Q:

Hover over multiple buttons in Java?

Is it possible, in Java, when you hover over a single button, to make the program think you are hovering over multiple buttons?
I'm using a multi-dimensional array with buttons and want to be able to have 5 buttons be hovered over at a time. (All the buttons near the actual hover).
Any ideas on how to do this?
Note: I'm not using JButtons, just regular buttons. (awt.Button)
EDIT
I obviously wasn't clear enough, and I apologize for that.
Here is a screenshot of what I'm looking for:

So, the cursor is hovering over the first gray space, and all of the space next to it have a different background, however, they are not considered as being hovered over, which if what I need.

A:

Assuming you are using a MouseListener, when the mouseEntered(MouseEvent e) method is called on the master button, explicitly call the same method on all of the listeners of all of the other buttons, passing the event you have been given. Ditto for the mouseExited(MouseEvent e) method. 
It's up to you to maintain a reference from the master button to the subordinate buttons.
The subordinate buttons' listeners will receive an event that refers to the master button. If necessary, create your listeners with a reference to the button that they are attached to, so that you can operate on that button when receiving an event.
EDIT:
This is the kind of thing I'm talking about. Does it help?
final List<Button> subordinateButtons = Arrays.asList(new Button(), new Button(), new Button());
Button myButton = new Button();
myButton.addMouseListener(new MouseListener() {

    public void mouseEntered(MouseEvent e) {
        for (Button subordinateButton : subordinateButtons) {
            subordinateButton.setBackground(Color.GRAY);
        }
    }

    public void mouseExited(MouseEvent e) {
        for (Button subordinateButton : subordinateButtons) {
            subordinateButton.setBackground(Color.LIGHT_GRAY);
        }
    }

    public void mouseClicked(MouseEvent e) {
    }

    public void mousePressed(MouseEvent e) {
    }

    public void mouseReleased(MouseEvent e) {
    }

});

There's no reason why you can't keep a reference from a MouseListener to a List<Button>. If it's the business of the listener to work on those buttons then design your classes so that it happens.

