Thread: How do I enter data into a GUI application?

I am currently tasked to work with this GUI application:

asdfa.jpg

Pardon me if I am not all familiar with the technical terms about Java, I'm still new. My first task is to write a method to enter data a car; I want to have the registration number (which is to be printed in the registration box), age (selected from the combo box) and whether it has or has not been in an accident (determined by the checkbox) displayed into text in the textbox once I hit ENTER after I've entered the information for all three, so far the GUI wouldn't take effect if I were to type in a registration number, select an age or tick the checkbox because I've not yet written a method for it.

This is my code:


/*
Course: Programming Fundamentals COIT11222 2014 Term2
Purpose: Assignment two -- Motorcity Car Insurance GUI application
Programmer: Bernard Li
File: CarInsuranceGUI.java
Date: 14 August 2014
*/

/*
Student Name: Shao Bang Lin
Student Number: s0263796
Date: 21/09/2014
File Name: CarInsuranceGUI.java
Purpose of the class: This class creates a Graphical User Interface (GUI)
that is to be used by staff for providing details and
producing reports of cars in the system.


*/


import javax.swing.JFrame;
import javax.swing.JLabel;
import javax.swing.JTextField;
import javax.swing.JButton;
import javax.swing.JTextArea;
import javax.swing.JScrollPane;
import javax.swing.JComboBox;
import javax.swing.JCheckBox;
import javax.swing.JOptionPane;
import java.awt.FlowLayout;
import java.awt.event.ActionListener;
import java.awt.event.ActionEvent;
import java.awt.Font;
import java.awt.event.WindowAdapter;
import java.awt.event.WindowEvent;


public class CarInsuranceGUI extends JFrame
{
///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
// declare your data structures and class variables here //
///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////


// GUI components
JLabel registrationLabel; // label for registration field
JTextField registrationField; // field to enter the cars's registration
JLabel ageLabel; // label for selecting the car's age from drop-down combo box
JComboBox<String> ageCombo; // drop-down combo box for selecting the car's age
JCheckBox accidentCheckBox; // check box for selecting if car has been in an accident or not
JButton enterButton; // button for entering car's detail
JButton displayAllButton; // button to display all cars entered so far
JButton sortButton; // button to sort the car records by name
JButton searchButton; // button to search for a car using it's registration
JButton exitButton; // button to exit the program
JTextArea textArea; // text area for displaying the data
JScrollPane scrollPane; // scoll pane for text area scrolling

// class variables

private final int NUMBER_OF_CARS = 10; // the maximum amount of cars to be examined will be 10
private final int AGE_THRESHOLD_FOR_INSURANCE_PRICE = 5; // the insurance threshold of a cars based on age
private final double INSURANCE_FEE_BELOW_THRESHOLD = 200.0; // the insurance fee for a car below or equal to the age of 5
private final double INSURANCE_FEE_ABOVE_THRESHOLD = 350.0; // the insurance fee for a car exceeding the age of 5
private final double ACCIDENT_FREE_DISCOUNT = 25.00; // the percentage of the insurance price that will be discounted for cars that haven't had an accident

// Constructor
public CarInsuranceGUI()
{
super("Motorcity Car Insurance"); // invoke JFrame constructor
setLayout(new FlowLayout()); // set the layout to flow layout

registrationLabel = new JLabel("Registration"); // create registration label
add(registrationLabel); // add the label to the JFrame
registrationField = new JTextField(15); // create registration field
add(registrationField); // add the registration field to the JFrame

ageLabel = new JLabel("Age"); // create age label
add(ageLabel); // add the name label
ageCombo = new JComboBox<String>(); // create the age combo box
for (int i = 0; i <= 30; i++) // populate the age combo box with numbers 0-30
{
ageCombo.addItem(i + ""); // add number as a string
}
add(ageCombo); // add the age combo

accidentCheckBox = new JCheckBox("Accident?"); // create accident checkbox
add(accidentCheckBox); // add accident checkbox

enterButton = new JButton("Enter"); // create enter button
add(enterButton); // add enter button

displayAllButton = new JButton("Display All"); // create display all button
add(displayAllButton); // add display all button

sortButton = new JButton("Sort"); // create sort button
add(sortButton); // add sort button

searchButton = new JButton("Search"); // create search button
add(searchButton); // add search button

exitButton = new JButton("Exit"); // create exit button
add(exitButton); // add exit button

textArea = new JTextArea(16, 52); // create text area
// set text area to a monospaced font so the columns can be aligned using a format string
textArea.setFont(new Font("Monospaced", Font.PLAIN, 12));
textArea.setEditable(false); // set the text area to be read only
scrollPane = new JScrollPane(textArea); // put the text area into the scroll pane
add(scrollPane); // add the scroll pane


