Thread: Counter behaving oddly, skipping large blocks of code& error message

buttonPressA();
    buttonPressB();
    buttonPressC();
    buttonPressD();
    totalquestions=-1;//Don't ask why, it just works.
    answer=solutions[0];//Counter iterates once inexpicably, this is a countermeasure
    txta_display.setText("Press an answer button to begin");
 
  if (totalquestions==0){  
    txta_display.setText("What is the slope of a line containing (2,4) and (4,8)?\n A. 2\n B. 3\n C. 13\n D. 1");
    if (answer==solutions[1]){
        score=score+1;
        System.out.println("answer:"+answer);
    System.out.println("solution:"+ java.util.Arrays.toString(solutions));
    System.out.println("question"+totalquestions);
}
 
 
 
    if (totalquestions==1){
         txta_display.setText("What is the slope of the line containing (3,9) and (2,6)?\n A. 4\n B. 3\n C. 6\n D. 1");
         if (answer==solutions[2]){
             score=score+1; 
         }
    }
    else if(totalquestions==2){
        txta_display.setText("What does a statement like x=4 mean?\n A. nothing\n B. straight line through a y value\n C. No line exists.\nD. The line passes thrrough an x value");
        if (answer==solutions[3]) {
              score=score+1;
        }
         System.out.println("answer:"+answer);
         System.out.println("solution:"+ java.util.Arrays.toString(solutions));
         System.out.println("1 Score: "+score);
         System.out.println("question"+totalquestions); 
    }
    if (totalquestions==3){
       txta_display.setText("What is the slope of  a line segment from (6,12)to (12,36)?\n A. 5\n B. 2\n C.4\n D. 1");
        if (answer==solutions[4]){
            score=score+1;
            System.out.println("answer:"+answer);
            System.out.println("solution:"+ java.util.Arrays.toString(solutions));
        }
        System.out.println("2 Score: "+score);
        System.out.println("question"+totalquestions); 
    }
    else if (totalquestions==4){
    txta_display.setText("What is the slope of  a line segment from (6,12)to (12,36)?\n A. 5\n B. 2\n C.4\n D. 1");
        if (answer==solutions[5]){
            score=score+1;
             System.out.println("answer:"+answer);
             System.out.println("solution:"+ java.util.Arrays.toString(solutions));
     }
        System.out.println("3 Score: "+score);
        System.out.println("question"+totalquestions); 
    }
    else if (totalquestions>4){
        txta_display.setText("You have finished! Your score is "+score+" out of 5");
    }
  }

When I run this part of the program, it either stops after one iteration, or after I moved my answer button methods, I received the following wall of text as an error message:

Exception in thread "AWT-EventQueue-0" java.lang.NullPointerException
at slopelessonculminating.SlopeLessonCulminatingView. buttonPressA(SlopeLessonCulminatingView.java:46)
at slopelessonculminating.SlopeLessonCulminatingView. btn_quizActionPerformed(SlopeLessonCulminatingView .java:410)
at slopelessonculminating.SlopeLessonCulminatingView. access$1000(SlopeLessonCulminatingView.java:22)
at slopelessonculminating.SlopeLessonCulminatingView$ 6.actionPerformed(SlopeLessonCulminatingView.java: 225)
at javax.swing.AbstractButton.fireActionPerformed(Abs tractButton.java:2018)
at javax.swing.AbstractButton$Handler.actionPerformed (AbstractButton.java:2341)
at javax.swing.DefaultButtonModel.fireActionPerformed (DefaultButtonModel.java:402)
at javax.swing.DefaultButtonModel.setPressed(DefaultB uttonModel.java:259)
at javax.swing.plaf.basic.BasicButtonListener.mouseRe leased(BasicButtonListener.java:252)
at java.awt.Component.processMouseEvent(Component.jav a:6505)
at javax.swing.JComponent.processMouseEvent(JComponen t.java:3321)
at java.awt.Component.processEvent(Component.java:627 0)
at java.awt.Container.processEvent(Container.java:222 9)
at java.awt.Component.dispatchEventImpl(Component.jav a:4861)
at java.awt.Container.dispatchEventImpl(Container.jav a:2287)
at java.awt.Component.dispatchEvent(Component.java:46 87)
at java.awt.LightweightDispatcher.retargetMouseEvent( Container.java:4832)
at java.awt.LightweightDispatcher.processMouseEvent(C ontainer.java:4492)
at java.awt.LightweightDispatcher.dispatchEvent(Conta iner.java:4422)
at java.awt.Container.dispatchEventImpl(Container.jav a:2273)
at java.awt.Window.dispatchEventImpl(Window.java:2719 )
at java.awt.Component.dispatchEvent(Component.java:46 87)
at java.awt.EventQueue.dispatchEventImpl(EventQueue.j ava:723)
at java.awt.EventQueue.access$200(EventQueue.java:103 )
at java.awt.EventQueue$3.run(EventQueue.java:682)
at java.awt.EventQueue$3.run(EventQueue.java:680)
at java.security.AccessController.doPrivileged(Native Method)
at java.security.ProtectionDomain$1.doIntersectionPri vilege(ProtectionDomain.java:76)
at java.security.ProtectionDomain$1.doIntersectionPri vilege(ProtectionDomain.java:87)
at java.awt.EventQueue$4.run(EventQueue.java:696)
at java.awt.EventQueue$4.run(EventQueue.java:694)
at java.security.AccessController.doPrivileged(Native Method)
at java.security.ProtectionDomain$1.doIntersectionPri vilege(ProtectionDomain.java:76)
at java.awt.EventQueue.dispatchEvent(EventQueue.java: 693)
at java.awt.EventDispatchThread.pumpOneEventForFilter s(EventDispatchThread.java:244)
at java.awt.EventDispatchThread.pumpEventsForFilter(E ventDispatchThread.java:163)
at java.awt.EventDispatchThread.pumpEventsForHierarch y(EventDispatchThread.java:151)
at java.awt.EventDispatchThread.pumpEvents(EventDispa tchThread.java:147)
at java.awt.EventDispatchThread.pumpEvents(EventDispa tchThread.java:139)
at java.awt.EventDispatchThread.run(EventDispatchThre ad.java:97)
Any ideas?

