Help finishing off

Question

Hi there people, I would like some help finishing this off, but before I explain it, this is me practising my java this is not coursework, and I'm not trying to create and form of spyware!
Ok =D right what im trying to do is make a program like msn messenger, but when the user enters their username and password, that data gets sent to the listener which prints it out into a text file.
I am having trouble with the following area and would apprecitate a little help:
Layout - I'm not too sure how to work gridbaglayout
Background - How to you set a picture in the background?
Getting the entered text to the listener - I can't work out who I get the text the user has entered and print it out into the text file.
And if any of you have an idea on things I could add change etc then =D
Please don't b***h about me trying to make some spyware or rubbish like that, I'm just trying to have fun practising my java :)
Msn class
* Main class
* @author
* @date 25/05/06
import java.awt.*;
import java.awt.event.ActionListener;
import javax.swing.*;
public class Msn extends SimpleFrame{
     PanelArea panelArea = new PanelArea();
      * Main method
     public static void main(String[] args){
          Msn msn = new Msn();
          msn.showIt("MSN Messenger");
      * Make the buttons to go at the top
     public JMenuBar menuBar = new JMenuBar();
     // Menu
     public JMenu file = new JMenu("File");
     public JMenu contacts = new JMenu("Contacts");
     public JMenu actions = new JMenu("Actions");
     public JMenu tools = new JMenu("Tools");
     public JMenu help = new JMenu("Help");
     // Submenu for file
     public JMenuItem signIn = new JMenuItem("Sign In");
     public JMenuItem signOut = new JMenuItem("Sign Out");
     public JMenuItem openReceived = new JMenuItem("Open Received Files");
     public JMenuItem close = new JMenuItem("Close");
     // Submenu for contacts
     public JMenuItem addContact = new JMenuItem("Add a Contact");
     public JMenuItem searchContact = new JMenuItem("Search a Contact");
     public JMenuItem addressBook = new JMenuItem("Go To My Address Book");
     public JMenuItem displayPicture = new JMenuItem("View Display Picture");
     public JMenuItem manageContacts = new JMenuItem("Manage Contacts");
     public JMenuItem manageGroups = new JMenuItem("Manage Groups");
     public JMenuItem sortContacts = new JMenuItem("Sort Contacts");
     public JMenuItem saveContacts = new JMenuItem("Save Contacts By");
     public JMenuItem importContacts = new JMenuItem("Import Contacts From a File");
     // Submenu for actions
     public JMenuItem sendInstantMessage = new JMenuItem("Send an Instant Message");
     public JMenuItem videoVoice = new JMenuItem("Video/Voice");
     public JMenuItem startActivity = new JMenuItem("Start an Activity");
     public JMenuItem playGame = new JMenuItem("Play a Game");
     public JMenuItem remoteAssistance = new JMenuItem("Request Remote Assistance");
     // Submenu for tools
     public JMenuItem allwaysOnTop = new JMenuItem("Always on Top");
     public JMenuItem myEmotions = new JMenuItem("My Emotions");
     public JMenuItem myBackground = new JMenuItem("My Background");
     public JMenuItem changeDisplayPicture = new JMenuItem("Change Display Picture");
     public JMenuItem myWinks = new JMenuItem("My WInks");
     public JMenuItem webCam = new JMenuItem("Web Cam Settings");
     // Submenu for help
     public JMenuItem helpTopics = new JMenuItem("Help Topics");
     public JMenuItem termsOfUse = new JMenuItem("Tersm of Use");
     public JMenuItem sendFeedback = new JMenuItem("Send Feedback");
     public JMenuItem aboutMsn = new JMenuItem("About MSN Messenger");
      * Constructor to add the buttons onto the panel
     Msn(){
          MsnListener msnListener = new MsnListener();
          // Add menuBar
          this.setJMenuBar(menuBar);
          // Add Items to the menuBar
          menuBar.add(file);
          menuBar.add(contacts);
          menuBar.add(actions);
          menuBar.add(tools);
          menuBar.add(help);
          // Add items to file
          file.add(signIn);
          file.add(signOut);
          file.add(openReceived);
          file.add(close).addActionListener(msnListener);
          // Add items to contacts
          contacts.add(addContact);
          contacts.add(searchContact);
          contacts.add(addressBook);
          contacts.add(displayPicture);
          contacts.add(manageContacts);
          contacts.add(manageGroups);
          contacts.add(sortContacts);
          contacts.add(saveContacts);
          contacts.add(importContacts);
          // Add items to actions
          actions.add(sendInstantMessage);
          actions.add(videoVoice);
          actions.add(startActivity);
          actions.add(playGame);
          actions.add(remoteAssistance);
          // Add items to tools
          tools.add(allwaysOnTop);
          tools.add(myEmotions);
          tools.add(myBackground);
          tools.add(changeDisplayPicture);
          tools.add(myWinks);
          tools.add(webCam);
          // Add items to help
          help.add(helpTopics);
          help.add(termsOfUse);
          help.add(sendFeedback);
          help.add(aboutMsn);
          this.getContentPane().add(panelArea,BorderLayout.CENTER);
          pack();