// add the ActionListener objects to all of the buttons and the name field
ButtonHandler buttonEvent = new ButtonHandler(); // create event handler object

enterButton.addActionListener(buttonEvent);
registrationField.addActionListener(buttonEvent);
displayAllButton.addActionListener(buttonEvent);
sortButton.addActionListener(buttonEvent);
searchButton.addActionListener(buttonEvent);
exitButton.addActionListener(buttonEvent);

// when the user pushes the system close (X top right corner)
addWindowListener( // override window closing method
new WindowAdapter()
{
public void windowClosing(WindowEvent e)
{
exit(); // Attempt to exit application
}
}
);

////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
// contruct your data structures and set up your class variables here //
////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
final int NUMBER_OF_CARS = 10; // the maximum number of cars to be examined
final int AGE_THRESHOLD_FOR_PRICE = 5; // insurance age threshold for cars
final double COST_BELOW_THRESHOLD = 200.00; // cars less than or equal to age threshold are cheaper to insure
final double COST_OVER_THRESHOLD = 350.00; // older cars cost more to insure
final double ACCIDENT_FREE_DISCOUNT = 25.00; // amount of discount (in percent) given to cars without accidents

String carRegistration; // the variable for the registration number of the car
int carAge; // the variable for the age of the car

} // end constructor


// method used to enter that data for a car
private void enterData()
{


registrationField.requestFocus();
}// enterData


// method used to display the cars entered into the program
private void displayAll()
{

}// displayAll


// method used to sort the car arrays based on registration
private void sort()
{
// TO BE COMPLETED BY STUDENTS

}// sort


// method used to search for a car by registration
private void search()
{
// TO BE COMPLETED BY STUDENTS

}// search


// method used to exit the program
// a confirmation dialog should be shown to the user before exiting
private void exit()
{
// TO BE COMPLETED BY STUDENTS
System.exit(0);

}// exit


public static void main(String [] args)
{ // main method to create an instance of the class
CarInsuranceGUI carInsurance = new CarInsuranceGUI(); // create instance of class

carInsurance.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.DO_NO THING_ON_CLOSE); // let the code close the program
carInsurance.setSize(440, 390); // dimensions of the JFrame
carInsurance.setVisible(true); // make the application visible
} // main


// private class used as an action listener for the buttons
private class ButtonHandler implements ActionListener
{
public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e)
{
if (e.getSource() == enterButton || e.getSource() == registrationField) // enter button or return hit in registration field
enterData();
else if (e.getSource() == displayAllButton) // display all button hit
displayAll();
else if (e.getSource() == sortButton) // sort button hit
sort();
else if (e.getSource() == searchButton) // search button hit
search();
else if (e.getSource() == exitButton) // exit button hit
exit();
}
}// end ButtonHandler

}// end class

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import javax.swing.JFrame;
import javax.swing.JLabel;
import javax.swing.JTextField;
import javax.swing.JButton;
import javax.swing.JTextArea;
import javax.swing.JScrollPane;
import javax.swing.JComboBox;
import javax.swing.JCheckBox;
import javax.swing.JOptionPane;
import java.awt.FlowLayout;
import java.awt.event.ActionListener;
import java.awt.event.ActionEvent;
import java.awt.Font;
import java.awt.event.WindowAdapter;
import java.awt.event.WindowEvent;
 
 
public class CarInsuranceGUI extends JFrame
{
	///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
	// declare your data structures and class variables here //
	///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
 
	// GUI components
	JLabel registrationLabel;		// label for registration field
	JTextField registrationField;	// field to enter the cars's registration
	JLabel ageLabel;				// label for selecting the car's age from drop-down combo box
	JComboBox<String> ageCombo;		// drop-down combo box for selecting the car's age
	JCheckBox accidentCheckBox;		// check box for selecting if car has been in an accident or not
	JButton enterButton;			// button for entering car's detail
	JButton displayAllButton;		// button to display all cars entered so far
	JButton sortButton;				// button to sort the car records by name
	JButton searchButton;			// button to search for a car using it's registration
	JButton exitButton;				// button to exit the program
	JTextArea textArea;				// text area for displaying the data
	JScrollPane scrollPane;			// scoll pane for text area scrolling
 
