title: String string = text.getText().toString(). giving NullPointerException
body: <p>I have a Database that uses a string to get information from the data base. when I use something like:</p>
  
  <pre><code>public String getString(String string){
          string = "information";
          return string;
  }
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>This gets <code>infromation</code> But as soon as I change it to pull from a text view:</p>
  
  <pre><code>  public String getString(String string){
          string = textview.getText().toString();
          return string;
  }
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>I get a <code>NullPointerException</code> error. 
  also I have tried to make an intent and pull from the intent:</p>
  
  <pre><code>public String getString(String string){
          string = getIntent().getExtras().getString("key");
          return string;
  }
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>and</p>
  
  <pre><code> public String getString(String string){
          string = getIntent().getStringExtras("key");
          return string;
  }
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>And both ways give me <code>NullPointerExceptions</code> on <code>getExtras()</code> and  <code>getStringExtra()</code> What am I doing wrong</p>