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Why is my JFrame empty?

I can't seem to figure out why my JFrame is empty. Where am I going wrong?
import javax.swing.*;
import java.awt.FlowLayout;
public class GUIExample extends JFrame {
JCheckBox box1 = new JCheckBox("Satellite Radio");
JCheckBox box2 = new JCheckBox("Air Conditioning");
JCheckBox box3 = new JCheckBox("Manual Tranmission");
JCheckBox box4 = new JCheckBox("Leather Seats");
JRadioButton radio1 = new JRadioButton("Car");
JRadioButton radio2 = new JRadioButton("Pickup Truck");
JRadioButton radio3 = new JRadioButton("Minivan");
JTextField text = new JTextField();
ButtonGroup group = new ButtonGroup();
public void newGUI() {
setLayout(new FlowLayout());
JPanel panel = new JPanel();
JPanel textPanel = new JPanel();
add(textPanel);
add(panel);
panel.add(box1);
panel.add(box2);
panel.add(box3);
panel.add(radio1);
panel.add(radio2);
panel.add(radio3);
group.add(radio1);
group.add(radio2);
group.add(radio3);
}
public static void main(String[] args) {
JFrame frame = new JFrame("GUI Example");
frame.setDefaultCloseOperation(frame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
frame.setSize(500, 500);
frame.setVisible(true);
}
}

You forgot to add the contentPane in your jFrame, something like this
frame.setContentPane(panel);
I notice you're using inheritance to build your jFrame, so in this case you need to instantiate your own class. I've refactored your code with the minimun to run an jFrame.
public class GUIExample extends JFrame {
JCheckBox box1 = new JCheckBox("Satellite Radio");
public static void main(String[] args) {
JFrame frame = new GUIExample("GUI Example");
JPanel panel = new JPanel();
panel.setLayout(new FlowLayout());
panel.add(box1);
frame.setContentPane(panel);
frame.setDefaultCloseOperation(frame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
frame.setSize(500, 500);
frame.setVisible(true);
}
}
Basically you create an JFrame, create an JPanel, add your components to this panel and set the panel to your frame with setContentPane(panel).
I'm sorry I can't test this right now, so if someone could and fix if needed, would really appreciate, but is something like this.

First of all this is quite a good try to what you are trying to do. However there seem to be some basic misunderstandings as to how you are coding the GUI.
There are two ways of making a GUI in java. Either you create frames and panel objects then add your components to them, or you can create and extend your own classes by extends JFrame. But in this case you have tried to do both. You have extended JFrame and you have created the Objects.
I actually quite like how you've tried to extended the JFrame, so I've continued this and made code that add stuff to your screen!
See below - GUIExample.java:
import javax.swing.*;
import java.awt.FlowLayout;
public class GUIExample extends JFrame {
JCheckBox box1 = new JCheckBox("Satellite Radio");
JCheckBox box2 = new JCheckBox("Air Conditioning");
JCheckBox box3 = new JCheckBox("Manual Tranmission");
JCheckBox box4 = new JCheckBox("Leather Seats");
JRadioButton radio1 = new JRadioButton("Car");
JRadioButton radio2 = new JRadioButton("Pickup Truck");
JRadioButton radio3 = new JRadioButton("Minivan");
JTextField text = new JTextField();
ButtonGroup group = new ButtonGroup();
GUIExample() {
setDefaultCloseOperation(EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
setSize(500, 500);
setVisible(true);
newGUI();
}
public void newGUI() {
setLayout(new FlowLayout());
JPanel panel = new JPanel();
JPanel textPanel = new JPanel();
add(textPanel);
add(panel);
panel.add(box1);
panel.add(box2);
panel.add(box3);
panel.add(radio1);
panel.add(radio2);
panel.add(radio3);
group.add(radio1);
group.add(radio2);
group.add(radio3);
}
}
test.java:
public class test {
public static void main(String[] args) {
GUIExample e = new GUIExample();
}
}
To get this working. Compile both of the files and then run your program through test.java.
Moreover your original solution, nowhere did you add a newGUI() call so all that code becomes redundant. However as the main method is static, you wouldn't be able to call it anyways.
I hope this helps!

