jComboBox1.addActionListener(new ActionListener(){ public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e){ System.out.println("Caught Action..."); JComboBox cb = (JComboBox) e.getSource(); //Set the active card's type based on the selection String selected = (String) cb.getSelectedItem(); System.out.println("Querying for Type..."); //Find the appropriate type Session session = HibernateUtil.getSession(); Query query = session.createQuery("from Type where name = ?"); query.setText(0, selected); query.setMaxResults(1); //Retreive and set the appropriate type Type t = (Type) query.uniqueResult(); System.out.println("Found unique result, " + t.getName()); activeCard.setType(t); //Save the card session.saveOrUpdate(activeCard); session.close(); } });