Swing I - Absolute Java - page 996

Display 17.17 A Text Field (part 3 of 3)

R ESULTING GUI (When program is started and a name entered)

R ESULTING GUI (After clicking the "Click me" button)

The following line from the method actionPerformed in Display 17.17 uses both
getText and setText :

name.setText("Hello" + name.getText());
This line changes the string in the text field name to "Hello" followed by the old string
value in the text field. The net effect is to insert the string "Hello" in front of the string
displayed in the text field.

getText and setText
The classes JTextField and JTextArea both contain methods called getText and setText .
The method getText can be used to retrieve the text written in the text field or text area. The
method setText can be used to change the text written in the text field or text area.
SYNTAX
Name_of_Text_Component .getText() returns the text currently displayed in the text
field or text area.
Name_of_Text_Component .setText ( New_String_To_Display ) ;