This demonstrates the problem:

import java.awt.*;
import javax.swing.*;
import java.awt.event.*;

public class Test extends JFrame {

public Test() {
 setDefaultCloseOperation(EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
 JMenuBar menuBar = new JMenuBar();
 JMenu menu;
 JMenuItem item;
 menu = new JMenu("Menu");
 menuBar.add(menu);
 item = new JMenuItem("Fire JOptionPane");
 item.addActionListener(new ActionListener() {
  public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e) {
   JOptionPane.showConfirmDialog(null, "Dispose of this and try menu
again",
   "Test", JOptionPane.OK_CANCEL_OPTION, JOptionPane.PLAIN_MESSAGE);
  }
 });
 menu.add(item);
 setJMenuBar(menuBar);
 setSize(100,100);
 setVisible(true);
}

public static void main(String[] args) {
 new Test();
}

}

I've just encountered the exact same problem myself (and CRAP, I
posted it to the wrong group - that'll get some howls).

I'm at a loss.

.ed

www.EdmundKirwan.com