A way to do something similar

• There are many, many uses for inner classes defined outside of a class.  This, however, is not a good one.  This is really for demonstration purposes only.
• Note how we have to pass an instance of this to the Listener when we instantiate it.  Then, note how we have to do everything through public methods.  That's more effort than it is worth!
• You could use this if the inner class does not depend heavily on instance fields.  If it does, consider writing it within the scope of the main class, so that it has automatic access to those variables.
• Now look at the inner class.

     /**
      *
      * @author  jonesbr@email.uc.edu
      */
     public class FourthEvent extends javax.swing.JFrame {

         /** Creates new form FourthEvent */
         public FourthEvent() {
             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.
          */
         private void initComponents() {

             // This panel holds our components.
             jPanel1 = new javax.swing.JPanel();

             // add components to our panel
             jLabel1 = new javax.swing.JLabel();
             jTextField1 = new javax.swing.JTextField();
             jButton1 = new javax.swing.JButton();
             jLabel2 = new javax.swing.JLabel();

             // A FlowLayout puts all of the components next to each other, according to their
             // preferred size.
             getContentPane().setLayout(new java.awt.FlowLayout());

             // Here we're adding an anonymous inner class.
             // Note that we define an object right in this method call, and that object
             // does not have a name.  Hence, the anonymous inner class.

             addWindowListener(new java.awt.event.WindowAdapter() {
                 public void windowClosing(java.awt.event.WindowEvent evt) {
                     exitForm(evt);
                 }
             });

             // Set up the parameters of our components.

             jPanel1.setLayout(new java.awt.GridLayout(1, 0));

             jLabel1.setText("Enter some text.");
             jLabel1.setName("lblEnter");
             jPanel1.add(jLabel1);

             jTextField1.setName("txtEnter");
             jPanel1.add(jTextField1);

             jButton1.setText("Click Me");
             jButton1.setName("btnClickMe");

             // Here we're adding an anonymous inner class.
             // Note that we define an object right in this method call, and that object
             // does not have a name.  Hence, the anonymous inner class.
             // This class will call the ButtonClick method when the button is clicked.

             // We can instantiate and add our inner class listener object here.
             java.awt.event.ActionListener listener = new MyListener(this);

             jButton1.addActionListener(listener);
 
 

             jPanel1.add(jButton1);

             jLabel2.setName("lblResult");
             jPanel1.add(jLabel2);

             getContentPane().add(jPanel1);

             pack();
         }

         // Here's the method that the inner class calls.  Interesting, huh?
        protected void ButtonClick(java.awt.event.ActionEvent evt) {
             // Add your handling code here:
             String strEnteredText = jTextField1.getText();
             jLabel2.setText(strEnteredText);
         }

         /** Exit the Application */
         private void exitForm(java.awt.event.WindowEvent evt) {
             System.exit(0);
         }

         /**
         * @param args the command line arguments
         */
         public static void main(String args[]) {
             new FourthEvent().show();
         }

         // Pardon my blatant ignorance of the JavaBeans standard here.
         public String getText() {
             return jTextField1.getText();
         }

         // Again, pardon my blatant ignorance of the JavaBeans standard here.
         public void setText(String text) {
             jLabel2.setText(text);
         }
 

         // Variables declaration - do not modify
         private javax.swing.JTextField jTextField1;
         private javax.swing.JButton jButton1;
         private javax.swing.JLabel jLabel2;
         private javax.swing.JLabel jLabel1;
         private javax.swing.JPanel jPanel1;
         // End of variables declaration

     }

     // Here's our inner class.
     class MyListener implements java.awt.event.ActionListener {
        FourthEvent view;

         MyListener(FourthEvent fourth) {
             view = fourth;
         }

         public void actionPerformed(java.awt.event.ActionEvent evt) {
              view.setText(view.getText());
         }

     }
 

 
 But I digress....

Created by:  Brandan Jones January 4, 2002