Help needed, Createing Dynamic User input

Question

Hello,
I am attempting to create some dynamic user input by "predicting" what the user requires in a text box.
For example if the user enters "Smi" I have a select list pop up which gives the user all options that begin with "Smi".
I am able to achieve the popups but the interface is quite jerky and not terribly responsive I am trying to solve this by using a thread which starts and stops when new input is received but it is still not quite right.
The program uses a Sorted TreeSet to hold the data (I thought this would give me a quick search time) and a simple interface at this stage.
Any help would be fantastic
Thanks in advance :P
import java.io.*;
import java.awt.*;
import javax.swing.*;
import java.awt.event.*;
import javax.swing.event.*;
import java.text.*;
import java.util.*;
   /** This program represents part of a larger user interface for allowing the
   user to select data from a file or database.
   <p>
   When the program starts up, it will read in data from a given file, and hold
   it in some type of container allowing rapid access.
   <p>
   The user may then type in the first few letters of the surname of a person,
   and this program should immediately present in a popup dialog the names which
   match.  The user will be able to click on one of the names in the popup and
   that will cause all data about that person to be displayed in the JTextArea
   at the bottom of the window.
   <p>
   This program requires the FormLayout.class, FormLayout$Placement.class, and
   FormLayout$Constraint.class files in the same directory
   (folder) or in its classpath.  These is provided separately.
class PartMatch extends JFrame implements Runnable
                    /** Close down the program. */
   JButton quitbtn;
                    /** Field for the surname. */
   JTextField namefld;
                    /** Full details of the person(s). */
   JTextArea  results;
                    /** Popup dialog to display the names and addresses which
                    match the leading characters given in namefld. */
   Chooser matches;
                  /** Default background color for a window. */
   final static  Color            defBackground = new Color(0xD0C0C0);
                  /** Default foreground color for a window. */
   final static  Color            defForeground = new Color(0x000000);
                  /** Default background color for a field */
   final static  Color            fldBackground = new Color(0xFFFFFF);
                  /** Default background color for a button */
   final static  Color            btnBackground = new Color(0xF0E0E0);
   final static  Color            dkBackground = new Color(0xB0A0A0);
                  /** Larger font */
   final static  Font bold = new Font("Helvetica", Font.BOLD, 30);
   TreeSet members;
   String input;
   String[] found;
   public static void main(String arg[])
      UIManager.put("TextField.background",fldBackground);
      UIManager.put("TextField.foreground",defForeground);
      UIManager.put("TextField.selectionBackground",btnBackground);
      UIManager.put("TextArea.background",fldBackground);
      UIManager.put("TextArea.foreground",defForeground);
      UIManager.put("TextArea.selectionBackground",btnBackground);
      UIManager.put("Panel.background",defBackground);
      UIManager.put("Label.background",defBackground);
      UIManager.put("Label.foreground",defForeground);
      UIManager.put("Button.background",btnBackground);
      UIManager.put("Button.foreground",defForeground);
      UIManager.put("CheckBox.background",defBackground);
      UIManager.put("ScrollBar.background",defBackground);
      UIManager.put("ScrollBar.thumb",btnBackground);
      UIManager.put("ComboBox.background",btnBackground);
      UIManager.put("ComboBox.selectionBackground",dkBackground);
      PartMatch trial = new PartMatch(arg);
   public PartMatch( String [] arg )
      super("Part Match");
      setDefaultCloseOperation(EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
      Container cpane = getContentPane();
      FormLayout form = new FormLayout(cpane);
      JLabel lab1 = new JLabel("Fetch details") ;
      lab1.setFont( bold );
      form.setTopAnchor( lab1, 4 );
      form.setLeftAnchor( lab1, 4 );
      JLabel lab2 = new JLabel("Surname: ") ;
      form.setTopRelative( lab2, lab1, 4 );
      form.setLeftAlign( lab2, lab1 );
      namefld = new JTextField( 30 );
      form.setBottomAlign( namefld, lab2 );
      form.setLeftRelative( namefld, lab2, 4 );
      namefld.addCaretListener( new CaretListener()
         public void caretUpdate(CaretEvent e)
             showMatches();
      quitbtn = new JButton( "Quit" );
      quitbtn.addActionListener( new ActionListener()
         public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e)
            quitProcessing();
      form.setBottomAlign( quitbtn, namefld );
      form.setLeftRelative( quitbtn, namefld, 15 );
      results = new JTextArea( 10,50 );
      results.setEditable(false);
      JScrollPane jsp = new JScrollPane( results,
                                 JScrollPane.VERTICAL_SCROLLBAR_AS_NEEDED,
                                 JScrollPane.HORIZONTAL_SCROLLBAR_AS_NEEDED );
      form.setTopRelative( jsp, lab2, 6 );
      form.setLeftAlign( jsp, lab2 );
      form.setBottomAnchor( jsp, 5 );
      form.setRightAnchor( jsp, 5 );
      form.setRightAnchor( quitbtn, 5 );
      matches = new Chooser( this );
      //matches.setUndecorated(true);
      pack();
      setVisible(true);
      namefld.requestFocus();
      if (arg.length > 0) init(arg[0]);
      else init("triathlon.txt"); //<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< Place the default filename here
      /** Called once only, at the end of the constructor, to read the data
        * from the membership file.
   public void init( String fname )
      members = new TreeSet();
       try {
           FileReader fr = new FileReader(new File (fname));
           Scanner scan = new Scanner(fr);
           trimember cmem;
           String cLine, eTag, memberNo, first, last, gender, yob, tel ,addr,
                   club;
           while(scan.hasNextLine())
               cLine = scan.nextLine();
               Scanner scan2 = new Scanner(cLine);
               scan2.useDelimiter(";");
               eTag = scan2.next().trim();
               memberNo = scan2.next().trim();
               first = scan2.next().trim();
