Can not refer to main frame as not in package

Question

I made my frame by simply typing "new ProgramProj();" under main string args which worked fine (well actually my lecturer did it like that) .
I've tried to copy the layout of "normal" layout by getting the content pane, etc. but then I get an illegal argument exception (cannot add window to a container)...Is there a way to keep this method and be able to refer to this frame from another frame because I need to set the text of a label on the main frame from another frame under the action listener:
        if(event.getSource() == cmdSaveSettings) {
        if(txtPlayerOneName.getText().equals(emptyText)) {
             JOptionPane.showMessageDialog(null, "alert", "Please enter player one's name", JOptionPane.ERROR_MESSAGE);
       else {
            playerOneName = txtPlayerOneName.getText();
            ProgramProj.lblplayerOneName.setText(playerOneName); //ProgramProj is the file name that cannot be found
       }I've added the action listeners but nothing happens. Would really appreciate the help, thanks in advance.

Answer 1

Cleo123 wrote:
So are you saying that if I use a JOptionPane as a frame I won't have any trouble retrieving the data inputted as I will not have to specify which frame I want the data to go to because it will be a option pane OF the main frame?If the JOptionPane holds a JPanel that you have a reference to, then you can get information out of the JPanel easily.
I've used a separate frame frame because I gather a lot more information which takes a page such as a colour chooser for the counter they want, (connect 4), option boxes for the grid size they want, combo box for the shape of the counter, sound and time check boxes and then text fields if they want a timer handicap...So I thought it best for it to be more that a message box as I wouldn't want a load of message boxes requesting one piece of data at the time. You can get your info all together with a JOptionPane.
For instance what if you had a JPanel (and enum) that looked like so:
    enum Difficulty
        EASY("Easy"),
        MODERATE("Moderate"),
        DIFFICULT("Difficult"),
        VERY_DIFFICULT("Kick Ass");
        private String text = "";
        private Difficulty(String text)
            this.text = text;
        @Override
        public String toString()
            return text;
    class PrefPanel extends JPanel
        private JTextField nameField = new JTextField(20);
        private JComboBox difficultyCB = new JComboBox(Difficulty.values());
        public PrefPanel()
            JPanel labelPanel = new JPanel(new GridLayout(0, 1, 10, 10));
            JPanel dataPanel = new JPanel(new GridLayout(0, 1, 10, 10));
            labelPanel.add(new JLabel("Name: "));
            dataPanel.add(nameField);
            labelPanel.add(new JLabel("Difficulty: "));
            dataPanel.add(difficultyCB);
            setBorder(BorderFactory.createEmptyBorder(5, 5, 25, 5));
            setLayout(new BorderLayout(10, 10));
            add(labelPanel, BorderLayout.WEST);
            add(dataPanel, BorderLayout.CENTER);
        public String getNameText()
            return nameField.getText();
        public Difficulty getDifficulty()
            if (difficultyCB.getSelectedIndex() >= 0)
                return (Difficulty)difficultyCB.getSelectedItem();               
            else
                return null;
    }You could then show the JPanel in a JOptionPane and retrieve the info easily like so:
        public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent event)
            boolean preferencesObtained = false;
            PrefPanel prefPanel = new PrefPanel(); // here's the JPanel object
            while (!preferencesObtained)
                int result = JOptionPane.showConfirmDialog(
                        GetNameMain.this, // this holds a reference to the JFrame or other JComponent
                        prefPanel, // place the JPanel object in the JOptionPane
                        "Select Preferences",
                        JOptionPane.OK_CANCEL_OPTION,
                        JOptionPane.PLAIN_MESSAGE);
                if (result == JOptionPane.OK_OPTION)
                    if (!prefPanel.getNameText().isEmpty())
                        // get the information from the PrefPanel object and place into
                        // variables of choice
                        name = prefPanel.getNameText();
                        nameLabel.setText(name);
                        difficulty = prefPanel.getDifficulty();
                        difficultyLabel.setText(difficulty.toString());
                        preferencesObtained = true;
                    else
                        JOptionPane.showMessageDialog(GetNameMain.this,
                                "Please fill all data fields", "Incomplete Data",
                                JOptionPane.ERROR_MESSAGE);
                else // cancel pressed
                    preferencesObtained = true;
        }