Get input text without scanner

Answer 1

comboBox.getSelectedItem();

public String getSortText() {
    return sortText.getText();
}

All this can easily be found in the Java DOCs from SUN.

--edit-- updated my answer to really make sure you understand :)

Answer 2

For JTextField use myTextField.getText() For tooltip in JTextField use myTextField.getToolTipText() For JComboBox use myComboBox.getSelectedIndex() or myComboBox.getSelectedItem() First gives you the index of the selected item and he second gives you the actual item.