Thread: add an actionListener

hi,
im new to java , and im trying to get this to work , this is my code :

public class TextDemo extends JPanel implements ActionListener {
	protected static JTextField commandField;
	protected static JTextArea consoleArea;
	protected static JTextArea outputArea;
	private final static String newline = "\n";
 
 
	public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent evt) {
		String text = commandField.getText();
		consoleArea.append(text + newline);
		commandField.selectAll();
 
		// Make sure the new text is visible, even if there
		// was a selection in the text area.
		consoleArea.setCaretPosition(consoleArea.getDocument().getLength());
	}
	private static void createAndShowGUI() {
		JFrame frame = new JFrame("Client");
		frame.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
 
		Container contentPane = frame.getContentPane();
		contentPane.setLayout(new BoxLayout(contentPane, BoxLayout.X_AXIS));
 
		JPanel left = new JPanel();
		left.setLayout(new BoxLayout(left, BoxLayout.Y_AXIS));
		consoleArea = new JTextArea(19,20);
		JScrollPane scrollPaneConsole = new JScrollPane(consoleArea);
		left.add(scrollPaneConsole);
		commandField = new JTextField();
		left.add(commandField);
		left.setBorder(BorderFactory.createTitledBorder("Console"));
		JPanel right = new JPanel();
		right.setLayout(new BoxLayout(right, BoxLayout.Y_AXIS));
		outputArea = new JTextArea(20,20); 
		JScrollPane scrollPaneOutput = new JScrollPane(outputArea);
		right.add(scrollPaneOutput);
		right.setBorder(BorderFactory.createTitledBorder("Output"));
 
 
		contentPane.add(left);
		contentPane.add(right);
		frame.pack();
		frame.setVisible(true);
	}
 
	public static void main(String args[]) {
 
		javax.swing.SwingUtilities.invokeLater(new Runnable() {
			public void run() {
				createAndShowGUI();
			}
		});
	}
 
}

i want to be able to enter a text in the commandField and when pressing enter the text to be shown in the console area ,
why isnt my actionPerformed never gets called ??

Welcome to the forum! Good first post. I've answered your immediate question below, but I'm going to spend a few more minutes looking at your code and I'll provide feedback on that when done.

Pressing enter or the return key does not fire the actionPerformed() method unless it has been programmed to do so. You should start by adding a button with a listener that when selected calls the actionPerformed method and then evolve to adding key listeners.

Edit: You're doing some good things. Comments would be nice, but I'm impressed that you've started the app on the EDT. I recommend that you construct and show the GUI from the class' constructor and methods it calls rather than from a single static method. I see no reason for your class to extend JPanel. Instead of a key listener that looks for returns, you could add a change listener to the JTextField to process keystrokes as the user makes them.

thanks for your complements.
but if you take a look at the first example : How to Use Text Fields (The Java™ Tutorials > Creating a GUI With JFC/Swing > Using Swing Components)
and this is the source code : Java Tutorials Sample Code

there is no button there and the actionPerformed() do get called when pressing enter, try it.

Ahh. It's helpful to know the source of your code. I'll look at that, but I'd like to add that I didn't mean you HAD to have a button. I was suggesting starting with a button as a starting point from which to learn about and understand how action listeners work and what can be done with them.

--- Update ---

There are some significant differences between their code and yours. One of the most significant is that your code doesn't add a listener to the console text area. Besides that, their main frame adds an instance of the enclosing class so that explains why the main class extends JPanel and why their actionPerformed method in the main class is executed in response to the listener on their text field. Those 3 things (did I count right?) all have to be in place in order for the action on the text field to fire the actionPerformed() method in the main class:

The 3 things:

The main class extends JPanel and is added to the JFrame
An action listener is added to the text area
The main class also implements ActionListener and includes the required actionPerformed() method.

Understanding how those are all required and then work together to provide the desired results is important to your study of action listeners and why I suggested you start with buttons (and a simpler example).

Also posted at: add an actionListener

is that illegal ??? if so i didnt know sorry .


its just i dont want to use buttons (design thing ), just one thing i cant understand , how is the textarea connected to the actionListener ? if u can explain which lines that would be great . and thanks for your help

@GregBrannon , in the end i did what u said :

I recommend that you construct and show the GUI from the class' constructor and methods it calls rather than from a single static method

ok thanks all , i got it working , and now i have much clearer view about listeners thanks a lot