How can I update a JTextArea from another class

Question

I am new to Java so forgive me if this is confusing, or if I seem to be taking an overly complex route to acheiving my goal.
I've got a JTextArea component added to a JPanel object, which is then inserted into the JFrame. I have a JMenuBar with a JMenu "file" and a JMenuItem "connect" on this same JFrame. When clicked, the actionEvent of JMenuItem "connect" calls a class "ConnectToDb" to establish a connection with the Database. On a successful connection, I want to append the String "Connection Successful" to the JTextArea component, but since the component is a part of the JPanel object, I cannot seem to get access to the JTextArea component to update it. I tried instantiating the JPanel object from within the "ConnectToDb" class and then called a method I created to set the JTextArea. No luck. Can someone give me an idea of what I need to do that would allow me to update the text of the JTextArea component from anywhere in my program? Once it has been contained in the JPanel or JFrame, can it be updated?
This is the class that establishes the simple Db Connection
package cjt;
import java.io.*;
import java.sql.*;
* Get a database connection
* Creation date: (04/01/2002 4:08:39 PM)
* @author: Yaffin
public class ConnectToDB {
public Connection dbConnection;
// ConnectToDB constructor
public ConnectToDB() {
public Connection DbConnect() {
try {
Class.forName("sun.jdbc.odbc.JdbcOdbcDriver");
String sourceURL = new String("jdbc:odbc:CJTSQL");
Connection dbConnection = DriverManager.getConnection(sourceURL, "Encryptedtest", "pass");
System.out.println("Connection Successful\n");
//this is where I originally tried to append "Connection Successful
//to the JTextArea Object in WelcomePane()          
} catch (ClassNotFoundException cnfe) {
//user code
System.out.println("This ain't working because of a class not found exeption/n");
} catch (SQLException sqle) {
//user code
System.out.println("SQL Exception caused your DB Connection to SUCK!/n");
return dbConnection;
This is the JPanel that contains the JTextArea "ivjStatusArea" I am trying to update from other classes. Specifically the "ConnectToDb" class above.
package cjt;
import java.awt.*;
import java.awt.event.*;
import java.io.*;
import javax.swing.*;
* Build Welcome Pane
* Creation date: (04/01/2002 3:42:50 PM)
* @author: yaffin
public class WelcomePane extends JPanel {
     private JTextArea ivjtxtConnect = null;
     private JLabel ivjwelcomeLbl = null;
     private JTextArea ivjStatusArea = null;
* WelcomePane constructor comment.
public WelcomePane() {
     super();
     initialize();
* Return the StatusArea property value.
* @return javax.swing.JTextArea
private javax.swing.JTextArea getStatusArea() {
     if (ivjStatusArea == null) {
          try {
               ivjStatusArea = new javax.swing.JTextArea();
               ivjStatusArea.setName("StatusArea");
               ivjStatusArea.setLineWrap(true);
               ivjStatusArea.setWrapStyleWord(true);
               ivjStatusArea.setBounds(15, 153, 482, 120);
               ivjStatusArea.setEditable(false);
               // user code begin {1}
               // user code end
          } catch (java.lang.Throwable ivjExc) {
               // user code begin {2}
               // user code end
               handleException(ivjExc);
     return ivjStatusArea;
* Initialize the class.
private void initialize() {
     try {
          // user code begin {1}
          // user code end
          setName("WelcomePane");
          setLayout(null);
          setSize(514, 323);
          add(getStatusArea(), getStatusArea().getName());
     } catch (java.lang.Throwable ivjExc) {
          handleException(ivjExc);
     // user code begin {2}
     // user code end
This is the main class where evrything is brought together. Notice the BuildMenu() method where the JMenuItem "connect" is located. Also notice the PopulateTabbedPane() method where WelcomePane() is first instantiated.
* The main application window
* Creation date: (04/01/2002 1:31:20 PM)
* @author: Yaffin
public class CjtApp extends JFrame {
private JTabbedPane tabbedPane;
private ConnectToDB cdb;
private Connection dbconn;
public CjtApp() {
super("CJT Allocation Application");
// Closes from title bar
//and from menu
addWindowListener(new WindowAdapter() {
public void windowClosing(WindowEvent e) {
System.exit(0);
tabbedPane = new JTabbedPane(SwingConstants.TOP);
tabbedPane.setForeground(Color.white);
//add menubar to frame
buildMenu();
//populate and add the tabbed pane
populateTabbedPane(dbconn);
//tabbedPane.setEnabledAt(1, false);
//tabbedPane.setEnabledAt(2, false);
getContentPane().add(tabbedPane);
pack();
* Build menu bar and menus
* Creation date: (04/01/2002 2:42:54 PM)
private void buildMenu() {
// Instantiates JMenuBar, JMenu,
// and JMenuItem.
JMenuBar menubar = new JMenuBar();
JMenu menu = new JMenu("File");
JMenuItem item1 = new JMenuItem("Connect");
JMenuItem item2 = new JMenuItem("Exit");
//Opens database connection screen
item1.addActionListener(new ActionListener() {
public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e) {
//call the ConnectToDb class for a database connection
ConnectToDB cdb = new ConnectToDB();
dbconn = cdb.DbConnect();
}); // Ends buildMenu method
//Closes the application from the Exit
//menu item.
item2.addActionListener(new ActionListener() {
public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e) {
System.exit(0);
}); // Ends buildMenu method
//Adds the item to the menu object
menu.add(item1);
menu.add(item2);
//Adds the menu object with item
//onto the menu bar     
menubar.add(menu);
//Sets the menu bar in the frame
setJMenuBar(menubar);
} //closes buildMenu
public static void main(String[] args) {
CjtApp mainWindow = new CjtApp();
mainWindow.setSize(640, 480);
mainWindow.setBackground(Color.white);
mainWindow.setVisible(true);
mainWindow.setLocation(25, 25);
* Add tabs to the tabbedPane.
* Creation date: (04/01/2002 2:52:19 PM)
private void populateTabbedPane(Connection dbconn) {
     Connection dbc = dbconn;
     tabbedPane.addTab(
     "Welcome",
null,
new WelcomePane(),
"Welcome to CJT Allocation Application");
     tabbedPane.addTab(
     "Processing",
null,
new ProcessPane(dbc),
"Click here to process an allocation");
     tabbedPane.addTab(
     "Reporting",
null,
new ReportPane(),
"Click here for reports");
//End
Thanks for any assistance you can provide.
Yaffin

Answer 1

Thanks gmaurice1. I appreciate the response. I believe I understand your explanation. I am clear that the calling code needs access to the WelcomPane() object. I am assuming that the constructor for the calling class must have the JPanel WelcomePane() instance passed to it as an argument. This way I can refer directly to this specific instance of the object. Is this correct?
Also, where would you create the set method? I tried to create a set method as part of the WelcomePane() class, and then call it from the calling class, but it didn't seem to work. Lastly, a globally accessible object? Can you explain this concept briefly? Thanks again for your help.
yaffin