We Keep Coding

Pass an argument into an action listener

Background
I'm trying to write a program in which the user types in a formula of format
A?B:C?(X-1):D?(Y-3):(Z*3)
and then the code will guide the user through a series of yes/no questions to determine what would be returned under certain conditions.
Problem
I have written a findTrue code which will extract the true part of this kind of formula. I want my yesListener's action to ask another question if the true part of the user's input has more question marks in it. If not, it will return the answer.
ActionListener yesListener = new ActionListener() {
#Override
public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e) {
String formula = textArea.getText();
int i = StringUtils.countMatches(formula, "?");
if (i>1) {
String newFormula = "";
newFormula = findTrue(formula);
questionLabel.setText(askQuestion(newFormula));
}
else {questionLabel.setText("The formula will return" + findTrue(formula));}
}};
The first time I run the code it works fine, but the second time it runs the getText() again from the original input. So, I figure the best way is if I can pass the string into the actionPerformed rather than evaluating it inside. However I'm still pretty new to java and I'm struggling to see how I could make this happen.

As far as I understand, your ActionListener is created in the scope of some class. It's hard to propose the best way to refactor the code without seeing the whole code of the class.
But to achieve your goal, you could save the original value of getText() in a class instance field, and then update it in each new invokation of the listener:
public class Main {
private String formula;
ActionListener yesListener = new ActionListener() {
#Override
public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e) {
if (formula == null) {
formula = textArea.getText();
}
int i = StringUtils.countMatches(formula, "?");
if (i > 1) {
formula = findTrue(formula);
questionLabel.setText(askQuestion(formula));
} else {
questionLabel.setText("The formula will return" + findTrue(formula));
}
}
};

U cant directly pass arguments to anonymous function.
But this link might help u to do that
how-to-pass-parameters-to-anonymous-class

Sending a variable from ActionListener, so another ActionListener can use it

I see there are some questions already asked about this topic but I haven't come up to an answer for my. I am writing a code where user types something in JTextField, and after clicking a button, his word is replaced with the number of asterisks with the same number of characters his word had e.g "table" would be replaced by "****". i did it this way:
ask.addActionListener(new ActionListener() {
public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e) {
String guess = "";
String given = textGive.getText();
for (int i=0; i<given.length(); i++){
String asterisk = "*";
guess += asterisk;
textGive.setText(guess);
}
}
});
I know that I did not do this in a great way, but I did not know how to do it better. Any recommendations?
Now, I want somehow to save both Strings, the original word and the asterisk one outside the scope so I can access it in another ActionListener and modify it further.
Before writing first ActionListener i did write String guess = "" and String given = "" but it seems as it did not do anything.
So, in my second ActionListener i want to send him the string given I received when the user typed his word.
guess.addActionListener(new ActionListener() {
public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e) {
String attempt = textGuess.getText();
char att = attempt.charAt(0);
for (int i=0; i<5; i++){
if (given.charAt(i)==att){
textGuess.setText("Ok!");
}
}
}
});
Eclipse gives me error saying:
"Cannot refer to the non-final local variable given defined in an enclosing scope".
I understand that I need to make given final in order to acces it further, but how to do that if the variable depends on text input from first ActionListener? Is there some other solution for this problem? I've recently started using java, so I do not know the language so well.

Anything that you want visible to class should be placed in instance fields, not in local variables. For instance, the given variable should be a private non-static field declared in the class, and not a variable buried within your listener's actionPerformed method.
e.g.,
public class Foo extends JPanel {
private JButton ask = new JButton("Ask");
private JTextField textGive = new JTextField(10);
private String given = ""; // visible throughout the class
public Foo() {
add(textGive);
add(ask);
ActionListener listener = e -> {
String guess = "";
// String given = textGive.getText(); //visible only within this method
given = textGive.getText();
guess = given.replaceAll("\\w", "*");
textGive.setText(guess);
};
ask.addActionListener(listener);
textGive.addActionListener(listener); // also give the same listener to the JTextField
}

How do I check if I have just clicked on a certain object from an array?

Basicly I am creating a game that you click on falling objects, E.G cookies, and I need to know how to check and see if a certain cookie has been pressed so it can disappear but the problem is that its in an array.
Here is a bit of my code:
Input class...
public class Input implements MouseListener, MouseMotionListener{
#Override
public void mousePressed(MouseEvent e) {
if(e.getSource().equals(MainGame.CG)){
if(MainGame.MG.inGame){
//There is actually something else here but its classified (haha sorry about that)
if(e.getPoint().x > /*I NEED SOMETHING HERE*/){
//tells you if the object has been pressed
MainGame.CG.cookieClicked = true; //CG = ClickerGame
}
}
}
}
}
class with array...
public class ClickerGame extends JPanel{
public int amount;
public FallingObject[] fo = new FallingObject[120]; //THE ARRAY I'M HAVING TROUBLES WITH
/*THE REST IS A SECRET (SORRY ABOUT THAT)*/
}
If you don't understand here is a picture to demonstrate what I need...