}Listener class
* Listener class
* @author
* @date 25/05/06
import java.awt.*;
import java.awt.event.*;
import javax.swing.*;
import java.io.PrintWriter;
import java.io.FileOutputStream;
import java.io.FileNotFoundException;
public class MsnListener implements ActionListener {
     PanelArea pArea;
     public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e){
          String actionCommand = e.getActionCommand();
          if(actionCommand.equals("Close"))
               leave();
          if(actionCommand.equals("Sign In"))
               popUp();
               enter();
          else if(actionCommand.equals("Ok"))
               System.exit(0);
      * Method to close the programme
      * Called when user selects "Close" from the menu
     public void leave(){
          System.out.println("Testing");
          System.exit(0);
      * Method which takes the user name and password entered
      * and puts it into a text file
      * file is located in the same place as the java files
     public void enter(){
          System.out.println("Running");
          PrintWriter outputStream = null;
        try
            outputStream =
                new PrintWriter(new FileOutputStream("password.txt"));
        catch(FileNotFoundException e)
            System.out.println("Error opening the file");
        System.out.println("written to file");
        outputStream.println("User Name: ");
        outputStream.println("Password: ");
        outputStream.close();
      *  Pop for when the user tries to log in
     public void popUp(){
          Runnable runner = new Runnable() {
              public void run()
                try
                    Thread.sleep(1500);
                } catch (InterruptedException e)
                JFrame frame = new JFrame("MSN Error");
                JLabel label = new JLabel("Error xdsf34234fd");
                JButton okButton = new JButton("Ok");
                frame.add(label, BorderLayout.CENTER);
                frame.add(okButton, BorderLayout.SOUTH);
                frame.setSize(200, 200);
                frame.setVisible(true);
            EventQueue.invokeLater(runner);
}Panel class
* PanelArea clas
* @author
* @date 35/05/06
* TextField, Buttons etc that go in the main panel
import java.awt.*;
import java.awt.event.ActionListener;
import javax.swing.*;
public class PanelArea extends JPanel{
     private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
     // Makes the buttons and labels
     private JLabel emailAddress = new JLabel("E-mail address");
     private JTextField email = new JTextField();
     private JLabel enterPassword = new JLabel("Password:");
     private JPasswordField password = new JPasswordField();
     private JButton signIn = new JButton("Sign In");
     private JRadioButton remember = new JRadioButton();
     private JRadioButton rememberPassword = new JRadioButton();
     private JRadioButton autoSignIn = new JRadioButton();
     private JLabel msPass = new JLabel("Microsoft Passport Network");
      * Constructor to set things in palce
     PanelArea(){
          MsnListener msnListener = new MsnListener();
          // Set Size and background Colour
          this.setBackground(Color.WHITE);
          this.setPreferredSize(new Dimension(500,600));
          // Grid Layout
          BorderLayout borderLayout = new BorderLayout();
          this.setLayout(borderLayout);
          this.setLayout(new GridLayout(0,1));
          // Set the Buttons and Labels in place
          this.add(emailAddress);
          this.add(email);
          this.add(enterPassword);
          this.add(password);
          this.add(signIn);
          this.add(remember);
          this.add(rememberPassword);
          this.add(autoSignIn);
          this.add(msPass);
          signIn.addActionListener(msnListener);
     public String getEmail(){
          return email.getText();
     public String getPassword(){
          return password.getText();
}Simpleframe class
* SimpleFrame class
* @author
* @date 25/05/06
import javax.swing.*;
public class SimpleFrame extends JFrame {
     public void showIt()
          this.setVisible(true);
     public void showIt(String title)
          this.setTitle(title);
          this.setVisible(true);
     public void showIt(String title,int x,int y)
          this.setTitle(title);
          this.setLocation(x,y);
          this.setVisible(true);
}null

Answer 1

but it throws loads of awt exceptions! what am I doing wrong?you've changed the method to reference pArea
pArea.getEmail()
but pArea is null
PanelArea pArea;
you need to pass some references
  Msn(){
    //MsnListener msnListener = new MsnListener();<------comment out this
    this.getContentPane().add(panelArea,BorderLayout.CENTER);
    pack();
class MsnListener implements ActionListener {
  PanelArea pArea;//<--------see next line
  MsnListener(PanelArea p){pArea = p;}//<--------------add the constructor, and pass the reference
  public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e){
  PanelArea(){
    //MsnListener msnListener = new MsnListener();<-----------change to next line
    MsnListener msnListener = new MsnListener(this);//<----pass the reference
    // Set Size and background Colour
    this.setBackground(Color.WHITE);make these changes to a backup copy of your program
(in case they don't do what you want)