How to invoke method from swing

Question

Aloha,
Thanks in advance for help...
I have created GUI, and want to use buttons to choose which Physics problem to solve. I have already coded the Physics in .java and have different methods for each one. I would like for the button to create an action that places the different problems on the panel, each with a section for information, given input and outputting the answers to solve for.
public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e)
     { // [20]
           String actionCommand = e.getActionCommand();
           if (e.getActionCommand().equals("Quiz 1"))
             Quiz1();
           }Quiz1 is a private void method that calls on a helper method to perform calculations.
When I use the above command, it invokes the method, but not on the GUI panel, it comes up on the DOS screen. What command should I use to place the calculations and information for this method on the GUI? I know I need to separate and create areas of the panel for input, etc. But I want the method to take place on the GUI.
Thank you for your time and energy.

Answer 1

Hi - I have a question now regarding using a single button, to collect data from multiple fields, make calculations and then return figures to multiple fields.
I thought I could read them into two different variables (valueIn, valueIn2, etc) and then apply them to the JTextField variables. I was experimenting with just passing the initial figures without making calculations...
But just trying with two different fields, the compiler gives me an error for an "unreachable statement". How do I collect from multiple sources and return separate answers to different fields?
I tried to look up definitions for compiler messages, but couldn't find anything regarding "unreachable statements". Therefore, I would also appreciate any suggestions about a dependable source to reference errors.
Thank you in advance for your assistance, I am attaching copy of code below...
public class ChoiceFrame extends JFrame implements ActionListener
{ // [1]
     SolveIt converter = new SolveIt();
     public static final int WIDTH = 650;
  public static final int HEIGHT = 500;
  private JTextArea infoText;
  private double valueIn = 0;
  private double valueIn2 = 0; 
  private JTextField cliffHt;
  private JTextField deceleration;
  private JTextField timeFlight;
  private JTextField height;
  public static void main(String[] args)
  { // [2]
          ChoiceFrame myWindow = new ChoiceFrame();
          myWindow.setVisible(true);
     } // [2]
     public ChoiceFrame()
     { // [3]
          super( );
          setSize(WIDTH, HEIGHT);
          setTitle("ChoiceFrame");       
          Container contentPane = getContentPane();
          contentPane.setBackground(Color.BLUE);
          contentPane.setLayout(new BorderLayout());
          addWindowListener(new WindowDestroyer());                     
          JMenu memoMenu = new JMenu("File");
    JMenuItem file;
    file = new JMenuItem("Clear");
    file.addActionListener(this);
    memoMenu.add(file);
    file = new JMenuItem("Exit");
    file.addActionListener(this);
    memoMenu.add(file);
    JMenuBar mBar = new JMenuBar( );
    mBar.add(memoMenu);
    setJMenuBar(mBar);     
          JPanel northPanel = new JPanel();   
          northPanel.setLayout(new BorderLayout());          
          JPanel textPanel = new JPanel();          
    northPanel.add(textPanel, BorderLayout.WEST);       
          infoText = new JTextArea (8, 43);
          infoText.setBackground(Color.WHITE);
          infoText.setLineWrap(true);
          textPanel.add(infoText);
    infoText.setText("The Coyote, in his relentless attempt to catch the elusive Road Runner,\nloses his footing and falls from a sheer cliff ___ meters above the ground.\nAfter falling for __ seconds (without friction), the Coyote remembers that\nhe is wearing his Acme rocket-powered backpack, which he immediately turns on.\nThe Coyote makes a gentle landing (zero velocity) on the ground below,\nbut is unable to turn off the rocket, and is immediately propelled back up into the air.\n___ seconds after leaving the ground, the rocket runs out of fuel.\nAfter continuing upwards for a ways, the poor Coyote plunges back to the ground.");
          JPanel inputPanel = new JPanel();          
    northPanel.add(inputPanel, BorderLayout.EAST);      
          inputPanel.setLayout(new GridLayout(3,2));     
          cliffHt = new JTextField(5);
          inputPanel.add(cliffHt);
          JLabel mtrsLabel = new JLabel("meters");
          inputPanel.add(mtrsLabel);
          JTextField secondsf = new JTextField(5);
          inputPanel.add(secondsf);
          JLabel sfLabel = new JLabel("seconds falling");
          inputPanel.add(sfLabel);
          timeFlight = new JTextField(5);
          inputPanel.add(timeFlight);
          JLabel sFlightLabel = new JLabel("seconds in flight");
          inputPanel.add(sFlightLabel);          
          JPanel southPanel = new JPanel();          
          southPanel.setLayout(new BorderLayout());          
          JPanel buttonPanel = new JPanel();
          buttonPanel.setLayout(new FlowLayout());
          JButton calcButton = new JButton("Calculate");
          calcButton.addActionListener(this);
          buttonPanel.add(calcButton);
          southPanel.add(buttonPanel, BorderLayout.NORTH);
          JPanel outputPanel = new JPanel();
       outputPanel.setLayout(new GridLayout(3,2));          
          JLabel decelLabel = new JLabel("With the rocket backpack turned on, the deceleration is: ");
          outputPanel.add(decelLabel);
          deceleration = new JTextField(10);
          outputPanel.add(deceleration);
          JLabel htLabel = new JLabel("the max height is: ");
          outputPanel.add(htLabel);
          height = new JTextField(10);
          outputPanel.add(height);
          JLabel vLabel = new JLabel("the velocity is: ");
          outputPanel.add(vLabel);
          JTextField velocity = new JTextField(10);
          outputPanel.add(velocity);          
       southPanel.add(outputPanel, BorderLayout.CENTER);
          contentPane.add(northPanel, BorderLayout.NORTH);                         
          contentPane.add(southPanel, BorderLayout.CENTER);     
     } // [3]
     public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e)
     { // [20]
          String actionCommand = e.getActionCommand();
          if (e.getActionCommand().equals("Calculate"))
                    deceleration.setText(Quiz1());
                    height.setText(Quiz1());
          else if (e.getActionCommand().equals("Close"))
               System.exit(0);
          else if (actionCommand.equals("Exit"))
      System.exit(0);
     } //[20]
     private String Quiz1()
     { // [40]
          SolveIt calculate = new SolveIt();
          double gravity = 9.81;
          double initialSpeed = 0;
          double freeFall = 5; //this is time for freefall in seconds
          valueIn = stringToDouble(cliffHt.getText());
          return Double.toString(valueIn);     
          valueIn2 = stringToDouble(timeFlight.getText());          
          return Double.toString(valueIn2);
     } // [40]     
     private static double stringToDouble(String stringObject)
     { // [30]
          return Double.parseDouble(stringObject.trim());
     } // [30]