//needed for swing classes for all of the graphical components created in the GUI
 import javax.swing.*; 
 
//needed for the actionlistener class for events such as clicking a button in the application
 import java.awt.*;
 
/*
Needed for for ActionListener Interface for buttons performing a certain action  such as   calculating
*/
 import java.awt.event.*; 
 
// this for your calculation to come out in a dollar format 
 import java.text.DecimalFormat;
 
    // the class header which marks the start of a class definition
  public class Package_Selector_GUI extends JFrame
    //extends JFrame class to inherit members from the JFrame class
 
{
 
    private JPanel packagePanel;
    //private JPanel phonePanel;
    //private JPanel optionPanel;
    //private JTextField PhoneTextField;// to hold the Phone input
    private    JTextField PackageTextField; // to hold the Package input
    //private JTextField OptionTextField;  // to hold the Option input
    private JMenuBar menuBar;             // the menu bar
    private JMenu FileMenu;           // the file menu
    private JMenu PhoneMenu;         // the phone menu
    private JMenu PackageMenu;        // the package menu
    private JMenu OptionMenu;        // the option menu
    private JMenuItem exitItem;      // the to exit
    private JRadioButtonMenuItem Package1; //to select 300minutes
        private JRadioButtonMenuItem Package2; // to select 800minutes
    private JRadioButtonMenuItem Package3; // to select 1500minutes
    private JRadioButtonMenuItem Model_100; // to select phone option1
    private JRadioButtonMenuItem Model_110 ; // to select phone option2
    private JRadioButtonMenuItem Model_200;  // to select phone option3
    private JCheckBoxMenuItem    VoiceMail; // to select option1
    private JCheckBoxMenuItem    TextMessage; // to select option2
    private JLabel messageLabel;
 
 
  public Package_Selector_GUI()
   {
    //to display a title
    setTitle("Anthony's GetItGotIt Phone Service");
 
    // specifying an action for the close button
    setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE); 
 
    // creating borderlayout manager
    setLayout(new BorderLayout());
 
    //command to build the button panel
    buildPackagePanel();
 
    add(packagePanel);
 
    //command to build the MenuBar
    buildMenuBar();
 
    //packing all the contents of the window in the display and setting it visible
    pack();
    setVisible(true);
   }
 
    //the build MenuBar method starts building the MenuBar
  private void buildMenuBar()
    {
    // creating the menu bar
    menuBar = new JMenuBar();
 
    //creating the four menu tabs
    buildFileMenu();
    buildPhoneMenu();
    buildPackageMenu();
    buildOptionMenu();
 
    // adding the menu tabs to the menu bar
    menuBar.add(FileMenu);
    menuBar.add(PhoneMenu);
    menuBar.add(PackageMenu);
    menuBar.add(OptionMenu);
 
    // setting the windows menu bar
    setJMenuBar(menuBar);
    }
 
    //the build FileMenu method starts building the FileMenu
  private void buildFileMenu()
    {
    //creating an exit item for the file menu
    exitItem = new JMenuItem("Exit");
    exitItem.setMnemonic(KeyEvent.VK_X);
    exitItem.addActionListener(new ExitListener());
 
    //creating the Jmenu object for the file menu
    FileMenu = new JMenu("File");
    FileMenu.setMnemonic(KeyEvent.VK_F);
 
    //adding the exit item to the the file menu
    FileMenu.add(exitItem);
    }
 
    //the build PhoneMenu method starts building the PhoneMenu
  private void buildPhoneMenu()
    {
    //creating the radio buttons for user to choose what phone they desire
    Model_100 = new JRadioButtonMenuItem ("Model_100",true);
    Model_100.setMnemonic(KeyEvent.VK_P);
 
 
 
    Model_110 = new JRadioButtonMenuItem ("Model_110");
    Model_110.setMnemonic(KeyEvent.VK_H);
 
 
 
