Using Invisible Panels to Create a GUI

I'm brushing up on my Java by re-writing a small customer DB application. When I did this for the first time in Uni I made to classic OO beginers mistake of turning one class into the entire program (almost!).

This time round I want to completely seperate the interface from the implemtation and core data. I will do this by creating a GUI class which contains the frame, all the screens (for adding, searching etc..) and stores of the text boxes responces will be stored in as static variable which can be easly accessed by any class handling datainput to the core class.

I'm currently working on the GUI, what I've done is created two panels so far - the main screen and add client. There is a button on the main screen called add client - when it is pressed the main screen panel's visible property is set to false and the add client panel is set to visible. Unfortunately all that happens is the frame goes blank although it should display the add client panel. Also the header label does not display on the main menu panel if I also add it to the add client panel.

I've included the code below.

Thanks

Steve



import java.awt.*;
import java.awt.event.*;
import javax.swing.*;
import javax.swing.event.*;


public class MenuSystem extends javax.swing.JFrame {
   
    private javax.swing.JPanel rootMenuPanel, addClientPanel;
    private javax.swing.JButton viewEditCustBut, addCustBut, remCustBut, dispBadBorBut,
            adjRateBut, loadDBBut, saveDBBut, addCustConfirmBut;
   
    private javax.swing.JLabel headerlbl, templbl;
   
    /* Constructor */
    public MenuSystem(){
        initComponants();
    }

    private void initComponants() {
       
       
         /** Create Header Lable **/
        headerlbl = new javax.swing.JLabel();
        headerlbl.setText("Virtual Bank Customer DB");
        headerlbl.setFont(new java.awt.Font("Karate", 1, 18));
        headerlbl.setBorder(new javax.swing.border.EtchedBorder());
       
        /** Create Root Panel **/
        rootMenuPanel = new javax.swing.JPanel();
        rootMenuPanel.setPreferredSize(new java.awt.Dimension(450, 300));
        rootMenuPanel.setLayout(new org.netbeans.lib.awtextra.AbsoluteLayout());
        rootMenuPanel.add(headerlbl, new org.netbeans.lib.awtextra.AbsoluteConstraints(70, 10, 260, 40));
       
       
        /** Create Root Panel Buttons **/
        viewEditCustBut = new javax.swing.JButton("View and Edit Customer Details");
        dispBadBorBut = new javax.swing.JButton("Display Bad Borrowers");
        adjRateBut = new javax.swing.JButton("Adjust Rates");
        addCustBut = new javax.swing.JButton("Add Customer");
        remCustBut = new javax.swing.JButton("Remove Customer");
        loadDBBut = new javax.swing.JButton("Load Database");
        saveDBBut = new javax.swing.JButton("Save Database");
       
        /** Add Root Panel Buttons **/
        rootMenuPanel.add(viewEditCustBut, new org.netbeans.lib.awtextra.AbsoluteConstraints(89, 70, 220, 25));
        rootMenuPanel.add(addCustBut, new org.netbeans.lib.awtextra.AbsoluteConstraints(30, 120, 140, 20));
        rootMenuPanel.add(remCustBut, new org.netbeans.lib.awtextra.AbsoluteConstraints(30, 160, 140, 20));
        rootMenuPanel.add(loadDBBut, new org.netbeans.lib.awtextra.AbsoluteConstraints(250, 120, 140, 20));
        rootMenuPanel.add(saveDBBut, new org.netbeans.lib.awtextra.AbsoluteConstraints(250, 160, 140, 20));
        rootMenuPanel.add(dispBadBorBut, new org.netbeans.lib.awtextra.AbsoluteConstraints(120, 230, 160, 20));
        rootMenuPanel.add(adjRateBut, new org.netbeans.lib.awtextra.AbsoluteConstraints(120, 260, 160, 20));
       
       
        /** Create Add Client Panel **/
        addClientPanel = new javax.swing.JPanel();
        addClientPanel.setVisible(false);
        addClientPanel.setPreferredSize(new java.awt.Dimension(450, 300));
        addClientPanel.setLayout(new org.netbeans.lib.awtextra.AbsoluteLayout());    
        addClientPanel.add(headerlbl, new org.netbeans.lib.awtextra.AbsoluteConstraints(70, 10, 260, 40));
       
        /** Create Client Panel Buttons **/
        addCustConfirmBut = new javax.swing.JButton("addCustConfirmBut");
       
       
        /** Add Add Client Panel Buttons **/
        addClientPanel.add(addCustConfirmBut, new org.netbeans.lib.awtextra.AbsoluteConstraints(89, 70, 220, 25));
       
       
       
        /** Add Button Actions **/
        addCustBut.addActionListener(new java.awt.event.ActionListener(){
           public void actionPerformed(java.awt.event.ActionEvent evt) {
                rootMenuPanel.setVisible(false);
                addClientPanel.setVisible(true);
               
            }
        });
       
       
       
        getContentPane().add(rootMenuPanel, java.awt.BorderLayout.CENTER);
       
        pack();
       
    }
   

}











/*
 * run.java
 *
 * Created on 02 October 2004, 14:39
 */

/**
 *
 * @author  Steve
 */
public class Run {
   
    /** Creates a new instance of run */
    public Run() {
    }
   
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        MenuSystem myMenuSystem;
        myMenuSystem = new MenuSystem();
        myMenuSystem.setVisible(true);
    }
}