplitPane.setDividerLocation( 175 ); 
        return newSplitPane ;
    }

Now that I have retrieved the leftComponent that I would be able to change it's properties? I may not be using the right components yet, just started seriously messing with this stuff on Tuesday.

[Joel Cochran]

Jus tin case anyone is curious I found a far simpler way to accomplish this.
If I define every component as a private instnace variable, then I never have to worry about retrieving a component from within another component to update it, I need only refer to it directly...

  
private JLabel messageLabel ;
...
// somewhere in the code, probably an actionListener
messageLabel.setText( "New Text" );
...

Now the change takes place without needing to care where the messageLabel Component resides...