	// class variables
 
	private final int NUMBER_OF_CARS = 10; // the maximum amount of cars to be examined will be 10
	private final int AGE_THRESHOLD_FOR_INSURANCE_PRICE = 5; // the insurance threshold of a cars based on age
	private final double INSURANCE_FEE_BELOW_THRESHOLD = 200.0; // the insurance fee for a car below or equal to the age of 5
	private final double INSURANCE_FEE_ABOVE_THRESHOLD = 350.0; // the insurance fee for a car exceeding the age of 5
	private final double ACCIDENT_FREE_DISCOUNT = 25.00; // the percentage of the insurance price that will be discounted for cars that haven't had an accident
 
	// Constructor
	public CarInsuranceGUI()
	{
		super("Motorcity Car Insurance");	 			// invoke JFrame constructor
		setLayout(new FlowLayout());					// set the layout to flow layout
 
		registrationLabel = new JLabel("Registration");	// create registration label
		add(registrationLabel);							// add the label to the JFrame
		registrationField = new JTextField(15);			// create registration field
		add(registrationField);							// add the registration field to the JFrame
 
		ageLabel = new JLabel("Age");					// create age label
		add(ageLabel);									// add the name label
		ageCombo = new JComboBox<String>();				// create the age combo box
		for (int i = 0; i <= 30; i++)					// populate the age combo box with numbers 0-30
		{
			ageCombo.addItem(i + "");					// add number as a string
		}
		add(ageCombo);									// add the age combo
 
		accidentCheckBox = new JCheckBox("Accident?");	// create accident checkbox
		add(accidentCheckBox);							// add accident checkbox
 
		enterButton = new JButton("Enter");				// create enter button
		add(enterButton);								// add enter button
 
		displayAllButton = new JButton("Display All");	// create display all button
		add(displayAllButton);							// add display all button
 
		sortButton = new JButton("Sort");				// create sort button
		add(sortButton);								// add sort button
 
		searchButton = new JButton("Search");			// create search button
		add(searchButton);								// add search button
 
		exitButton = new JButton("Exit");				// create exit button
		add(exitButton);								// add exit button
 
		textArea = new JTextArea(16, 52);				// create text area
		// set text area to a monospaced font so the columns can be aligned using a format string
		textArea.setFont(new Font("Monospaced", Font.PLAIN, 12));
		textArea.setEditable(false);					// set the text area to be read only
		scrollPane = new JScrollPane(textArea);			// put the text area into the scroll pane
		add(scrollPane);								// add the scroll pane
 
 
		// add the ActionListener objects to all of the buttons and the name field
		ButtonHandler buttonEvent = new ButtonHandler();	// create event handler object
 
		enterButton.addActionListener(buttonEvent);
		registrationField.addActionListener(buttonEvent);
		displayAllButton.addActionListener(buttonEvent);
		sortButton.addActionListener(buttonEvent);
		searchButton.addActionListener(buttonEvent);
		exitButton.addActionListener(buttonEvent);
 
		// when the user pushes the system close (X top right corner)
		addWindowListener( // override window closing method
			new WindowAdapter()
			{
				public void windowClosing(WindowEvent e)
				{
					exit();	// Attempt to exit application
				}
			}
		);
 
		////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
		// contruct your data structures and set up your class variables here //
		////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
	final int NUMBER_OF_CARS = 10;                  // the maximum number of cars to be examined
    final int AGE_THRESHOLD_FOR_PRICE = 5;			// insurance age threshold for cars
	final double COST_BELOW_THRESHOLD = 200.00;		// cars less than or equal to age threshold are cheaper to insure
	final double COST_OVER_THRESHOLD = 350.00;		// older cars cost more to insure
	final double ACCIDENT_FREE_DISCOUNT = 25.00;	// amount of discount (in percent) given to cars without accidents
 
	String carRegistration; // the variable for the registration number of the car
	int carAge;             // the variable for the age of the car
 
	} // end constructor
 
 
	// method used to enter that data for a car
	private void enterData()
	{
 
 
		registrationField.requestFocus();
	}// enterData
 
 
	// method used to display the cars entered into the program
	private void displayAll()
	{
 
	}// displayAll
 
 
	// method used to sort the car arrays based on registration
	private void sort()
	{
		// TO BE COMPLETED BY STUDENTS
 
	}// sort
 
 
	// method used to search for a car by registration
	private void search()
	{
		// TO BE COMPLETED BY STUDENTS
 
