Child frame problem

Question

My intention:
I wrote a parent frame. in one of the memuItem action performed, the program
create a child frame and try to get some input. after get the input, in the same action performed code, the parent will update its display pane using the data obtained from the child frame.
my code:
private void jMenuItemAddCActionPerformed(java.awt.event.ActionEvent evt) {
//get the type of the carrier set
String sort = getSort("AddC");
if ((sort != null) && (sort.length() > 0)) { //this is a pop up dialog
CarrierSet aSet = new CarrierSet(); //create an empty set
aSet.setSort(sort);
//let user enter the elements
// UAEnterElements is a subclass of JFrame( I also tried with extending JDialog
// it will add elements to aSet . there is a text field to let user enter stuff
// a NEXT, DONE and CANCEL button
UAEnterElements getCarrierD = new UAEnterElements(this, aSet);
if(getCarrierD.getStatus() == 1){   //if user clicked done in UAEnterElements
algebra.addCarrierSet(aSet);   // algebra is a private member of this
// redisplay the content of _algebra              
jLabelShowAlg.setText(_algebra.toString());
My problem:
my problem:
the parent just goes ahead to update its display pane without the child returning.
So it display old information.
I tried to make the child as a subclass object of JDialog, but still not working.
I wrote _parent.setEnabled(false) in the child constructor. The parent still just go
ahead to display old information.
how should I make the parent wait until the user click DONE and then execute
if(getCarrierD.getStatus() == 1 {
} Can I avoid implementing thread?
Thanks a lot for any help.

Answer 1

Thanks for your help. 2 Duke dollars is in your accout now.
it worked when I wrote a class extending the JDialog class and setModal(true) .
one more question related to this one: what if I still want the child be a frame,
what should I do to make the parent wait till child done?