How to save JTabbedPane to file so it can be restored later

Question

I am trying to build a program that will allow the user to add/remove tabs and buttons in a JTabbedPane and then save this to a file so that it can be restored later. However when I try to restore it from the file I cannot get it to update the panel.
public class LightCommander extends JFrame
     private Container windowContent;
     private JPanel mainPanel;
     // menubar items and actionlistener
     private JMenuBar mainMenu;
     private JMenu f,v,c,c1,h;
     private ButtonGroup view_group;
     private MenuHandler mlistener;
     private static JMenuItem f1,f2,f3,c11,c12,c2,c3,c4,c5,h1,h2,h3;
     private JRadioButtonMenuItem v1;
     // mainWindow items
     private JScrollPane scrollWindow;
     private TabbedView mainWindow;
     // infoBar items and mouselistener
     private JPanel infoBar;
     private JLabel info;
     private InfoHandler ilistener;
     // program variables
     private Color defaultColor;
     private File setupFile;
     private FileInputStream fis;
     private FileOutputStream fos;
     private ObjectInputStream ois;
     private ObjectOutputStream oos;
     public LightCommander()
          super("LightCommander2 - \"The Light Project\"");
          windowContent = getContentPane();
          setupFile = null;
          defaultColor = this.getBackground();
          // create the mainPanel of the program which will
          // contain all the programs gui elements
          mainPanel = new JPanel(new BorderLayout());
          mainPanel.setPreferredSize(new Dimension(800,600));
          mainPanel.setMaximumSize(new Dimension(1400,1050));
               // create the menuBar and it's menus
               mainMenu = new JMenuBar();
               // create the file menu
               f  = new JMenu("File");
               f.setMnemonic(KeyEvent.VK_F);
               f1 = new JMenuItem("New");
               f1.setMnemonic(KeyEvent.VK_N);
               f1.setAccelerator(KeyStroke.getKeyStroke(KeyEvent.VK_N, ActionEvent.CTRL_MASK));     // set shortcut = (Ctrl + n) for power users
               f2 = new JMenuItem("Open");
               f2.setMnemonic(KeyEvent.VK_O);
               f2.setAccelerator(KeyStroke.getKeyStroke(KeyEvent.VK_O, ActionEvent.CTRL_MASK));     // set shortcut = (Ctrl + o) for power users
               f3 = new JMenuItem("Exit");
               f3.setMnemonic(KeyEvent.VK_X);
               f3.setAccelerator(KeyStroke.getKeyStroke(KeyEvent.VK_X, ActionEvent.CTRL_MASK));     // set shortcut = (Ctrl + x) for power users
               f.add(f1);
               f.add(f2);
               f.addSeparator();
               f.add(f3);
               // create the view menu
               v  = new JMenu("View");
               v.setMnemonic(KeyEvent.VK_V);
               v1 = new JRadioButtonMenuItem("Tabs");
               view_group = new ButtonGroup();
               view_group.add(v1);
               v1.setSelected(true);
               v.add(v1);
               // create the command menu
               c   = new JMenu("Command");
               c.setMnemonic(KeyEvent.VK_C);
               c1  = new JMenu("Add");
               c1.setMnemonic(KeyEvent.VK_A);
               c11 = new JMenuItem("Light");
               c11.setAccelerator(KeyStroke.getKeyStroke(KeyEvent.VK_1, ActionEvent.CTRL_MASK));     // set shortcut = (Ctrl + 1) for power users
               c12 = new JMenuItem("Switch");
               c12.setAccelerator(KeyStroke.getKeyStroke(KeyEvent.VK_2, ActionEvent.CTRL_MASK));     // set shortcut = (Ctrl + 2) for power users
               c1.add(c11);
               c1.add(c12);
               c2  = new JMenuItem("Remove");
               c2.setMnemonic(KeyEvent.VK_R);
               c2.setAccelerator(KeyStroke.getKeyStroke(KeyEvent.VK_3, ActionEvent.CTRL_MASK));     // set shortcut = (Ctrl + 3) for power users
               c3  = new JMenuItem("Reset");
               c3.setMnemonic(KeyEvent.VK_E);
               c3.setAccelerator(KeyStroke.getKeyStroke(KeyEvent.VK_4, ActionEvent.CTRL_MASK));     // set shortcut = (Ctrl + 4) for power users
               c4  = new JMenuItem("All On");
               c4.setMnemonic(KeyEvent.VK_N);
               c4.setAccelerator(KeyStroke.getKeyStroke(KeyEvent.VK_5, ActionEvent.CTRL_MASK));     // set shortcut = (Ctrl + 5) for power users
               c5  = new JMenuItem("All Off");
               c5.setMnemonic(KeyEvent.VK_F);
               c5.setAccelerator(KeyStroke.getKeyStroke(KeyEvent.VK_6, ActionEvent.CTRL_MASK));     // set shortcut = (Ctrl + 6) for power users
               c.add(c1);
               c.add(c2);
               c.add(c3);
               c.addSeparator();
               c.add(c4);
               c.add(c5);
               // create the help menu
               h  = new JMenu("Help");
               h.setMnemonic(KeyEvent.VK_H);
               h1 = new JMenuItem("Help Topics");
               h1.setAccelerator(KeyStroke.getKeyStroke(KeyEvent.VK_F1, ActionEvent.CTRL_MASK));     // set shortcut = (Ctrl + F1) for power users
               h2 = new JMenuItem("Technical Support");
               h3 = new JMenuItem("About LightCommander2...");
               h.add(h1);