	}// search
 
 
	// method used to exit the program
	// a confirmation dialog should be shown to the user before exiting
	private void exit()
	{
		// TO BE COMPLETED BY STUDENTS
		System.exit(0);
 
	}// exit
 
 
	public static void main(String [] args)
	{ // main method to create an instance of the class
		CarInsuranceGUI carInsurance = new CarInsuranceGUI();			// create instance of class
 
		carInsurance.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.DO_NOTHING_ON_CLOSE);	// let the code close the program
		carInsurance.setSize(440, 390);										// dimensions of the JFrame
		carInsurance.setVisible(true);										// make the application visible
	} // main
 
 
	// private class used as an action listener for the buttons
	private class ButtonHandler implements ActionListener
	{
		public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e)
		{
			if (e.getSource() == enterButton || e.getSource() == registrationField)	// enter button or return hit in registration field
				enterData();
			else if (e.getSource() == displayAllButton)						// display all button hit
				displayAll();
			else if (e.getSource() == sortButton)							// sort button hit
				sort();
			else if (e.getSource() == searchButton)							// search button hit
				search();
			else if (e.getSource() == exitButton)							// exit button hit
				exit();
		}
	}// end ButtonHandler
 
}// end class

 
/*
	Course: Programming Fundamentals COIT11222 2014 Term2
	Purpose: Assignment two -- Motorcity Car Insurance GUI application
	Programmer: Bernard Li
	File: CarInsuranceGUI.java
	Date: 14 August 2014
*/
 
/*
	Student Name: Shao Bang Lin
	Student Number: s0263796
	Date: 21/09/2014
	File Name: CarInsuranceGUI.java
	Purpose of the class: This class creates a Graphical User Interface (GUI)
	                      that is to be used by staff for providing details and
	                      producing reports of cars in the system.
 
 
*/
 
 
import javax.swing.JFrame;
import javax.swing.JLabel;
import javax.swing.JTextField;
import javax.swing.JButton;
import javax.swing.JTextArea;
import javax.swing.JScrollPane;
import javax.swing.JComboBox;
import javax.swing.JCheckBox;
import javax.swing.JOptionPane;
import java.awt.FlowLayout;
import java.awt.event.ActionListener;
import java.awt.event.ActionEvent;
import java.awt.Font;
import java.awt.event.WindowAdapter;
import java.awt.event.WindowEvent;
 
 
public class CarInsuranceGUI extends JFrame
{
	///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
	// declare your data structures and class variables here //
	///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
 
	// GUI components
	JLabel registrationLabel;		// label for registration field
	JTextField registrationField;	// field to enter the cars's registration
	JLabel ageLabel;				// label for selecting the car's age from drop-down combo box
	JComboBox<String> ageCombo;		// drop-down combo box for selecting the car's age
	JCheckBox accidentCheckBox;		// check box for selecting if car has been in an accident or not
	JButton enterButton;			// button for entering car's detail
	JButton displayAllButton;		// button to display all cars entered so far
	JButton sortButton;				// button to sort the car records by name
	JButton searchButton;			// button to search for a car using it's registration
	JButton exitButton;				// button to exit the program
	JTextArea textArea;				// text area for displaying the data
	JScrollPane scrollPane;			// scoll pane for text area scrolling
 
	// class variables
 
	private final int NUMBER_OF_CARS = 10; // the maximum amount of cars to be examined will be 10
	private final int AGE_THRESHOLD_FOR_INSURANCE_PRICE = 5; // the insurance threshold of a cars based on age
	private final double INSURANCE_FEE_BELOW_THRESHOLD = 200.0; // the insurance fee for a car below or equal to the age of 5
	private final double INSURANCE_FEE_ABOVE_THRESHOLD = 350.0; // the insurance fee for a car exceeding the age of 5
	private final double ACCIDENT_FREE_DISCOUNT = 25.00; // the percentage of the insurance price that will be discounted for cars that haven't had an accident
 
	// Constructor
	public CarInsuranceGUI()
	{
		super("Motorcity Car Insurance");	 			// invoke JFrame constructor
		setLayout(new FlowLayout());					// set the layout to flow layout
 
		registrationLabel = new JLabel("Registration");	// create registration label
		add(registrationLabel);							// add the label to the JFrame
		registrationField = new JTextField(15);			// create registration field
		add(registrationField);							// add the registration field to the JFrame
 
		ageLabel = new JLabel("Age");					// create age label
		add(ageLabel);									// add the name label
		ageCombo = new JComboBox<String>();				// create the age combo box
		for (int i = 0; i <= 30; i++)					// populate the age combo box with numbers 0-30
		{
			ageCombo.addItem(i + "");					// add number as a string
		}
		add(ageCombo);									// add the age combo
 
