Storing data using ActionListener method

add a List (ArrayList or LinkedList) as memeber variable.
each time the user click a button that plays a clip add to the list the clip or the clip information.

>> hmmm and i guess I'd need to assign information to them as well.
Right in addition to the array of clips add an array of the names of the clips.

where do I write the info about the clips...in here?

array_of_names_of_clips = new ArrayList[] {};

if so, I wanted to set two variables for each clip. As I was hoping to use that data to present back to the user. Is it possible?

Or I can just name my clips with the information I want, and then just print out to the user those clips he/she selected.

You add two member variables (in addition to index, and the array of clipse):
private String[] clipNames;
private List pickedClips = new LinkedList();

then at the same place you assigne the clips into the clips array you do:
clipsNames = new String[]{"clip", "clip2"}; // put here the name of any string info for each clip

when the user click (and you change the index) do:
pickedClips.add(clipNames[index])); // add to the picked clips list the name of the selected clip.

Ok I set that up as you said. But I'm having a problem inputting string info into here.

>>clipsNames = new String[]{"clip", "clip2"};// put here the name of any string info for each clip

What is the problem?
If you have a memeber vairable:
private String[] clipNames;
then you should be able to do:
clipNames = new String[]{"clip", "clip2"};

hmmm, not sure why I had that problem before.

ok so say i enter data into here, can I write. ... new String[]{"Well done!! Good choice you picked No5", You also chose No. 14"}

and then I have pickedClips.add(clipNames[index])); in the ActionListener method


Q. When the user gets to the end of the clips and has made the final selection how do I link straight to the pickedClips list.

Can i do it this way:-

else if (index < 8) {
           index = 8;
} else if (index < 22) {
               index=22;
} else if (index < 29) {   <<last selection
               index = println (pickedClips);

ok so say i enter data into here, can I write. ... new String[]{"Well done!! Good choice you picked No5", You also chose No. 14"}
and then I have pickedClips.add(clipNames[index])); in the ActionListener method
Sure, as long as clipNames have strings as much as clips (so index will not get out of bound).
and change: You also chose No. 14" to "You also chose No. 14"

>> Can i do it this way:-
Yes, though println(System.out.println) will not return a value (just a printout to the string)

what do you mean will not return a value, what value could it be outputting...data to make a chart or graph??

This is what I have under the ActionEvent method:

pickedClips.add(clipNames[index]);

 if (index < 8) {
           index = 8;
} else if (index < 22) {
               index=22;
} else if (index < 29) {
                 index = println(System.out.println) (pickedClips);  <<how do i add this?
                                                                   
                                                                   
                                                               

>> index = println(System.out.println) (pickedClips);  <<how do i add this?
What do you want to do?
If you want to display the picks
then do it this way:
System.out.println(pickedClips);

After the last clip has been selected, from the range 22 to 29 I want to print out the picked clips on the screen.

Using this I get an error  void, required: int

pickedClips.add(clipNames[index]);

 if (index < 8) {
           index = 8;
} else if (index < 22) {
               index=22;
} else if (index < 29) {
                 index = System.out.println(pickedClips);  

>> I want to print out the picked clips on the screen. (Using this I get an error  void, required: int)
I told you, System.out.println(pickedClips) does not return a value (so you can't assign it to index).
replacing
index = System.out.println(pickedClips);  
with just
System.out.println(pickedClips);  

will add a printout to the console, but I think in your case (GUI application and not console application) you want to add it to your JFrame.
So, add a JLabel to your JFrame (the same style you add your JButton, but without having an ActionListener for it) and then call
jLabel.setText(pickedClips.toString());
Assuming you added a JLabel named jLabel.

i'm a bit confused with what u mean by jLabel and JFrame

what i have done is to:

Label label = new Label ("testResults") {
};

then under that:

add(label, BorderLayout.CENTER);
Label.setText(pickedCLips.toString());

But there an error with   .setText         non-static method

I also set the size of the label

Change (there is no need for the {} in this case):
Label label = new Label ("testResults") {
};
to
Label label = new Label ("testResults");

JLabel is like Label but in the swing world (stick with Label, as you already did, for awt only)

>>add(label, BorderLayout.CENTER);
This should be added when you add the buttons

>> Label.setText(pickedCLips.toString());
label.setText(pickedCLips.toString()); // change L to l and do it in the section "else if (index < 29)..."

do it in the section "else if (index < 29)..."

Do you mean put it in the final "else if"??  This gives me an inner class error for 'label'

if (index < 8) {
           index = 8;
} else if (index < 22) {
               index=22;
} else if (index < 29) {
                 label.setText(pickedCLips.toString());

I still get the inner class error

I created the label under where I created the button and added the label afetr i added the button:

add(button, BL.CENTRE); add(label,.....);

The whole error is local variable label accessed from within inner class; needs to be declared final

ok...theres no errors..now i have to go through test it    80