To set a list of data to JList:
JList.setListData(array of data);
Full source
import java.awt.FlowLayout; import javax.swing.JButton; import javax.swing.JFrame; import javax.swing.JList; import javax.swing.JScrollPane; import javax.swing.ListSelectionModel; public class Main extends JFrame { private final JList<String> colorJList; // list to hold color names private final JList<String> copyJList; // list to hold copied names private JButton copyJButton; // button to copy selected names private static final String[] colorNames = { "Black", "Blue", "Cyan", "Dark Gray", "Gray", "Green"}; // Main constructor public Main() { super("Multiple Selection Lists"); setLayout(new FlowLayout()); colorJList = new JList<String>(colorNames); // list of color names colorJList.setVisibleRowCount(5); // show five rows colorJList.setSelectionMode(ListSelectionModel.MULTIPLE_INTERVAL_SELECTION); add(new JScrollPane(colorJList)); // add list with scrollpane copyJButton = new JButton("Copy"); add(copyJButton); // add copy button to JFrame copyJList = new JList<String>(); // list to hold copied color names copyJList.setVisibleRowCount(5); // show 5 rows copyJList.setFixedCellWidth(100); // set width copyJList.setFixedCellHeight(15); // set height copyJList.setSelectionMode(ListSelectionModel.SINGLE_INTERVAL_SELECTION); //from www . j ava 2 s . co m copyJButton.addActionListener(e->{ // place selected values in copyJList copyJList.setListData(colorJList.getSelectedValuesList().toArray(new String[0])); }); add(new JScrollPane(copyJList)); // add list with scroll pane } public static void main(String[] args) { Main Main = new Main(); Main.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE); Main.setSize(350, 150); Main.setVisible(true); } }