		accidentCheckBox = new JCheckBox("Accident?");	// create accident checkbox
		add(accidentCheckBox);							// add accident checkbox
 
		enterButton = new JButton("Enter");				// create enter button
		add(enterButton);								// add enter button
 
		displayAllButton = new JButton("Display All");	// create display all button
		add(displayAllButton);							// add display all button
 
		sortButton = new JButton("Sort");				// create sort button
		add(sortButton);								// add sort button
 
		searchButton = new JButton("Search");			// create search button
		add(searchButton);								// add search button
 
		exitButton = new JButton("Exit");				// create exit button
		add(exitButton);								// add exit button
 
		textArea = new JTextArea(16, 52);				// create text area
		// set text area to a monospaced font so the columns can be aligned using a format string
		textArea.setFont(new Font("Monospaced", Font.PLAIN, 12));
		textArea.setEditable(false);					// set the text area to be read only
		scrollPane = new JScrollPane(textArea);			// put the text area into the scroll pane
		add(scrollPane);								// add the scroll pane
 
 
		// add the ActionListener objects to all of the buttons and the name field
		ButtonHandler buttonEvent = new ButtonHandler();	// create event handler object
 
		enterButton.addActionListener(buttonEvent);
		registrationField.addActionListener(buttonEvent);
		displayAllButton.addActionListener(buttonEvent);
		sortButton.addActionListener(buttonEvent);
		searchButton.addActionListener(buttonEvent);
		exitButton.addActionListener(buttonEvent);
 
		// when the user pushes the system close (X top right corner)
		addWindowListener( // override window closing method
			new WindowAdapter()
			{
				public void windowClosing(WindowEvent e)
				{
					exit();	// Attempt to exit application
				}
			}
		);
 
		////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
		// contruct your data structures and set up your class variables here //
		////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
	final int NUMBER_OF_CARS = 10;                  // the maximum number of cars to be examined
    final int AGE_THRESHOLD_FOR_PRICE = 5;			// insurance age threshold for cars
	final double COST_BELOW_THRESHOLD = 200.00;		// cars less than or equal to age threshold are cheaper to insure
	final double COST_OVER_THRESHOLD = 350.00;		// older cars cost more to insure
	final double ACCIDENT_FREE_DISCOUNT = 25.00;	// amount of discount (in percent) given to cars without accidents
 
	String carRegistration; // the variable for the registration number of the car
	int carAge;             // the variable for the age of the car
 
	} // end constructor
 
 
	// method used to enter that data for a car
	private void enterData()
	{
 
 
		registrationField.requestFocus();
	}// enterData
 
 
	// method used to display the cars entered into the program
	private void displayAll()
	{
 
	}// displayAll
 
 
	// method used to sort the car arrays based on registration
	private void sort()
	{
		// TO BE COMPLETED BY STUDENTS
 
	}// sort
 
 
	// method used to search for a car by registration
	private void search()
	{
		// TO BE COMPLETED BY STUDENTS
 
	}// search
 
 
	// method used to exit the program
	// a confirmation dialog should be shown to the user before exiting
	private void exit()
	{
		// TO BE COMPLETED BY STUDENTS
		System.exit(0);
 
	}// exit
 
 
	public static void main(String [] args)
	{ // main method to create an instance of the class
		CarInsuranceGUI carInsurance = new CarInsuranceGUI();			// create instance of class
 
		carInsurance.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.DO_NOTHING_ON_CLOSE);	// let the code close the program
		carInsurance.setSize(440, 390);										// dimensions of the JFrame
		carInsurance.setVisible(true);										// make the application visible
	} // main
 
 
	// private class used as an action listener for the buttons
	private class ButtonHandler implements ActionListener
	{
		public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e)
		{
			if (e.getSource() == enterButton || e.getSource() == registrationField)	// enter button or return hit in registration field
				enterData();
			else if (e.getSource() == displayAllButton)						// display all button hit
				displayAll();
			else if (e.getSource() == sortButton)							// sort button hit
				sort();
			else if (e.getSource() == searchButton)							// search button hit
				search();
			else if (e.getSource() == exitButton)							// exit button hit
				exit();
		}
	}// end ButtonHandler
 
}// end class

I am supposed to use the code above to edit this:

asdfa.jpg

right now I want to know what I should write in order to make this GUI application display the data I've written when I hit the ENTER button, details would be nice but please keep it simple and basic, I am new.

