Constructor confusion...

[Jennifer Sohl]

Hi again. Boy am I confused! I have created a base class and a subclass. The base class is OrderMaintenance and the subclass is NewOrder. Believe it or not, this is the first time I have extended one of my own classes, and I'm having a hard time with it.
I created a default constructor for the OrderMaintenance class as well as one that takes arguments. When I create an object of OrderMaintenance, I pass the appropriate arguments to the constructor. Now when I try to run my application, I keep getting a "NullPointerException" on any objects that should have been created in the OrderMaintenance constructor.
I've read other posts, but still can't seem to figure out what I've done wrong.
Here's what I'm doing:
This is where OrderMaintenance is created...

// Create OrderMaintenance OrderMaintenance om = new OrderMaintenance(con,ct,util); 

This is what the constructors for OrderMaintenance look like:

// Default constructor.
public OrderMaintenance() {}


public OrderMaintenance(SQLConnection sql, CustomerTab ct, SKUtil su) {
setLayout(new BorderLayout());
con = sql;
util = su;
conSK = new SQLConnection("jdbc:JSQLConnect://192.168.37.234/database=storekraft","Master", "");
cTab = ct;
custCombo = cTab.getCust();
top = new JPanel();
top.setLayout(new FlowLayout(FlowLayout.LEFT));
custLabel = new JLabel("Customer ");
custLabel.setFont(big);
custName = new JLabel("                               ");
custName.setFont(big);
custName.setForeground(new Color(0,64,128));
ord = new JLabel("     Order ");
ord.setFont(big);
ordNo = new SKTextField();
ordNo.setNumberChar(7);
ordNo.setColumns(5);
ordNo.setFont(big);
ordNo.setForeground(Color.red);
orderSearch = new PictureButton(url,"Order Search");
codeLabel = new JLabel("             Code: ");
codeLabel.setFont(big);
code = new JLabel("");
code.setFont(big);
code.setOpaque(true);
code.setBackground(Color.white);
code.setForeground(Color.red);
code.setBorder(new SoftBevelBorder(SoftBevelBorder.LOWERED));
code.setPreferredSize(new Dimension(60,20));
code.setMaximumSize(code.getPreferredSize());
codeLabel.setVisible(false);
code.setVisible(false);
tp = new JTabbedPane();
         // Add new order tab...
ot = new NewOrderTab(con,cTab,tp,util);
tp.addTab("New", null, ot, "Assign An Order Number");
newSaveButton = ot.getSaveButton();
top.add(custLabel);
top.add(custName);
top.add(ord);
top.add(ordNo);
top.add(orderSearch);
top.add(codeLabel);
top.add(code);
top.setBorder(new BevelBorder(BevelBorder.LOWERED));
add(top, BorderLayout.NORTH);
add(tp, BorderLayout.CENTER);
custCombo.addActionListener(this);
newSaveButton.addActionListener(this);
}  

// Here's part of the NewOrder class...(that is the subclass)...

public NewOrderTab(SQLConnection sql,CustomerTab ct,JTabbedPane jtp,SKUtil util) {
con = sql;
cTab = ct;
jTab = jtp;
util = su;
custCombo = cTab.getCust();
gbl = new GridBagLayout();
gbc = new GridBagConstraints();
setLayout(gbl);
// more code...
}  

I know I'm doing something horribly wrong, (maybe because I'm not sure exactly what I'm doing) but I don't know what. What do I need to code to make this scenario work? (I'm this close to becoming a procedural programmer again)
Could someone please straighten me out?? I feel really stupid right now.
Thanks in advance.