               h.add(h2);
               h.addSeparator();
               h.add(h3);
               // add actionlistener and infolistener to the menuitems
               mlistener = new MenuHandler();
               ilistener = new InfoHandler();
               f.addMouseListener(ilistener);
               f1.addActionListener(mlistener);
               f1.addMouseListener(ilistener);
               f2.addActionListener(mlistener);
               f2.addMouseListener(ilistener);
               f3.addActionListener(mlistener);
               f3.addMouseListener(ilistener);
               v.addMouseListener(ilistener);
               v1.addActionListener(mlistener);
               v1.addMouseListener(ilistener);
               c.addMouseListener(ilistener);
               c11.addActionListener(mlistener);
               c11.addMouseListener(ilistener);
               c12.addActionListener(mlistener);
               c12.addMouseListener(ilistener);
               c2.addActionListener(mlistener);
               c2.addMouseListener(ilistener);
               c3.addActionListener(mlistener);
               c3.addMouseListener(ilistener);
               c4.addActionListener(mlistener);
               c4.addMouseListener(ilistener);
               c5.addActionListener(mlistener);
               c5.addMouseListener(ilistener);
               h.addMouseListener(ilistener);
               h1.addActionListener(mlistener);
               h1.addMouseListener(ilistener);
               h2.addActionListener(mlistener);
               h2.addMouseListener(ilistener);
               h3.addActionListener(mlistener);
               h3.addMouseListener(ilistener);
               // disable menu items with no functionality as of yet
//               f1.setEnabled(false);
//               f2.setEnabled(false);
//               v1.setEnabled(false);
               c1.setEnabled(false);
               c11.setEnabled(false);
               c12.setEnabled(false);
               c2.setEnabled(false);
               c3.setEnabled(false);
               c4.setEnabled(false);
               c5.setEnabled(false);
               h1.setEnabled(false);
               h2.setEnabled(false);
               h3.setEnabled(false);
               // add the menus to the menubar
               mainMenu.add(f);
               mainMenu.add(v);
               mainMenu.add(c);
               mainMenu.add(h);
               // create the mainWindow for displaying
               // switch and light elements
               mainWindow = new TabbedView();
               scrollWindow = new JScrollPane(mainWindow);
               // create the infoBar to display
               // the mouseOver information of components
               infoBar = new JPanel(new BorderLayout());
               infoBar.setPreferredSize(new Dimension(800,20));
               info = new JLabel("");
               info.setPreferredSize(new Dimension(400,20));
               info.setBorder(BorderFactory.createMatteBorder(1,1,1,1,Color.GRAY));
               infoBar.add(info,BorderLayout.WEST);
          // add the items to the mainPanel
          mainPanel.add(mainMenu,BorderLayout.NORTH);
          mainPanel.add(scrollWindow,BorderLayout.CENTER);
          mainPanel.add(infoBar,BorderLayout.SOUTH);
          windowContent.add(mainPanel);
          pack();
          show();
     public static void main(String[] args)
          LightCommander GUI = new LightCommander();
          GUI.addWindowListener(
                    new WindowAdapter()
                         public void windowClosing(WindowEvent e)
                         { f3.doClick(); }
     // inner class that handles all Events
     // created by the menu items in the JFrame
     public class MenuHandler implements ActionListener
          public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e)
               if(e.getSource() == f1)
               //* New File:                                                                                *
               //*      updates any currently open file, creates a fileBrowser for user          *
               //*      input, and then creates the file and enables additional menu items     *
                    //*** check to see if a file is currently open and if so save it
                    if(setupFile != null)
                         try
                              fos = new FileOutputStream(setupFile);
                              oos = new ObjectOutputStream(fos);
                              oos.writeObject(mainWindow);
                              oos.close();
                              fos.close();
                              setupFile = null;
                         catch(Exception f) { JOptionPane.showMessageDialog(mainPanel,"ERROR: " + f); }
                    //*** create popup window to request file name and location (fileBrowser)
                    JFileChooser chooser = new JFileChooser();
                    int result = chooser.showSaveDialog(mainMenu);
                    if(result == JFileChooser.CANCEL_OPTION) return;
                    setupFile = chooser.getSelectedFile();
                    try
                         setupFile.createNewFile();
                         mainWindow = new TabbedView();     // reset the view here
