Non-static variable this cannot be referenced from a static context JFrame

Question

I have this code:

private static void inputGUI() {
    inputFrame.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
    inputFrame.setTitle("The INPUT");
    panel.add(printButton);
    printButton.setBounds(135,560,120,30);
    inputFrame.setLayout(null);
    inputFrame.add(panel);
    panel.setBounds(1000,100,366,768-100);

    //ActionListeners!!!    
    printButton.addActionListener(this);
    inputFrame.setSize(1366,768);
    inputFrame.setVisible(true);
}

I wanted to add an action listener to my JButton named

printButton

I also have a JFrame

inputFrame

and this in my Main

public static void main (String[] args) {
    inputGUI();
}

But I keep getting this error:

error: non-static variable this cannot be referenced from a static context

How can I do this? It would be great if you guys can help me without using an anonymous inner class.(My teacher hasn't taught us that lesson yet). Thank you!

Answer 1

Following code is causing the problem.

 printButton.addActionListener(this);

Reason:
inputGUI() is static as a result of which using this keyword which refers to the current object is denied.

Solution:
Simply create a new object of the class which handles the click events of printButton . Say MainClass is responsible for that. Change your code as following:

 printButton.addActionListener(new MainClass());

Alternate Solution:
Make inputGUI() non static. And call it from main method as new MainClass().inputGUI() . Rest remains same.

Answer 2

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

public class NewClass {


    public NewClass(){
     //inputGUI();
    }
    public static void method(){
      JOptionPane.showMessageDialog(null, "");
    }
    private static void inputGUI() {
    JFrame inputFrame = new JFrame();
    JPanel panel = new JPanel();
    JButton printButton = new JButton();
    inputFrame.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
    inputFrame.setTitle("The INPUT");
            panel.add(printButton);
                printButton.setBounds(135,560,120,30);
    inputFrame.setLayout(null);
        inputFrame.add(panel);
    panel.setBounds(1000,100,366,768-100);

    //ActionListeners!!!    
        printButton.addActionListener(new java.awt.event.ActionListener() {

            @Override
            public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent ae) {
              method();
            }
        });
inputFrame.setSize(1366,768);
inputFrame.setVisible(true);
}
    public static void main(String[]args){
     inputGUI();   
    }
}

you mean like this?