Problems calling JPanel

[scheffetz]

I am trying to build the navigation though my GUI.
On my first screen I have a few options that you can select. When you select the option is sets the new JPanel. From the new JPanel I can navigate back to my original screen as well.

Where my problem lies is when I try to navigate from the 1st JPanel to a 2nd JPanel. I cant figure out what I am doing wrong.

import javax.swing.*;
import java.awt.*;
import java.awt.event.*;

public class MenuGUI extends JFrame implements ActionListener {

CategoryGUI myCat;

public MenuGUI(){
        
        myCat = new CategoryGUI();
        myCat.backButton.addActionListener(this);
        c = getContentPane();
        contentPane = getContentPane();
 	contentPane.setLayout(null);

        declare my buttons and labels and stuff here
}

public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e){

if(startButton == e.getSource()){
            soundclip = "assets/sounds/click.wav";
            Thread thread1 = new Thread(new soundClip(soundclip), "soundclip");
            thread1.start();

            setContentPane(myCat);
            myCat.setVisible(true);
        }

if(myCat.backButton == e.getSource()){
             this.setContentPane(c);
        }
}
}

.

import javax.swing.*;
import java.awt.*;
import java.awt.event.*;

public class CategoryGUI extends JPanel implements ActionListener{

DifficultyFlags flagD;

public CategoryGUI(){
        contentPane = this;
 	contentPane.setLayout(null);
        setSize(1100, 700);
        flagD = new DifficultyFlags();

       declare my buttons and labels and stuff here
}

 public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e){

if(backButton == e.getSource()){
            soundclip = "assets/sounds/click.wav";
            Thread thread1 = new Thread(new soundClip(soundclip), "soundclip");
            thread1.start();
        }

if(flagButton == e.getSource()){
            soundclip = "assets/sounds/click.wav";
            Thread thread1 = new Thread(new soundClip(soundclip), "soundclip");
            thread1.start();
           
            setContentPane(flagD);      <--- ERROR HERE
            flagD.setVisible(true);

        }
}

DifficultyFlag is also a class that extends JPanel. It is the same in structure as Category GUI.
I receive an error where I try to set ContentPane to the new JPanel.

[KevinWorkman]

What error are you getting? That's some pertinent information.

Hint- JPanel doesn't have a setContentPane() method.

Besides, CardLayout is your friend here.

[scheffetz]

the error is:

cannot find symbol
symbol: method setContentPane(codejunkies.DifficultyFlags)
location: class codejunkies.CategoryGUI

which makes sense I suppose seeing as you said JPanel does not have setContentPane

I really cant go the Cardlayout route because my project is almost due and its nearly complete as well. I just dont have to the time to really learn it and make big changes.

I might not have done things the most optimal way, but its a learning experience and next project will be different im sure.

[KevinWorkman]

the error is:

cannot find symbol
symbol: method setContentPane(codejunkies.DifficultyFlags)
location: class codejunkies.CategoryGUI

which makes sense I suppose seeing as you said JPanel does not have setContentPane

I really cant go the Cardlayout route because my project is almost due and its nearly complete as well. I just dont have to the time to really learn it and make big changes.

I might not have done things the most optimal way, but its a learning experience and next project will be different im sure.

Do you have any further questions then? The correct way to do this is with a CardLayout, which really shouldn't take long, but it's your call. The problem is that you're trying to set the content pane of a JPanel, which doesn't make sense. Do you have it figured out now?

[scheffetz]

I did figure it out.

It took me a while, java comes a bit slowly to me.