JavaFX - how to get instance of the controller object

Question

How do I get a reference to my controller class?

Here is my code snippet.

Parent root = FXMLLoader.load(getClass().getResource("my.fxml"));
stage.setScene(new Scene(root, 500, 500));
MyController c = stage.getControllerInstance(); <-- HOW???
c.setATextValue("Hello world"); //Set initial value
stage.show();

The Controller class is specified in FXML in the fx:controller attribute. The instance gets created automatically in the background. I need access to that instance in order to set initial values in the form.

I know I can set the initial values in XML, but I need to set them at runtime.

Answer 1

Don't use the static FXMLLoader.load(...) method. Instead, create an FXMLLoader instance and call load() on the instance. Then you can call getController():

FXMLLoader loader = new FXMLLoader(getClass().getResource("my.fxml"));
Parent root = loader.load();
MyController c = loader.getController();

stage.setScene(new Scene(root, 500, 500));