Another cannot find symbol error (DiveLog)

Question

Hi I am fairly new to java and I decided to try the tutorial DiveLog. I followed the instructions, however when I try to compile it, not with the DOS command, I keep getting an error stating that, Cannot find symbol class ..... The errors keep recurring at the tabbedPane.addTab(".....",
package DiveLog;
import javax.swing.*;
import java.awt.*;
import java.awt.event.*;
public class DiveLog
{ // Opens class
public JTabbedPane tabbedPane;
public JFrame dlframe;
public DiveLog()
{ // Opens contructor
//Create a frame object to add the application
//GUI components to.
dlframe = new JFrame("A Java(TM) Technology Dive Log");
// Closes from title bar
//and from menu
dlframe.addWindowListener(new WindowAdapter()
{ // Opens addWindowListener method
public void windowClosing(WindowEvent e)
{ // Opens windowClosing method
System.exit(0);
} // Closes windowClosing method
}); // Closes addWindowListener method
// Tabbed pane with panels for Jcomponents
tabbedPane = new JTabbedPane(SwingConstants.LEFT);
tabbedPane.setBackground(Color.blue);
tabbedPane.setForeground(Color.white);
//A method that adds individual tabs to the
//tabbedpane object.
populateTabbedPane();
//Calls the method that builds the menu
buildMenu();
dlframe.getContentPane().add(tabbedPane);
dlframe.pack();
dlframe.setSize(765, 690);
dlframe.setBackground(Color.white);
dlframe.setVisible(true);
} //Ends the constructor
private void populateTabbedPane()
{ // Opens populateTabbedPane method
// Create tabs with titles
tabbedPane.addTab("Welcome",
*               null,*
*               new Welcome(),*
*               "Welcome to the Dive Log");*
*     tabbedPane.addTab("Diver Data",*
*               null,*
*               new Diver(),*
*               "Click here to enter diver data");*
*     tabbedPane.addTab("Log Dives",*
*               null,*
*               new Dives(),*
*               "Click here to enter dives");*
*     tabbedPane.addTab("Statistics",*
*               null,*
*               new Statistics(),*
*               "Click here to calculate dive statistics");*
*     tabbedPane.addTab("Favorite Web Site",*
*               null,*
*               new WebSite(),*
*               "Click here to see a web site");*
*     tabbedPane.addTab("Resources",*
*               null,*
*               new Resources(),*
*               "Click here to see a list of resources");*
*          } //Ends populateTabbedPane method*
private void buildMenu()
{ // Opens buildMenu method
JMenuBar mb = new JMenuBar();
JMenu menu = new JMenu("File");
JMenuItem item = new JMenuItem("Exit");
//Closes the application from the Exit
//menu item.
item.addActionListener(new ActionListener()
{ // Opens addActionListener method
public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e)
{ // Opens actionPerformed method
System.exit(0);
} // Closes actionPerformed method
}); // Closes addActionListener method
menu.add(item);
mb.add(menu);
dlframe.setJMenuBar(mb);
} //Ends the buildMenu method
} //Ends class
If you could help me, please explain it into terms that I would understand as I am still new to the entire language. Thanks

Answer 1

cannot find symbol: whatever class or method signature or variable you use was never declared. It's as simple as that. Make sure that the names are correct; if a class is missing (thanks a bunch for omitting the relevant part of the error message :p), ensure the compiled .class file is in the classpath, if a method isn't found make sure that the arguments are provided exactly in the same order, number and type as the method declaration declares, and if a variable is missing make sure that you actually declared it.
Learn about code tags when posting code next time, by the way.