    Model_200 = new JRadioButtonMenuItem ("Model_200");
    Model_200.setMnemonic(KeyEvent.VK_O);
 
    //grouping radio buttons together
    ButtonGroup  bg = new ButtonGroup();
    bg.add(Model_100);
    bg.add(Model_110);
    bg.add(Model_200);
 
    //creating the Jmenu object for the Phone menu
    PhoneMenu = new JMenu("Phone");
    PhoneMenu.setMnemonic(KeyEvent.VK_N);
 
    //adding the menu items to the the phone menu
    PhoneMenu.add(Model_100);
    PhoneMenu.add(Model_110);
    PhoneMenu.add(Model_200);
   }
 
 
 
    //the build PackageMenu method starts building the PackageMenu
  private void buildPackageMenu()
    {
 
    //creating the radio buttons for user to choose what Package they desire
    Package1 = new JRadioButtonMenuItem ("300minutes",true);
    Package1.setMnemonic(KeyEvent.VK_A);
 
 
 
    Package2 = new JRadioButtonMenuItem ("800minutes");
    Package2.setMnemonic(KeyEvent.VK_G);
 
 
 
    Package3 = new JRadioButtonMenuItem ("1500minutes");
    Package3.setMnemonic(KeyEvent.VK_E);
 
    //grouping radio buttons together
    ButtonGroup  bg = new ButtonGroup();
    bg.add(Package1);
    bg.add(Package2);
    bg.add(Package3);
 
    //creating the Jmenu object for the Package Menu
    PackageMenu = new JMenu("Package");
    PackageMenu.setMnemonic(KeyEvent.VK_S);
 
 
    //adding the menu items to the the Package Menu
    PackageMenu.add(Package1);
    PackageMenu.add(Package2);
    PackageMenu.add(Package3);
   }
 
    //the build OptionMenu method starts building the OptionMenu
  private void buildOptionMenu()
    {
    //creating the radio buttons for user to choose what Package they desire
    VoiceMail = new JCheckBoxMenuItem ("VoiceMail",true);
    VoiceMail.setMnemonic(KeyEvent.VK_V);
 
 
    TextMessage = new JCheckBoxMenuItem  ("TextMessaging");
    TextMessage.setMnemonic(KeyEvent.VK_T);
 
    //creating the Jmenu object for the Option Menu
    OptionMenu = new JMenu("Options");
    OptionMenu.setMnemonic(KeyEvent.VK_R);
 
    //adding the menu items to the the Option Menu
    OptionMenu.add(VoiceMail);
    OptionMenu.add(TextMessage);
   }
 
 
 
  private void buildPackagePanel()
    {
    double Package1_rate = 45.00;
    double Package2_rate = 65.00;
    double Package3_rate = 99.00;
    String input;
 
    input = PackageTextField.getText();
    messageLabel = new JLabel("Package desired");
    PackageTextField = new JTextField(10); 
 
    if (Package1.isSelected())
       Package1_rate = Double.parseDouble(input);
 
    else if (Package2.isSelected())
            Package2_rate = Double.parseDouble(input);
 
    else if (Package3.isSelected())
        Package3_rate = Double.parseDouble(input);
 
    packagePanel = new JPanel();
    packagePanel.add(messageLabel);
    packagePanel.add(PackageTextField);
 
  }
 
 
    /*
    private inner class that handles the event when the exit button is clicked
    */
 private class ExitListener implements ActionListener
   {
    public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e)
    {
        System.exit(0);
    }
   }
 
 
    /* 
       this is the method header which is defined as the main method
    */
 public static void main(String[] args)
   {
    Package_Selector_GUI psGUI = new Package_Selector_GUI();
   }
 
 
}


--- Update ---

Hello, I'm new the the forum but joined in hopes of figuring out various problems with my coding. I don't quite understand the error message I'm given (I'm very very new to Java programming) so bear with me, and thank you in advance for any help you are willing to offer.

