Access JComboBox data from a separate JForm

Question

I spent a little time browsing Qaru and the Internet, which was looking for the answer to my question, but I found that all the answers were hard to understand, and I was completely unsure if any of them were related to my problem, so I decided that I need help in the right context.

I am creating a program that will give a series of solutions based on a specific type of schedule introduced. I sincerely struggle with taking data from my JComboBox in the first JFrame and displaying it in the second.

I have two classes: GraphEquationSolverGUI and DefineEquation. I use the Netbeans IDE, and GraphEquationSolverGUI is my “project”.

GraphEquationSolverGUI:

private void graphSelectionActionPerformed(java.awt.event.ActionEvent evt) {                                               
    String graphSelectionGUI = (String)graphSelection.getSelectedItem();
    //graphSelectedTextField.setText(graphSelectionGUI);
    DefineEquation graphSelectedObj = new DefineEquation(graphSelectionGUI);
    graphSelectedObj.addItem(graphSelectionGUI);

This is a JComboBox in which I want the selection to send data to another class. JComboBox is called graphSelection. You will notice that the commented text is that I set the JTextField to the JComboBox value, it is inside this JForm and was used by me to check to make sure the data is entered correctly, it works, and I can display the data in the same JFrame. Another following code is my attempt to create an object and pass data through it, I am a little rusty with objects, since I have not worked with them for a while, sorry if I make you cry.

DefineEquation:

public DefineEquation(String graphSelected) {
    this.graphSelected = graphSelected;
} //If anyone cares here is my constructor for the object

public void addItem(String graphSelectedString1){
    DefineEquation graphSelectedObj = new DefineEquation(graphSelected);
    String graphSelectedStringMAIN = graphSelectedString1.toString();
    selectedGraph.setText(graphSelectedStringMAIN);
}

, JTextField, selectedGraph. , graphSelectedString1 graphSelectedStringMAIN, String String, . , , , .

, , , . , JFrame JComboBox JTextField JFrame? ? , , , . , .

GraphEquationSolverGUI:

/*
* To change this license header, choose License Headers in Project Properties.
 * To change this template file, choose Tools | Templates
 * and open the template in the editor.
 */
package GUI;

/**
 *
 * @author MatthewAlanTroutman
 */

public class GraphEquationSolverGUI extends javax.swing.JFrame {

/**
 * Creates new form GraphEquationSolverGUI
 */

public GraphEquationSolverGUI() {
    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")
// <editor-fold defaultstate="collapsed" desc="Generated Code">                          
private void initComponents() {

    jSpinner1 = new javax.swing.JSpinner();
    welcome = new javax.swing.JLabel();
    programDescription = new javax.swing.JLabel();
    graphsOffered = new javax.swing.JLabel();
    linear = new javax.swing.JLabel();
    bilinear = new javax.swing.JLabel();
    quadratic = new javax.swing.JLabel();
    cubic = new javax.swing.JLabel();
    exponential = new javax.swing.JLabel();
    graphSelectionText = new javax.swing.JLabel();
    graphSelection = new javax.swing.JComboBox();
    help = new javax.swing.JButton();
    close = new javax.swing.JButton();
    next = new javax.swing.JButton();
    graphSelectedTextField = new javax.swing.JTextField();
    graphSelectedLabel = new javax.swing.JLabel();

    setDefaultCloseOperation(javax.swing.WindowConstants.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
    setTitle("GraphEquationSolver");
    setBackground(new java.awt.Color(255, 255, 255));

    welcome.setFont(new java.awt.Font("Lucida Grande", 0, 48)); // NOI18N
    welcome.setHorizontalAlignment(javax.swing.SwingConstants.CENTER);
    welcome.setText("Welcome");
    welcome.setPreferredSize(new java.awt.Dimension(800, 100));

    programDescription.setFont(new java.awt.Font("Lucida Grande", 0, 14)); // NOI18N
    programDescription.setText("You can use this program to find a variety of solutions for different types of graphs, please select a graph to begin");
    programDescription.setPreferredSize(new java.awt.Dimension(800, 75));

    graphsOffered.setFont(new java.awt.Font("Lucida Grande", 0, 18)); // NOI18N
    graphsOffered.setText("Graphs we offer:");

