// Create the text component
JTextComponent tc = new JTextArea("Initial Text");
// Get length
int docLength = tc.getDocument().getLength();
// Get all text
String text = tc.getText();
try {
// Get the first 3 characters
int offset = 0;
int len = 3;
text = tc.getText(offset, len);
// Get the last 3 characters
offset = docLength-3;
len = 3;
text = tc.getText(offset, len);
} catch (BadLocationException e) {
}