Thread: Pop-out box using a JFrame.

Hi all,

I'm building a simple application to store and retrieve student records (sort of a limited database). What I have is a help box that appears from a drop-down menu, appearing as a JFrame. Here is the source Java code for the HelpFrame class:

import java.io.*;
import javax.swing.*;
import java.awt.*;
public class HelpFrame extends JFrame
{
  public HelpFrame()
  {
    super(" Quick guide ");
  }
}

What I want to do is to stop multiple quick-help guides appearing (ie, if you click 100 times on that menu item, you end up with 100 boxes) - actually I've solved this. What I haven't solved is the opposite: that only one HelpFrame will appear until it's closed. What I want it to do is that when you click the menu again, and it appears again... but it doesn't. I've tried putting lots of conditions in this anonymous inner-class:

public class ControlGUI
{
  public static int help=0;
  /* Rest of code here until... */
  /* Uses an anonymous inner-class */
helpAction.addActionListener(new ActionListener()
{
  public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent arg0)
  {
    help=help+1;  // This sets up a condition to stop multiple help-boxes appearing
    if (help==1)  // We know help is declared as zero, so on the first click...
    {
      /* This sets the parameters for the pop-out box... */
      HelpFrame popOut0=new HelpFrame();
      popOut0.setSize(600,400);
      popOut0.setResizable(false);
      popOut0.setBackground(Color.white);
      popOut0.setForeground(Color.black);
      popOut0.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.HIDE_ON_CLOSE);
      popOut0.setAlwaysOnTop(true);
      popOut0.setLocation(20,40);
      popOut0.show(true);
    }
  }
});

Is there any way to check that the JFrame HelpFrame has been closed, so that the value 'help' can be reset to zero??? Ie, once you've closed it, you may re-open the quick help guide only once at a time.

There must be a simple way, I've tried lots of if variants, but can't seem to get it to work.

Any help will be greatly appreciated. You will win... a potatoe crisp (or potatoe chip as you may say in North America!).

Many thanks,

Shaun.

Originally Posted by KevinWorkman

Instead of making a new HelpFrame each time, why don't you just keep track of a single HelpFrame declared outside of the actionPerformed() method?

Why didn't I think of that at 2am this morning? Good call. PM me your address and I'll send your crisp :-)

As for using a dialog... I'll search for some examples. Thanks.

Regards,

Shaun.

And the solution is...

/* Put this at the beginning somewhere... */
final HelpFrame popOut0=new HelpFrame();
popOut0.setSize(600,400);
popOut0.setResizable(false);
popOut0.setBackground(Color.white);
popOut0.setForeground(Color.black);
popOut0.setAlwaysOnTop(true);
popOut0.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.HIDE_ON_CLOSE);
popOut0.setLocation(20,40);
popOut0.setVisible(false);
/* Rest of code until the task bar thingy is clicked, and so... */
helpAction.addActionListener(new ActionListener()
{
  public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent arg0)
  {
    popOut0.show(true);
  }
});

It has to be declared as final so that there are no new instances set up (as Kevin suggested). Also, all of the code is now outside the inner-class, also as Kevin hinted at.

Simples! It makes sense now I've had some sleep.

Regards,

Shaun.

Originally Posted by KevinWorkman

It has to be final so that it can be accessed inside your ActionListener, which is called an anonymous inner class. Another way to do it, without the final (actually I'd recommend the final anyway, just because you don't plan on changing the variable ever), and to narrow the scope, would be something like this:

helpAction.addActionListener(new ActionListener()
{
 
final HelpFrame popOut0=new HelpFrame();
popOut0.setSize(600,400);
popOut0.setResizable(false);
popOut0.setBackground(Color.white);
popOut0.setForeground(Color.black);
popOut0.setAlwaysOnTop(true);
popOut0.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.HIDE_ON_CLOSE);
popOut0.setLocation(20,40);
popOut0.setVisible(false);
 
  public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent arg0)
  {
    popOut0.show(true);
  }
});

That way your outer class doesn't have to worry about the HelpFrame at all. Another way to do this would be to just write another outer class for the ActionListener.

Edit- Okay, that stuff might not be allowed to go there, so you could put it in a constructor or a declaration block. But you get the gist.

Thanks again - we did something about anonymous inner-classes at some point during my studies, I'm just showing that I understand what's meant by that by implementing it in my project.

Still so much to do, probably more questions to follow!

Regards,

Shaun.