    linear.setFont(new java.awt.Font("Lucida Grande", 0, 14)); // NOI18N
    linear.setText("- Linear");

    bilinear.setFont(new java.awt.Font("Lucida Grande", 0, 14)); // NOI18N
    bilinear.setText("- Bilinear");

    quadratic.setFont(new java.awt.Font("Lucida Grande", 0, 14)); // NOI18N
    quadratic.setText("- Quadratic");

    cubic.setFont(new java.awt.Font("Lucida Grande", 0, 14)); // NOI18N
    cubic.setText("- Cubic");

    exponential.setFont(new java.awt.Font("Lucida Grande", 0, 14)); // NOI18N
    exponential.setText("- Exponential");

    graphSelectionText.setFont(new java.awt.Font("Lucida Grande", 0, 18)); // NOI18N
    graphSelectionText.setText("Please select your graph");

    graphSelection.setModel(new javax.swing.DefaultComboBoxModel(new String[] { "Linear", "Bilinear", "Quadratic", "Cubic", "Exponential" }));
    graphSelection.setToolTipText("");
    graphSelection.addActionListener(new java.awt.event.ActionListener() {
        public void actionPerformed(java.awt.event.ActionEvent evt) {
            graphSelectionActionPerformed(evt);
        }
    });

    help.setFont(new java.awt.Font("Lucida Grande", 0, 48)); // NOI18N
    help.setText("Help");

    close.setFont(new java.awt.Font("Lucida Grande", 0, 48)); // NOI18N
    close.setText("Close");
    close.addActionListener(new java.awt.event.ActionListener() {
        public void actionPerformed(java.awt.event.ActionEvent evt) {
            closeActionPerformed(evt);
        }
    });

    next.setFont(new java.awt.Font("Lucida Grande", 0, 48)); // NOI18N
    next.setText("Next");
    next.addActionListener(new java.awt.event.ActionListener() {
        public void actionPerformed(java.awt.event.ActionEvent evt) {
            nextActionPerformed(evt);
        }
    });

    graphSelectedTextField.setEditable(false);

    graphSelectedLabel.setFont(new java.awt.Font("Lucida Grande", 0, 18)); // NOI18N
    graphSelectedLabel.setText("Graph Selected");

