Cannot find symbol: This is driving me insane!

[ayershov777]

Hey all, I am getting a compile error: Cannot find symbol. Can anybody please help me resolve this issue?

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

public class TFTest extends JFrame
{
	public TFTest()
	{
		JTextField tf = new JTextField("0",5);
		Listener listener = new Listener();
		
		setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
		tf.addActionListener(listener);
		add(tf);
		pack();
		setVisible(true);
	}
	
	public class Listener implements ActionListener
	{
		public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e)
		{
			tf.setText("It worked!");
		}
	}
}

Thanks

[pbrockway2]

Which symbol is the compiler message talking about? And which line of your code does it refer to?

Basically, "cannot find symbol" occurs whenever you use an identifier (eg method or variable) and the compiler has no clue what you are talking about. This can be because of a typo (misspelling) or, in the case of methods, because you are not supplying the right number and types of arguments. With variables the compiler will complain if the variable is not "in scope": what this means is that the variable must be declared in the same {} block as you use it, or in an enclosing one.

[ayershov777]

The error tells me that tf is not found in the ActionListener class

[pbrockway2]

Then it would appear that tf (which was declared in the TFTest constructor) in not in scope once you get to the actionPerformed() method of the Listener class.

[ayershov777]

and how do I go about fixing that?

[pbrockway2]

how do I go about fixing that?

You declare tf so that its scope includes the actionPerformed() method.

Did you understand what I meant by "scope"?

[ayershov777]

ahhh okay i understand thanks =)