Ok, partially fixed that. It doesn't return the error message.

However, it stays on the first display, rather than changing what's in the text area. The counter for totalquestions has a sudden jump I've accounted for, but behaves normally. What's happening that I keep missing?

I'm not sure that I can help based on what you've posted so far. You should use your println statements to help debug and isolate your error. Then if still stuck, post the new code and any new information about your bug here.

I think I've found something that might help. My code now looks like

txta_display.setText("Press an answer button to begin");
 if (totalquestions==4){
 
    txta_display.setText("What is the slope of a line containing (2,4) and (4,8)?\n A. 2\n B. 3\n C. 13\n D. 1");
    if (answer==solutions[1]){
        score=score+1;
}
    System.out.println("answer:"+answer);
    System.out.println("solution:"+ java.util.Arrays.toString(solutions));
    System.out.println("question"+totalquestions);
 
    if (totalquestions==5){
         txta_display.setText("What is the slope of the line containing (3,9) and (2,6)?\n A. 4\n B. 3\n C. 6\n D. 1");
         if (answer==solutions[2]){
             score=score+1; 
         System.out.println("answer:"+answer);
         System.out.println("solution:"+ java.util.Arrays.toString(solutions));
         System.out.println("1 Score: "+score);
         System.out.println("question"+totalquestions); 
         }
    }
    else if(totalquestions==6){
        txta_display.setText("What does a statement like x=4 mean?\n A. nothing\n B. straight line through a y value\n C. No line exists.\nD. The line passes thrrough an x value");
        if (answer==solutions[3]) {
              score=score+1;
        }
         System.out.println("answer:"+answer);
         System.out.println("solution:"+ java.util.Arrays.toString(solutions));
         System.out.println("1 Score: "+score);
         System.out.println("question"+totalquestions); 
    }
    if (totalquestions==7){
       txta_display.setText("What is the slope of  a line segment from (6,12)to (12,36)?\n A. 5\n B. 2\n C.4\n D. 1");
        if (answer==solutions[4]){
            score=score+1;
            System.out.println("answer:"+answer);
            System.out.println("solution:"+ java.util.Arrays.toString(solutions));
        }
        System.out.println("2 Score: "+score);
        System.out.println("question"+totalquestions); 
    }
    else if (totalquestions==8){
    txta_display.setText("What is the slope of  a line segment from (6,12)to (12,36)?\n A. 5\n B. 2\n C.4\n D. 1");
        if (answer==solutions[5]){
            score=score+1;
             System.out.println("answer:"+answer);
             System.out.println("solution:"+ java.util.Arrays.toString(solutions));
     }
        System.out.println("3 Score: "+score);
        System.out.println("question"+totalquestions); 
    }
    else if (totalquestions>8){
        txta_display.setText("You have finished! Your score is "+score+" out of 5");
    }
  }

Now when I run it, it displays the first question, however, if I answer it, it jumps back to the opening statement. Ideas?

What user interface are you using? Is this a Swing or AWT GUI program? Where is input obtained from the user?

AWT GUI. Input comes from buttons that when pressed, trigger a method which returns a numerical value that represents their answer. It also is the one responsible for cycling the questions.

Should I post one of them? The code is pretty much identical.

Um, bump?

I think that you should post more. Consider creating and posting an SSCCE where you condense your code into the smallest bit that still compiles and runs, has no outside dependencies (such as need to link to a database or images), has no extra code that's not relevant to your problem, but still demonstrates your problem.

I'm having a little trouble setting the SSCE up... Sorry.

The offending code is as shown, I just copypasted it into the answer buttons, but the only other part of the code I think is missing are the answering methods themselves.

answer=A;
 
        if(A.equals(solutions)){           
            totalquestions=totalquestions+1;                  
    }
        else {
            totalquestions=totalquestions+1;
        }    
        System.out.println(""+totalquestions);
        System.out.println("3 Score: "+score);
        return answer;  
}
 
public Integer buttonPressB(){
 
answer=B;
 
    if(B.equals(solutions)){
         totalquestions=totalquestions+1;  
    }
    else {
        totalquestions=totalquestions+1;
    }
    System.out.println("3 Score: "+score);
    System.out.println(""+totalquestions);
    return answer;
}
 
public Integer buttonPressC(){
 
answer=C;
 
    if (C.equals(solutions)){
        totalquestions=totalquestions+1;
    }
    else{
        totalquestions=totalquestions+1;
    }
    System.out.println("3 Score: "+score);
    System.out.println(""+totalquestions);
    return answer;
}
 
public Integer buttonPressD(){
 
answer=D;
 
    if(D.equals(solutions)){
       totalquestions=totalquestions+1;  
    }
    else{
        totalquestions=totalquestions+1;
    }
    System.out.println(""+totalquestions);
    return answer;

Everything else works fine, the code I've shared is all that's relevant to my problem, sorry I can't really be of more help.

When I run it now, it goes to the first question fine, but after I press a button to answer, it jumps back to the start prompt, the score counter increments regardless of whether or not it was correct, and I get the following output:

0
3 Score: 0
3 Score: 0
1
3 Score: 0
2
3
4
3 Score: 0
answer:1
solution:[0, 1, 2, 4, 3, 4]
question4
5
3 Score: 1

Alright, how should I attach it?