    javax.swing.GroupLayout layout = new javax.swing.GroupLayout(getContentPane());
    getContentPane().setLayout(layout);
    layout.setHorizontalGroup(
        layout.createParallelGroup(javax.swing.GroupLayout.Alignment.LEADING)
        .addGroup(javax.swing.GroupLayout.Alignment.TRAILING, layout.createSequentialGroup()
            .addContainerGap(javax.swing.GroupLayout.DEFAULT_SIZE, Short.MAX_VALUE)
            .addComponent(welcome, javax.swing.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE, javax.swing.GroupLayout.DEFAULT_SIZE, javax.swing.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE)
            .addGap(240, 240, 240))
        .addGroup(layout.createSequentialGroup()
            .addGroup(layout.createParallelGroup(javax.swing.GroupLayout.Alignment.LEADING)
                .addGroup(layout.createSequentialGroup()
                    .addGap(240, 240, 240)
                    .addComponent(programDescription, javax.swing.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE, javax.swing.GroupLayout.DEFAULT_SIZE, javax.swing.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE))
                .addGroup(layout.createSequentialGroup()
                    .addGap(184, 184, 184)
                    .addGroup(layout.createParallelGroup(javax.swing.GroupLayout.Alignment.LEADING)
                        .addComponent(exponential)
                        .addGroup(layout.createSequentialGroup()
                            .addGroup(layout.createParallelGroup(javax.swing.GroupLayout.Alignment.LEADING)
                                .addComponent(graphsOffered)
                                .addComponent(linear)
                                .addComponent(bilinear)
                                .addComponent(quadratic)
                                .addComponent(cubic))
                            .addGap(311, 311, 311)
                            .addGroup(layout.createParallelGroup(javax.swing.GroupLayout.Alignment.LEADING, false)
                                .addComponent(graphSelectionText, javax.swing.GroupLayout.DEFAULT_SIZE, javax.swing.GroupLayout.DEFAULT_SIZE, Short.MAX_VALUE)
                                .addComponent(graphSelection, 0, javax.swing.GroupLayout.DEFAULT_SIZE, Short.MAX_VALUE)
                                .addComponent(graphSelectedTextField)
                                .addComponent(graphSelectedLabel, javax.swing.GroupLayout.DEFAULT_SIZE, javax.swing.GroupLayout.DEFAULT_SIZE, Short.MAX_VALUE)))))
                .addGroup(layout.createSequentialGroup()
                    .addGap(231, 231, 231)
                    .addComponent(help, javax.swing.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE, 255, javax.swing.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE)
                    .addGap(18, 18, 18)
                    .addComponent(close, javax.swing.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE, 255, javax.swing.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE)
                    .addGap(18, 18, 18)
                    .addComponent(next, javax.swing.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE, 255, javax.swing.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE)))
            .addContainerGap(240, Short.MAX_VALUE))
    );
    layout.setVerticalGroup(
        layout.createParallelGroup(javax.swing.GroupLayout.Alignment.LEADING)
        .addGroup(layout.createSequentialGroup()
            .addGap(34, 34, 34)
            .addComponent(welcome, javax.swing.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE, 50, javax.swing.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE)
            .addPreferredGap(javax.swing.LayoutStyle.ComponentPlacement.RELATED)
            .addComponent(programDescription, javax.swing.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE, 27, javax.swing.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE)
            .addGap(73, 73, 73)
            .addGroup(layout.createParallelGroup(javax.swing.GroupLayout.Alignment.BASELINE)
                .addComponent(graphsOffered)
                .addComponent(graphSelectionText))
            .addPreferredGap(javax.swing.LayoutStyle.ComponentPlacement.RELATED)
            .addComponent(graphSelection, javax.swing.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE, javax.swing.GroupLayout.DEFAULT_SIZE, javax.swing.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE)
            .addPreferredGap(javax.swing.LayoutStyle.ComponentPlacement.UNRELATED)
            .addGroup(layout.createParallelGroup(javax.swing.GroupLayout.Alignment.BASELINE)
                .addComponent(linear)
                .addComponent(graphSelectedLabel))
            .addPreferredGap(javax.swing.LayoutStyle.ComponentPlacement.RELATED)
            .addGroup(layout.createParallelGroup(javax.swing.GroupLayout.Alignment.TRAILING)
                .addGroup(layout.createSequentialGroup()
                    .addComponent(bilinear)
                    .addPreferredGap(javax.swing.LayoutStyle.ComponentPlacement.RELATED)
                    .addComponent(quadratic))
                .addComponent(graphSelectedTextField, javax.swing.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE, 28, javax.swing.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE))
            .addGroup(layout.createParallelGroup(javax.swing.GroupLayout.Alignment.LEADING)
                .addGroup(layout.createSequentialGroup()
                    .addPreferredGap(javax.swing.LayoutStyle.ComponentPlacement.RELATED)
                    .addComponent(cubic)
                    .addPreferredGap(javax.swing.LayoutStyle.ComponentPlacement.RELATED)
                    .addComponent(exponential)
                    .addContainerGap(javax.swing.GroupLayout.DEFAULT_SIZE, Short.MAX_VALUE))
                .addGroup(layout.createSequentialGroup()
                    .addPreferredGap(javax.swing.LayoutStyle.ComponentPlacement.RELATED, 219, Short.MAX_VALUE)
                    .addGroup(layout.createParallelGroup(javax.swing.GroupLayout.Alignment.BASELINE)
                        .addComponent(help, javax.swing.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE, 87, javax.swing.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE)
                        .addComponent(close, javax.swing.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE, 87, javax.swing.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE)
                        .addComponent(next, javax.swing.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE, 87, javax.swing.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE))
                    .addGap(169, 169, 169))))
    );

    graphSelection.getAccessibleContext().setAccessibleName("");
    help.getAccessibleContext().setAccessibleName("help");
    close.getAccessibleContext().setAccessibleName("close");

    pack();
}// </editor-fold>                        

private void graphSelectionActionPerformed(java.awt.event.ActionEvent evt) {                                               
    String graphSelectionGUI = (String)graphSelection.getSelectedItem();
    graphSelectedTextField.setText(graphSelectionGUI);
    //DefineEquation graphSelectedObj = new DefineEquation(graphSelectionGUI);
    //graphSelectedObj.addItem(graphSelectionGUI);

