Thanks for all the help, will go and look at the link that you have given. Just realised all the examples can be downloaded and run in netbeans or using notepad++ / eclipse. So not only can you read the tutorials you can run and walk through them. I think I made the fundamental mistake of looking at various forums and java related sites picking up bits of code from here and there, only half of which I understand. So I have deleted all links, and will now go and read the tutorials. See you in about 6months time.

Thought it wouldn't work as easy as that. :( errors for the actionPerformed method,

Quote:

Multiple markers at this line - void is an invalid type for the variable actionPerformed - Syntax error on token "(", ; expected - Syntax error on token ")", ; expected

errors for all the buttons .addActionListener(ActionPerformed);

Quote:

ActionPerformed cannot be resolved to a variable

So, each button calls the action performed method, which in turn calls the calcAnswer method, which then returns the answer to the action performed method where it is shown in the label? I'll go and place it in my project and see how I get on.(I could be back) ;)

Thanks Richard after many hours of head scratching and internet searching I think I have it. Below is the class level variables and the method showAnswer.

// Variables declaration                    
       double decNum1, decNum2, decAnswer; // class level available to all
       String strAnswer;
  // End of variables declaration 
		
void showAnswer(int dPlaces){
	Double numAnswer; 
	numAnswer = decNum1 \* decNum2;
	strAnswer = String.format("%,." + dPlaces + "f", numAnswer);     	

}

And below is the 3 radiobuttons and the sum button that call the method when clicked.

		      rbOneDecimal.addActionListener(new ActionListener() {
			         public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e) {
			        	 decNum1 = Double.parseDouble(txtNumOne.getText());
			        	 decNum2 = Double.parseDouble(txtNumTwo.getText());
			        	  showAnswer(1); //call method
			        	  lblDPAnswer.setText(strAnswer);
			      				        	}
			      });
		      rbTwoDecimal.addActionListener(new ActionListener() {
			         public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e) {
			        	 decNum1 = Double.parseDouble(txtNumOne.getText());
			        	 decNum2 = Double.parseDouble(txtNumTwo.getText());
			        	  showAnswer(2); //call method
			        	  lblDPAnswer.setText(strAnswer); 
			         }
			      });
		      
		      rbThreeDecimal.addActionListener(new ActionListener() {
			         public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e) {   
			        	 decNum1 = Double.parseDouble(txtNumOne.getText());
			        	 decNum2 = Double.parseDouble(txtNumTwo.getText());
			        	  showAnswer(3); //call method
			        	  lblDPAnswer.setText(strAnswer);
			         }
			      });
		      btnSum.addActionListener(new ActionListener() {
			         public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e) {
			        	 decNum1 = Double.parseDouble(txtNumOne.getText());
			        	 decNum2 = Double.parseDouble(txtNumTwo.getText());
			        	  showAnswer(0); //call method
			        	  lblDPAnswer.setText(strAnswer);
			        	 }
			      });

Could it be done a better way? I seem to be repeating these 2 lines.

       decNum1 = Double.parseDouble(txtNumOne.getText());
       decNum2 = Double.parseDouble(txtNumTwo.getText());

Below is the full code I am using but I get the following error messages showing at the start of my code

Quote:

Multiple markers at this line - txtNumOne cannot be resolved - txtNumTwo cannot be resolved

and

Quote:

lblDPAnswer cannot be resolved

package components;
import java.awt.event.*;
import javax.swing.*;
import java.awt.Color;
import java.awt.Font;
import javax.swing.BorderFactory;
import java.awt.event.ActionEvent;
import java.awt.event.ActionListener;
public class MathsLesson
{
String strAnswer;

	void showAnswer(int dPlaces){
Double numAnswer; String strAnswer; 
numAnswer = (Double.parseDouble(txtNumOne.getText()))\* (Double.parseDouble(txtNumTwo.getText()));
strAnswer = String.format("%,." + dPlaces + "f", numAnswer); 
lblDPAnswer.setText(strAnswer);