                         mainWindow.repaint();
                         // enable the menu items that should now be functional
                         c1.setEnabled(true);
                         c12.setEnabled(true);
                    catch(Exception f){ JOptionPane.showMessageDialog(mainPanel, "ERROR: " + f); }
               if(e.getSource() == f2)
               //* Open File:                                                                                     *
               //*          updates any currently open file, creates a fileBrowser for user               *
               //*          input, opens the file, builds the view from file, enables menu items     *
                    //*** check to see if a current file is open and if so save it
                    if(setupFile != null)
                         try
                              fos = new FileOutputStream(setupFile);
                              oos = new ObjectOutputStream(fos);
                              oos.writeObject(mainWindow);
                              oos.close();
                              fos.close();
                              setupFile = null;
                         catch(Exception f) { JOptionPane.showMessageDialog(mainPanel,"ERROR: " + f); }
                    //*** create popup window (file browser) to allow user to select the file to be opened
                    JFileChooser chooser = new JFileChooser();
                    int result = chooser.showOpenDialog(mainMenu);
                    if(result == JFileChooser.CANCEL_OPTION) return;
                    try
                         //*** open the selected file and fill the view
                         setupFile = chooser.getSelectedFile();
                         fis = new FileInputStream(setupFile);
                         ois = new ObjectInputStream(fis);
                         mainWindow = (TabbedView) ois.readObject();
                         mainWindow.reset();
                         ois.close();
                         fis.close();
                         // finally, enable the menu items that should now be functional
                         c1.setEnabled(true);
                         c11.setEnabled(true);
                         c12.setEnabled(true);
//                         c2.setEnabled(true);
//                         c3.setEnabled(true);
//                         c4.setEnabled(true);
//                         c5.setEnabled(true);
                    catch(Exception f){ JOptionPane.showMessageDialog(mainPanel,"ERROR: " + f); }
               if(e.getSource() == f3)
               //* Exit Program:                                        *
               //*          update the currently open file and exit     *
                    //*** check to see if a current file is open and if so save it
                    if(setupFile != null)
                         try
                              fos = new FileOutputStream(setupFile);
                              oos = new ObjectOutputStream(fos);
                              oos.writeObject(mainWindow);
                              oos.close();
                              fos.close();
                              setupFile = null;
                         catch(Exception f) { JOptionPane.showMessageDialog(mainPanel,"ERROR: " + f); }
                    System.exit(0);
               if(e.getSource() == c11)
               // add a lightObject to the selected switch
               // and also add the lightObject to each view
                    //*** get the selected switchObject
                         // if the current view is tabbed find the selected tab
                         // if the current view is matrix then find the selected button
                    //*** add a lightObject to the selected switchObject
                    //*** finally add the lightObject as a button to both views
               if(e.getSource() == c12)
               // add a switchObject to the current setup
               // and also add a tab to the mainWindow
                    if(!mainWindow.addSwitch())     JOptionPane.showMessageDialog(mainPanel,"ERROR: MAX number of switches are installed.");
                    // enable menu items that should now be functional
                    c11.setEnabled(true);
//                    c2.setEnabled(true);
//                    c3.setEnabled(true);
//                    c4.setEnabled(true);
//                    c5.setEnabled(true);
               if(e.getSource() == c2){ System.out.println("event - remove"); }
               if(e.getSource() == c3){ System.out.println("event - reset"); }
               if(e.getSource() == c4){ System.out.println("event - all on"); }
               if(e.getSource() == c5){ System.out.println("event - all off"); }
               if(e.getSource() == h1){ System.out.println("event - help topics"); }
               if(e.getSource() == h2){ System.out.println("event - technical support"); }
               if(e.getSource() == h3){ System.out.println("event - about lightcommander2..."); }
     // displays mouseover information in the infoPanel
     public class InfoHandler implements MouseListener
          // the mouse has entered a mouselistener object