[Gregg Bolinger]

Problem I am having is the partial code. It seems there are vairables or objects in your code segments that haven't been defined anywhere. I am sure this is because you have left that part of the code out.
If you could, could you post where exactly you are getting the NullPointerException? Without that it is hard for me to determine where the error may lie.
Someone else might be able to though

[Jennifer Sohl]

Here's all the code for the NewOrderTab class (which is where the NullPointerException is pointing to).
Sorry about my code. I know it could probably have been coded a lot better, but I'm still learning. Once I get this working, I will try and make it better. (But that's another day!).
Here it goes... (I've put a comment line in the code where the NullPointerException is occurring)...

package com.storekraft.ord;
 
import java.sql.*;
import javax.swing.*;
import java.awt.*;
import java.awt.event.*;
import com.storekraft.util.*;
import java.text.*;
import java.util.*;
 
public class NewOrderTab extends OrderMaintenance implements ActionListener {
    private SQLConnection con;
    private JPanel p1;              private JPanel p2;
    private JPanel p3;              private JPanel p4;
    private JPanel p5;              private JPanel p6;
    private JPanel p7;              private JPanel p8;
    private JLabel typeLabel;       private SKComboBox type;
    private JLabel muLabel;         private SKComboBox markUnit;
    private JLabel projLabel;       private SKComboBox project;
    private JLabel odLabel;         private SKComboBox opDiv;
    private JLabel descLabel;       private SKTextField descr;
    private Address addr;           private JLabel spLabel;
    private SKComboBox salesPerson; private JLabel asLabel;
    private SKComboBox acctSpec;    private JLabel oaLabel;
    private SKTextField ordAuth;    private JLabel ordAuthEx;
    private ResultSet rs;           private Statement stmt;
    GridBagConstraints gbc;         GridBagLayout gbl;
    private SKComboBox custCombo;   private CustomerTab cTab;
    private JLabel custNameLabel;   Color c = new Color(250, 250, 250);
    Font f = new Font("Dialog", Font.PLAIN, 12);
    Color c2 = new Color(0,64,128);
    private ButtonPanel bp;
    StringBuffer opd;               StringBuffer ccd;
    private PreparedStatement pstmt;StringBuffer mun;
    private java.util.Date today;   StringBuffer sal;
    private java.sql.Date sqlToday; StringBuffer sb;
    private java.util.Date defDate; private String code;
    private java.sql.Date dflt;     private String first3;
    private boolean error;          private SKUtil util;
    private boolean errInd;         private int okVal;
    private JTabbedPane jTab;       //private OrderMaintenance ordMain;
    public NewOrderTab(SQLConnection sql,CustomerTab ct,JTabbedPane jtp,SKUtil util) {      
        con = sql;
        cTab = ct;
        jTab = jtp;
        util = su;      
        custCombo = cTab.getCust();
        gbl = new GridBagLayout();
        gbc = new GridBagConstraints();
        setLayout(gbl);
        // more code...
    }
        p1 = new JPanel();
        p2 = new JPanel();
        p3 = new JPanel();
        p4 = new JPanel();
        p5 = new JPanel();
        p6 = new JPanel();
        p7 = new JPanel();
        p8 = new JPanel();
    // Create order type objects...
        typeLabel = new JLabel("Type                          ");
        type = new SKComboBox(con,cTab);
        type.setBackground(c);
        type.setFont(f);
        type.addTypeValues();
    // Create marketing unit objects...
        muLabel = new JLabel(" Marketing Unit       ");
        markUnit = new SKComboBox(con,cTab);
        markUnit.setBackground(c);
        markUnit.setFont(f);
        markUnit.addMarketIDValues();
