private void register() {
		//make sure all the necessary objects have been instantiated
		if (fldPassword != null && fldUserName != null && strframe != null && currUser != null && strframe != null && cnxn != null) {
			
			String username = fldUserName.getText();
			
			char[] entered_pword = fldPassword.getPassword();
			
			
			Tuple t = User.createAccount(username, entered_pword, cnxn);
			
			//if login failed, show the message
			try {
				if (((Boolean) t.getTup1()) == false) {
					JOptionPane.showMessageDialog(strframe, (String) t.getTup2());
				} else {
					signIn();
					/*
					entered_pword = passwordField.getPassword();
					String username = fldUserName.getText();
					int rtnId = User.signIn(username, entered_pword, cnxn);
					
					currUser = new User(username, rtnId);
					JOptionPane.showMessageDialog(strframe, "Registered + Signed in");
					strframe.setTitle("SecTweet - " + username);
					passwordField.setText("");
					//get info for Follows tab
					populateFollows();*/
				}
			} catch (ClassCastException ex) {
				JOptionPane.showMessageDialog(strframe, "Account created but there was a problem signing in");
				
				//problem signing in, kill the current user
				currUser = null;
			}
		}
		
	}