I have a program that's supposed to interact with a databse but I keep getting a NullPOinterException. I know it means that something is set to null. But how to change them from null is my main problem

import java.sql.Connection;
import java.sql.DriverManager;
import java.sql.PreparedStatement;
import java.sql.SQLException;

/*
 * To change this template, choose Tools | Templates
 * and open the template in the editor.
 */
public class AKDatabase extends javax.swing.JFrame {

/**
 * Creates new form AKDatabase
 */
public AKDatabase() {
    String password = "";
            try{
        conn = DriverManager.getConnection("jdbc:mysql://localhost/DreamHome","root",password);
        rstm = new ResultSetTableModel(conn,null);
    } catch (SQLException sql){

    }
    initComponents();
}

/**
 * This method is called from within the constructor to initialize the form.
 * WARNING: Do NOT modify this code. The content of this method is always
 * regenerated by the Form Editor.
 */
@SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
// <editor-fold defaultstate="collapsed" desc="Generated Code">
private void initComponents() {

    jTabbedPane1 = new javax.swing.JTabbedPane();
    jPanel1 = new javax.swing.JPanel();
    jLabel1 = new javax.swing.JLabel();
    jLabel2 = new javax.swing.JLabel();
    jLabel3 = new javax.swing.JLabel();
    jLabel4 = new javax.swing.JLabel();
    jLabel5 = new javax.swing.JLabel();
    jLabel6 = new javax.swing.JLabel();
    CSubmit = new javax.swing.JButton();
    ClientNo = new javax.swing.JTextField();
    fName = new javax.swing.JTextField();
    lName = new javax.swing.JTextField();
    TelNo = new javax.swing.JTextField();
    pType = new javax.swing.JTextField();
    MaxRent = new javax.swing.JTextField();

    setDefaultCloseOperation(javax.swing.WindowConstants.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);

    jTabbedPane1.setTabPlacement(javax.swing.JTabbedPane.LEFT);
    jTabbedPane1.setName("jTabbedPane1");

    jPanel1.setName("jPanel1");

    jLabel1.setText("Client Number");
    jLabel1.setName("jLabel1");

    jLabel2.setText("First Name");
    jLabel2.setName("jLabel2");

    jLabel3.setText("Last Name");
    jLabel3.setName("jLabel3");

    jLabel4.setText("Telephone Number");
    jLabel4.setName("jLabel4");

    jLabel5.setText("Preferred Type");
    jLabel5.setName("jLabel5");

    jLabel6.setText("Maximum Rent");
    jLabel6.setName("jLabel6");

    CSubmit.setText("Submit");
    CSubmit.setName("CSubmit");
    CSubmit.addActionListener(new java.awt.event.ActionListener() {
        public void actionPerformed(java.awt.event.ActionEvent evt) {
            CSubmitActionPerformed(evt);
           }
    });

    ClientNo.setText("jTextField1");
    ClientNo.setName("ClientNo");

    fName.setText("jTextField2");
    fName.setName("fName");

    lName.setText("jTextField3");
    lName.setName("lName");

    TelNo.setText("jTextField4");
    TelNo.setName("TelNo");

    pType.setText("jTextField5");
    pType.setName("pType");

    MaxRent.setText("jTextField6");
    MaxRent.setName("MaxRent");

