My jList won't show up on the frame

Question

My problem is that I can't see the JList in the scrollPane. I am able to run and compile this frame through JBuilder, however I get this error message:
java.lang.NullPointerException new JList(helpTopics)
If I remove the jpanel from the frame and just drop in the scrollPane with the nested jlist on the frame I am then able to see the list and the items in the list. But I'd like to have it on a panel.
BTW I am calling this frame from another class that contains the main function. Here is my code:
import java.awt.*;
import com.borland.jbcl.layout.*;
import javax.swing.*;
import javax.swing.event.*;
import java.awt.event.*;
public class NewFrame extends JFrame{
private final String[] helpTopics = {"Load Cells", "Strain Gages",
"Op Amps", "RTD", "Wheatstone Bridge"};
JPanel jPanel1 = new JPanel();
JList lstTopics = new JList(helpTopics);
JScrollPane jScrollPane1 = new JScrollPane();
public NewFrame() {
enableEvents(AWTEvent.WINDOW_EVENT_MASK);
try {
jbInit();
catch(Exception e) {
e.printStackTrace();
private void jbInit() throws Exception {
jPanel1.add(jScrollPane1, BorderLayout.CENTER);
jScrollPane1.add(lstTopics, null);
Any help with my problem would greatly reduce my stress factor.
Thanks.

Answer 1

You haven't added the panel to the frame from the code you have just posted.