               last = scan2.next().trim();
               gender = scan2.next().trim();
               yob = scan2.next().trim();
               tel = scan2.next().trim();
               addr = scan2.next().trim();
               club = scan2.next().trim();
               cmem = new trimember(eTag, memberNo, first, last, gender, yob,
                       tel, addr, club);
               members.add(cmem);
       catch (FileNotFoundException ex)
           results.append("Sorry can't find the input file\n");
           results.append("Please check file name and location and try again");
           ex.printStackTrace();
      /** Called every time there is a change in the contents of the text field
        * namefld.  It will first clear the text area.  It then needs to search
        * through the container of data to find all records where the surname
        * starts with the characters that have been typed.  The names and
        * addresses need to be set up as strings and placed in
        * an array of Strings.  This can be placed in the "matches" window and
        * displayed for the user, inviting one to be selected.
        * <p>
        * The performance of this is very important.  If necessary, it may be
        * necessary to run as a separate thread so that the user interface is
        * not delayed.  It is essential that the user be able to type letters at a
        * reasonable speed and not have the keystroke processing held up by
        * previous text.
   public void showMatches( )
       run();
            // First clear the text area
      //results.setText("");
            // Determine the leading characters of the surname that is wanted
            input = namefld.getText();
            // Locate the data for this name, and display each matching item
            //  in the JTextArea ...
            // Example of how to set the data in the popup dialog
      matches.list.setListData(found);
      matches.pack();   // resize the popup
            // set the location of the popup if it is not currently visible
      if ( ! matches.isVisible())
         Dimension sz = matches.getSize();
         Point mouse = getMousePosition();
         Point framepos = getLocation();
         int x=0, y=0;
         if (mouse == null)
            Point pt = results.getLocation();
            x = pt.x + 20 + framepos.x;
            y = pt.y + 20 + framepos.y;
         else
            x = mouse.x - 2 + framepos.x;
            y = mouse.y - 2 + framepos.y;
         matches.setLocation(x,y);
      matches.setVisible(true);
      namefld.requestFocus();
      /** Perform any final processing before closing down.
   public void quitProcessing( )
      // Any closing work.  Then
      System.exit(0);
    public void run()
        ArrayList<String> foundit = new ArrayList<String>();
        System.out.println(input);
        if(input != null)
        Iterator it = members.iterator();
        while(it.hasNext())
           trimember test = (trimember) it.next();
           if (test.last.startsWith(input))
               foundit.add(test.last +", "+ test.first);
        found = new String[foundit.size()];
        for(int i=0; i<foundit.size();i++)
            found[i] = foundit.get(i);
     /** A window for displaying names and addresses from the data set which
      match the leading characters in namefld.
      <p>
      This will automatically pop down if the user moves the mouse out of the
      window.
      <p>
      It needs code added to it to respond to the user clicking on an item in
      the displayed list. */
   class Chooser extends JWindow
            /** To display a set of names and addresses that match the leading
            characters of the namefld text field. */
      public JList list = new JList();
      Chooser( JFrame parent )
         super( parent );
         Container cpane = getContentPane();
         cpane.addMouseListener( new MouseAdapter()
            public void mouseExited(MouseEvent e)
               Chooser.this.setVisible(false);
         cpane.add("Center",list);
         list.addListSelectionListener( new ListSelectionListener()
            public void valueChanged(ListSelectionEvent e)
               Chooser.this.setVisible(false);
               System.out.println("ValueChanged");
               // First clear the text area
               results.setText("");
               String in = (String) list.getSelectedValue();
               System.out.println("Selected Value was : "+in);
               String[] inlf = in.split(", ");
               System.out.println("inlf[0]:"+inlf[0]+" inlf[1]:"+inlf[1]);
               results.append("Surname \tFirst \teTag \tMemberNo \tSex \tYOB " +
                       "\tTel \tAddress \t\t\tClub\n");
               Iterator it = members.iterator();
               while(it.hasNext())
                   trimember test = (trimember) it.next();
                   if (test.last.equals(inlf[0])&&test.first.equals(inlf[1]))
                       results.append(test.toString()+"\n");
               namefld.requestFocus();
      public class trimember implements Comparable
       String eTag;
       public String memberNo;
       public String first;
       public String last;
       String gender;
       String yob;
       String tel;
       String addr;
       String club;
       public trimember(String eT, String me, String fi, String la,
               String ge, String yo, String te, String ad, String cl)
           eTag = eT;
           memberNo = me;
           first = fi;
           last = la;
           gender = ge;
           yob = yo;
           tel = te;
           addr = ad;
           club = cl;         
       //To String method to output string of details
       public String toString()
           return last + "\t" + first + "\t" + eTag + "\t" +
                   memberNo + "\t" + gender + "\t" + yob + "\t"+ tel + "\t" +
                   addr + "\t" + club;
       //Compare and sort on Last name
       public int compareTo(Object o)
           trimember com = (trimember) o;
           int lastCmp = last.compareTo(com.last);
           int firstCmp = first.compareTo(com.first);
           int memCmp = memberNo.compareTo(com.memberNo);
           if (lastCmp == 0 && firstCmp !=0)return firstCmp;
           else if (lastCmp==0&&firstCmp==0)return memCmp;
           else return lastCmp;
}

Answer 1

Please don't cross-post. It is considered very rude to do that here:
http://forum.java.sun.com/thread.jspa?messageID=9953193