Create multiple instances of same class but with unique names

Question

Hi,
I'm creating an IM application in Java.
So far I can click on a user and create a chat session, using my chatWindow class. But this means I can only create one chatWindow class, called 'chat'. How can I get the application to dynamically make new instances of this class with unique names, for examples chatWindowUser1, chatWindowUser2.
Below is some code utlising the Openfire Smack API but hopefully the principle is the clear.
    private void chatButtonActionPerformed(java.awt.event.ActionEvent evt) {                                          
        int selectedUserIndex = rosterList.getSelectedIndex();
        String selectedUser = rostAry[selectedUserIndex].getUser();
        System.out.println("Chat with: " + selectedUser);
        if (chatBox == null) {
            JFrame mainFrame = CommsTestApp.getApplication().getMainFrame();
            chatBox = new CommsTestChatBox(mainFrame,conn,selectedUser);
            chatBox.setLocationRelativeTo(mainFrame);
        CommsTestApp.getApplication().show(chatBox);
}  

Answer 1

yes, an array would work fine, just realize that by using an array, you're setting an upper bound on the number of windows you can have open.
As for unique names, if you mean unique variable name, you don't need one. The array index serves to uniquely identify each instance. If you mean unique title for the window, set that however you want (username, index in array, randomly generated string, etc.). It's just a property of the window object.