nullpointerexception - BlueJ call to public method null pointer exception (java.awt.container) -

normally instantiate panels inside of makeframe method, instead i'm required use 2 separate methods of createbuttonpanel() , createtextpanel(). problem being cannot work out how let makeframe use these when not inside of it's own method, , when i'm used javascript i've done looks should work, doesn't.

from screenshot, creating local variable in createbuttonpanel method making unavailable (null) add method of container.

public void createbuttonpanel() {     jpanel buttonpanel = new jpanel(); } 

instead, make assign new instance class level variable won't null when passing add method of container.

public void createbuttonpanel() {     this.buttonpanel = new jpanel(); // assigning class member } 

this should fix problem. also, advised move initializer method constructor calls , make private there no use of making public in case.

hope helps.