}                                              

private void closeActionPerformed(java.awt.event.ActionEvent evt) {                                      
    System.exit(0);
}                                     

private void nextActionPerformed(java.awt.event.ActionEvent evt) {                                     
    this.setVisible(false);
    new DefineEquation().setVisible(true);
}                                    

/**
 * @param args the command line arguments
 */
public static void main(String args[]) {
    /* Set the Nimbus look and feel */
    //<editor-fold defaultstate="collapsed" desc=" Look and feel setting code (optional) ">
    /* If Nimbus (introduced in Java SE 6) is not available, stay with the default look and feel.
     * For details see http://download.oracle.com/javase/tutorial/uiswing/lookandfeel/plaf.html 
     */
    try {
        for (javax.swing.UIManager.LookAndFeelInfo info : javax.swing.UIManager.getInstalledLookAndFeels()) {
            if ("Nimbus".equals(info.getName())) {
                javax.swing.UIManager.setLookAndFeel(info.getClassName());
                break;
            }
        }
    } catch (ClassNotFoundException ex) {
        java.util.logging.Logger.getLogger(GraphEquationSolverGUI.class.getName()).log(java.util.logging.Level.SEVERE, null, ex);
    } catch (InstantiationException ex) {
        java.util.logging.Logger.getLogger(GraphEquationSolverGUI.class.getName()).log(java.util.logging.Level.SEVERE, null, ex);
    } catch (IllegalAccessException ex) {
        java.util.logging.Logger.getLogger(GraphEquationSolverGUI.class.getName()).log(java.util.logging.Level.SEVERE, null, ex);
    } catch (javax.swing.UnsupportedLookAndFeelException ex) {
        java.util.logging.Logger.getLogger(GraphEquationSolverGUI.class.getName()).log(java.util.logging.Level.SEVERE, null, ex);
    }
    //</editor-fold>

    /* Create and display the form */
    java.awt.EventQueue.invokeLater(new Runnable() {
        public void run() {
            new GraphEquationSolverGUI().setVisible(true);
        }
    });
}

// Variables declaration - do not modify                     
private javax.swing.JLabel bilinear;
private javax.swing.JButton close;
private javax.swing.JLabel cubic;
private javax.swing.JLabel exponential;
private javax.swing.JLabel graphSelectedLabel;
private javax.swing.JTextField graphSelectedTextField;
private javax.swing.JComboBox graphSelection;
private javax.swing.JLabel graphSelectionText;
private javax.swing.JLabel graphsOffered;
private javax.swing.JButton help;
private javax.swing.JSpinner jSpinner1;
private javax.swing.JLabel linear;
private javax.swing.JButton next;
private javax.swing.JLabel programDescription;
private javax.swing.JLabel quadratic;
private javax.swing.JLabel welcome;
// End of variables declaration                   
}

DefineEquation:

/*
 * To change this license header, choose License Headers in Project Properties.
 * To change this template file, choose Tools | Templates
 * and open the template in the editor.
 */
package GUI;

/**
 *
 * @author MatthewAlanTroutman
 */
public class DefineEquation extends javax.swing.JFrame {
//public class DefineEquation extends GraphEquationSolverGUI {
public String graphSelected;

/**
 * Creates new form DefineEquation
 */
public DefineEquation() {
    initComponents();
}
public DefineEquation(String graphSelected) {
    this.graphSelected = graphSelected;
}