In order to avoid having to check the coordinates of 120 different items on each click, make every element inside FallingObject[] aware of three things:
Its own area of influence (see sn00fy's answer)
The containing class (in this case probably ClickerGame
Its location in the array (an int)
To do this, you would need to change your FallingObject constructor to look something like this:
public void FallingObject(ClickerGame master, int index); //add whatever else is needed for Falling Object.
Then you could instantiate the array as follows.
for(int i = 0; i < 120; i++) {
fo[i] = new FallingObject(this, i ); //add anything else needed for the constructor
}
Then each FallingObject is responsible for its own state, and when clicked it is able to report back to the ClickerGame instance. All you need now is a method in ClickerGame which each FallingObject can call.
public void clickedObj(int index) {
FallingObject temp = null;
if(index >= 0 && index < 120) {
temp = fo[index];
//Do stuff with temp :)
}
}
To call this method from within FallingObject just reference the 'master' variable (which you should probably save as a global variable within the class.

You have to check every element in your FallingObject[] array if it intersects with the mouse pointer coordinates at the moment of the click.
You can implement a simple rectangle test or use a circle for each cookie as explained here:
Equation for testing if a point is inside a circle

Get text from JRadioButton that isn't part of a ButtonGroup

My program is a GUI. I have this method where when a button is clicked. It populates the next screen with JRadioButtons dynamically.
private void setExamButtonActionPerformed(java.awt.event.ActionEvent evt)
{
if(evt.getActionCommand().equals("Set Exam"))
{
CardLayout cL = (CardLayout)cardPanels.getLayout();
cL.show(cardPanels, "setExamPanel");
}
try
{
//InputStream code
String theMessage = myObject.getMessage();
String delims = "(?=(0*([0-9]{1,2}|100)))";
String[] questions = theMessage.split(delims);
System.out.println(Arrays.toString(questions));
for (int j = 1; j < questions.length; j++)
{
settingQuestionBoxes = new JCheckBox(questions[j]);
settingQuestionTextField = new JTextField("");
jPanel1.add(settingQuestionBoxes);
jPanel1.add(settingQuestionTextField);
jPanel1.revalidate();
jPanel1.repaint();
}
//close streams and socket code
}
catch(Exception e)
{
System.out.println(e);
}
}
Then I have this other method from another screen where the data that is populated from the previous method goes to.
private void setExamQuestionButtonActionPerformed(java.awt.event.ActionEvent evt)
{
if(evt.getActionCommand().equals("Set Exam Question"))
{
ArrayList<JToggleButton> settingQuestionBoxes = new ArrayList<JToggleButton>();
for(JToggleButton questions: settingQuestionBoxes)
{
if(questions.isSelected())
{
System.out.println(questions.getActionCommand());
}
}
CardLayout cL = (CardLayout)cardPanels.getLayout();
cL.show(cardPanels, "instructorPanel");
}
}
So basically when i call this System.out.println(questions.getActionCommand()) I'm trying to see the text from the JRadiobutton that was clicked on.
Right now when I run the program and select a button. Nothing happens.

