New JList loses the listener.

Question

I have a gui, which I need to update with new lists depending on the selection of the user. The list is being listened to by ListSelectionListener. After I new the JList (for updating with new values). The listener doesn't recognize the source anymore. Any clues as to why?
Code snippet below. getAttrs() function is called
based on some selection by the user. So if the selection changes, this fn will be called.
getAttrs() {
Vector listVec = new Vector();
listVec.add(...
listVec.add(...
attrList = new JList(listVec);
attrList.addListSelectionListener(new ListSelectionListener(){
public void valueChanged(ListSelectionEvent ev) {
Object src = ev.getSource();
System.out.println("src:"+src.toString());
if ( src == attrList ) {
if (!ev.getValueIsAdjusting()) {
Object[] selectedObjs = ((JList)src).getSelectedValues();
if (selectedObjs.length > 1) {
System.out.println("multi objects");
else {
String attrName = (String)selectedObjs[0];
System.out.println("attr"+attrName);
setDetailValues(attrName);
else {
System.out.println("value is still changing");
else {
System.out.println("not attrList");
What happens is that first time, it works oks and recognozes the src. next time (when the user selection changes and this function is called again) it says "not attrList" meaning it doesnt' reconize the src.

Answer 1

Where do you add the JList? It looks like you added the first JList to a Container. The next time through this method, you are changing only the attrList reference, not the original and different JList object that you added. I think the original listener is what's being called, and since the old JList is calling the listener, the source is not the same as the attrList JList.
Instead of making a new JList, you should update the original JList that you added.