Accessing non-static public variables from another class

[ribbs2521]

I'm sorry if this is a completely ridiculous question but this is the New To Java forum so here it goes.

I have instantiated public variables in my Main class

public class Dashboard_Main
{
    public ResultSet rs;
    public DB_Connection connection;
}

I have three classes: Dashboard_Main, Dashboard_GUI and DB_Connection

I can't figure out how to access these variables from my Dashboard_GUI class. I have a method to execute a sql command and then it will add the contents to a table in my GUI

public class Dashboard_GUI extends JFrame
{
	private void setTableInfo(Object cbContents)
	{
		rs = connection.createQuery("SELECT * FROM dashboard_data.families_products WHERE depot='"
									+ strDepotSelected + "'");	
	}
}

I get the error cannot find symbol: variable rs, same for connection

[JosAH]

rs and connection are members of an object of Dashboard_Main type (class). So you need an instantiation of that class, e.g. Dashboard_Main dm= new Dashboard_Main() to access those members, e.g. dm.rs and dm.connection.

kind regards,

Jos

[ribbs2521]

rs and connection are members of an object of Dashboard_Main type (class). So you need an instantiation of that class, e.g. Dashboard_Main dm= new Dashboard_Main() to access those members, e.g. dm.rs and dm.connection.

So I create a Dashboard_Main() object in my Dashboard_GUI class, I get that now.

Now, if I were to change the DB_Main instantiation to:
DB_Connection connection = new DB_Connection(strURL);

thus actually connecting to the DB, would my Dashboard_GUI class be able to access the database through that connection or would I have to create a seperate connection for each class? That is what I'm trying to avoid, I don't want more than one connection per application that is open. Thanks for your help.

EDIT: OK, so rather than wasting your time I did a little trial and error and found that I can't use that in the initial instantiation because I need to catch a SQL error. Does anyone know a way to use one connection in more than one class?

[JosAH]

So I create a Dashboard_Main() object in my Dashboard_GUI class, I get that now.

Now, if I were to change the DB_Main instantiation to:
DB_Connection connection = new DB_Connection(strURL);

thus actually connecting to the DB, would my Dashboard_GUI class be able to access the database through that connection or would I have to create a seperate connection for each class? That is what I'm trying to avoid, I don't want more than one connection per application that is open. Thanks for your help.

Think in small steps: a Dashboard_Main object is the 'owner' of that connection; a DashBoard_Gui object owns a Dashboard_Main object so a Dashboard_Gui object can use that connection object, i.e. it just has to 'ask' for it from that Dashboard_Main object and since that connection is a public object all other things owning a Dashboard_Main object can simply 'take' the connection by referring to it, e.g. dm.connection.

If you're interested in some theoretical aspects of all this, google for "Law of Demeter".

kind regards,

Jos

[ribbs2521]

Great, very good info, thanks a lot.