    javax.swing.GroupLayout jPanel1Layout = new javax.swing.GroupLayout(jPanel1);
    jPanel1.setLayout(jPanel1Layout);
    jPanel1Layout.setHorizontalGroup(
        jPanel1Layout.createParallelGroup(javax.swing.GroupLayout.Alignment.LEADING)
        .addGroup(jPanel1Layout.createSequentialGroup()
            .addGroup(jPanel1Layout.createParallelGroup(javax.swing.GroupLayout.Alignment.LEADING)
                .addGroup(jPanel1Layout.createSequentialGroup()
                    .addContainerGap()
                    .addGroup(jPanel1Layout.createParallelGroup(javax.swing.GroupLayout.Alignment.LEADING)
                        .addComponent(jLabel1)
                        .addComponent(jLabel2)
                        .addComponent(jLabel3)
                        .addComponent(jLabel4)
                        .addComponent(jLabel5)
                        .addComponent(jLabel6))
                    .addGap(34, 34, 34)
                    .addGroup(jPanel1Layout.createParallelGroup(javax.swing.GroupLayout.Alignment.LEADING, false)
                        .addComponent(ClientNo, javax.swing.GroupLayout.DEFAULT_SIZE, 215, Short.MAX_VALUE)
                        .addComponent(fName)
                        .addComponent(lName)
                        .addComponent(TelNo)
                        .addComponent(pType)
                        .addComponent(MaxRent)))
                .addGroup(jPanel1Layout.createSequentialGroup()
                    .addGap(68, 68, 68)
                    .addComponent(CSubmit)))
            .addContainerGap(316, Short.MAX_VALUE))
    );
    jPanel1Layout.setVerticalGroup(
        jPanel1Layout.createParallelGroup(javax.swing.GroupLayout.Alignment.LEADING)
        .addGroup(jPanel1Layout.createSequentialGroup()
            .addGap(18, 18, 18)
            .addGroup(jPanel1Layout.createParallelGroup(javax.swing.GroupLayout.Alignment.BASELINE)
                .addComponent(jLabel1)
                .addComponent(ClientNo, javax.swing.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE, javax.swing.GroupLayout.DEFAULT_SIZE, javax.swing.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE))
            .addPreferredGap(javax.swing.LayoutStyle.ComponentPlacement.UNRELATED)
            .addGroup(jPanel1Layout.createParallelGroup(javax.swing.GroupLayout.Alignment.BASELINE)
                .addComponent(jLabel2)
                .addComponent(fName, javax.swing.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE, javax.swing.GroupLayout.DEFAULT_SIZE, javax.swing.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE))
            .addPreferredGap(javax.swing.LayoutStyle.ComponentPlacement.UNRELATED)
            .addGroup(jPanel1Layout.createParallelGroup(javax.swing.GroupLayout.Alignment.BASELINE)
                .addComponent(jLabel3)
                .addComponent(lName, javax.swing.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE, javax.swing.GroupLayout.DEFAULT_SIZE, javax.swing.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE))
            .addPreferredGap(javax.swing.LayoutStyle.ComponentPlacement.UNRELATED)
            .addGroup(jPanel1Layout.createParallelGroup(javax.swing.GroupLayout.Alignment.BASELINE)
                .addComponent(jLabel4)
                .addComponent(TelNo, javax.swing.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE, javax.swing.GroupLayout.DEFAULT_SIZE, javax.swing.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE))
            .addPreferredGap(javax.swing.LayoutStyle.ComponentPlacement.UNRELATED)
            .addGroup(jPanel1Layout.createParallelGroup(javax.swing.GroupLayout.Alignment.LEADING)
                .addGroup(jPanel1Layout.createSequentialGroup()
                    .addComponent(jLabel5)
                    .addPreferredGap(javax.swing.LayoutStyle.ComponentPlacement.RELATED, javax.swing.GroupLayout.DEFAULT_SIZE, Short.MAX_VALUE)
                    .addComponent(jLabel6)
                    .addPreferredGap(javax.swing.LayoutStyle.ComponentPlacement.RELATED, javax.swing.GroupLayout.DEFAULT_SIZE, Short.MAX_VALUE))
                .addGroup(jPanel1Layout.createSequentialGroup()
                    .addComponent(pType, javax.swing.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE, javax.swing.GroupLayout.DEFAULT_SIZE, javax.swing.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE)
                    .addGap(18, 18, 18)
                    .addComponent(MaxRent, javax.swing.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE, javax.swing.GroupLayout.DEFAULT_SIZE, javax.swing.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE)
                    .addPreferredGap(javax.swing.LayoutStyle.ComponentPlacement.RELATED, 18, Short.MAX_VALUE)))
            .addComponent(CSubmit)
            .addGap(20, 20, 20))
    );

    jTabbedPane1.addTab("New Client", jPanel1);

