JPanel returns null outside of constructor

[CAD]

Not really understanding why...
I get a Nullpointerexception when trying to change the panel color.

Idea is to change the background color of the panel when the user clicks.


Problems lies in the MousListener at menuPanel.setBackground.

Hope someone can tell me how to fix it, thx :)

import java.awt.*;
import java.awt.event.*;

import javax.swing.*;

public class MyFrame extends JFrame implements ActionListener {
	private JLabel lab1;
	private JButton b1, b2;
	private JPanel buttonPanel;

	public MyFrame() {
		setLayout(new BorderLayout());
		this.setName("Test");
		JPanel buttonPanel = new JPanel();
		buttonPanel.setLayout(new FlowLayout());
		add((buttonPanel), BorderLayout.SOUTH);
		buttonPanel.setBackground(Color.RED);
		// buttonPanel.setBackground(Color.LIGHT_GRAY);
		// buttonPanel.setBackground(Color.ORANGE);
		// buttonPanel.setBackground(Color.CYAN);

		lab1 = new JLabel("Startup");
		add((lab1),BorderLayout.CENTER);
	
		lab1.setFont(new Font("Serif", Font.BOLD, 20));
		// lab1.setForeground(Color.BLUE);
		lab1.setBackground(Color.WHITE);
		lab1.setOpaque(true);

		b1 = new JButton("One");
		buttonPanel.add(b1);
		b1.addActionListener(al);
		b1.addMouseListener(ml);
		b2 = new JButton("Two");
		buttonPanel.add(b2);
		buttonPanel.addMouseListener(ml);
		b2.addActionListener(al);
		b2.addMouseListener(ml);
		buttonPanel.addMouseListener(ml);
		setSize(200, 200);
		buttonPanel.setVisible(true);
		this.setVisible(true);
		setDefaultCloseOperation(EXIT_ON_CLOSE);

	}

	ActionListener al = new ActionListener() {
		public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e) {
			JButton knop = (JButton) (e.getSource());
			if (knop == b1) {
				lab1.setText("ONE");
				//System.out.println(buttonPanel);
			} else if (knop == b2) {
				lab1.setText("TWO");
			}
		}
	};

	MouseListener ml = new MouseAdapter() {
		public void mouseReleased(MouseEvent e) {

			int aantal = e.getClickCount();
			if (aantal == 1) {

				System.out.println("1");
				System.out.println(buttonPanel);
				[B]buttonPanel.setBackground(Color.LIGHT_GRAY);[/B]

			} else if (aantal == 2) {
				System.out.println("2");
			} else if (aantal >= 3) {
				System.out.println("3+");
			}
		}
	};
}

[eRaaaa]

public MyFrame() {
......
JPanel buttonPanel = new JPanel();
...
-->
change it to:

buttonPanel = new JPanel();

(without the JPanel!!!)

[CAD]

public MyFrame() {
......
JPanel buttonPanel = new JPanel();
...
-->
change it to:

buttonPanel = new JPanel();

(without the JPanel!!!)

Damn bro that was quick, and it works :)

thanks for the fast response! :)