Passing the array into actionPerformed method

Question

Hi friends! I am new at java. I made a tictactoe game board with GUI and it is designed according to nxn (desired any n value). When I pressed to any button, it should write an X to my board but I could not passed the button's action. My problem is that my actionPerformed method does not accept array button[j]. In the below there is a part of my code :
for(int j=0;j<button.length;j++)     // adding the buttons
button[j].addActionListener(this);
public void actionPerformed(ActonEvent evt)
// what can I read here for detecting the right button? button length is changable, it is depent on what we desire at first.
// I tried this code in this area but it does not work:
// if (evt.getSource()==button[j])
// button[j].setText("X");
// normally, it works if I write every button individually like that:
// button1.addActionListener(this); (same for other buttons)
// public void actionPerformed (ActionPerformed evt)
// if (evt.getSource()==button1)
// button1.setText("X"); (same code for other buttons)
// but I want to make a generalized board action
}I will be appreciated with your helps...
Musty

Answer 1

Hi musty4284,
The getSource method of ActionEvent(not ActonEvent) returns an object and the way you're comparing objects is wrong.
Theorically, you should do something like this :
public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent evt) {
    JButton b = (JButton) evt.getSource();
    if ( button[j].equals(b) ) {
}Edit :
When using a listener for an array of JButton, it is a good idea to give a unique identifier to each button (for example, their index in the array). The JButton class has a setName method not to confuse with the setText method.
While building your array of JButton, you can do :
JButton[] button = new JButton[9];
for (int i = 0; i < 9; i++) {
    button[i] = new JButton();
    button.setName(i);
While handling the event :public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent evt) {
JButton b = (JButton) evt.getSource();
int index = Integer.parseInt(b.getName());
button[index].setText("X");
Edited by: Chicon on Oct 4, 2009 11:20 AM