How to access components in a JFrame from an Internal frame

Question

I've created java Swing app where it consist of a jDesktoppane, inside it I'm loading/calling some jinternal frames from toggle buttons in the main frame (JFrame). And I've used jButton group to all the toggle buttons so only one frame will when a button is pressed.

Since I've used toggle button, even though I dispose a JInternalFrame the relevant toggle button will be in pressed mode (Selected). I've tried many ways and couldn't change the toggle-button's state from selected to UnSelected.

first i've created a method inside my Main JFrame.

public void buttongroup_off(){           
    buttonGroup 1.setSelected(null,false);             
}

Then I created an object inside the exit button of the JInternalFrame and through that I called the buttongroup_off() method.

private void jButton 7 ActionPerformed(java.awt.event.ActionEvent evt) {         
    Main m1= new Main();                         
    m1.buttongroup_off();                     
    this.dispose();                       
}

but it does not work!!, Can someone help me on this? im kind a new to programming.

score 1 · Accepted Answer · edited May 23 '17 at 11:54

private void jButton7ActionPerformed(java.awt.event.ActionEvent evt) {         
    Main m1= new Main();                         
    m1.buttongroup_off();                     
    this.dispose();                       
}

In this code you are creating a new JFrame Main (which is invisible after creation) and disable its buttongroup. That is not what you want. You have to call buttongroup_off method using a reference to an existing Main instance. You may pass the reference via custom constructor for custom class that extends JInternalFrame, or you may add a static method to the Main class that will return reference to the Main instance. Like this:

private void jButton7ActionPerformed(java.awt.event.ActionEvent evt) {         
    Main m1 = Main.getInstance();                         
    m1.buttongroup_off();                     
    this.dispose();                       
}

You may also look at this question answers: managing parent frame from child frame on java swing

score 1 · Answer 2 · answered Sep 09 '15 at 14:48

1

You can get the JFrame by using code like:

Component source = (Component)event.getSource();
Main frame = (Main)SwingUtilities.windowForComponent( source );

Now that you have a reference to the frame you can invoke any method from your custom frame class.

answered Sep 09 '15 at 14:48

camickr

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Im getting an error in the 1st line of your code, *event* is the place. – TRomesh Sep 09 '15 at 15:47
The above code is added to you ActionListener. So use the variable name you use for the ActionEvent. – camickr Sep 09 '15 at 17:16
i didn't get you. whats the event's variable name?? is it actionPerformed?? – TRomesh Sep 10 '15 at 15:35

How to access components in a JFrame from an Internal frame

2 Answers2