How can I get the "text" field from the actionEvent.getSource() ?

Question

I have some sample code:
import java.awt.*;
import java.awt.event.*;
import javax.swing.*;
import java.util.ArrayList;
public class JFrameTester{
     public static void main( String[] args ) {
          JFrame f = new JFrame("JFrame");
          f.setSize( 500, 500 );
          ArrayList < JButton > buttonsArr = new ArrayList < JButton > ();
          buttonsArr.add( new JButton( "first" ) );
          buttonsArr.add( new JButton( "second" ) );
          buttonsArr.add( new JButton( "third" ) );
          MyListener myListener = new MyListener();
          ( (JButton) buttonsArr.get( 0 ) ).addActionListener( myListener );
          ( (JButton) buttonsArr.get( 1 ) ).addActionListener( myListener );
          ( (JButton) buttonsArr.get( 2 ) ).addActionListener( myListener );
          JPanel panel = new JPanel();
          panel.add( buttonsArr.get( 0 ) );
          panel.add( buttonsArr.get( 1 ) );
          panel.add( buttonsArr.get( 2 ) );
          f.getContentPane().add( BorderLayout.CENTER, panel );
          f.setDefaultCloseOperation( JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE );
          f.setVisible( true );
     public static class MyListener  implements ActionListener{
          public MyListener() {}
          public void actionPerformed( ActionEvent e ) {
               System.out.println( "hi!! " + e.getSource() );
               // I need to know a title of the button (which was clicked)...
}The output of the code is something like this:
hi! javax.swing.JButton[,140,5,60x25,alignmentX=0.0,alignmentY=0.5,
border=javax.swing.plaf.BorderUIResource$CompoundBorderUIResource@1ebcda2d,
flags=296,maximumSize=,minimumSize=,preferredSize=,defaultIcon=,disabledIcon=,
disabledSelectedIcon=,margin=javax.swing.plaf.InsetsUIResource[top=2,left=14,bottom=2,
right=14],paintBorder=true,paintFocus=true,pressedIcon=,rolloverEnabled=true,
rolloverIcon=,rolloverSelectedIcon=,selectedIcon=,text=first,defaultCapable=true]
I need this: "first" (from this part: "text=first" of the output above).
Does anyone know how can I get the "text" field from the e.getSource() ?

Answer 1

System.out.println( "hi!! " + ( (JButton) e.getSource() ).getText() );I think the problem is solved..If your need is to know the text of the button, yes.
In a real-world application, no.
In a RW application, a typical need is merely to know the "logical role" of the button (i.e., the button that validates the form, regardless of whether its text is "OK" or "Save", "Go",...). Text tends to vary much more than the structure of the UI over time.
In this case you can get the source's name (+getName()+), which will be the name that you've set to the button at UI construction time. Or you can compare the source for equality with either button ( +if evt.getSource()==okButton) {...}+ ).
All in all, I think the best solution is: don't use the same ActionListener for more than one action (+i.e.+ don't add the same ActionListener to all your buttons, which leads to a big if-then-else series in your actionPerformed() ).
Eventually, if you're listening to a single button's actions, whose text change over time (e.g. "pause"/"resume" in a VCR bar), I still think it's a bad idea to rely on the text of the button - instead, this text corresponds to a logical state (resp. playing/paused), it is more maintainable to base your logic on the state - which is more resilient to the evolutions of the UI (e.g. if you happen to use 2 toggle buttons instead of one single play/pause button).