*
 * SSCCEOfProblemView.java
 */
 
package sscceofproblem;
 
import org.jdesktop.application.Action;
import org.jdesktop.application.ResourceMap;
import org.jdesktop.application.SingleFrameApplication;
import org.jdesktop.application.FrameView;
import org.jdesktop.application.TaskMonitor;
import java.awt.event.ActionEvent;
import java.awt.event.ActionListener;
import javax.swing.Timer;
import javax.swing.Icon;
import javax.swing.JDialog;
import javax.swing.JFrame;
 
/**
 * The application's main frame.
 */
public class SSCCEOfProblemView extends FrameView {
Integer[] solutions={0,1,2,4,3,4};
Integer answer;
Integer totalquestions=-1;;
int score, correct;
Integer step=1;
Integer A=1;
Integer B=2;
Integer C=3;
Integer D=4;
    public Integer buttonPressA(){
 
answer=A;
 
        if(A.equals(solutions)){           
            totalquestions=totalquestions+1;                  
    }
        else {
            totalquestions=totalquestions+1;
        }    
        System.out.println(""+totalquestions);
        System.out.println("3 Score: "+score);
        return answer;  
}
 
public Integer buttonPressB(){
 
answer=B;
 
    if(B.equals(solutions)){
         totalquestions=totalquestions+1;  
    }
    else {
        totalquestions=totalquestions+1;
    }
    System.out.println("3 Score: "+score);
    System.out.println(""+totalquestions);
    return answer;
}
 
public Integer buttonPressC(){
 
answer=C;
 
    if (C.equals(solutions)){
        totalquestions=totalquestions+1;
    }
    else{
        totalquestions=totalquestions+1;
    }
    System.out.println("3 Score: "+score);
    System.out.println(""+totalquestions);
    return answer;
}
 
public Integer buttonPressD(){
 
answer=D;
 
    if(D.equals(solutions)){
       totalquestions=totalquestions+1;  
    }
    else{
        totalquestions=totalquestions+1;
    }
    System.out.println(""+totalquestions);
    return answer;
}
    public SSCCEOfProblemView(SingleFrameApplication app) {
        super(app);
 
        initComponents();
 
        // status bar initialization - message timeout, idle icon and busy animation, etc
        ResourceMap resourceMap = getResourceMap();
        int messageTimeout = resourceMap.getInteger("StatusBar.messageTimeout");
        messageTimer = new Timer(messageTimeout, new ActionListener() {
            public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e) {
                statusMessageLabel.setText("");
            }
        });
        messageTimer.setRepeats(false);
        int busyAnimationRate = resourceMap.getInteger("StatusBar.busyAnimationRate");
        for (int i = 0; i < busyIcons.length; i++) {
            busyIcons[i] = resourceMap.getIcon("StatusBar.busyIcons[" + i + "]");
        }
        busyIconTimer = new Timer(busyAnimationRate, new ActionListener() {
            public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e) {
                busyIconIndex = (busyIconIndex + 1) % busyIcons.length;
                statusAnimationLabel.setIcon(busyIcons[busyIconIndex]);
            }
        });
        idleIcon = resourceMap.getIcon("StatusBar.idleIcon");
        statusAnimationLabel.setIcon(idleIcon);
        progressBar.setVisible(false);
 
        // connecting action tasks to status bar via TaskMonitor
        TaskMonitor taskMonitor = new TaskMonitor(getApplication().getContext());
        taskMonitor.addPropertyChangeListener(new java.beans.PropertyChangeListener() {
            public void propertyChange(java.beans.PropertyChangeEvent evt) {
                String propertyName = evt.getPropertyName();
                if ("started".equals(propertyName)) {
                    if (!busyIconTimer.isRunning()) {
                        statusAnimationLabel.setIcon(busyIcons[0]);
                        busyIconIndex = 0;
                        busyIconTimer.start();
                    }
                    progressBar.setVisible(true);
                    progressBar.setIndeterminate(true);
                } else if ("done".equals(propertyName)) {
                    busyIconTimer.stop();
                    statusAnimationLabel.setIcon(idleIcon);
                    progressBar.setVisible(false);
                    progressBar.setValue(0);
                } else if ("message".equals(propertyName)) {
                    String text = (String)(evt.getNewValue());
                    statusMessageLabel.setText((text == null) ? "" : text);
                    messageTimer.restart();
                } else if ("progress".equals(propertyName)) {
                    int value = (Integer)(evt.getNewValue());
                    progressBar.setVisible(true);
                    progressBar.setIndeterminate(false);
                    progressBar.setValue(value);
                }
            }
        });
    }
 
    @Action
    public void showAboutBox() {
        if (aboutBox == null) {
            JFrame mainFrame = SSCCEOfProblemApp.getApplication().getMainFrame();
            aboutBox = new SSCCEOfProblemAboutBox(mainFrame);
            aboutBox.setLocationRelativeTo(mainFrame);
        }
        SSCCEOfProblemApp.getApplication().show(aboutBox);
    }
 
    /** This method is called from within the constructor to
     * initialize the form.
     * WARNING: Do NOT modify this code. The content of this method is
     * always regenerated by the Form Editor.
     */
    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
    // <editor-fold defaultstate="collapsed" desc="Generated Code">
    private void initComponents() {
 
        mainPanel = new javax.swing.JPanel();
        btn_A = new javax.swing.JButton();
        btn_B = new javax.swing.JButton();
        btn_C = new javax.swing.JButton();
        btn_D = new javax.swing.JButton();
        jScrollPane1 = new javax.swing.JScrollPane();
        txta_display = new javax.swing.JTextArea();
        btn_quiz = new javax.swing.JButton();
        btn_quiz1 = new javax.swing.JButton();
        menuBar = new javax.swing.JMenuBar();
        javax.swing.JMenu fileMenu = new javax.swing.JMenu();
        javax.swing.JMenuItem exitMenuItem = new javax.swing.JMenuItem();
        javax.swing.JMenu helpMenu = new javax.swing.JMenu();
        javax.swing.JMenuItem aboutMenuItem = new javax.swing.JMenuItem();
        statusPanel = new javax.swing.JPanel();
        javax.swing.JSeparator statusPanelSeparator = new javax.swing.JSeparator();
        statusMessageLabel = new javax.swing.JLabel();
        statusAnimationLabel = new javax.swing.JLabel();
        progressBar = new javax.swing.JProgressBar();
 