          public void mouseEntered(MouseEvent e)
               if(e.getSource() == f ) { info.setText(" file menu");     }
               if(e.getSource() == f1) { info.setText(" create a new setup file"); }
               if(e.getSource() == f2) { info.setText(" open an existing setup file"); }
               if(e.getSource() == f3) { info.setText(" exit the program");     }
               if(e.getSource() == v ) { info.setText(" view menu");     }
               if(e.getSource() == v1) { info.setText(" change the main window layout to tabular layout"); }
               if(e.getSource() == c ) { info.setText(" command menu"); }
               if(e.getSource() == c11){ info.setText(" add a light to the current lighting setup"); }
               if(e.getSource() == c12){ info.setText(" add a switch to the current lighting setup"); }
               if(e.getSource() == c2) { info.setText(" remove the selected item from the lighting setup");     }
               if(e.getSource() == c3) { info.setText(" reset the selected item in the lighting setup"); }
               if(e.getSource() == c4) { info.setText(" turn on all the lights"); }
               if(e.getSource() == c5) { info.setText(" turn off all the lights"); }
               if(e.getSource() == h ) { info.setText(" help menu");     }
               if(e.getSource() == h1) { info.setText(" open a list of common help topics"); }
               if(e.getSource() == h2) { info.setText(" open a window with company contact information"); }
               if(e.getSource() == h3) { info.setText(" open a window displaying program info"); }
          public void mouseExited(MouseEvent e){ info.setText(""); }
          public void mousePressed(MouseEvent e){  }
          public void mouseReleased(MouseEvent e){  }
          public void mouseClicked(MouseEvent e){  }
public class TabbedView extends JTabbedPane implements Serializable
     private SwitchObject[] switches;
     private int numSwitches;
     public TabbedView()
          super();
          switches = new SwitchObject[128];
          numSwitches = 0;
     public boolean addSwitch()
          if(numSwitches < 128)
               for(int i=0; i<128; i++)
                    if(switches[i] == null)
                         SwitchObject x = new SwitchObject("S" + Integer.toString(i), i);
                         switches[i] = x;
                         this.addTab(x.getLabel(), x);
                         break;
               numSwitches++;     // increment the number of switches installed
               return true;     // signal a successful operation
          else return false;     // signal that all available switch addresses are used
public class SwitchObject extends JPanel implements Serializable
     private String s_label;
     private int s_addr;
     private int numLights;
     private LightObject[] lights;
     // SwitchObject Constructor
     public SwitchObject(String label, int addr)
          super();
          s_label = label;
          s_addr = addr;
          numLights = 0;
          lights = new LightObject[128];     // create an empty array of lights
          for(int i=0; i<3; i++) Tx();     // send the switches addr 3 times in order to setup the hardware addr
     public String getLabel(){ return s_label; }
     public int getAddr(){ return s_addr; }
     // add a light to the switch
     public boolean addLight()
          if(numLights < 128)
               for(int i=0; i<128; i++)
                    if(lights[i] == null)
                         lights[i] = new LightObject("L" + Integer.toString(i), i+128);
                         break;
               numLights++;
               return true;
          else return false;
     // transmit the switches addr to the hardware
     public void Tx()
          //*** Add Code Here ***
          System.out.println("Tx: " + Integer.toString(s_addr));     // output for debugging
public class LightObject extends JButton implements Serializable,ActionListener
     private int l_addr;
     private boolean isOn;
     public LightObject(String label, int addr)
          super(label);
          this.addActionListener(this);
          this.setBackground(Color.YELLOW);
          l_addr = addr;
          for(int i=0; i<3; i++) Tx();          // send the light addr 3 times to setup the hardware addr
          isOn = true;
     public int getAddr(){ return l_addr; }
     // Transmit the light's addr to the hardware
     public void Tx()
          //*** Add Code Here ***
          System.out.println("Tx: " + Integer.toString(l_addr));
     public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e)
          Tx();
          if(isOn)
               isOn = false;
               this.setBackground(Color.GRAY);
          else
               isOn = true;
               this.setBackground(Color.YELLOW);
}

Answer 1

You're welcome for the help I gave you in your last posting on this topic.
Why are you posting 200 lines of code? 90% of the code is not related to saving/restoring a component. Create a simple demo program and then maybe someone will take a look. We are not here to debug you entire application.
How to create a [url http://www.physci.org/codes/sscce.jsp]Short, Self Contained, Correct (Compilable), Example