/**
 * 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() {

    selectedGraph = new javax.swing.JTextField();

    setDefaultCloseOperation(javax.swing.WindowConstants.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);

    selectedGraph.setEditable(false);
    selectedGraph.addActionListener(new java.awt.event.ActionListener() {
        public void actionPerformed(java.awt.event.ActionEvent evt) {
            selectedGraphActionPerformed(evt);
        }
    });

    javax.swing.GroupLayout layout = new javax.swing.GroupLayout(getContentPane());
    getContentPane().setLayout(layout);
    layout.setHorizontalGroup(
        layout.createParallelGroup(javax.swing.GroupLayout.Alignment.LEADING)
        .addGroup(layout.createSequentialGroup()
            .addGap(435, 435, 435)
            .addComponent(selectedGraph, javax.swing.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE, 249, javax.swing.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE)
            .addContainerGap(596, Short.MAX_VALUE))
    );
    layout.setVerticalGroup(
        layout.createParallelGroup(javax.swing.GroupLayout.Alignment.LEADING)
        .addGroup(layout.createSequentialGroup()
            .addGap(126, 126, 126)
            .addComponent(selectedGraph, javax.swing.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE, javax.swing.GroupLayout.DEFAULT_SIZE, javax.swing.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE)
            .addContainerGap(646, Short.MAX_VALUE))
    );

    pack();
}// </editor-fold>                        

private void selectedGraphActionPerformed(java.awt.event.ActionEvent evt) {                                              

}                                             
public void addItem(String graphSelectedString1){
    DefineEquation graphSelectedObj = new DefineEquation(graphSelected);
    String graphSelectedStringMAIN = graphSelectedString1.toString();
    selectedGraph.setText(graphSelectedStringMAIN);
}

/**
 * @param args the command line arguments
 */
public static void main(String args[]) {
    /* Set the Nimbus look and feel */
    //<editor-fold defaultstate="collapsed" desc=" Look and feel setting code (optional) ">
    /* If Nimbus (introduced in Java SE 6) is not available, stay with the default look and feel.
     * For details see http://download.oracle.com/javase/tutorial/uiswing/lookandfeel/plaf.html 
     */
    try {
        for (javax.swing.UIManager.LookAndFeelInfo info : javax.swing.UIManager.getInstalledLookAndFeels()) {
            if ("Nimbus".equals(info.getName())) {
                javax.swing.UIManager.setLookAndFeel(info.getClassName());
                break;
            }
        }
    } catch (ClassNotFoundException ex) {
        java.util.logging.Logger.getLogger(DefineEquation.class.getName()).log(java.util.logging.Level.SEVERE, null, ex);
    } catch (InstantiationException ex) {
        java.util.logging.Logger.getLogger(DefineEquation.class.getName()).log(java.util.logging.Level.SEVERE, null, ex);
    } catch (IllegalAccessException ex) {
        java.util.logging.Logger.getLogger(DefineEquation.class.getName()).log(java.util.logging.Level.SEVERE, null, ex);
    } catch (javax.swing.UnsupportedLookAndFeelException ex) {
        java.util.logging.Logger.getLogger(DefineEquation.class.getName()).log(java.util.logging.Level.SEVERE, null, ex);
    }
    //</editor-fold>

    /* Create and display the form */
    java.awt.EventQueue.invokeLater(new Runnable() {
        public void run() {
            new DefineEquation().setVisible(true);
        }

    });
}

// Variables declaration - do not modify                     
private javax.swing.JTextField selectedGraph;
// End of variables declaration                   
}

, "" JFrame, , "JFrame" - JFrame.

:

1: ? , ? , , , . , ? , , , .

2: m.cekiera, . , , .

3: , , , , .

4: , . , , , . , . , , - . ,

, SelectSolutionsQuadratic:

public void displayText(String textToSet) {
    displayQuadraticEquation.setText(textToSet);
    System.out.println(textToSet);
}

DefineEquationQuadratic:

private void nextActionPerformed(java.awt.event.ActionEvent evt) {                                     
    this.setVisible(false);
    new SelectSolutionsQuadratic().setVisible(true);
    SelectSolutionsQuadratic transferMe = new SelectSolutionsQuadratic();
    transferData = aQuadraticSpinner.getValue().toString() + " " + addSubQuadraticComboBox.getSelectedItem(); 
    transferMe.displayText(transferData);
}                     

, , DefineEquationQuadratic SelectSolutionsQuadratic, System.out.println();

Answer 1

, , , , , . , , graphSelectionActionPerformed, :

this.graphSelectionGUI = (String)graphSelection.getSelectedItem();

nextActionPerformed :

new DefineEquation_1(graphSelectionGUI).setVisible(true);

(DefineEquation) :

public DefineEquation(String graphSelected) {
    this.graphSelected = graphSelected;
    initComponents();
    selectedGraph.setText(graphSelected);
}

, , , , , , , !

