JComboBox get current value

[gammaman]

I am trying to get the "Current" value from a combo box. With getSelected Value you actually have to select a value for it to trigger. I have a gui with several tabs. The tabs share a common combo box. When switching from one tab to another, I want to be able to grab the value in the combobox after the tab is swiched.

The default value of the combo box is "--Choose--". If I am on tab 1, and then switch to tab 2 and do a print of the combo box value, it comes up empty rather than "--Choose--".

Here is the code I am using to get the value in the combobox currently.

class GoActionListener implements ActionListener {
		public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent event) {
			
		//	musicListBox.remove(logoPanel);
			String category = (String) categoryComboBox.getSelectedItem();
			
			//String cat = (String)
			
		    System.out.println(category);

I want the value of Sys out to be "--Choose--" when the tab is switched.

[keang]

If I am on tab 1, and then switch to tab 2 and do a print of the combo box value, it comes up empty rather than "--Choose--".

It will unless you select an item.

You can call getSelectedIndex() and check to see if it returns -1 (nothing selected) and if so call getItemAt(0) to get the first item in the list.

[gammaman]

Yes, you are right, thanks!.