        gbc.anchor = GridBagConstraints.WEST;
        gbc.weightx = 1.0;
        gbc.insets = new Insets(3,3,0,0);
        gbl.setConstraints(p1, gbc);
    // Add type and marketing unit objects to panel 1...
        p1.add(typeLabel);
        p1.add(type);
        p1.add(muLabel);
        p1.add(markUnit);
    // Create projectid objects...
        projLabel = new JLabel("Part of a Project?  ");
        project = new SKComboBox(con,cTab);
        project.setBackground(c);
        project.setFont(f);
        project.addProjIDValues();
        project.setPreferredSize(new Dimension(175,22));
    // Create operating division objects...
        odLabel = new JLabel("                            Operating Division ");
        opDiv = new SKComboBox(con,cTab);
        opDiv.setBackground(c);
        opDiv.setFont(f);
        opDiv.addOpDivValues();
    // Add projectID and operating division objects to panel 2...
        p2.add(projLabel);
        p2.add(project);
        p2.add(odLabel);
        p2.add(opDiv);
    // Set constraints for panel2...
        gbc.gridx = 0;
        gbc.gridy = 1;
        gbl.setConstraints(p2,gbc);
    // Create order description objects...
        odLabel = new JLabel("Order Description ");
        descr = new SKTextField();
        descr.setNumberChar(40);
        descr.setColumns(35);
    // Add order description objects to panel 3...
        p3.add(odLabel);
        p3.add(descr);
    // Set constraints for panel 3...
        gbc.gridx = 0;
        gbc.gridy = 2;
        gbl.setConstraints(p3,gbc);
    // Create Address object
        custNameLabel = new JLabel();
        addr = new Address(con,custNameLabel,"Ship to");
    // Add address object to panel 4...
        p4.add(addr);
    // Set constraints for panel 4...
        gbc.gridx = 0;
        gbc.gridy = 3;
        gbl.setConstraints(p4,gbc);
    // Create Salesperson objects...
        spLabel = new JLabel("Salesperson             ");
        salesPerson = new SKComboBox(con,cTab);
        salesPerson.setBackground(c);
        salesPerson.setFont(f);
        salesPerson.addPeopleValues();
    // Add salesperson objects to panel 5...
        p5.add(spLabel);
        p5.add(salesPerson);
    // Set constraints for panel 5...
        gbc.gridx = 0;
        gbc.gridy = 4;
        gbl.setConstraints(p5,gbc);
    // Create acct specialist objects...
        asLabel = new JLabel("Account Specialist  ");
        acctSpec = new SKComboBox(con,cTab);
        acctSpec.setBackground(c);
        acctSpec.setFont(f);
        acctSpec.addPeopleValues();
    // Add acct specialist objects to panel 6...
        p6.add(asLabel);
        p6.add(acctSpec);
    // Set constraints for panel 6...
        gbc.gridx = 0;
        gbc.gridy = 5;
        gbl.setConstraints(p6, gbc);
    // Create order authorization objects...
        oaLabel = new JLabel("Order Authorization ");
        ordAuth = new SKTextField(17);
        ordAuth.setNumberChar(25);
        ordAuthEx = new JLabel("(i.e. PO#, letter, etc.)");
    // Add order authorization objects to panel 7...
        p7.add(oaLabel);
        p7.add(ordAuth);
        p7.add(ordAuthEx);
    // Set constraints for panel 7...
        gbc.gridx = 0;
        gbc.gridy = 6;
        gbl.setConstraints(p7, gbc);
    // Create button panel object...
        String[] s = {"SAVE","EXIT"};
        bp = new ButtonPanel(s);
    // Set constraints for button panel ...
        gbc.gridx = 0;
        gbc.gridy = 7;
        gbc.insets = new Insets(50,3,50,0);
        gbc.anchor = GridBagConstraints.CENTER;
        gbl.setConstraints(bp, gbc);
        add(p1);
        add(p2);
        add(p3);
        add(p4);
        add(p5);
        add(p6);
        add(p7);
        add(bp);
        custCombo.addActionListener(this);