, .

Answer 2

JPanel, JComboBox, , . , , HoldsComboBoxPanel, ShowSelectionPanel, HoldsComboBoxPanel: , "getter" ActionListener . , , :

public class HoldsComboBoxPanel extends JPanel {
   public static final String NAME = "holds combobox panel";
   // sample data
   private static final String[] DATA = { "Monday", "Tuesday", "Wednesday",
         "Thursday", "Friday" };
   private JComboBox<String> comboBox = new JComboBox<>(DATA);

   public HoldsComboBoxPanel() {
       // add the comboBox into our class here
   }

   // method to add a listener
   public void addComboBoxListener(ActionListener listener) {
      comboBox.addActionListener(listener);
   }

   // getter method
   public String getComboSelection() {
      return (String) comboBox.getSelectedItem();
   }

}

, , , setter, -. , JTextField, displayField, , :

public class ShowSelectionPanel extends JPanel {
   public static final String NAME = "show selection panel";
   private JTextField displayField = new JTextField(10);

   public ShowSelectionPanel() {
      // add the displayField to the JPanel here
   }

   // setter method
   public void setDisplayText(String text) {
      displayField.setText(text);
      // or do whatever else you want to do with the selection
   }
}

, CardLayout, JPanels , , MainPanel. CardLayout, JPanels, , "" JPanels, HoldsComboBoxPanel, ShowSelectionPanel , ActionListener combobox:

public class MainPanel extends JPanel {
   private CardLayout cardLayout = new CardLayout();
   private MenuPanel menuPanel = new MenuPanel();
   private HoldsComboBoxPanel holdsComboBoxPanel = new HoldsComboBoxPanel();
   private ShowSelectionPanel showSelectionPanel = new ShowSelectionPanel();

   public MainPanel() {
      // add an ActionListener to the JComboBox
      holdsComboBoxPanel.addComboBoxListener(new ActionListener() {

         @Override
         public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e) {
            // get the combo selected String
            String selection = holdsComboBoxPanel.getComboSelection();
            if (selection != null) {
               // push it into showSelection
               showSelectionPanel.setDisplayText(selection);
            }
         }
      });

      setLayout(cardLayout);
      add(menuPanel, MenuPanel.NAME);
      add(holdsComboBoxPanel, HoldsComboBoxPanel.NAME);
      add(showSelectionPanel, ShowSelectionPanel.NAME);
   }

   // method that allows outside classes to swap views
   public void showCard(String key) {
      cardLayout.show(this, key);
   }
}

, "", :

import java.awt.BorderLayout;
import java.awt.CardLayout;
import java.awt.Component;
import java.awt.Container;
import java.awt.Dimension;
import java.awt.GridBagLayout;
import java.awt.GridLayout;
import java.awt.Window;
import java.awt.event.ActionEvent;
import java.awt.event.ActionListener;
import java.awt.event.KeyEvent;

import javax.swing.AbstractAction;
import javax.swing.AbstractButton;
import javax.swing.Action;
import javax.swing.BorderFactory;
import javax.swing.JButton;
import javax.swing.JComboBox;
import javax.swing.JFrame;
import javax.swing.JPanel;
import javax.swing.JPopupMenu;
import javax.swing.JTextField;
import javax.swing.SwingUtilities;

public class SimpleMultPanels {
   private static void createAndShowGui() {
      // create JFrame
      JFrame frame = new JFrame("SimpleMultPanels");
      frame.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.DISPOSE_ON_CLOSE);

      // add our MainPanel to the JFrame
      frame.getContentPane().add(new MainPanel());
      frame.pack(); // pack it
      frame.setLocationByPlatform(true);
      frame.setVisible(true); // show it
   }

   public static void main(String[] args) {
      // this is for starting our Swing app on the event thread
      SwingUtilities.invokeLater(new Runnable() {
         public void run() {
            createAndShowGui();
         }
      });
   }
}