}

public MathsLesson() 
{		
	JFrame frame = new JFrame("Tables"); // Creating instance of JFrame
    frame.setSize(800, 600); // Setting the width and height of frame
    frame.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT\_ON\_CLOSE); 
   	JPanel panel = new JPanel(); //Creating panel. Inside panels we can add textfields, buttons and other components.
	panel.setBorder(javax.swing.BorderFactory.createEtchedBorder(javax.swing.border.EtchedBorder.RAISED, new java.awt.Color(255, 51, 51), new java.awt.Color(153, 0, 51)));
	frame.add(panel); // Add panel to frame
   	frame.setVisible(true); // Setting the frame visibility to true
		panel.setLayout(null);	
	    JPanel tablepanel = new JPanel();
		tablepanel.setLayout(null);
		tablepanel.setBounds(10,20,320,300);
		tablepanel.setBorder(BorderFactory.createTitledBorder(BorderFactory.createEtchedBorder(), "Times Tables"));
		tablepanel.setOpaque(false); 
		panel.add(tablepanel);
		
		panel.setLayout(null);	
	    JPanel decimalpanel = new JPanel();
		decimalpanel.setLayout(null);
		decimalpanel.setBounds(10,320,320,100);
		decimalpanel.setBorder(BorderFactory.createTitledBorder(BorderFactory.createEtchedBorder(), "Decimal Places"));
		decimalpanel.setOpaque(false); 
		panel.add(decimalpanel);
		
		JTextArea displayTable = new JTextArea();
		displayTable.setEditable(false);
		displayTable.setFont(new java.awt.Font("Times New Roman", 0, 18));
		displayTable.setText("Choose a button on the right to view the table you want to see");
		displayTable.setLineW

Talk about making things complicated! Here is the final code, no user defined method was needed, I just had to place the results for pressing a button in the 'itemStateChanged method'

		ItemListener itemListener = new ItemListener() {
			public void itemStateChanged(ItemEvent itemEvent) {
				AbstractButton aButton = (AbstractButton)itemEvent.getSource();
					int state = itemEvent.getStateChange();
					String name = aButton.getText();
				for (int i = 1; i < rbTable.length; i++)
				{	
					if (state == ItemEvent.SELECTED) {
						if (name.equals(rbTable\[i\].getText())) {
							displayTable.setText(""); //Clear the displayTable 
							int firstNum, answerNum;
							for (firstNum = 1; firstNum <=12; firstNum ++)
							{
								answerNum = firstNum \* i;
								displayTable.append(" " + firstNum + " x " + i + " = " + answerNum +"\\n");
							}
			
						}
					}
				}
			}  
		};

Hi Richard, Can't argue and have no wish to, with the points you make about the sample code, The thing is they are stand alone ie Here's a method, here's how to call it. Here' some radio buttons, here's how to find the one selected. And they work fine the problem is when your project gets more added to it and includes many components and then it's trying to get them to work with each other. I am going to get 'Java: The Complete Reference, Eleventh Edition' as soon as things get back to normal. Until then I have to rely on the tutorials and forums to guide me.

Thanks Richard I have and do look at the Java Tutorials but don't always find them helpful even though they explain the concepts of components. I did eventually figure it out, the code is below for anyone else to look through,

		ItemListener itemListener = new ItemListener() {
			public void itemStateChanged(ItemEvent itemEvent) {
				AbstractButton aButton = (AbstractButton)itemEvent.getSource();
					int state = itemEvent.getStateChange();
					String name = aButton.getText();
				for (int i = 1; i < rbTable.length; i++)
				{	
					if (state == ItemEvent.SELECTED) {
						if (name.equals(rbTable\[i\].getText())) {
							userText.setText(rbTable\[i\].getText());
						}

					}
				}	
			}  
		};

Because I tried setting it to the name of the radiobutton but that didn't work either.

rbTable[i].setActionCommand(Integer.toString(i) + " Times");

I have the following imports that's all What other code do I need? the examles I've looked just show isSelected and that's all.

import java.awt.event.ActionEvent;
import java.awt.event.ActionListener;

Below is the code for 12 radiobuttons it compiles and runs but when I test out the first 2 buttons nothing happens. I have setActionCommand in the loop for each button so What is it I've not done?