        bp.getButton(1).addActionListener(this);
        bp.getButton(0).addActionListener(this);
        type.addActionListener(this);
        project.addActionListener(this);
    // Create a default date to output into SQL table date fields.
        try {
            SimpleDateFormat dFormat = new SimpleDateFormat("yyyy-MM-DD");
            defDate = dFormat.parse("1900-01-01");
            dflt = new java.sql.Date(defDate.getTime());
    // Create a Date object for the current date...
            today = new java.util.Date();
            sqlToday = new java.sql.Date(today.getTime());
        }
        catch(ParseException pe) {
            JOptionPane.showMessageDialog(this,"NewOrderTabE01-" + pe,"Error!",
                                            JOptionPane.ERROR_MESSAGE);
        }
    }
    public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e) {
        if(e.getSource() == custCombo) {
            custNameLabel.setText((String)custCombo.getSelectedItem());
            project.removeAllItems();
            project.addItem("");
            project.addProjIDValues();
        }
        if(e.getSource() == type) {
            String s = (String)type.getSelectedItem();
            String c1 = (String)custCombo.getSelectedItem();
            util.typeChosen(s,c1,addr);
            if(type.getSelectedIndex() > 0) {
                if(util.getCkAdd() == false) {
                    addr.clearFields();
                    if(util.getSB().toString().equals("BO")) {
                        addr.getNameField().setText(c1.toString().trim() + " BO");
                    }
                    else {
                        addr.getNameField().setText((String)type.getSelectedItem());
                    }
                    addr.setEnabled(false);
                    addr.getNameField().setEnabled(true);
                    addr.getNameLabel().setEnabled(true);
                }
                else {
                    addr.setEnabled(true);
                }
            }
        }
        if(e.getSource() == bp.getButton(1)) {
            con.closeConnection();
            System.exit(0);
        }
        if(e.getSource() == bp.getButton(0)) {
            okVal = 0;
            saveButtonPressed();
        }
        if(e.getSource() == project) {
            // If no type has been selected and user chooses a project, run the
            // method to transfer address from project master file.
            if(type.getSelectedIndex() < 1) {
                projectChosen();
            }
            // A type has been chosen. Check if the type requires an address 
            // before retrieving it from project master.
            else {
                if(util.getCkAdd() != false) {
                    projectChosen();
                }
            }
        }
    }
    public void saveButtonPressed() {
        Font big = new Font("Dialog", Font.BOLD, 15);
        errInd = false;
    // Error Checks....
        if(type.getSelectedIndex() < 1) {
            JOptionPane.showMessageDialog(this,
                "You must select an order type.","Error!",
                JOptionPane.ERROR_MESSAGE);
            errInd = true;
        }
        else if(markUnit.getSelectedIndex() < 1) {
            JOptionPane.showMessageDialog(this,
                "You must select a marketing unit.","Error!",
                JOptionPane.ERROR_MESSAGE);
            errInd = true;
        }
        else if(opDiv.getSelectedIndex() < 1) {
            JOptionPane.showMessageDialog(this,
                "You must select an operating division.","Error!", 
                JOptionPane.ERROR_MESSAGE);
            errInd = true;
        }
        else if(descr.getText().trim().length() == 0) {
            JOptionPane.showMessageDialog(this,