        mainPanel.setName("mainPanel"); // NOI18N
 
        org.jdesktop.application.ResourceMap resourceMap = org.jdesktop.application.Application.getInstance(sscceofproblem.SSCCEOfProblemApp.class).getContext().getResourceMap(SSCCEOfProblemView.class);
        btn_A.setText(resourceMap.getString("btn_A.text")); // NOI18N
        btn_A.setName("btn_A"); // NOI18N
        btn_A.addActionListener(new java.awt.event.ActionListener() {
            public void actionPerformed(java.awt.event.ActionEvent evt) {
                btn_AActionPerformed(evt);
            }
        });
 
        btn_B.setText(resourceMap.getString("btn_B.text")); // NOI18N
        btn_B.setName("btn_B"); // NOI18N
        btn_B.addActionListener(new java.awt.event.ActionListener() {
            public void actionPerformed(java.awt.event.ActionEvent evt) {
                btn_BActionPerformed(evt);
            }
        });
 
        btn_C.setText(resourceMap.getString("btn_C.text")); // NOI18N
        btn_C.setName("btn_C"); // NOI18N
        btn_C.addActionListener(new java.awt.event.ActionListener() {
            public void actionPerformed(java.awt.event.ActionEvent evt) {
                btn_CActionPerformed(evt);
            }
        });
 
        btn_D.setText(resourceMap.getString("btn_D.text")); // NOI18N
        btn_D.setName("btn_D"); // NOI18N
        btn_D.addActionListener(new java.awt.event.ActionListener() {
            public void actionPerformed(java.awt.event.ActionEvent evt) {
                btn_DActionPerformed(evt);
            }
        });
 
        jScrollPane1.setName("jScrollPane1"); // NOI18N
 
        txta_display.setColumns(20);
        txta_display.setLineWrap(true);
        txta_display.setRows(5);
        txta_display.setWrapStyleWord(true);
        txta_display.setName("txta_display"); // NOI18N
        jScrollPane1.setViewportView(txta_display);
 
        btn_quiz.setText(resourceMap.getString("btn_quiz.text")); // NOI18N
        btn_quiz.setName("btn_quiz"); // NOI18N
 
        btn_quiz1.setText(resourceMap.getString("btn_quiz1.text")); // NOI18N
        btn_quiz1.setName("btn_quiz1"); // NOI18N
        btn_quiz1.addActionListener(new java.awt.event.ActionListener() {
            public void actionPerformed(java.awt.event.ActionEvent evt) {
                btn_quiz1ActionPerformed(evt);
            }
        });
 
        javax.swing.GroupLayout mainPanelLayout = new javax.swing.GroupLayout(mainPanel);
        mainPanel.setLayout(mainPanelLayout);
        mainPanelLayout.setHorizontalGroup(
            mainPanelLayout.createParallelGroup(javax.swing.GroupLayout.Alignment.LEADING)
            .addGroup(mainPanelLayout.createSequentialGroup()
                .addGap(153, 153, 153)
                .addComponent(btn_A)
                .addGap(18, 18, 18)
                .addComponent(btn_B)
                .addGap(18, 18, 18)
                .addComponent(btn_C)
                .addGap(18, 18, 18)
                .addComponent(btn_D)
                .addContainerGap(37, Short.MAX_VALUE))
            .addGroup(javax.swing.GroupLayout.Alignment.TRAILING, mainPanelLayout.createSequentialGroup()
                .addGap(20, 20, 20)
                .addComponent(btn_quiz1)
                .addGap(18, 18, 18)
                .addComponent(jScrollPane1, javax.swing.GroupLayout.DEFAULT_SIZE, 261, Short.MAX_VALUE)
                .addGap(20, 20, 20))
            .addGroup(mainPanelLayout.createParallelGroup(javax.swing.GroupLayout.Alignment.LEADING)
                .addGroup(mainPanelLayout.createSequentialGroup()
                    .addGap(0, 159, Short.MAX_VALUE)
                    .addComponent(btn_quiz)
                    .addGap(0, 160, Short.MAX_VALUE)))
        );
        mainPanelLayout.setVerticalGroup(
            mainPanelLayout.createParallelGroup(javax.swing.GroupLayout.Alignment.LEADING)
            .addGroup(mainPanelLayout.createSequentialGroup()
                .addContainerGap(12, Short.MAX_VALUE)
                .addGroup(mainPanelLayout.createParallelGroup(javax.swing.GroupLayout.Alignment.LEADING)
                    .addGroup(javax.swing.GroupLayout.Alignment.TRAILING, mainPanelLayout.createSequentialGroup()
                        .addComponent(jScrollPane1, javax.swing.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE, 183, javax.swing.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE)
                        .addGap(18, 18, 18)
                        .addGroup(mainPanelLayout.createParallelGroup(javax.swing.GroupLayout.Alignment.BASELINE)
                            .addComponent(btn_A)
                            .addComponent(btn_B)
                            .addComponent(btn_C)
                            .addComponent(btn_D))
                        .addGap(18, 18, 18))
                    .addGroup(javax.swing.GroupLayout.Alignment.TRAILING, mainPanelLayout.createSequentialGroup()
                        .addComponent(btn_quiz1)
                        .addGap(93, 93, 93))))
            .addGroup(mainPanelLayout.createParallelGroup(javax.swing.GroupLayout.Alignment.LEADING)
                .addGroup(mainPanelLayout.createSequentialGroup()
                    .addGap(0, 115, Short.MAX_VALUE)
                    .addComponent(btn_quiz)
                    .addGap(0, 116, Short.MAX_VALUE)))
        );
 
        menuBar.setName("menuBar"); // NOI18N
 
        fileMenu.setText(resourceMap.getString("fileMenu.text")); // NOI18N
        fileMenu.setName("fileMenu"); // NOI18N
 
        javax.swing.ActionMap actionMap = org.jdesktop.application.Application.getInstance(sscceofproblem.SSCCEOfProblemApp.class).getContext().getActionMap(SSCCEOfProblemView.class, this);
        exitMenuItem.setAction(actionMap.get("quit")); // NOI18N
        exitMenuItem.setName("exitMenuItem"); // NOI18N
        fileMenu.add(exitMenuItem);
 