Threads merged and moved.

Please do not start multiple threads on the same topic. You don't need a do-over, just improve the existing thread, which has now been done.

What you need to do is complete the method:

    // method used to enter that data for a car
    private void enterData()
    {
 
 
        registrationField.requestFocus();
    }// enterData

to do what you've described. I suspect you knew that much, so then your question becomes, "How do I complete the enterData() method to obtain and store the data entered into the GUI by the user?"

In general:

1. Collect the data from the JTextField registrationField and store it into a variable,
2. Collect the data from the JComboBox ageCombo and store it into a variable,
3. Collect the state of the JCheckBox accidentCheckBox and store it into a variable,

etc. . . .

and then display that data or create a new object using the data as needed to continue with the next task.

If you do not know how to do the above (collect the data or state from each component), then refer to the API for each component to see which methods it already has to collect its contents or its state.

Thank you so much

--- Update ---

A question about the registrationField, ageCombo and accidentCheckBox. How do I declare them, btw this code wasn't written by me but written for me, my task is to complete the enterData() method, displayAll() method etc.

--- Update ---

Originally Posted by GregBrannon

In general:

1. Collect the data from the JTextField registrationField and store it into a variable,
2. Collect the data from the JComboBox ageCombo and store it into a variable,
3. Collect the state of the JCheckBox accidentCheckBox and store it into a variable,

Hi Greg, can you further clarify how this is to be done? I do wish to do most of my work by myself but I am pretty unfamiliar with these tasks you've listed.

my task is to complete the enterData() method, displayAll() method etc.

Yep, I gathered that. Next time, lead with that explanation.

How do I declare them

The registrationField, ageCombo, and accidentCheckBox components already exist. Declaring/initializing them is already done. How do you address or use them? You type their name which refers to the object created for each and then apply methods to the name using the dot operator, '.', to obtain their data or state. You would see this explained if you referred to the API page for each.

can you further clarify how this is to be done?

For example, registrationField is a JTextField. Open the API for a JTextField and read that API, looking for how to use it and the methods it offers that will be helpful to you.

Ok, thank you so much

You're welcome. Come back when you need more help after you've done some reading and tried some things. Start simple: get the data from the registrationField and send it to the console using a print statement.

By API are you referring to the Application Programming Interface? do you know how I can open this API page?

For most every SE class, Google "java className doc" and a link to the API page should be the top 1-3 results. For the JTextField, Google "java jtextfield doc". If this is brand new information to you, you either haven't been paying attention, attending class, doing the required reading, or it's time to find another Java class.

I have had attendance issues, but I really don't recall any mentions of API in class. Anyway I have found a page I believe to be relevant: JTextField (Java Platform SE 7 )

A list of methods for JTextField is on the list, I've read through it a few times but still aren't able to determine which is the one I should use.

Well, it is a TextField and what you want is the Text from the TextField. Perhaps the getText() method that is listed in the API will help you? Read the documentation that is listed here:
JTextComponent (Java Platform SE 7 )

Ok, thank you

You just need to catch up.

The page you found is relevant. First, at the top of the API page notice that the lineage of JTextField is:

java.lang.Object
    java.awt.Component
        java.awt.Container
            javax.swing.JComponent
                javax.swing.text.JTextComponent
                    javax.swing.JTextField

From that, you might deduce that JTextField not only has the methods described in the Methods section of the API page which are specific to JTextField, but that it also can use the methods of its ancestors - that's how Java and inheritance works. With that in mind, if you keep looking down the page, you'll notice that there are other methods listed as being inherited from its ancestors.

Do you see any method names in those inherited methods that sound hopeful? The method you're looking for probably starts with 'get' and will be basic to ALL components that contain text.

private void enterData()
	{
		textArea.setText(String.format("%10s %10s %10s %10s","Registration","Age","Accident","Fee\n"));
 
		registrationField.getText();
 
 
		registrationField.requestFocus();
	}// enterData

I have added registrationField.getText(); and it compiles, but what am I meant to do to actually allow text to appear into the GUI?

--- Update ---

Oh wait I wasn't meant to type registrationField.getText() my apologies

--- Update ---

Well I was expecting to find something like getText() but it's not listed, I did try registrationField.getText(); and I was able to compile.

but it's not listed

Yes it is, as I described in Post #16.

This is an intermediate Java class. Have you completed a basic Java class or any basic programming class? If not, you might be in over your head, and you should consider dropping this one, taking a basic programming class when you can, and come back to this one later.