Introduction
JTextArea component = new JTextArea(); // Add actions component.getActionMap().put(nextFocusAction.getValue(Action.NAME), nextFocusAction); component.getActionMap().put(prevFocusAction.getValue(Action.NAME), prevFocusAction); // The actions public Action nextFocusAction = new AbstractAction("Move Focus Forwards") { public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent evt) { ((Component)evt.getSource()).transferFocus(); } }; public Action prevFocusAction = new AbstractAction("Move Focus Backwards") { public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent evt) { ((Component)evt.getSource()).transferFocusBackward(); } };