JTextField and Strings

Question

I have a problem with using a JTextField in an IF statement. What im trying to achieve is that when the variable "TOLASuser" (JTextField) has a blank text (null) the IF statement then goes on to tell the user through a JTextArea that a null entry is not valid. The problem i'm having is that the IF statement does not read the TOLASuser.getText() as null when there is nothing entered into it, and goes straight on to the else clause.
Do I need to add anything additional to the code prior to using the IF statement. Below is my code.
This is only a small simple program if the entire source code is required I can provide it.
private void BtnValidateActionPerformed(java.awt.event.ActionEvent evt) {                                           
ConsoleView.append(TOLASuser.getText() + '\n');
String User = TOLASuser.getText();
if(User == null)
ConsoleView.setForeground(Color.red);
ConsoleView.append("You must enter your TOLAS username");
else
LblInputpath.setText("\\" + "\\adrsydtolastest\\TOL_USR_DIR\\" + TOLASuser.getText() + "\\RUN\\DTOPLAB.txt");
LblOutputpath.setText("\\" + "\\adrsydtolastest\\PAST_IN_RDY\\" + "TO891.CAF");
ConsoleView.setForeground(Color.red);
ConsoleView.append("PLEASE CHECK THE INPUT AND OUTPUT PATH BEFORE EXECUTING" + '\n');
BtnGo.setEnabled(true);
}

Answer 1

Thank you very much for you help. the use of a new string variable initialised as "" and the use of the equals() methods works perfectly.
below is my new code. not that you need to see it, i just want to make sure i used the CODE tags properly.
Thanks again.
private void BtnValidateActionPerformed(java.awt.event.ActionEvent evt) {
String Varify = "";
String User = TOLASuser.getText();
if(User.equals(Varify))
ConsoleView.setForeground(Color.red);
ConsoleView.append("You must enter your TOLAS username");
else
LblInputpath.setText("\\" "\\adrsydtolastest\\TOL_USR_DIR\\" TOLASuser.getText() "\\RUN\\DTOPLAB.txt");
LblOutputpath.setText("\\" "\\adrsydtolastest\\PAST_IN_RDY\\" "TO891.CAF");
ConsoleView.setForeground(Color.red);
ConsoleView.append("PLEASE CHECK THE INPUT AND OUTPUT PATH BEFORE EXECUTING" + '\n');
BtnGo.setEnabled(true);
}