How to use Actions in Java?

[Beter 2 Burn Out]

Hi friends,
I have recently started doing java, so i am not having much knowledge about it. I have created an application in which i need to do the coding of the action. But i don't know anything about it. So i thought that posting here might help me.!! Can someone explain me how to use Actions in Java.?? Any coding related to the topic would be grateful.

[Viensterrr]

If you are having two or more components which are performing the same function then you can use an Action object to implement the function. An Action can be used to separate functionality and state from a component. An Action object is an ActionListener that provides action-event handling. Along with that it provides handling of the text, icon and the buttons also. The state that an action can handle includes text, icon, mnemonic, enabled, and selected status.

[Allan.d]

For attaching an action to a component, you will have to use the setAction method. The following things happen when you invoke setAction on a component :

• The component's state is updated to match the state of the Action.
• The component's state is updated to match the Action, if the state of the Action changes.
• The Action object is registered as an action listener on the component.

[MindSpace]

The following snippet of coding is an example of creating a tool-bar button and menu item :

Action leftAction = new LeftAction(); 
...
button = new JButton(leftAction)
...
menuItem = new JMenuItem(leftAction);

[Praetor]

The following example can be used for creating and instantiating an AbstractAction subclass :

leftAction = new LeftAction("Take left", anIcon,
             "This is the left button.",
             new Integer(KeyEvent.VK_L));
...
class LeftAction extends AbstractAction {
    public LeftAction(String text, ImageIcon icon,
                      String desc, Integer mnemonic) {
        super(text, icon);
        putValue(SHORT_DESCRIPTION, desc);
        putValue(MNEMONIC_KEY, mnemonic);
    }
    public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e) {
        displayResult("Action for first button/menu item", e);
    }
}