        menuBar.add(fileMenu);
 
        helpMenu.setText(resourceMap.getString("helpMenu.text")); // NOI18N
        helpMenu.setName("helpMenu"); // NOI18N
 
        aboutMenuItem.setAction(actionMap.get("showAboutBox")); // NOI18N
        aboutMenuItem.setName("aboutMenuItem"); // NOI18N
        helpMenu.add(aboutMenuItem);
 
        menuBar.add(helpMenu);
 
        statusPanel.setName("statusPanel"); // NOI18N
 
        statusPanelSeparator.setName("statusPanelSeparator"); // NOI18N
 
        statusMessageLabel.setName("statusMessageLabel"); // NOI18N
 
        statusAnimationLabel.setHorizontalAlignment(javax.swing.SwingConstants.LEFT);
        statusAnimationLabel.setName("statusAnimationLabel"); // NOI18N
 
        progressBar.setName("progressBar"); // NOI18N
 
        javax.swing.GroupLayout statusPanelLayout = new javax.swing.GroupLayout(statusPanel);
        statusPanel.setLayout(statusPanelLayout);
        statusPanelLayout.setHorizontalGroup(
            statusPanelLayout.createParallelGroup(javax.swing.GroupLayout.Alignment.LEADING)
            .addComponent(statusPanelSeparator, javax.swing.GroupLayout.DEFAULT_SIZE, 400, Short.MAX_VALUE)
            .addGroup(statusPanelLayout.createSequentialGroup()
                .addContainerGap()
                .addComponent(statusMessageLabel)
                .addPreferredGap(javax.swing.LayoutStyle.ComponentPlacement.RELATED, 230, Short.MAX_VALUE)
                .addComponent(progressBar, javax.swing.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE, javax.swing.GroupLayout.DEFAULT_SIZE, javax.swing.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE)
                .addPreferredGap(javax.swing.LayoutStyle.ComponentPlacement.RELATED)
                .addComponent(statusAnimationLabel)
                .addContainerGap())
        );
        statusPanelLayout.setVerticalGroup(
            statusPanelLayout.createParallelGroup(javax.swing.GroupLayout.Alignment.LEADING)
            .addGroup(statusPanelLayout.createSequentialGroup()
                .addComponent(statusPanelSeparator, javax.swing.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE, 2, javax.swing.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE)
                .addPreferredGap(javax.swing.LayoutStyle.ComponentPlacement.RELATED, javax.swing.GroupLayout.DEFAULT_SIZE, Short.MAX_VALUE)
                .addGroup(statusPanelLayout.createParallelGroup(javax.swing.GroupLayout.Alignment.BASELINE)
                    .addComponent(statusMessageLabel)
                    .addComponent(statusAnimationLabel)
                    .addComponent(progressBar, javax.swing.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE, javax.swing.GroupLayout.DEFAULT_SIZE, javax.swing.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE))
                .addGap(3, 3, 3))
        );
 
        setComponent(mainPanel);
        setMenuBar(menuBar);
        setStatusBar(statusPanel);
    }// </editor-fold>
 
private void btn_AActionPerformed(java.awt.event.ActionEvent evt) {
//This begins the answer buttons
buttonPressA();
 
txta_display.setText("Press an answer button to begin");
 if (totalquestions==4){
 
    txta_display.setText("What is the slope of a line containing (2,4) and (4,8)?\n A. 2\n B. 3\n C. 13\n D. 1");
    if (answer==solutions[1]){
        score=score+1;
}
    System.out.println("answer:"+answer);
    System.out.println("solution:"+ java.util.Arrays.toString(solutions));
    System.out.println("question"+totalquestions);
 
    if (totalquestions==5){
         txta_display.setText("What is the slope of the line containing (3,9) and (2,6)?\n A. 4\n B. 3\n C. 6\n D. 1");
         if (answer==solutions[2]){
             score=score+1; 
         System.out.println("answer:"+answer);
         System.out.println("solution:"+ java.util.Arrays.toString(solutions));
         System.out.println("1 Score: "+score);
         System.out.println("question"+totalquestions); 
         }
    }
    else if(totalquestions==6){
        txta_display.setText("What does a statement like x=4 mean?\n A. nothing\n B. straight line through a y value\n C. No line exists.\nD. The line passes thrrough an x value");
        if (answer==solutions[3]) {
              score=score+1;
        }
         System.out.println("answer:"+answer);
         System.out.println("solution:"+ java.util.Arrays.toString(solutions));
         System.out.println("1 Score: "+score);
         System.out.println("question"+totalquestions); 
    }
    if (totalquestions==7){
       txta_display.setText("What is the slope of  a line segment from (6,12)to (12,36)?\n A. 5\n B. 2\n C.4\n D. 1");
        if (answer==solutions[4]){
            score=score+1;
            System.out.println("answer:"+answer);
            System.out.println("solution:"+ java.util.Arrays.toString(solutions));
        }
        System.out.println("2 Score: "+score);
        System.out.println("question"+totalquestions); 
    }
    else if (totalquestions==8){
    txta_display.setText("What is the slope of  a line segment from (6,12)to (12,36)?\n A. 5\n B. 2\n C.4\n D. 1");
        if (answer==solutions[5]){
            score=score+1;
             System.out.println("answer:"+answer);
             System.out.println("solution:"+ java.util.Arrays.toString(solutions));
     }
        System.out.println("3 Score: "+score);
        System.out.println("question"+totalquestions); 
    }
    else if (totalquestions>8){
        txta_display.setText("You have finished! Your score is "+score+" out of 5");
    }
  }
 