	ButtonGroup bgTableButtons = new ButtonGroup(); 
				
		JRadioButton\[\] rbTable = new JRadioButton\[13\];
		
			int y = 20;
			for (int i = 1; i < rbTable.length; i++)
				{
					rbTable\[i\] = new JRadioButton(Integer.toString(i) + " Times");
					rbTable\[i\].setActionCommand(Integer.toString(i));
					rbTable\[i\].setBounds(320, y, 80, 20);
					bgTableButtons.add(rbTable\[i\]);
					panel.add(rbTable\[i\]);
					y = y + 20;
				} //End of for loop
       
	if(rbTable\[1\].isSelected())
	{
       userText.setText("Button 1");
    }
    else if(rbTable\[2\].isSelected())
	{
        userText.setText("Button 2");
    } // End of if

Thanks Richard that is a good piece of advice that I will remember.

But always remember, making mistakes is how we all learned ...

And this gives me some encouragement as it seems I'm making quite a few.

That's done it, although I am annoyed as I knew the curly bracket was missing but when I added it I got different errors. After your reply I removed the method placed it in a new page and added the bracket so that it had 2 opening and 2 closing, placed it back in my project and it worked. I do remember that every opening ( or { had to have a matching one closing. Can now carry on with the project. Thank you

Sorry Richard, honestly thought I had given the error. If I place the code here

public class MyTables
{
void getSecond(int secondNum){
displayTable.setText("\n"); //Clear the displayTable
int firstNum, answerNum;
for (firstNum = 1; firstNum <=12; firstNum ++){
answerNum = firstNum * secondNum;
displayTable.append(firstNum + " x " + secondNum + " = " + answerNum +"\n");
}
public static void main(String[] args)

I get this message

Quote:

c:\Java>javac MyTables.java MyTables.java:18: error: illegal start of expression public static void main(String[] args) ^ 1 error

If I put it at the end

loginButton.addActionListener(new ActionListener()
{
public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e)
{
//getSecond(6);
displayTable.setText("Button Pressed");
}
void getSecond(int secondNum){
displayTable.setText("\n"); //Clear the displayTable
int firstNum, answerNum;
for (firstNum = 1; firstNum <=12; firstNum ++){
answerNum = firstNum * secondNum;
displayTable.append(firstNum + " x " + secondNum + " = " + answerNum +"\n");
}

	});
}		

}

I get 3 error messages

Quote:

c:\Java>javac MyTables.java MyTables.java:69: error: illegal start of type }); ^ MyTables.java:70: error: ')' expected } ^ MyTables.java:71: error: reached end of file while parsing } ^ 3 errors

Looked at many examples of Method and they all seem easy until I start to place them in my code. No matter where I insert the method or how I rewrite it I still get a problem. Below is my Method followed by my code. What am I not doing?

   void getSecond(int secondNum){
    displayTable.setText("\\n"); //Clear the displayTable 
    int firstNum, answerNum;
        for (firstNum = 1; firstNum <=12; firstNum ++){
            answerNum = firstNum \* secondNum;
            displayTable.append(firstNum + " x " + secondNum + " = " + answerNum +"\\n");
         }

import javax.swing.*;
import java.awt.Color;
import java.awt.Font;
import javax.swing.BorderFactory;
import javax.swing.border.Border;
import java.awt.event.ActionEvent;
import java.awt.event.ActionListener;

public class MyTables
{

public static void main(String\[\] args) 
{
	JFrame frame = new JFrame("Tables"); // Creating instance of JFrame
    frame.setSize(800, 600); // Setting the width and height of frame
    frame.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT\_ON\_CLOSE); 
	JPanel panel = new JPanel(); //Creating panel. Inside panels we can add textfields, buttons and other components.
	panel.setBorder(BorderFactory.createLineBorder(Color.RED));
    frame.add(panel); // Add panel to frame
    placeComponents(panel);  //Call user defined method for adding components to the panel.
	frame.setVisible(true); // Setting the frame visibility to true
}

private static void placeComponents(JPanel panel) 
{
		panel.setLayout(null);
		JTextArea displayTable = new JTextArea("Text Area");
		displayTable.setEditable(false);
		displayTable.setColumns(20);
		displayTable.setFont(new Font("Times New Roman", 1, 14));
		displayTable.setLineWrap(true);
		displayTable.setRows(14);
		displayTable.setWrapStyleWord(true);
		displayTable.setBounds(200,20,230,260); 
		displayTable.setBorder(BorderFactory.createLineBorder(Color.GREEN));
		displayTable.setMaximumSize(new java.awt.Dimension(5, 22));
		panel.add(displayTable);
		
