private Boolean fieldCheck(){
           
            Boolean fields_pass_check;
            
            // If any of the conditions are true, popup a menu
            if (       course_name_field.getText().equalsIgnoreCase("") // course name empty
                    || course_id_field.getText().equalsIgnoreCase("") //Course id empty
                    || instructor_field.getText().equalsIgnoreCase("") // instructor id empty
                    || ta_list.getText().equalsIgnoreCase("") //ta field empty
                    || course_start_formatfield.getText().equalsIgnoreCase("") //start field empty
                    || course_end_formatfield.getText().equalsIgnoreCase("") //end field empty
                    || stud_list_file_location_field.getText().equalsIgnoreCase("") // file location field empty
                    
                    ){
                JOptionPane.showMessageDialog(this, "One of your fields is not filled in, please check all your fields and resubmit!");
                fields_pass_check = false;
            }
            
            else 
                fields_pass_check = true;
            
            return fields_pass_check;        
        }