}
 
private void btn_BActionPerformed(java.awt.event.ActionEvent evt) {
// TODO add your handling code here:
   buttonPressB();
   txta_display.setText("Press an answer button to begin");
 
    if (totalquestions==4){
 
    txta_display.setText("What is the slope of a line containing (2,4) and (4,8)?\n A. 2\n B. 3\n C. 13\n D. 1");
    if (answer==solutions[1]){
        score=score+1;
}
    System.out.println("answer:"+answer);
    System.out.println("solution:"+ java.util.Arrays.toString(solutions));
    System.out.println("question"+totalquestions);
 
 
    if (totalquestions==5){
         txta_display.setText("What is the slope of the line containing (3,9) and (2,6)?\n A. 4\n B. 3\n C. 6\n D. 1");
         if (answer==solutions[2]){
             score=score+1; 
              System.out.println("answer:"+answer);
         System.out.println("solution:"+ java.util.Arrays.toString(solutions));
         System.out.println("1 Score: "+score);
         System.out.println("question"+totalquestions); 
         }
    }
    else if(totalquestions==6){
        txta_display.setText("What does a statement like x=4 mean?\n A. nothing\n B. straight line through a y value\n C. No line exists.\nD. The line passes thrrough an x value");
        if (answer==solutions[3]) {
              score=score+1;
        }
         System.out.println("answer:"+answer);
         System.out.println("solution:"+ java.util.Arrays.toString(solutions));
         System.out.println("1 Score: "+score);
         System.out.println("question"+totalquestions); 
    }
    if (totalquestions==7){
       txta_display.setText("What is the slope of  a line segment from (6,12)to (12,36)?\n A. 5\n B. 2\n C.4\n D. 1");
        if (answer==solutions[4]){
            score=score+1;
            System.out.println("answer:"+answer);
            System.out.println("solution:"+ java.util.Arrays.toString(solutions));
        }
        System.out.println("2 Score: "+score);
        System.out.println("question"+totalquestions); 
    }
    else if (totalquestions==8){
    txta_display.setText("What is the slope of  a line segment from (6,12)to (12,36)?\n A. 5\n B. 2\n C.4\n D. 1");
        if (answer==solutions[5]){
            score=score+1;
             System.out.println("answer:"+answer);
             System.out.println("solution:"+ java.util.Arrays.toString(solutions));
     }
        System.out.println("3 Score: "+score);
        System.out.println("question"+totalquestions); 
    }
    else if (totalquestions>8){
        txta_display.setText("You have finished! Your score is "+score+" out of 5");
    }
  }
 
}
 
private void btn_CActionPerformed(java.awt.event.ActionEvent evt) {
// TODO add your handling code here:
   buttonPressC();
   txta_display.setText("Press an answer button to begin");
  if (totalquestions==4){      
    txta_display.setText("What is the slope of a line containing (2,4) and (4,8)?\n A. 2\n B. 3\n C. 13\n D. 1");
    if (answer==solutions[1]){
        score=score+1;  
        System.out.println("answer:"+answer);
        System.out.println("solution:"+ java.util.Arrays.toString(solutions));
        System.out.println("question"+totalquestions);
}
  else if (totalquestions==5){
         txta_display.setText("What is the slope of the line containing (3,9) and (2,6)?\n A. 4\n B. 3\n C. 6\n D. 1");
         if (answer==solutions[2]){
             score=score+1; 
              System.out.println("answer:"+answer);
         System.out.println("solution:"+ java.util.Arrays.toString(solutions));
         System.out.println("1 Score: "+score);
         System.out.println("question"+totalquestions); 
         }
    }
    else if(totalquestions==6){
        txta_display.setText("What does a statement like x=4 mean?\n A. nothing\n B. straight line through a y value\n C. No line exists.\nD. The line passes thrrough an x value");
        if (answer==solutions[3]) {
              score=score+1;
        }
         System.out.println("answer:"+answer);
         System.out.println("solution:"+ java.util.Arrays.toString(solutions));
         System.out.println("1 Score: "+score);
         System.out.println("question"+totalquestions); 
    }
    if (totalquestions==7){
       txta_display.setText("What is the slope of  a line segment from (6,12)to (12,36)?\n A. 5\n B. 2\n C.4\n D. 1");
        if (answer==solutions[4]){
            score=score+1;
            System.out.println("answer:"+answer);
            System.out.println("solution:"+ java.util.Arrays.toString(solutions));
        }
        System.out.println("2 Score: "+score);
        System.out.println("question"+totalquestions); 
    }
    else if (totalquestions==8){
    txta_display.setText("What is the slope of  a line segment from (6,12)to (12,36)?\n A. 5\n B. 2\n C.4\n D. 1");
        if (answer==solutions[5]){
            score=score+1;
             System.out.println("answer:"+answer);
             System.out.println("solution:"+ java.util.Arrays.toString(solutions));
     }
        System.out.println("3 Score: "+score);
        System.out.println("question"+totalquestions); 
    }
    else if (totalquestions>8){
        txta_display.setText("You have finished! Your score is "+score+" out of 5");
    }
 
}                                        
}
 
private void btn_DActionPerformed(java.awt.event.ActionEvent evt) {
// TODO add your handling code here:
    buttonPressD();
    txta_display.setText("Press an answer button to begin");
    if (totalquestions==4){
 
    txta_display.setText("What is the slope of a line containing (2,4) and (4,8)?\n A. 2\n B. 3\n C. 13\n D. 1");
    if (answer==solutions[1]){
         System.out.println("answer:"+answer);
         System.out.println("solution:"+ java.util.Arrays.toString(solutions));
         System.out.println("1 Score: "+score);
         System.out.println("question"+totalquestions); 
        score=score+1;
}
    System.out.println("answer:"+answer);
    System.out.println("solution:"+ java.util.Arrays.toString(solutions));
    System.out.println("question"+totalquestions);
 