MY ERROR MESSAGE
 
  at Package_Selector_GUI.buildPackagePanel(Package_Selector_GUI.java:213)
        at Package_Selector_GUI.<init>(Package_Selector_GUI.java:64)
        at Package_Selector_GUI.main(Package_Selector_GUI.java:251)

MY FULL CODE
 
//needed for swing classes for all of the graphical components created in the GUI
 import javax.swing.*; 
 
//needed for the actionlistener class for events such as clicking a button in the application
 import java.awt.*;
 
/*
Needed for for ActionListener Interface for buttons performing a certain action  such as   calculating
*/
 import java.awt.event.*; 
 
// this for your calculation to come out in a dollar format 
 import java.text.DecimalFormat;
 
    // the class header which marks the start of a class definition
  public class Package_Selector_GUI extends JFrame
    //extends JFrame class to inherit members from the JFrame class
 
{
 
    private JPanel packagePanel;
    //private JPanel phonePanel;
    //private JPanel optionPanel;
    //private JTextField PhoneTextField;// to hold the Phone input
    private    JTextField PackageTextField; // to hold the Package input
    //private JTextField OptionTextField;  // to hold the Option input
    private JMenuBar menuBar;             // the menu bar
    private JMenu FileMenu;           // the file menu
    private JMenu PhoneMenu;         // the phone menu
    private JMenu PackageMenu;        // the package menu
    private JMenu OptionMenu;        // the option menu
    private JMenuItem exitItem;      // the to exit
    private JRadioButtonMenuItem Package1; //to select 300minutes
        private JRadioButtonMenuItem Package2; // to select 800minutes
    private JRadioButtonMenuItem Package3; // to select 1500minutes
    private JRadioButtonMenuItem Model_100; // to select phone option1
    private JRadioButtonMenuItem Model_110 ; // to select phone option2
    private JRadioButtonMenuItem Model_200;  // to select phone option3
    private JCheckBoxMenuItem    VoiceMail; // to select option1
    private JCheckBoxMenuItem    TextMessage; // to select option2
    private JLabel messageLabel;
 
 
  public Package_Selector_GUI()
   {
    //to display a title
    setTitle("Anthony's GetItGotIt Phone Service");
 
    // specifying an action for the close button
    setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE); 
 
    // creating borderlayout manager
    setLayout(new BorderLayout());
 
    //command to build the button panel
    buildPackagePanel();
 
    add(packagePanel);
 
    //command to build the MenuBar
    buildMenuBar();
 
    //packing all the contents of the window in the display and setting it visible
    pack();
    setVisible(true);
   }
 
    //the build MenuBar method starts building the MenuBar
  private void buildMenuBar()
    {
    // creating the menu bar
    menuBar = new JMenuBar();
 
    //creating the four menu tabs
    buildFileMenu();
    buildPhoneMenu();
    buildPackageMenu();
    buildOptionMenu();
 
    // adding the menu tabs to the menu bar
    menuBar.add(FileMenu);
    menuBar.add(PhoneMenu);
    menuBar.add(PackageMenu);
    menuBar.add(OptionMenu);
 
    // setting the windows menu bar
    setJMenuBar(menuBar);
    }
 
    //the build FileMenu method starts building the FileMenu
  private void buildFileMenu()
    {
    //creating an exit item for the file menu
    exitItem = new JMenuItem("Exit");
    exitItem.setMnemonic(KeyEvent.VK_X);
    exitItem.addActionListener(new ExitListener());
 
    //creating the Jmenu object for the file menu
    FileMenu = new JMenu("File");
    FileMenu.setMnemonic(KeyEvent.VK_F);
 
    //adding the exit item to the the file menu
    FileMenu.add(exitItem);
    }
 
    //the build PhoneMenu method starts building the PhoneMenu
  private void buildPhoneMenu()
    {
    //creating the radio buttons for user to choose what phone they desire
    Model_100 = new JRadioButtonMenuItem ("Model_100",true);
    Model_100.setMnemonic(KeyEvent.VK_P);
 
