title: Netbeans Java SE GUI Builder: private initComponents() problem
body: <p>When I build a GUI for my Java SE app with Netbeans GUI builder, it puts all the codes in the initComponents() method which is private. I could not change it to public. So, all the components are accessible only to the class containing the UI.</p>
  
  <p>I want to access those components from another class so that I can write custom event handlers and everything. Most importantly I want to separate my GUI code and non-GUI  from each other. </p>
  
  <p>I can copy paste the GUI code and later make them public by hand to achieve what I want. But thats a pain. I have to handcraft a portion whenever I need to re-design the UI.</p>
  
  <p><strong>What I tried to do:</strong></p>
  
  <p>I used the variable identifier to make the text box public. Now how can I access the text box from the Main class? I think I need the component generated in a public method as well.</p>
  
  <p>I am new to Java. Any helps?</p>
  
  <p>Here's the sample classes:</p>
  
  <p><strong>The UI</strong> (uiFrame.java)</p>
  
  <pre><code>    /*
   * To change this template, choose Tools | Templates
   * and open the template in the editor.
   */
  
  /*
   * uiFrame.java
   *
   * Created on Jun 3, 2010, 9:33:15 PM
   */
  package barcode;
  
  import java.util.logging.Level;
  import java.util.logging.Logger;
  import javax.swing.JFileChooser;
  import javax.swing.UIManager;
  import javax.swing.UnsupportedLookAndFeelException;
  import net.sourceforge.barbecue.output.OutputException;
  
  /**
   *
   * @author masnun
   */
  public class uiFrame extends javax.swing.JFrame {
  
      /** Creates new form uiFrame */
      public uiFrame() {
          try {
              try {
                  // Set cross-platform Java L&amp;F (also called "Metal")
                  UIManager.setLookAndFeel(UIManager.getSystemLookAndFeelClassName());
              } catch (ClassNotFoundException ex) {
                  Logger.getLogger(uiFrame.class.getName()).log(Level.SEVERE, null, ex);
              } catch (InstantiationException ex) {
                  Logger.getLogger(uiFrame.class.getName()).log(Level.SEVERE, null, ex);
              } catch (IllegalAccessException ex) {
                  Logger.getLogger(uiFrame.class.getName()).log(Level.SEVERE, null, ex);
              } catch (UnsupportedLookAndFeelException ex) {
                  Logger.getLogger(uiFrame.class.getName()).log(Level.SEVERE, null, ex);
              }
          } finally {
          }
  
  
          initComponents();
      }
  
      /** This method is called from within the constructor to
       * initialize the form.
       * WARNING: Do NOT modify this code. The content of this method is
       * always regenerated by the Form Editor.
       */
      @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
      // &lt;editor-fold defaultstate="collapsed" desc="Generated Code"&gt;
      private void initComponents() {
  
          label1 = new javax.swing.JLabel();
          textBox = new javax.swing.JTextField();
          saveButton = new javax.swing.JButton();
  
          setDefaultCloseOperation(javax.swing.WindowConstants.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
  
          label1.setFont(label1.getFont().deriveFont(label1.getFont().getStyle() | java.awt.Font.BOLD, 13));
          label1.setText("Type a text:");
          label1.setName("label1"); // NOI18N
  
          saveButton.setText("Save");
          saveButton.addMouseListener(new java.awt.event.MouseAdapter() {
              public void mousePressed(java.awt.event.MouseEvent evt) {
                  saveButtonMousePressed(evt);
              }
          });
  
          javax.swing.GroupLayout layout = new javax.swing.GroupLayout(getContentPane());
          getContentPane().setLayout(layout);
          layout.setHorizontalGroup(
              layout.createParallelGroup(javax.swing.GroupLayout.Alignment.LEADING)
              .addGroup(layout.createSequentialGroup()
                  .addGap(56, 56, 56)
                  .addComponent(textBox, javax.swing.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE, 272, javax.swing.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE)
                  .addContainerGap(72, Short.MAX_VALUE))
              .addGroup(javax.swing.GroupLayout.Alignment.TRAILING, layout.createSequentialGroup()
                  .addContainerGap(154, Short.MAX_VALUE)
                  .addComponent(saveButton, javax.swing.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE, 102, javax.swing.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE)
                  .addGap(144, 144, 144))
              .addGroup(javax.swing.GroupLayout.Alignment.TRAILING, layout.createSequentialGroup()
                  .addContainerGap(140, Short.MAX_VALUE)
                  .addComponent(label1, javax.swing.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE, 133, javax.swing.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE)
                  .addGap(127, 127, 127))
          );
          layout.setVerticalGroup(
              layout.createParallelGroup(javax.swing.GroupLayout.Alignment.LEADING)
              .addGroup(layout.createSequentialGroup()
                  .addContainerGap()
                  .addComponent(label1, javax.swing.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE, 25, javax.swing.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE)
                  .addPreferredGap(javax.swing.LayoutStyle.ComponentPlacement.RELATED)
                  .addComponent(textBox, javax.swing.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE, javax.swing.GroupLayout.DEFAULT_SIZE, javax.swing.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE)
                  .addPreferredGap(javax.swing.LayoutStyle.ComponentPlacement.UNRELATED)
                  .addComponent(saveButton)
                  .addContainerGap(193, Short.MAX_VALUE))
          );
  
          pack();
      }// &lt;/editor-fold&gt;
  
      @SuppressWarnings("static-access")
      private void saveButtonMousePressed(java.awt.event.MouseEvent evt) {                                        
          JFileChooser file = new JFileChooser();
          file.showSaveDialog(null);
          String data = file.getSelectedFile().getAbsolutePath();
          String text = textBox.getText();
          BarcodeGenerator barcodeFactory = new BarcodeGenerator();
          try {
              barcodeFactory.generateBarcode(text, data);
          } catch (OutputException ex) {
              Logger.getLogger(uiFrame.class.getName()).log(Level.SEVERE, null, ex);
          }
  
  
      }                                       
      /**
       * @param args the command line arguments
       */
      // Variables declaration - do not modify
      private javax.swing.JLabel label1;
      private javax.swing.JButton saveButton;
      public javax.swing.JTextField textBox;
      // End of variables declaration
  }
  </code></pre>
  
  <p><strong>The Main Class</strong> (Main.java)</p>
  
  <pre><code>package barcode;
  
  
  import javax.swing.JFrame;
  
  
  public class Main {
  
      public static void main(String[] args) {
  
          JFrame ui = new uiFrame();
          ui.pack();
          ui.show();
  
  
  
  
      }
  
  
  }
  </code></pre>