    if (totalquestions==5){
         txta_display.setText("What is the slope of the line containing (3,9) and (2,6)?\n A. 4\n B. 3\n C. 6\n D. 1");
         if (answer==solutions[2]){
             score=score+1; 
         System.out.println("answer:"+answer);
         System.out.println("solution:"+ java.util.Arrays.toString(solutions));
         System.out.println("1 Score: "+score);
         System.out.println("question"+totalquestions); 
         }
    }
    else if(totalquestions==6){
        txta_display.setText("What does a statement like x=4 mean?\n A. nothing\n B. straight line through a y value\n C. No line exists.\nD. The line passes thrrough an x value");
        if (answer==solutions[3]) {
              score=score+1;
        }
         System.out.println("answer:"+answer);
         System.out.println("solution:"+ java.util.Arrays.toString(solutions));
         System.out.println("1 Score: "+score);
         System.out.println("question"+totalquestions); 
    }
    if (totalquestions==7){
       txta_display.setText("What is the slope of  a line segment from (6,12)to (12,36)?\n A. 5\n B. 2\n C.4\n D. 1");
        if (answer==solutions[4]){
            score=score+1;
            System.out.println("answer:"+answer);
            System.out.println("solution:"+ java.util.Arrays.toString(solutions));
        }
        System.out.println("2 Score: "+score);
        System.out.println("question"+totalquestions); 
    }
    else if (totalquestions==8){
    txta_display.setText("What is the slope of  a line segment from (6,12)to (12,36)?\n A. 5\n B. 2\n C.4\n D. 1");
        if (answer==solutions[5]){
            score=score+1;
             System.out.println("answer:"+answer);
             System.out.println("solution:"+ java.util.Arrays.toString(solutions));
     }
        System.out.println("3 Score: "+score);
        System.out.println("question"+totalquestions); 
    }
    else if (totalquestions>8){
        txta_display.setText("You have finished! Your score is "+score+" out of 5");
    }
  }
 
}
 
private void btn_quiz1ActionPerformed(java.awt.event.ActionEvent evt) {
// The quiz is started by pressing this.
    buttonPressA();
    buttonPressB();
    buttonPressC();
    buttonPressD();
    answer=solutions[0];//Counter iterates once inexpicably, this is a countermeasure
    txta_display.setText("Press an answer button to begin");
 
  if (totalquestions==4){  
    txta_display.setText("What is the slope of a line containing (2,4) and (4,8)?\n A. 2\n B. 3\n C. 13\n D. 1");
    if (answer==solutions[1]){
        score=score+1;
        System.out.println("answer:"+answer);
        System.out.println("solution:"+ java.util.Arrays.toString(solutions));
        System.out.println("question"+totalquestions);
} 
    else if (totalquestions==5){
         txta_display.setText("What is the slope of the line containing (3,9) and (2,6)?\n A. 4\n B. 3\n C. 6\n D. 1");
         if (answer==solutions[2]){
             score=score+1; 
         }
    }
    else if(totalquestions==6){
        txta_display.setText("What does a statement like x=4 mean?\n A. nothing\n B. straight line through a y value\n C. No line exists.\nD. The line passes thrrough an x value");
        if (answer==solutions[3]) {
              score=score+1;
        }
         System.out.println("answer:"+answer);
         System.out.println("solution:"+ java.util.Arrays.toString(solutions));
         System.out.println("1 Score: "+score);
         System.out.println("question"+totalquestions); 
    }
    if (totalquestions==7){
       txta_display.setText("What is the slope of  a line segment from (6,12)to (12,36)?\n A. 5\n B. 2\n C.4\n D. 1");
        if (answer==solutions[4]){
            score=score+1;
            System.out.println("answer:"+answer);
            System.out.println("solution:"+ java.util.Arrays.toString(solutions));
        }
        System.out.println("2 Score: "+score);
        System.out.println("question"+totalquestions); 
    }
    else if (totalquestions==8){
    txta_display.setText("What is the slope of  a line segment from (6,12)to (12,36)?\n A. 5\n B. 2\n C.4\n D. 1");
        if (answer==solutions[5]){
            score=score+1;
             System.out.println("answer:"+answer);
             System.out.println("solution:"+ java.util.Arrays.toString(solutions));
     }
        System.out.println("3 Score: "+score);
        System.out.println("question"+totalquestions); 
    }
    else if (totalquestions>8){
        txta_display.setText("You have finished! Your score is "+score+" out of 5");
    }
  }

Sorry if it's a little larger than expected.

I'm sorry about all of that. However, mistakes happen, it was posted as a rush job sort of thing, and ignoring the dropped }, it runs fine when I execute it. All the generated code and extra methods are there simply because I've never been shown in class which imports/generated code is/is not needed.

This is my first program I've asked for help online for, and I don't want to end up wasting anyone's time. At this point, I'd just like to fix the error I've been having.

I second Norm's recommendations. If you need our help, post code that we can run, that doesn't have a ton of code unrelated to the problem. It should contain maybe 40 to 150 lines and not hundreds of lines like in your post. Please remember that we are volunteers, that you're not paying us to help you, so we greatly appreciate it when you put int he effort to make it possible for us to help without having to take too much time away from work and family.

Alright, that's fair.

I'm going to trim it down to one button, the variables, and one section of the physical quiz. It comes in at around 145 lines, is that alright?

Integer[] solutions={0,1,2,4,3,4};
Integer answer;
Integer totalquestions=-1;;
int score, correct;
Integer step=1;
Integer A=1;
Integer B=2;
Integer C=3;
Integer D=4;
 
    public Integer buttonPressA(){
 
answer=A;
 
        if(A.equals(solutions)){           
            totalquestions=totalquestions+1;                  
    }
        else {
            totalquestions=totalquestions+1;
        }    
        System.out.println(""+totalquestions);
        System.out.println("Score: "+score);
        return answer;  
}
public SSCCEOfProblemView(SingleFrameApplication app) {
        super(app);
  buttonPressA();
    buttonPressB();
    buttonPressC();
    buttonPressD();
    answer=solutions[0];//Counter iterates once inexpicably, this is a countermeasure
    txta_display.setText("Press an answer button to begin");
 