Put the buttons into a List<JToggleButton> such as an ArrayList<JToggleButton> and then iterate through the list when the information is needed.
for (JToggleButton btn : myButtonList) {
if (btn.isSelected() {
String actionCommand = btn.getActionCommand();
// use the actionCommand here
}
}
Note that JToggleButton is the parent class for JRadioButton and using it would allow you to add JRadioButtons, JCheckBoxes, and JToggleButtons to the list. Since your JRadioButton is not part of a ButtonGroup, perhaps you should be using a JCheckBox instead.
Edit
You now have posted this code, stating it doesn't work:
// Section (A)
ArrayList<JToggleButton> settingQuestionButton = new ArrayList<JToggleButton>();
// Section (B)
for(JToggleButton questions: settingQuestionButon)
{
if(questions.isSelected())
{
System.out.println(questions.getActionCommand());
}
}
Is this code, both (A) and (B), all together in your program? If so, it would make sense that it doesn't work. You should have (A) in a constructor or some set up method. You should follow (A) with code that creates your JRadioButtons or JCheckBoxes, that sets their actionCommand String, that places them in the GUI, and that adds them to the ArrayList.
The part (B) code, the enhanced for loop would need to be in code that is called in response to an event, perhaps in a JButton or radio button's ActionListener.
Please check out this information and fill us in on the details. Please consider creating and posting an sscce illustrating your problem for us.
Edit 2
Your code is confusing in that you appear to have two completely variables of different types with the exact same name, and you appear to be assuming that this will give the variable magical properties that will allow it to know what it's "twin" might be doing. Java doesn't work that way, and in fact variable names are not nearly all that important or smart to allow them any such functionality. Rather your code must be smart.
I'm assuming that more than one of your JCheckBoxes will be checked, and that you want to check which ones are checked at some point in your program. If so, then in your class you should have a List or ArrayList field, something like
private List<JToggleButton> questionsList = new ArrayList<JToggleButton>();
This way this field will available throughout the class.
Then where you create your JCheckBoxes, you add them to this list:
private void setExamButtonActionPerformed(java.awt.event.ActionEvent evt)
{
if(evt.getActionCommand().equals("Set Exam"))
{
CardLayout cL = (CardLayout)cardPanels.getLayout();
cL.show(cardPanels, "setExamPanel");
}
try
{
String theMessage = myObject.getMessage();
String delims = "(?=(0*([0-9]{1,2}|100)))";
String[] questions = theMessage.split(delims);
for (int j = 1; j < questions.length; j++)
{
settingQuestionBox = new JCheckBox(questions[j]); // *** renamed to make more sense
settingQuestionBox.setActionCommand(questions[j]); // **** add actionCommand String
questionsList.add(settingQuestionBox); // ****** add JCheckBox to List
settingQuestionTextField = new JTextField("");
jPanel1.add(settingQuestionBox);
jPanel1.add(settingQuestionTextField);
jPanel1.revalidate();
jPanel1.repaint();
}
//close streams and socket code
}
catch(Exception e)
{
// System.out.println(e);
e.printStackTrace(); // ***** more informative
}
}
Then elsewhere in your code
setExamQuestionButtonActionPerformed(java.awt.event.ActionEvent evt)
{
if(evt.getActionCommand().equals("Set Exam Question"))
{
// ArrayList<JToggleButton> settingQuestionBoxes = new ArrayList<JToggleButton>();
for(JToggleButton questions: questionsList)
{
if(questions.isSelected())
{
System.out.println(questions.getActionCommand());
}
}
CardLayout cL = (CardLayout)cardPanels.getLayout();
cL.show(cardPanels, "instructorPanel");
}
}
And of course you'll need to take care that the ActionListener is added to a button

Help implementing JComboBox[] Listener

1) In the following method (actionListener) a user select a grade (e.g. A-F) from a JComboBox.
2) There are multiple JComboBoxes, and each selection made gets stored into a single String[] array.
PROBLEM:
Here is the dilemma, if a user goes back and changes a selection made from a random JComboBox the previous grade selection does not get replaced in the array, however the new selection made gets stored at the next array index.
How can I make the program replace the previous grade selection and not just add the new selection?
relevant variables:
int counter;
private JComboBox[] gradeField;
//grade.userGrades[] is array of grades taken from selected combo boxes
Action Listener anonymous class:
gradeField[counter].addActionListener(new ActionListener () {
#Override
public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e) {
Object holder = e.getSource();
JComboBox tempGradeBox = (JComboBox)holder;
String theGrade = (String)tempGradeBox.getSelectedItem();
grade.userGrades[grade.getNext()] = theGrade;
grade.updateNext();
}
});
Thanks in advance for any help.

I save the grade in an array and increment the index,
Well you should not be incrementing the index. This assumes that the user selects the grades from the combo box in a sequential order. As you have discovered users can often work randomly.
Instead you need to know which combo box has been changed and then update the appropriate entry in your array.
Or a different solution might be to update your array at the end. So maybe you have a "Process Results" button. Then you can sequentually loop through all the combo boxes to get the selected value.

Update the user grade being at the same index as the combo box:
final int index = counter;
gradeField[counter].addActionListener(new ActionListener () {
#Override
public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e) {
Object holder = e.getSource();
JComboBox tempGradeBox = (JComboBox)holder;
String theGrade = (String)tempGradeBox.getSelectedItem();
grade.userGrades[index] = theGrade;
}
});

Here's another variation of JB Nizet's answer:
class OuterClass
{
...
gradeField[counter].addActionListener( new GradeSettingActionListener( counter ) );
...
class GradeSettingActionListener implements ActionListener
{
// -- Doesn't have to be final here (it does in JB's answer), but I like to be restrictive.
private final int index;
public GradeSettingActionListener( int index )
{
this.index = index;
}
#Override
public void actionPerformed( ActionEvent e )
{
Object holder = e.getSource();
JComboBox tempGradeBox = (JComboBox) holder;
String theGrade = (String) tempGradeBox.getSelectedItem();
grade.userGrades[index] = theGrade;
}
}
}
This approach removes the anonymous class by adding an inner class. The inner class will still have access to grade. You don't gain much here unless there's a chance you'll be splitting out the inner class later.
Of course, camickr's suggestion to process all the grades at once may also be valid, depending on other requirements (i.e., whether additional processing is done after the grades are stored in the array, which seems likely).