Same result as selecting menu option in code?

You can add an ActionListener to multiple controls.
May be they are to be different Listeners and to call a common method,
but you don't have to.

Make the ActionListener a class with static (global) state variables.

;JOOP!

the 2nd menu option needs to check a string class member of the frame (not the ActionListener class) is empty before  "executing the first ActionListener"...

Well, make that String static ...................................

;JOOP!

When the 2nd menu item is chosen and a file value is empty then I want action A to occur, if it is not empty i want Action B to occur. Not sure how this second ActionListener could resuse the first one re a static String property?

Of course such a static member belongs in the top of your GUI class, common to all controls.

;JOOP!

When the 2nd menu item is chosen and a file value is empty then I want action A to occur, if it is not empty i want Action B to occur. Not sure how this second ActionListener could resuse the first one re a static String property in my main JFrame descendant class?

Your one liners are not giving me enough to go on...how can I call the 1st actionlistener from within a 2ns actionlistenmer

JMenuItem 2ndMenuItem = new JMenuItem("2nd");
2ndMenuItem.addActionListener(new ActionListener() {
			public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e) {
	 			if (fileName.getText().isEmpty()) {
	 				// call actionlister from 1stMenuItem?
				} else {
	 				Do2nd();	
	 			}
			}
		});        

Select all Open in new window

That's not the way to go.
Your ActionListeners should be:
- or separate classes,
- or classes that only implement ActionListener and thus 'actionPerformed()'

The construct your code has I call "just-in-time-classes".
Advantage: simple coding,
Disadvantage: severe access problems.

My style: if I need only 1 actionlistener, I make the GUI class implement ActionListener,
If I need several I first try to split off the action in separate methods you can call at will,
or otherwise I make a new class.
The latter is clumsy and is rare with me.
Remember always that the actionPerformed() will find out what control fired,
so I can (I suppose) always chose what action(s) to call at any event.

;JOOP!

@scuriware... the code example was to try and get a response other than a one liner. The actionListener I want to call is a separate class..I am now looking at passing the parent (JFrame) as a variable to a static method in it (so I can call the do2nd()) which first checks the string value...

...how can I find out the calling component from the actionEvent (in actionPerformed) as you describe?

// Example for 2 buttons, just the same for menu items:

public class MyGui implements ActionListener
{
.................................................................... intervening code............
JButton button1 = new JButton("One");
JButton button2 = new JButton("Two");
.................................................................... intervening code............
    button1.addActionListener(this);
    button2.addActionListener(this);
.................................................................... intervening code............
   /** (non-Javadoc)
    * @see java.awt.event.ActionListener#actionPerformed(java.awt.event.ActionEvent)
    * @param a action event.
    */
   public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent a)
   {
      Object o = a.getSource();

      if(o == button1)
      {
         doCallAction1();
      }
      else if(o == button2)
      {
         doCallAction2();
         doCallAction1();
      }

;JOOP!

as ok, so a.getSource(); will not point to calling frame button/menuitem....does nto seem to be a solution other than including JFrame ref in the ActionListener class :-(

>>> will not point to calling frame button/menuitem

It WILL point!

>>> does nto seem to be a solution

I wonder why you persist your construction? This is a much more open solution.

;JOOP!

so i will have to give points for free?

You got a sincere advice: that's an answer.
You can redraw your question if there was no solution.

But, it's your decision .........................................................

;JOOP!

forced by expert to give points

I can live with that.
Please re-consider my advice.

;JOOP!

will be requesting expert not to add comments to my questions in future