  if (totalquestions==4){  
    txta_display.setText("What is the slope of a line containing (2,4) and (4,8)?\n A. 2\n B. 3\n C. 13\n D. 1");
    if (answer==solutions[1]){
        score=score+1;
        System.out.println("answer:"+answer);
        System.out.println("solution:"+ java.util.Arrays.toString(solutions));
        System.out.println("question"+totalquestions);
} 
    else if (totalquestions==5){
         txta_display.setText("What is the slope of the line containing (3,9) and (2,6)?\n A. 4\n B. 3\n C. 6\n D. 1");
         if (answer==solutions[2]){
             score=score+1; 
         }
    }
    else if(totalquestions==6){
        txta_display.setText("What does a statement like x=4 mean?\n A. nothing\n B. straight line through a y value\n C. No line exists.\nD. The line passes thrrough an x value");
        if (answer==solutions[3]) {
              score=score+1;
        }
         System.out.println("answer:"+answer);
         System.out.println("solution:"+ java.util.Arrays.toString(solutions));
         System.out.println("1 Score: "+score);
         System.out.println("question"+totalquestions); 
    }
    if (totalquestions==7){
       txta_display.setText("What is the slope of  a line segment from (6,12)to (12,36)?\n A. 5\n B. 2\n C.4\n D. 1");
        if (answer==solutions[4]){
            score=score+1;
            System.out.println("answer:"+answer);
            System.out.println("solution:"+ java.util.Arrays.toString(solutions));
        }
        System.out.println("2 Score: "+score);
        System.out.println("question"+totalquestions); 
    }
    else if (totalquestions==8){
    txta_display.setText("What is the slope of  a line segment from (6,12)to (12,36)?\n A. 5\n B. 2\n C.4\n D. 1");
        if (answer==solutions[5]){
            score=score+1;
             System.out.println("answer:"+answer);
             System.out.println("solution:"+ java.util.Arrays.toString(solutions));
     }
        System.out.println("3 Score: "+score);
        System.out.println("question"+totalquestions); 
    }
    else if (totalquestions>8){
        txta_display.setText("You have finished! Your score is "+score+" out of 5");
    }
  }

It's not, now that I've stripped it down. I am honestly trying, I don't know why this keeps happening.

Ok, I converted it into something a little more manageable in the ide, and this is the error I get:

Jan 28, 2013 7:53:36 PM org.jdesktop.application.Application$1 run
SEVERE: Application class desktopapplication1.DesktopApplication1 failed to launch
java.lang.NullPointerException
at desktopapplication1.DesktopApplication1View.<init> (DesktopApplication1View.java:72)
at desktopapplication1.DesktopApplication1.startup(De sktopApplication1.java:19)
at org.jdesktop.application.Application$1.run(Applica tion.java:171)
at java.awt.event.InvocationEvent.dispatch(Invocation Event.java:251)
at java.awt.EventQueue.dispatchEventImpl(EventQueue.j ava:721)
at java.awt.EventQueue.access$200(EventQueue.java:103 )
at java.awt.EventQueue$3.run(EventQueue.java:682)
at java.awt.EventQueue$3.run(EventQueue.java:680)
at java.security.AccessController.doPrivileged(Native Method)
at java.security.ProtectionDomain$1.doIntersectionPri vilege(ProtectionDomain.java:76)
at java.awt.EventQueue.dispatchEvent(EventQueue.java: 691)
at java.awt.EventDispatchThread.pumpOneEventForFilter s(EventDispatchThread.java:244)
at java.awt.EventDispatchThread.pumpEventsForFilter(E ventDispatchThread.java:163)
at java.awt.EventDispatchThread.pumpEventsForHierarch y(EventDispatchThread.java:151)
at java.awt.EventDispatchThread.pumpEvents(EventDispa tchThread.java:147)
at java.awt.EventDispatchThread.pumpEvents(EventDispa tchThread.java:139)
at java.awt.EventDispatchThread.run(EventDispatchThre ad.java:97)

Exception in thread "AWT-EventQueue-0" java.lang.Error: Application class desktopapplication1.DesktopApplication1 failed to launch
at org.jdesktop.application.Application$1.run(Applica tion.java:177)
at java.awt.event.InvocationEvent.dispatch(Invocation Event.java:251)
at java.awt.EventQueue.dispatchEventImpl(EventQueue.j ava:721)
at java.awt.EventQueue.access$200(EventQueue.java:103 )
at java.awt.EventQueue$3.run(EventQueue.java:682)
at java.awt.EventQueue$3.run(EventQueue.java:680)
at java.security.AccessController.doPrivileged(Native Method)
at java.security.ProtectionDomain$1.doIntersectionPri vilege(ProtectionDomain.java:76)
at java.awt.EventQueue.dispatchEvent(EventQueue.java: 691)
at java.awt.EventDispatchThread.pumpOneEventForFilter s(EventDispatchThread.java:244)
at java.awt.EventDispatchThread.pumpEventsForFilter(E ventDispatchThread.java:163)
at java.awt.EventDispatchThread.pumpEventsForHierarch y(EventDispatchThread.java:151)
at java.awt.EventDispatchThread.pumpEvents(EventDispa tchThread.java:147)
at java.awt.EventDispatchThread.pumpEvents(EventDispa tchThread.java:139)
at java.awt.EventDispatchThread.run(EventDispatchThre ad.java:97)
Caused by: java.lang.NullPointerException
at desktopapplication1.DesktopApplication1View.<init> (DesktopApplication1View.java:72)
at desktopapplication1.DesktopApplication1.startup(De sktopApplication1.java:19)
at org.jdesktop.application.Application$1.run(Applica tion.java:171)
... 14 more
I've checked line 72, and it's pregenerated code. Otherwise, there aren't any sort of null values, they all are initialized, so that's not the issue. I've never seen the word severe come up like that before, if that helps at all.

It looks like you're still trying to use NetBean's generated code, and I strongly urge you to move away from this. Create your code by hand which will allow you to create a very small runnable Swing GUI that either solves your problems or shows it. You'll also understand Swing much better.

Ah.

I do get what you're saying, and I agree that it would help, I'm just under a bit of a time constraint for this one. I need to have it completed by Thursday, and at this point, I'm just trying to come up with something that resembles its intended purpose.