                "You must key a description","Error!", JOptionPane.ERROR_MESSAGE);
            errInd = true;
        }
        else if(salesPerson.getSelectedIndex() < 1) {
            JOptionPane.showMessageDialog(this,
                "You must select a salesperson","Error!",JOptionPane.ERROR_MESSAGE);
            errInd = true;
        }
        else if(acctSpec.getSelectedIndex() < 1) {
            JOptionPane.showMessageDialog(this,
                "You must select an account specialist","Error!",
                JOptionPane.ERROR_MESSAGE);
            errInd = true;
        }
        else if(ordAuth.getText().trim().length() == 0) {
            JOptionPane.showMessageDialog(this,
                "You must key the order authorization","Error!",
                JOptionPane.ERROR_MESSAGE);
            errInd = true;
        }
        else if(util.getCkAdd() == true) {
            addr.setErrInd(0);
            addr.checkZip();
            if(addr.getErrInd() > 0) {
                errInd = true;
            }
        }
        else if(util.getCkAdd() == false) {
            if(addr.getNameField().getText().trim().length() == 0) {
                JOptionPane.showMessageDialog(this,
                    "You must key a name","Error!",JOptionPane.ERROR_MESSAGE);
                errInd = true;
            }
        }
    // If there are no errors, go ahead and add the record to the order master file...
        if(errInd == false) {
            String goodCode;
            try {
    // Get last order number used and add one to it for new order number.
                stmt = con.getStatement();
                int ordNo = 0;
                rs = null;
                rs = stmt.executeQuery("Select * from LastOrdUsed");
                while(rs.next()) {
                    ordNo = rs.getInt(1);
                    ordNo++;
                }
                stmt.executeUpdate("UPDATE LastOrdUsed SET OrderNumber = '" + ordNo + "'");
            // Call method to get short values of selections on screen...
                getShortValues();
            // Get input from fields and add to OrderMaster file...
                pstmt = con.getPs5();
                pstmt.clearParameters();
                pstmt.setInt(1,ordNo);
                pstmt.setString(2,util.getSB().toString());
        // Only if the order type requires a code...
            // If a project is selected, increment the exisiting project code for the order.
            // If not, assign a regular 4 character Code.
                if(util.getAddCode() == true) {
                    if(project.getSelectedIndex() > 0) {
                        incrementCodes();
                        pstmt.setString(3,first3.toUpperCase());
                        goodCode = first3.toUpperCase();
                    }
                    else {
                        assignCode();
                        pstmt.setString(3,code.toUpperCase());
                        goodCode = code.toUpperCase();
                    }
                }
                else {
                    goodCode = " ";
                    pstmt.setString(3," ");
                }
                if(error == false) {
                    pstmt.setString(4,ccd.toString());
                    pstmt.setString(5,opd.toString());
                    pstmt.setString(6,mun.toString());
                    pstmt.setString(7,(String)project.getSelectedItem());
                    pstmt.setString(8,addr.getNameField().getText());
                    pstmt.setString(9,addr.getAddrs1().getText());
                    pstmt.setString(10,addr.getAddrs2().getText());
                    pstmt.setString(11,addr.getCity().getText());
                    pstmt.setString(12,addr.getState().getText());
                    pstmt.setString(13,addr.getZip().getText());
