Displaying graphics on JFrame

[ManyProblems]

I just finished my first java book (Java for Dummies by Barry Burd), and I decided to try my own project.
What this program is supposed to do is create an ball when you press the button.
Anyway, I really screwed up and I don't know how to fix it.

Problems:

1. The ball shows up initially without my ever calling the, uh, method I think is what it's called.
2. When I press the button, the compiler gives some funky error message. "NullPointerException"




So here's the program:

import java.awt.Graphics;
import javax.swing.JFrame;
import javax.swing.JButton;
import java.awt.FlowLayout;
import java.awt.event.ActionEvent;
import java.awt.event.ActionListener;


public class DBall extends JFrame implements ActionListener{
private static final long serialVersionUID=1L;

Graphics g;

public void paint(Graphics g) {
g.drawOval(80,140, 80, 80);
}




JButton createButton = new JButton("Create a ball.");


public DBall (){


setTitle("Disappearing Ball");
pack();
setSize(400,300);
setDefaultCloseOperation(EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
setLayout(new FlowLayout());


add(createButton);
createButton.addActionListener(this);
setVisible(true);


}

@Override
public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e) {

paint(g);



}
}


And the JFrame creator:


public class DisplayDTest {


public static void main(String[] args) {

new DBall();

}

}




If anyone knows the solution help is greatly appreciated!
Thanks.

[Fubarable]

The NullPointerException (NPE) is occurring because you trying to use a variable that is null. You should inspect the line that is throwing the NPE to see what variables are used on that line to see which could be null. My guess it's this bit:

public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e) {
  paint(g);
}

because the Graphics object, g, is likely null.

Most importantly, you'll want to read up on how to do Swing Graphics because to do it correctly, you have to throw out old assumptions and study what the tutorials suggest should be done. Here are two good tutorials that should get you started:

• Lesson: Performing Custom Painting
• Painting in AWT and Swing

The first tutorial is for the very basics and the second is a bit more advanced. Best of luck!

[HelloWorld1234]

instead of using paint(g) you must use repaint().

[Fubarable]

instead of using paint(g) you must use repaint().

And also he should draw in a JPanel's paintComponent method, he should call the super's method first. He may wish to use an if block that checks a boolean variable inside of his paintComponent method to help it decide if it will draw the shape or not, and then have the boolean variable changed by his actionPerformed method before calling repaint,...

[DarrylBurke]

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[ManyProblems]

Thanks for your suggestions.

I realized I'm just going to try to do the tutorial Funerable suggested, and trash this.

But thanks anyway.