    javax.swing.GroupLayout layout = new javax.swing.GroupLayout(getContentPane());
    getContentPane().setLayout(layout);
    layout.setHorizontalGroup(
        layout.createParallelGroup(javax.swing.GroupLayout.Alignment.LEADING)
        .addGroup(layout.createSequentialGroup()
            .addContainerGap()
            .addComponent(jTabbedPane1)
            .addContainerGap())
    );
    layout.setVerticalGroup(
        layout.createParallelGroup(javax.swing.GroupLayout.Alignment.LEADING)
        .addGroup(layout.createSequentialGroup()
            .addContainerGap()
            .addComponent(jTabbedPane1, javax.swing.GroupLayout.DEFAULT_SIZE, 278, Short.MAX_VALUE)
            .addContainerGap())
    );

    pack();
}// </editor-fold>

private void CSubmitActionPerformed(java.awt.event.ActionEvent evt) {
    // TODO add your handling code here:
    try {

                String sql = "INSERT INTO client VALUES(?,?,?,?,?,?)";
        PreparedStatement pst = conn.prepareStatement(sql);
        System.err.print(pst);
        System.out.println(sql);
        pst.setString(1, ClientNo.getText());
        pst.setString(2, fName.getText());
        pst.setString(3, lName.getText());
        pst.setString(4, TelNo.getText());
        pst.setString(5, pType.getText());
        pst.setFloat(6, Float.parseFloat(MaxRent.getText()));
        pst.executeUpdate();

    } catch (SQLException ex) {
    }
}

/**
 * @param args the command line arguments
 */
public static void main(String args[]) {
    /*
     * Set the Nimbus look and feel
     */
    //<editor-fold defaultstate="collapsed" desc=" Look and feel setting code (optional) ">
    /*
     * If Nimbus (introduced in Java SE 6) is not available, stay with the
     * default look and feel. For details see
     * http://download.oracle.com/javase/tutorial/uiswing/lookandfeel/plaf.html
     */
    try {
        for (javax.swing.UIManager.LookAndFeelInfo info : javax.swing.UIManager.getInstalledLookAndFeels()) {
            if ("Nimbus".equals(info.getName())) {
                javax.swing.UIManager.setLookAndFeel(info.getClassName());
                break;
            }
        }
    } catch (ClassNotFoundException ex) {
        java.util.logging.Logger.getLogger(AKDatabase.class.getName()).log(java.util.logging.Level.SEVERE, null, ex);
    } catch (InstantiationException ex) {
        java.util.logging.Logger.getLogger(AKDatabase.class.getName()).log(java.util.logging.Level.SEVERE, null, ex);
    } catch (IllegalAccessException ex) {
        java.util.logging.Logger.getLogger(AKDatabase.class.getName()).log(java.util.logging.Level.SEVERE, null, ex);
    } catch (javax.swing.UnsupportedLookAndFeelException ex) {
        java.util.logging.Logger.getLogger(AKDatabase.class.getName()).log(java.util.logging.Level.SEVERE, null, ex);
    }
    //</editor-fold>

    /*
     * Create and display the form
     */
    java.awt.EventQueue.invokeLater(new Runnable() {

        public void run() {
            new AKDatabase().setVisible(true);
        }
    });
}
// Variables declaration - do not modify
private javax.swing.JButton CSubmit;
private javax.swing.JTextField ClientNo;
private javax.swing.JTextField MaxRent;
private javax.swing.JTextField TelNo;
private javax.swing.JTextField fName;
private javax.swing.JLabel jLabel1;
private javax.swing.JLabel jLabel2;
private javax.swing.JLabel jLabel3;
private javax.swing.JLabel jLabel4;
private javax.swing.JLabel jLabel5;
private javax.swing.JLabel jLabel6;
private javax.swing.JPanel jPanel1;
private javax.swing.JTabbedPane jTabbedPane1;
private javax.swing.JTextField lName;
private javax.swing.JTextField pType;
// End of variables declaration
private ResultSetTableModel rstm;
Connection conn;
}

For the error report, I have this:

Exception in thread "AWT-EventQueue-0" java.lang.NullPointerException
at AKDatabase.CSubmitActionPerformed(AKDatabase.java:193)
at AKDatabase.access$000(AKDatabase.java:11)
at AKDatabase$1.actionPerformed(AKDatabase.java:81)
at javax.swing.AbstractButton.fireActionPerformed(AbstractButton.java:2018)
at javax.swing.AbstractButton$Handler.actionPerformed(AbstractButton.java:2341)
at javax.swing.DefaultButtonModel.fireActionPerformed(DefaultButtonModel.java:402)
at javax.swing.DefaultButtonModel.setPressed(DefaultButtonModel.java:259)
at javax.swing.plaf.basic.BasicButtonListener.mouseReleased(BasicButtonListener.java:252)
at java.awt.Component.processMouseEvent(Component.java:6504)
at javax.swing.JComponent.processMouseEvent(JComponent.java:3321)
at java.awt.Component.processEvent(Component.java:6269)
at java.awt.Container.processEvent(Container.java:2229)
at java.awt.Component.dispatchEventImpl(Component.java:4860)
at java.awt.Container.dispatchEventImpl(Container.java:2287)
at java.awt.Component.dispatchEvent(Component.java:4686)
at java.awt.LightweightDispatcher.retargetMouseEvent(Container.java:4832)
at java.awt.LightweightDispatcher.processMouseEvent(Container.java:4492)
at java.awt.LightweightDispatcher.dispatchEvent(Container.java:4422)
at java.awt.Container.dispatchEventImpl(Container.java:2273)
at java.awt.Window.dispatchEventImpl(Window.java:2713)
at java.awt.Component.dispatchEvent(Component.java:4686)
at java.awt.EventQueue.dispatchEventImpl(EventQueue.java:707)
at java.awt.EventQueue.access$000(EventQueue.java:101)
at java.awt.EventQueue$3.run(EventQueue.java:666)
at java.awt.EventQueue$3.run(EventQueue.java:664)
at java.security.AccessController.doPrivileged(Native Method)
at java.security.ProtectionDomain$1.doIntersectionPrivilege(ProtectionDomain.java:76)
at java.security.ProtectionDomain$1.doIntersectionPrivilege(ProtectionDomain.java:87)
at java.awt.EventQueue$4.run(EventQueue.java:680)
at java.awt.EventQueue$4.run(EventQueue.java:678)
at java.security.AccessController.doPrivileged(Native Method)
at java.security.ProtectionDomain$1.doIntersectionPrivilege(ProtectionDomain.java:76)
at java.awt.EventQueue.dispatchEvent(EventQueue.java:677)
at java.awt.EventDispatchThread.pumpOneEventForFilters(EventDispatchThread.java:211)
at java.awt.EventDispatchThread.pumpEventsForFilter(EventDispatchThread.java:128)
at java.awt.EventDispatchThread.pumpEventsForHierarchy(EventDispatchThread.java:117)
at java.awt.EventDispatchThread.pumpEvents(EventDispatchThread.java:113)
at java.awt.EventDispatchThread.pumpEvents(EventDispatchThread.java:105)
at java.awt.EventDispatchThread.run(EventDispatchThread.java:90)

Any help?

Exception in thread "AWT-EventQueue-0" java.lang.NullPointerException
at AKDatabase.CSubmitActionPerformed(AKDatabase.java:193)

Look at line 193 and see what variables are used on that line. find the one with the null value. You could print out the values of all the variables used there to see which one is null. Then backtrack in the code to see why that variable does not have a valid value.

Change the code so that all catch blocks call the printStackTrace() method so you will know if there is a problem. Your current code ignores some problems by having empty catch blocks.

Thanks. When I run the debugger, conn comes up as null. How can I change that? I don't exactly know much about coding for databases but for teh printStacktrace(), i simply put it as e.printStackTrace() and it gives SQLExceptions as soon as I run it. I don't know why conn is still null though.

it gives SQLExceptions

Please post the full text of the error message.

conn is null because of the exception.