                    pstmt.setString(14,(String)addr.getCountry().getSelectedItem());
                    pstmt.setDate(15,sqlToday);
                    pstmt.setDate(16,dflt);
                    pstmt.setDate(17,dflt);
                    pstmt.setDate(18,dflt);
                    pstmt.setDate(19,dflt);
                    pstmt.setDate(20,dflt);
                    pstmt.setString(21, " ");
                    pstmt.setDate(22,dflt);
                    // If type is a blanket order, auto assign a prod sched date 10 weeks out.
                    if(util.getSB().toString().equals("BO")) {
                        pstmt.setDate(23,util.getSqlTen());
                    }
                    else {
                        pstmt.setDate(23,dflt);
                    }
                    pstmt.setString(24," ");
                    pstmt.setDate(25,dflt);
                    pstmt.setDate(26,dflt);
                    pstmt.setString(27," ");
                    pstmt.setString(28," ");
                    pstmt.setString(29," ");
                    pstmt.setString(30," ");
                    pstmt.setString(31," ");
                    pstmt.setString(32," ");
                    pstmt.setString(33," ");
                    pstmt.setString(34,ordAuth.getText());
                    pstmt.setString(35," ");
                    pstmt.setString(36," ");
                    pstmt.setString(37," ");
                    pstmt.setString(38," ");
                    pstmt.setDouble(39,0.00);
                    pstmt.setDouble(40,0.00);
                    pstmt.setDouble(41,0.00);
                    pstmt.setDouble(42,0.00);
                    pstmt.setDouble(43,0.00);
                    pstmt.setString(44," ");
                    pstmt.setString(45,sal.toString());
                    pstmt.setString(46,(String)acctSpec.getSelectedItem());
                    pstmt.setDate(47,dflt);
                    pstmt.setString(48," ");
                    pstmt.setDouble(49,000.00);
                    pstmt.setDouble(50,000.00);
                    pstmt.setString(51," ");
                    pstmt.setDate(52,dflt);
                    pstmt.setString(53," ");
                    pstmt.setString(54," ");
                    pstmt.setString(55," ");
                    pstmt.setString(56," ");
                    pstmt.setInt(57,0);
                    pstmt.setInt(58,0);
                    pstmt.setInt(59,0);
                    pstmt.setString(60," ");
                    pstmt.setString(61," ");
                    pstmt.setDate(62,dflt);
                    pstmt.setDate(63,dflt);
                    pstmt.setDouble(64,0.0);
                    pstmt.setDouble(65,0.0);
                    pstmt.setDouble(66,0.0);
                    pstmt.setDouble(67,0.0);
                    pstmt.setDouble(68,0.0);
                    pstmt.setDouble(69,0.0);
                    pstmt.setDouble(70,0.0);
                    pstmt.setDouble(71,0.0);
                    pstmt.setDouble(72,0.0);
                    pstmt.setDouble(73,0.0);
                    pstmt.setDouble(74,0.0);
                    pstmt.setDouble(75,0.0);
                    pstmt.setDouble(76,0.0);
                    pstmt.setDouble(77,0.0);
                    pstmt.setDouble(78,0.0);
                    pstmt.setDouble(79,0.0);
                    pstmt.setDouble(80,0.0);
                    pstmt.setDouble(81,0.0);
                    pstmt.setString(82," ");
                    pstmt.setString(83,descr.getText());
                    pstmt.executeUpdate();
                    StringBuffer html = new StringBuffer("<HTML><B>" + 
                        "Your order number is <FONT color=red size=+1>");
                    if(util.getAddCode() == false) {
                    