		JLabel userLabel = new JLabel("Enter a Number");  // Creating JLabel
		userLabel.setHorizontalAlignment(SwingConstants.CENTER);
		userLabel.setFont(new Font("Verdana", Font.ITALIC, 16)); //set font
		userLabel.setBounds(10,20,180,25); // Specifies the location and size of component. (x,y,x1,y1)
		userLabel.setBorder(BorderFactory.createLineBorder(Color.BLUE));	
		panel.add(userLabel); // Add Label

OK, so I'm back to using notepad++ in a panel I have a TextBox, Label and Buton all of which show but I have a TextArea that doesn't show, tried various ways but nothing has worked.

private static void placeComponents(JPanel panel) 
{
		panel.setLayout(null);
		JTextArea displayTable = new JTextArea("Text Area");
		displayTable.setEditable(false);
		displayTable.setColumns(20);
		displayTable.setFont(new Font("Times New Roman", 1, 14));
		displayTable.setLineWrap(true);
		displayTable.setRows(14);
		displayTable.setWrapStyleWord(true);
		displayTable.setBorder(BorderFactory.createLineBorder(Color.GREEN));
		displayTable.setMaximumSize(new java.awt.Dimension(5, 22));
		panel.add(displayTable);

Once again Richard, Thanks for the advice. I guess like most beginners I couldn't understand how writing code in a text editor and running it in cmd made a visual program. I did start with notepad ++ and compiled and run some programs but the result only showed itself in the cmd window, what use is that? then after looking around and gaining a little more understanding, I looked at examples where the code was written, compiled and run. Lo and behold a window popped up with a button on it! I think Netbeans makes you feel like you know but as this thread has pointed out, it's just an illusion. So back to notepad ++ and back to a step at a time. Will also look at the other editors available.

That's done it :) Not sure about the first five lines as I'm using Netbeans and it puts those lines in. But this is the that solved it.

Quote:

A call to a method cannot exist at class level, it must be inside an executable block.

So all I needed was,

private void rbSetQuestionFocusGained(java.awt.event.FocusEvent evt) {                                          
        set();
} 

As rbSetQuestion is selected at the start, the set() method is executed. Now to have a look at lists.

Hi Richard, Thanks for taking the time to look and answer. Here is the start of the code. Once I get it to work I will then read up on list. Just wanted to solve why its not working.When running the example in cmd does.

public PracticeTest() {
    initComponents();
}

/\*\*
 \* 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")

                         
 int count=0,current=0;

/\*\*
 \*
 \* @param s
 \*/


   set();  //set() on its own gives error, (invalid method declaration; return type required)
 {
   counter = 0
   set()  //set() like this no errors, build successful but doesn't show 
 }

I am using an example code that I found line JavaPoint which works and does what I would want it to do, so I thought I would use it in my Netbeans project. It took a while to figure out what did what as there were no comments and obscure naming eg buttons name is 1. I now have it working and have renamed things there is one problem I can't figure and it's a call to a method called set() The program starts with a question and 4 possible radiobutton answers you select an answer then click button next which shows question 2. For some reason It doesn't show question 1 when the form first loads. Tried various things but none worked for me. The Next Button Code:

private void btnNextActionPerformed(java.awt.event.ActionEvent evt) {                                        
    if(check()) // Check answer
        count=count+1;
	current++;
        set();	//Next question
if(current==9)
{
     JOptionPane.showMessageDialog(this,"Correct Answers = "+count);
     btnNext.setEnabled(false);
        //b2.setText("Result");
}
}

First section of the set() Method code

void set()
{
rbSetQuestion.setSelected(true);
if(current==0)
{
lblQuestions.setText("Question1: Which one among these is not a datatype");
rbChoice_1.setText("int");rbChoice_2.setText("Float");rbChoice_3.setText("boolean");rbChoice_4.setText("char");
}
if(current==1)
{
lblQuestions.setText("Question2: Which class is available to all the class automatically");
rbChoice_1.setText("Swing");rbChoice_2.setText("Applet");rbChoice_3.setText("Object");rbChoice_4.setText("ActionEvent");
}