Reusing Classes?

Question

I'm trying to understand better how to reuse code instead of just copying it, but I have a dilemma:
I have a frame (Frame1) composed of let's say 2 panel. 1 of those 2 panels (panel1) has the potential to be reused many times in other frames throughout the selfsame program. In addition, panel1 contains a few radio buttons.
public class Frame1
this.add(new panel1);
public class panel1()
public JRadioButton jrb1 = new JRadioButton("11");
public JRadioButton jrb2 = new JRadioButton("22");
//constructor
public class panel2()
{  //constructor
Since Frame1 has a composition relationship with panel1, I created the class, panel1, within Frame1. The problem is how can I reuse panel1 in a different frame without copying the code? Essentially, I'm trying to better understand how to structure classes for reuse whenever possible.
My initial solution was to make extract class panel1 from within Frame1 and make it a distinct class unto itself. That of works in terms of displaying, but then I encounter the next issue - how do I gain access to the radio buttons variables?

Answer 1

Once you get down to specific detail, it is very had to reuse code. When you want to make a reusable code library, the thing you are after is general forms: Maybe you find yourself always overriding paintComponent in a JPanel in the very same fashion every time. Make that class with that override, then you can include it in your project and extend it. So instead of having the JPanel that Sun provides as your base, the one you have to override every time, you have your JPanel that has the feature(s) you use all the time.
Unless a significant portion of your code is going to have the same components layed out in the same manner, then remember to stick to general cases.
Remember: what you are looking for are base classes that you can extend. (That is not to say, using copy and paste is not a good thing for some tedious detail work.)