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Thread: compiler error "Cannot make a static reference to the non-static field TextArea1"

  1. #1
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    Default compiler error "Cannot make a static reference to the non-static field TextArea1"

    I did write a small application that catches and displays UDP messages sent via a certain port.
    It works fine whith "screen dump" output (System.out.println) but if I try to send the output to a TextArea I get a compiler error "Cannot make a static reference to the non-static field TextArea1"
    See code below.
    How can I fix this?

    Rik

    import java.applet.*;
    import java.awt.*;
    import java.awt.event.*;
    import java.io.IOException; 
    import java.net.DatagramPacket; 
    import java.net.DatagramSocket; 
     
     
    public class TextAreaApplet extends Applet implements ActionListener {
     public void init() {
      Button1 = new Button("Clear");
      Button1.addActionListener(this);
      TextArea1 = new TextArea("",5,40);
      TextArea1.setEditable(false);
      add(Button1);
      add(TextArea1);
     }
     
     public static void main(String[] args) throws IOException { 
       String NewData;
       DatagramSocket ds= new DatagramSocket(2237);
       byte[] receive= new byte[65535]; 
       DatagramPacket DpReceive= null; 
       while (true) { 
         DpReceive= new DatagramPacket(receive,receive.length);
         ds.receive(DpReceive);
         NewData= data(receive)+"\n\r";
         System.out.println(NewData); // this works fine
    //    TextArea1.append(NewData); // compiler error "Cannot make a static reference to the non-static field TextArea1"
         if (data(receive).toString().equals("bye")) {
           System.out.println("Client sent bye ... ");
           ds.close();
           break; 
         } 
         receive= new byte[65535];
       } 
     } 
     
     public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e) {
      TextArea1.setText("");
     }
     
     public static StringBuilder data(byte[] a) {
       if (a == null) return null; 
       StringBuilder ret = new StringBuilder(); 
       int i = 0; 
       while (a[i] != 0) { 
         ret.append((char) a[i]); 
         i++; 
       } 
       return ret; 
     }  
     
     TextArea TextArea1;
     Button Button1;
    }

  2. #2
    Super Moderator Norm's Avatar
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    Default Re: compiler error "Cannot make a static reference to the non-static field TextArea1"

    Cannot make a static reference to the non-static field TextArea1
    Code in a static method can not access fields that only exist when an instance of the class exists.
    Move the code that references textArea1 into a method that is not static.

    Applets are no longer supported in most browsers. Why does the code extend Applet?
    If you don't understand my answer, don't ignore it, ask a question.

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    Default Re: compiler error "Cannot make a static reference to the non-static field TextArea1"

    Please excuse my stupid questions, but Java is completely new to me.
    I just need a simple platfporm independent app that displays UDP messages from a given port, and thought of Java.

    Code in a static method can not access fields that only exist when an instance of the class exists.
    OK, I get that.

    Move the code that references textArea1 into a method that is not static.
    I created a method:
    public void ShowMessage(String s) {
       TextArea1.append(s);
     }
    But when I call this method from within main (
    ShowMessage(NewData);
    ) I get the same compiler error on that line.

    Applets are no longer supported in most browsers. Why does the code extend Applet?
    I just want to show the messages in some kind of box, if there is another way than applets that is fine for me (again, I am completely new to Java).

    Thanks,

    Rik

  4. #4
    Super Moderator Norm's Avatar
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    Default Re: compiler error "Cannot make a static reference to the non-static field TextArea1"

    The main method should create an instance of the class and let the constructor do the rest. Move the code currently in main to the constructor.



    Take a look at this list of topics for java: https://docs.oracle.com/javase/tutor...ybigindex.html
    Look at this part: https://docs.oracle.com/javase/tutor...ing/index.html
    If you don't understand my answer, don't ignore it, ask a question.

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    Default Re: compiler error "Cannot make a static reference to the non-static field TextArea1"

    To avoid the error you're talking about I do the following:

    public class SomeClass {
       public static void main(String[] args) {
           new SomeClass().start();
       }
     
       public void start() {
            // put code in here that would normally go in 
            // main
       }
     
       //  rest of methods, static or otherwise
     
    }

    There are always exceptions of course, depending on what you're writing. But most of the time
    the above works just fine.

    Regards,
    Jim

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    Default Re: compiler error "Cannot make a static reference to the non-static field TextArea1"

    Hello Jim, Norm,

    thank you both for your help.
    As mentioned before I am a Java newbie and only did some very basic reading on Java before writing the application (mostly cut & paste from pieces of code I found on the web).
    Maybe I should read/study a bit more about Java basics before going on ;-) .

    Rik

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    Default Re: compiler error "Cannot make a static reference to the non-static field TextArea1"

    You can also check out the Java tutorials which provide a good basic start. The link is in my signature.

    Regards,
    Jim

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