@SuppressWarnings("serial")
class MainPanel extends JPanel {
   private CardLayout cardLayout = new CardLayout();

   // the three "card" JPanels that this JPanel displays:
   private MenuPanel menuPanel = new MenuPanel();
   private HoldsComboBoxPanel holdsComboBoxPanel = new HoldsComboBoxPanel();
   private ShowSelectionPanel showSelectionPanel = new ShowSelectionPanel();

   // Actions for our JButtons
   private ExitAction exitAction = new ExitAction();
   private ShowAction backToMenuAction = new ShowAction(this, "Back to Menu",
         MenuPanel.NAME, KeyEvent.VK_B);
   private ShowAction toHoldsComboAction = new ShowAction(this, "Combo Panel",
         HoldsComboBoxPanel.NAME, KeyEvent.VK_C);
   private ShowAction toShowSelectionAction = new ShowAction(this,
         "Show Selection", ShowSelectionPanel.NAME, KeyEvent.VK_S);

   public MainPanel() {
      // add an ActionListener to the JComboBox
      holdsComboBoxPanel.addComboBoxListener(new ActionListener() {

         @Override
         public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e) {
            // get the combo selected String
            String selection = holdsComboBoxPanel.getComboSelection();
            if (selection != null) {
               // push it into showSelection
               showSelectionPanel.setDisplayText(selection);
            }
         }
      });

      // add Actions to class to allow swapping of cards and
      holdsComboBoxPanel.addButtonAction(backToMenuAction);
      holdsComboBoxPanel.addButtonAction(toShowSelectionAction);
      holdsComboBoxPanel.addButtonAction(exitAction); // and to exit gui

      showSelectionPanel.addButtonAction(backToMenuAction);
      showSelectionPanel.addButtonAction(toHoldsComboAction);
      showSelectionPanel.addButtonAction(exitAction);

      menuPanel.addButtonAction(toHoldsComboAction);
      menuPanel.addButtonAction(toShowSelectionAction);
      menuPanel.addButtonAction(exitAction);

      setBorder(BorderFactory.createEmptyBorder(5, 5, 5, 5));

      // set our layout
      setLayout(cardLayout);

      // and add our "card" JPanels
      add(menuPanel, MenuPanel.NAME);
      add(holdsComboBoxPanel, HoldsComboBoxPanel.NAME);
      add(showSelectionPanel, ShowSelectionPanel.NAME);
   }

   // method that allows outside classes to swap views
   public void showCard(String key) {
      cardLayout.show(this, key);
   }
}

@SuppressWarnings("serial")
class HoldsComboBoxPanel extends JPanel {
   // constant String that will be used by the CardLayout
   public static final String NAME = "holds combobox panel";

   // sample data
   private static final String[] DATA = { "Monday", "Tuesday", "Wednesday",
         "Thursday", "Friday" };
   private JComboBox<String> comboBox = new JComboBox<>(DATA);

   // JPanel to hold buttons to allow moving between cards
   private JPanel buttonPanel = new JPanel(new GridLayout(1, 0, 5, 0));

   public HoldsComboBoxPanel() {
      comboBox.setSelectedIndex(-1);
      JPanel centerPanel = new JPanel();
      centerPanel.add(comboBox);

      setLayout(new BorderLayout());
      add(centerPanel, BorderLayout.CENTER);
      add(buttonPanel, BorderLayout.SOUTH);
   }

   // method to add a listener
   public void addComboBoxListener(ActionListener listener) {
      comboBox.addActionListener(listener);
   }

   // getter method
   public String getComboSelection() {
      return (String) comboBox.getSelectedItem();
   }

   // create a new JButton with an Action and add to buttonPanel
   public void addButtonAction(Action action) {
      buttonPanel.add(new JButton(action));
   }
}

@SuppressWarnings("serial")
class ShowSelectionPanel extends JPanel {
   public static final String NAME = "show selection panel";
   private static final int PREF_W = 300;
   private static final int PREF_H = PREF_W;
   private JTextField displayField = new JTextField(10);
   private JPanel buttonPanel = new JPanel(new GridLayout(1, 0, 5, 0));

   public ShowSelectionPanel() {
      displayField.setFocusable(false);