                        getCode().setText("");
                        getCode().setVisible(false);
                        getCodeLabel().setVisible(false);
                        getOrdNo().setText(String.valueOf(ordNo));
                        html.append(ordMain.getOrdNo().getText());
                        JOptionPane.showMessageDialog(this, new JLabel(html.toString()),
                            "Information",JOptionPane.INFORMATION_MESSAGE);
                        retrieveValues();
                        jTab.setSelectedIndex(0);
                        clearFields();
                    }
                    else {
    //>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
    //HERE IS WHERE THE NULL POINTER EXCEPTION POINTS TO... WHEN I TRY TO
    // GET THE OBJECTS THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN CREATED IN THE ORDERMAINTENANCE CONSTRUCTOR.
    //(It points to the line "getCodeLabel". If I comment it out, then it points 
    // to the next one "getCode" and so on.)
                        getCodeLabel().setVisible(true);
                        getCode().setText(goodCode);
                        getCode().setVisible(true);
                        getOrdNo().setText(String.valueOf(ordNo));
                        html.append(ordMain.getOrdNo().getText());
                        html.append("</FONT> and your code is <" + 
                            "FONT color=red size=+1>");
                        html.append(goodCode);
                        html.append("</FONT></B></HTML>");
                        JOptionPane.showMessageDialog(this, new JLabel(html.toString()), 
                            "Information",JOptionPane.INFORMATION_MESSAGE);
                        ordMain.retrieveValues();
                        jTab.setSelectedIndex(0);
                        jTab.setEnabledAt(3,false);
                        clearFields();
                    }
                }
            }
            catch(SQLException sqle) {
                JOptionPane.showMessageDialog(this, "NewOrderTabE02-" + sqle,
                    "Error!",JOptionPane.ERROR_MESSAGE);
            }
        }
    }
    public void projectChosen() {
        addr.clearFields();
        String check = (String)project.getSelectedItem();
        try {
            rs = null;
            stmt = con.getStatement();
            rs = stmt.executeQuery("Select * from projectmaster where ID# = '" + 
                                    check + "'");
            while(rs.next()) {
                if(rs.getString(5).equals("S")) {
                    addr.getNameField().setText(rs.getString(6));
                    addr.getAddrs1().setText(rs.getString(7));
                    addr.getAddrs2().setText(rs.getString(8));
                    addr.getCity().setText(rs.getString(9));
                    addr.getState().setText(rs.getString(10));
                    addr.getZip().setText(rs.getString(11));
                    addr.getCountry().setSelectedItem(rs.getString(12).trim());
                }
            }
        }
        catch(SQLException sqle) {
            JOptionPane.showMessageDialog(this, "NewOrderTabE04-" + sqle, 
                "Error", JOptionPane.ERROR_MESSAGE);
        }
    }
    public void getShortValues() {
        try {
            // Get 2 char customer code from INCUST...
            String custString = (String)custCombo.getSelectedItem();
            String opDivString = (String)opDiv.getSelectedItem();
            String muString = (String)markUnit.getSelectedItem();
            String salString = (String)salesPerson.getSelectedItem();
            ccd = new StringBuffer();
            opd = new StringBuffer();
            mun = new StringBuffer();
            sal = new StringBuffer();
            pstmt = con.getPs6();
            pstmt.clearParameters();
            pstmt.setString(1,custString);
            rs = pstmt.executeQuery();
            while(rs.next()) {
                ccd.append(rs.getString(1));
            }
            rs = stmt.executeQuery(
                    "SELECT OPERDIVID FROM OPERDIVISIONS WHERE DESCRIPTION = '" + 
                    opDivString + "'");
            while(rs.next()) {
                opd.append(rs.getString(1));
            }
            rs = stmt.executeQuery(
                    "SELECT UNITID FROM MARKETINGUNITS WHERE DESCRIPTION = '" + 
                    muString + "'");
            while(rs.next()) {
                mun.append(rs.getString(1));
            }
            rs = stmt.executeQuery(
                    "SELECT SecField1 FROM UTUSERS WHERE USERNAME = '" + 
                    salString + "'");
            while(rs.next()) {
                sal.append(rs.getString(1));
            }
        }
        catch(SQLException sqle) {
            JOptionPane.showMessageDialog(this,"NewOrderTabE05-" + sqle,
                "Error!",JOptionPane.ERROR_MESSAGE);
        }
    }
    public void assignCode() {
        int index;
        rs = null;
        try {
            rs = stmt.executeQuery("SELECT CodeIndex FROM Last4Code");
            rs.next();
            index = rs.getInt(1);
            rs = stmt.executeQuery("SELECT Code FROM OrCodes4 WHERE Pointer = '" 
                + index + "'");
            rs.next();
            code = rs.getString(1);
            if(index == 3936) {
                index = 1;
            }
            else {
                index++;
            }
            stmt.executeUpdate("UPDATE Last4Code SET CodeIndex = '"+ index +"'");
        }
        catch(SQLException sqle) {
            JOptionPane.showMessageDialog(this, "NewOrderTabE06-" + sqle, "Error", 
                JOptionPane.ERROR_MESSAGE);
        }
    }