 
 
    Model_110 = new JRadioButtonMenuItem ("Model_110");
    Model_110.setMnemonic(KeyEvent.VK_H);
 
 
 
    Model_200 = new JRadioButtonMenuItem ("Model_200");
    Model_200.setMnemonic(KeyEvent.VK_O);
 
    //grouping radio buttons together
    ButtonGroup  bg = new ButtonGroup();
    bg.add(Model_100);
    bg.add(Model_110);
    bg.add(Model_200);
 
    //creating the Jmenu object for the Phone menu
    PhoneMenu = new JMenu("Phone");
    PhoneMenu.setMnemonic(KeyEvent.VK_N);
 
    //adding the menu items to the the phone menu
    PhoneMenu.add(Model_100);
    PhoneMenu.add(Model_110);
    PhoneMenu.add(Model_200);
   }
 
 
 
    //the build PackageMenu method starts building the PackageMenu
  private void buildPackageMenu()
    {
 
    //creating the radio buttons for user to choose what Package they desire
    Package1 = new JRadioButtonMenuItem ("300minutes",true);
    Package1.setMnemonic(KeyEvent.VK_A);
 
 
 
    Package2 = new JRadioButtonMenuItem ("800minutes");
    Package2.setMnemonic(KeyEvent.VK_G);
 
 
 
    Package3 = new JRadioButtonMenuItem ("1500minutes");
    Package3.setMnemonic(KeyEvent.VK_E);
 
    //grouping radio buttons together
    ButtonGroup  bg = new ButtonGroup();
    bg.add(Package1);
    bg.add(Package2);
    bg.add(Package3);
 
    //creating the Jmenu object for the Package Menu
    PackageMenu = new JMenu("Package");
    PackageMenu.setMnemonic(KeyEvent.VK_S);
 
 
    //adding the menu items to the the Package Menu
    PackageMenu.add(Package1);
    PackageMenu.add(Package2);
    PackageMenu.add(Package3);
   }
 
    //the build OptionMenu method starts building the OptionMenu
  private void buildOptionMenu()
    {
    //creating the radio buttons for user to choose what Package they desire
    VoiceMail = new JCheckBoxMenuItem ("VoiceMail",true);
    VoiceMail.setMnemonic(KeyEvent.VK_V);
 
 
    TextMessage = new JCheckBoxMenuItem  ("TextMessaging");
    TextMessage.setMnemonic(KeyEvent.VK_T);
 
    //creating the Jmenu object for the Option Menu
    OptionMenu = new JMenu("Options");
    OptionMenu.setMnemonic(KeyEvent.VK_R);
 
    //adding the menu items to the the Option Menu
    OptionMenu.add(VoiceMail);
    OptionMenu.add(TextMessage);
   }
 
 
 
  private void buildPackagePanel()
    {
    double Package1_rate = 45.00;
    double Package2_rate = 65.00;
    double Package3_rate = 99.00;
    String input;
 
    input = PackageTextField.getText();
    messageLabel = new JLabel("Package desired");
    PackageTextField = new JTextField(10); 
 
    if (Package1.isSelected())
       Package1_rate = Double.parseDouble(input);
 
    else if (Package2.isSelected())
            Package2_rate = Double.parseDouble(input);
 
    else if (Package3.isSelected())
        Package3_rate = Double.parseDouble(input);
 
    packagePanel = new JPanel();
    packagePanel.add(messageLabel);
    packagePanel.add(PackageTextField);
 
  }
 
 
    /*
    private inner class that handles the event when the exit button is clicked
    */
 private class ExitListener implements ActionListener
   {
    public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e)
    {
        System.exit(0);
    }
   }
 
 
    /* 
       this is the method header which is defined as the main method
    */
 public static void main(String[] args)
   {
    Package_Selector_GUI psGUI = new Package_Selector_GUI();
   }
 
 
}
[/QUOTE]