      JPanel centerPanel = new JPanel();
      centerPanel.add(displayField);

      setLayout(new BorderLayout());
      add(centerPanel, BorderLayout.CENTER);
      add(buttonPanel, BorderLayout.SOUTH);
   }

   // code to make our GUI a little larger
   @Override
   public Dimension getPreferredSize() {
      Dimension superSz = super.getPreferredSize();
      if (isPreferredSizeSet()) {
         return superSz;
      }
      int prefW = Math.max(superSz.width, PREF_W);
      int prefH = Math.max(superSz.height, PREF_H);
      return new Dimension(prefW, prefH);
   }

   // setter method
   public void setDisplayText(String text) {
      displayField.setText(text);
      // or do whatever else you want to do with the selection
   }

   public void addButtonAction(Action action) {
      buttonPanel.add(new JButton(action));
   }

}

@SuppressWarnings("serial")
class MenuPanel extends JPanel {
   public static final String NAME = "menu panel";
   private JPanel buttonPanel = new JPanel(new GridLayout(0, 1, 0, 5));

   public MenuPanel() {
      setLayout(new GridBagLayout());
      add(buttonPanel);
   }

   public void addButtonAction(Action action) {
      buttonPanel.add(new JButton(action));
   }
}

@SuppressWarnings("serial")
class ShowAction extends AbstractAction {
   private MainPanel mainPanel;
   private String key;

   /**
    * Abstract Action used by JButtons
    * @param mainPanel: the JPanel that uses the CardLayout
    * @param name: The name displayed by the button
    * @param key: The key used in the CardLayout#show(String key) mehtod
    * @param mnemonic: the JButton mnemonic char
    */
   public ShowAction(MainPanel mainPanel, String name, String key, int mnemonic) {
      super(name);
      putValue(MNEMONIC_KEY, mnemonic);
      this.mainPanel = mainPanel;
      this.key = key;
   }

   @Override
   public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e) {
      // tell the mainPanel to show the card associated with the key
      mainPanel.showCard(key);
   }
}

// class of mine to allow disposing of a window
// It a little complex to allow it to work with either a JButton
// or a JMenuItem
@SuppressWarnings("serial")
class ExitAction extends AbstractAction {
   public ExitAction() {
      super("Exit");
      putValue(MNEMONIC_KEY, KeyEvent.VK_X);
   }

   @Override
   public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e) {
      // get the button that caused this action
      Object source = e.getSource();
      if (source instanceof AbstractButton) {
         AbstractButton exitButton = (AbstractButton) source;

         // get the parent top level window
         Window topWindow = SwingUtilities.getWindowAncestor(exitButton);
         if (topWindow == null) { // if null, then likely in a JMenuItem
            // so we have to get its jpopupmenu parent
            Container parent = exitButton.getParent();
            if (parent instanceof JPopupMenu) {
               JPopupMenu popupMenu = (JPopupMenu) parent;

               // get the invoker for the pop up menu
               Component invoker = popupMenu.getInvoker();
               if (invoker != null) {
                  // and get *its* top level window
                  topWindow = SwingUtilities.getWindowAncestor(invoker);
               }
            }
         }
         if (topWindow != null) {
            // dispose of the top-level window
            topWindow.dispose();
         }
      }
   }
}

Answer 3

DefineEquation, String nextActionPerformed:

    new DefineEquation((String)graphSelection.getSelectedItem()).setVisible(true);

:

    new DefineEquation().setVisible(true);

:

public DefineEquation(String graphSelected) {
    this.graphSelected = graphSelected;
    initComponents();
}

initComponents() . , setText() JTextField DefineEquation, :

 selectedGraph = new javax.swing.JTextField(graphSelected);

addItem() , DefineEquation, . , JTextField . , , .

enums plain String, . , , :

public enum Functions {NONE,LINEAR,BILINEAR,QUADRIATIC,CUBIC,EXPONENTIAL;}

JComboBox , . toString() name(), String , .. , JFrames, . , . !

initComponents() DefineEquation, addItem() :

public void addItem(){
    selectedGraph.setText(graphSelected);
}

addItem() , JTextField . graphSelected , .