    public void incrementCodes() {
        String letters[] = {"A","B","C","D","E","F","G","H","I","J","K","L","M",
            "N","O","P","Q","R","S","T","U","V","W","X","Y","Z"};
        boolean match = false;
        StringBuffer last2;
        String sourceURL;
        String projID = (String)project.getSelectedItem();
        stmt = con.getStatement();
        error = false;
        try {
            rs = stmt.executeQuery("Select projectcode from projectmaster where " + 
                id# = '" + projID + "'");
            while(rs.next()) {
                first3 = rs.getString(1).trim();
            }
            rs = stmt.executeQuery("Select ordercode from OrderMaster where " + 
                projectid = '" + projID + "' AND ordercode != ''");
            // If there are order(s) that match the projectID chosen, 
            // go to the last one in the result set and
            // increment it by one.
            if(rs.next()) {
                rs.last();
                last2 = new StringBuffer();
                last2.append(rs.getString(1).substring(3,5));
                // If the last character in the code of the order is a letter, 
                // set boolean variable to true.
                for(int i = 0;i < letters.length;i++) {
                    if(last2.substring(1,2).equals(letters[i])) {
                        match = true;
                    }
                }
                char sec2last = last2.charAt(0);
                char lastone = last2.charAt(1);
                // If last character is a letter(match = true)...
                if(match == true) {
                // if last char is not z, add one to it.
                    if(lastone != 'Z') {
                        lastone++;
                        last2.replace(1,2,String.valueOf(lastone));
                        first3 = first3 + last2.toString();
                    }
                // if last char is 'z' and second to last char is not 9, add 
                // one to the second to last
                // char and replace the 'z' with an "A".
                    else if((lastone == 'Z' && sec2last != '9')) {
                        sec2last++;
                        last2.replace(0,1,String.valueOf(sec2last));
                        last2.replace(1,2,"A");
                        first3 = first3 + last2.toString();
                    }
                // if last char is 'z' and second to last char is 9, output 
                // error message...
                // user can't assign any more codes to this project.
                    else if(lastone == 'Z' && sec2last == '9') {
                        JOptionPane.showMessageDialog(this,
                            "No more codes available for this project. Please " + 
                            "assign a new projectID.","Error!",
                            JOptionPane.ERROR_MESSAGE);
                        error = true;
                    }
                }
                // If the last character in the code of the order is not a letter, 
                // increment the number by one.
                // If the last number is a 9, add "1A" to the end of the code.
                else {
                    if(lastone != '9') {
                        lastone++;
                        last2.replace(1,2,String.valueOf(lastone));
                        first3 = first3 + last2.toString();
                    }
                    else {
                        first3 = first3 + "1A";
                    }
                }
            }
        // If there are no matching records for the projectID chosen, add '01' 
        // to the code.
            else {
                first3 = first3 + "01";
            }
        }
        catch(SQLException sqle) {
            JOptionPane.showMessageDialog(this,"NewOrderTabE07-" + sqle,"Error!",
            JOptionPane.ERROR_MESSAGE);
        }
    }
    public void clearFields() {
        type.setSelectedIndex(0);
        markUnit.setSelectedIndex(0);
        opDiv.setSelectedIndex(0);
        project.setSelectedIndex(0);
        descr.setText("");
        acctSpec.setSelectedIndex(0);
        salesPerson.setSelectedIndex(0);
        ordAuth.setText("");
        addr.clearFields();
    }
    public JButton getSaveButton() {
        return bp.getButton(0);
    }
    public boolean getErrInd() {
        return errInd;
    }
    public int getOKVal() {
        return okVal;
    }
    public SKComboBox getProjectID() {
        return project;
    }
    public boolean getCkAdd() {
        return util.getCkAdd();
    }
}  

Thanks again!
[ So, it must be that Jennifer works for the dark side with big monitors... ]
[ September 11, 2002: Message edited by: Dirk Schreckmann ]

[Dave Landers]

I didn't look at the whole thing, but I noticed that your base class has a field named "con" and your subclass also has a field named "con". I bet you have done that for several fields.
You don't want to do this - you actually have two fields named "con" and (without going into all the details which a good basic java book or tutorial could explain better than I) it is just confusing to you and the JVM about exactly which one you want to use at any given time. Fields are not overriden like methods are.
For all those things that are common, let the base class handle them. The constructor for your subclass should call the base class constructor (it does this anyway, but you should force it to call the "useful" constructor). After that, the sub class can do anything specific to itself:

public NewOrderTab(SQLConnection sql,CustomerTab ct,JTabbedPane jtp,SKUtil su) {
    super(sql,ct,su);
    // etc.... do things specific to NewOrderTab here....
}