Null Pointer Exception...argh!

[Fasih]

So i have a program that basically animates cells. I have them set at a specific number, and i have a gui. When i added a custom cell option, it throws me a nullpointerexception.

Here is the code where the null pointer exception comes from:
note i am using a timer to do the animation, but thats not really important here

code:

class TimerAction implements ActionListener     {         //================================================== actionPerformed         /* ActionListener of the timer.  Each time this is called,            the ball's position is updated, creating the appearance of            movement.          */         public void actionPerformed (ActionEvent e)         {             System.out.println ("Timer check:" + numcells);             for (int x = 0 ; x < numcells ; x++)             {                 AL [x].setBounds (getWidth (), getHeight ());                 AL [x].move (); // Move the ball.                 repaint ();     // Repaint indirectly calls paintComponent.             }             for (int x = 0 ; x < WB.length ; x++)             {                 WB [x].setBounds (getWidth (), getHeight ());                 WB [x].move (); // Move the ball.                 repaint ();     // Repaint indirectly calls paintComponent.             }             for (int x = 0 ; x < VC.length ; x++)             {                 VC [x].setBounds (getWidth (), getHeight ());                 VC [x].move (); // Move the ball.                 repaint ();     // Repaint indirectly calls paintComponent.             }         }     }

numcells is the size of the red blood cells array. The red blood cells is the only thing at the moment that the user can change, and the array name is AL. At the line AL[x].setBounds(getWidth(),getHeight()); is where it throws it. the array is being initialized, and the values in the array are being inputted.

[RandomLetters]

getWidth(),getHeight()

Don't you need an object there?

[Zren]

Did you initiate the object?

Java:

Object obj =  new Object(); Object[] objArr = new Object[10]; for (Object o : objArr) o = new Object();

An array is a bunch of pointers to an object, and it doesn't initiate all the objects it points to when you declare it.

Java:

Object[] objArr; // Declare array objArr = new Object[10]; // Initiate array (which is like declaring 10 new objects). for (Object o : objArr) o = new Object(); // Initiate each object in the array.

[Fasih]

Yeah i declared it initially at the start of the class

code:

public Ball[] AL = new Ball [5];     public Ball[] WB = new Ball [3];     public Ball[] VC = new Ball [2];

and then again in the constructor where the user puts in their own value:

code:

public BallInBox (int num)     {         setPreferredSize (new Dimension (300, 300));         numcells = num;         Ball[] AL = new Ball [num];         System.out.print (AL.length);         setBorder (BorderFactory.createLineBorder (Color.BLACK));         m_timer = new Timer (m_interval, new TimerAction ());         for (int x = 0 ; x < num ; x++)         {             AL [x] = new Ball ((int) (Math.random () * 250 + 1), (int) (Math.random () * 250 + 1), (int) (Math.random () * 3 + 1), (int) (Math.random () * 2 + 1), 1);         }

[Fasih]

@RandomLetters
No i dont because its just getting the params so i can make the ball bounce off the sides

[chrisbrown]

code:

m_timer = new Timer (m_interval, new TimerAction ()); for (int x = 0 ; x < num ; x++) {     AL [x] = new Ball ((int) (Math.random () * 250 + 1), (int) (Math.random () * 250 + 1), (int) (Math.random () * 3 + 1), (int) (Math.random () * 2 + 1), 1); }

Think carefully about what's happening here.

[Fasih]

The same thing happens for the default set code, theres no error... the only thing different in this is the in the loop, insteat of AL.length i put the number the user inputs "num"

[chrisbrown]

What I mean is, what are the consequences of creating a new TimerAction before initializing the elements of AL?

Actually, I may have misread your code. I'm just wondering if it's possible for actionPerformed to be called before the array is initialized.

[Fasih]

I tried moving and no luck so i dont think thats it. I would post my code, but its 500+ lines long

[chrisbrown]

How bout a stack trace?

[Zren]

You declare the array AL at the start of the class.

public Ball[] AL = new Ball [5];

Then locally override the variable's name due to scope of the function.

Java:

public BallInBox (int num) { Ball[] AL = new Ball [num]; // initialize the contents of the local array. } // The temporary array overriding the class level variable AL is forgotten.

Then in another function, your calling the array that is at class level, which has not been initialized.

Java:

public void actionPerformed (ActionEvent e) { for (..._) AL [x].move (); //etc. }

PS: Once you figure out your mistake, you can do funky stuff with the "this." to select the current class instances variables. (Sorta of a bad explanation) Eg:

Java:

class Meh {     private boolean bleh = false;         public void setBleh(boolean bleh) {         this.bleh = bleh;     } }

[Fasih]

Ohh right... but what about using a setter?

So I guess that if the user wants to input a custom amount of cells, then I would have to join the code together into one method since it goes back to the array size of 5 and never gets initialized :S

[Fasih]

Oh i figured it out. I was declaring a local variable inside the class,

code:

Ball[] AL = new Ball[num];

I should have been doing

code:

AL = new Ball[num];