//FOR the number of cells
for (int cnt=0; cnt < numCells; cnt++)
{
    //SET a character to the character at boardToLoad's index
    char cell = boardToLoad.charAt(cnt);

    //IF cell is not a valid character
    if (!(cell == '.' || cell == 'x' || cell == 'o' || cell == 'm'
            || cell == 's' || cell == '#' || cell == 'X' ||
            cell == 'O' || cell == 'M' || cell == 'S'))
    {
        valid = false;
    }
    else
    {
        //SET tempCells[cnt] to a new JLabel
        tempCells[cnt] = new JLabel();

        //IF the index equals ., then x, then o, etc etc for
        //each possible symbol in the game
        if (cell == '.')
        {
            //SET the cell's icon to the associated icon
            tempCells[cnt].setIcon(toolbarIcons[0]);
        }
        else if (cell == 'x')
        {
            tempCells[cnt].setIcon(toolbarIcons[1]);
        }
        else if (cell == 'o')
        {
            tempCells[cnt].setIcon(toolbarIcons[2]);
        }
        else if (cell == 'm')
        {
            tempCells[cnt].setIcon(toolbarIcons[3]);
        }
        else if (cell == 's')
        {
            tempCells[cnt].setIcon(toolbarIcons[4]);
        }
        else if (cell == '#')
        {
            tempCells[cnt].setIcon(toolbarIcons[5]);
        }
        else if (cell == 'X')
        {
            tempCells[cnt].setIcon(toolbarIcons[6]);
        }
        else if (cell == 'O')
        {
            tempCells[cnt].setIcon(toolbarIcons[7]);
        }
        else if (cell == 'M')
        {
            tempCells[cnt].setIcon(toolbarIcons[8]);
        }
        else if (cell == 'S')
        {
            tempCells[cnt].setIcon(toolbarIcons[9]);
        }
    }
}
}
}

//IF the input was valid and the board isnt null
if (valid && boardToLoad != null)
{
    //FOR numCells
    for (int cnt=0; cnt < numCells; cnt++)
    {
        //SET each cells' icon to the corresponding tempCells' icon
        cells[cnt].setIcon(tempCells[cnt].getIcon());
    }
}
//ELSE IF the input wasnt valid
else if (!valid)
{
    //SET new message dialog to tell the user about invalid input
    JOptionPane.showMessageDialog(this,"Invalid input! Input must be 37" +
                                  " characters\nlong and contain only the following\ncharacters: " +
                                  "   . x o m s # X O M S",
                                  "Invalid input",JOptionPane.ERROR_MESSAGE)
    ;
}
}