This is everything that comes up.

run:
Exception in thread "AWT-EventQueue-0" java.lang.NullPointerException
at dbproject.DBProject.jButton4ActionPerformed(DBProject.java:425)
at dbproject.DBProject.access$000(DBProject.java:8)
at dbproject.DBProject$1.actionPerformed(DBProject.java:144)
at javax.swing.AbstractButton.fireActionPerformed(AbstractButton.java:2018)
at javax.swing.AbstractButton$Handler.actionPerformed(AbstractButton.java:2341)
at javax.swing.DefaultButtonModel.fireActionPerformed(DefaultButtonModel.java:402)
at javax.swing.DefaultButtonModel.setPressed(DefaultButtonModel.java:259)
at javax.swing.plaf.basic.BasicButtonListener.mouseReleased(BasicButtonListener.java:252)
at java.awt.Component.processMouseEvent(Component.java:6504)
at javax.swing.JComponent.processMouseEvent(JComponent.java:3321)
at java.awt.Component.processEvent(Component.java:6269)
at java.awt.Container.processEvent(Container.java:2229)
at java.awt.Component.dispatchEventImpl(Component.java:4860)
at java.awt.Container.dispatchEventImpl(Container.java:2287)
at java.awt.Component.dispatchEvent(Component.java:4686)
at java.awt.LightweightDispatcher.retargetMouseEvent(Container.java:4832)
at java.awt.LightweightDispatcher.processMouseEvent(Container.java:4492)
at java.awt.LightweightDispatcher.dispatchEvent(Container.java:4422)
at java.awt.Container.dispatchEventImpl(Container.java:2273)
at java.awt.Window.dispatchEventImpl(Window.java:2713)
at java.awt.Component.dispatchEvent(Component.java:4686)
at java.awt.EventQueue.dispatchEventImpl(EventQueue.java:707)
at java.awt.EventQueue.access$000(EventQueue.java:101)
at java.awt.EventQueue$3.run(EventQueue.java:666)
at java.awt.EventQueue$3.run(EventQueue.java:664)
at java.security.AccessController.doPrivileged(Native Method)
at java.security.ProtectionDomain$1.doIntersectionPrivilege(ProtectionDomain.java:76)
at java.security.ProtectionDomain$1.doIntersectionPrivilege(ProtectionDomain.java:87)
at java.awt.EventQueue$4.run(EventQueue.java:680)
at java.awt.EventQueue$4.run(EventQueue.java:678)
at java.security.AccessController.doPrivileged(Native Method)
at java.security.ProtectionDomain$1.doIntersectionPrivilege(ProtectionDomain.java:76)
at java.awt.EventQueue.dispatchEvent(EventQueue.java:677)
at java.awt.EventDispatchThread.pumpOneEventForFilters(EventDispatchThread.java:211)
at java.awt.EventDispatchThread.pumpEventsForFilter(EventDispatchThread.java:128)
at java.awt.EventDispatchThread.pumpEventsForHierarchy(EventDispatchThread.java:117)
at java.awt.EventDispatchThread.pumpEvents(EventDispatchThread.java:113)
at java.awt.EventDispatchThread.pumpEvents(EventDispatchThread.java:105)
at java.awt.EventDispatchThread.run(EventDispatchThread.java:90)

BUILD SUCCESSFUL (total time: 19 seconds)

Did you add the printStackTrace() calls to all the catch blocks? I would expect to see the trace from that before the NullPointerException error.

What variable is null at line 425? Why is it null?

425 would be:
PreparedStatement pst = conn.prepareStatement(sql);
When I add printStackTrace(), instead of giving a NullPointerException when the button is triggered, it just gives an SQLException right as the program excecutes.
I don't know why con.prepareStatement(sql) comes up as null. Other persons are using that same code and tehy don't get that problem.

Where does conn get a valid value?

I have this:

conn = DriverManager.getConnection("jdbc:mysql://localhost/DreamHome","root","");

If conn has a null value, then does the getConnection() method throw an exception that the code does not report?

How do I check for that method? It's a built-in method that I really don't know much about.

Is the code inside of a try/catch block?
Is there a call to printStackTrace() in the catch block?
If there was, it will print out an error message.

It is in a try catch block with the printStackTrace() in the catch block (e.printStackTrace()) Nothin comes up in regards to that as an output. though.

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