Java Button Placement using BorderLayout

This code displays nothing, I have exhausted many avenues but it does not display anything on the GUI (I have a main class that calls this as well already). Please help. I am trying to put the two JButtons horizontally at the bottom of the page and the JTextField and JLabel at the center of the screen.
package test;
import javax.swing.*;
import java.awt.*;
public class Gui extends JFrame {
private JLabel label;
private JButton clear;
private JButton copy;
private JTextField textfield;
public Gui(){
super("test");
clear = new JButton("Clear");
copy = new JButton("Copy");
label = new JLabel("");
textfield = new JTextField("enter text here");
JPanel bottom = new JPanel(new BorderLayout());
JPanel subBottom = new JPanel();
subBottom.add(copy);
subBottom.add(clear);
JPanel centre = new JPanel (new BorderLayout());
JPanel subCentre = new JPanel();
subCentre.add(label);
subCentre.add(textfield);
bottom.add(subBottom, BorderLayout.PAGE_END);
centre.add(subCentre, BorderLayout.CENTER);
}
}

Your code is a bit over-complicated. You only need two panels, centre, and buttons. There are two reasons your UI is not showing up:
You never added the panels to the frame
You never set visible to true(Achieve this by using setVisible(true)), unless you did this in the class you ran it in.
One simple way to achieve your desired UI is like so(I added a main method to show the window):
import javax.swing.*;
import java.awt.*;
public class test extends JFrame {
public Test() {
super("test");
JPanel buttons = new JPanel();
JPanel centre = new JPanel();
add(buttons, BorderLayout.SOUTH); //these lines add the
add(centre, BorderLayout.CENTER); //panels to the frame
JButton clear = new JButton("Clear"); // No need
JButton copy = new JButton("Copy"); // to declare
JLabel label = new JLabel("Label"); // these
JTextField textfield = new JTextField("enter text here"); // privately
buttons.add(copy);
buttons.add(clear);
centre.add(label);
centre.add(textfield);
pack();
setLocationRelativeTo(null);
setVisible(true);
setDefaultCloseOperation(EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
} //end constructor
//added main method to run the UI
public static void main(String[] args) {
new Experiments();
} //end main
} //end class
And it shows the window:

I got closer but its not pretty code, the JFrame is 500x500 so this works based on that... any better suggestions than what I have?
package lab6;
import javax.swing.*;
import java.awt.*;
public class Gui extends JFrame {
private JLabel label;
private JButton clear;
private JButton copy;
private JTextField textfield;
public Gui(){
super("test");
clear = new JButton("Clear");
copy = new JButton("Copy");
label = new JLabel("label");
textfield = new JTextField("enter text here");
JPanel masterPanel = new JPanel(new BorderLayout());
JPanel top = new JPanel();
top.setPreferredSize(new Dimension(100, 200));
JPanel bottom = new JPanel();
JPanel subBottom = new JPanel();
subBottom.add(copy);
subBottom.add(clear);
JPanel centre = new JPanel ();
JPanel subCentre = new JPanel();
subCentre.add(label);
subCentre.add(textfield);
bottom.add(subBottom);
centre.add(subCentre);
masterPanel.add(bottom, BorderLayout.PAGE_END);
masterPanel.add(top, BorderLayout.PAGE_START);
masterPanel.add(centre, BorderLayout.CENTER);
add(masterPanel);
}
}

JTabbedPane won't let me change the layout

I'm probably just an idiot. Anyways, I was trying out multiple things and eventually I got my code to work but my panel won't let me place the buttons and components where I want them to go. Since I'm new, all I've really used are the basics such as content pane, set size, and flow layout.
Anyways, here's what's happening:
without the frame pack
I feel it's something simple but I've been looking online for answers and either I already came across it and didn't realize, it's a small mistake, or I forgot a line somewhere.
Either way, thanks to those who can help me.
Code Below:
package CourseProject;
import javax.swing.*;
import java.awt.*;
import java.awt.event.*;
public class EngineerCalculator extends JFrame {
//Frame
JFrame frame = new JFrame();
//Create the object
JTabbedPane jtp = new JTabbedPane();
//panel
JPanel panel = new JPanel();
Pools pools = new Pools();
HotTubs hotTubs = new HotTubs();
public EngineerCalculator() {
//This creates the template on the windowed application that we will be using
frame.getContentPane().add(jtp);
//Tab Creation
JPanel pTemperature = new JPanel();
JPanel pLength = new JPanel();
JPanel pEdit = new JPanel();
JPanel pCustInfo = new JPanel();
JPanel pCoInfo = new JPanel();
JPanel pGeneral = new JPanel();
//Label additions
JLabel lTemperature = new JLabel();
JLabel lLength = new JLabel();
JLabel lEdit = new JLabel();
JLabel lCustInfo = new JLabel();
JLabel lCoInfo = new JLabel();
JLabel lGeneral = new JLabel();
//Label editing
lGeneral.setText("Date, time, and job informaiton will go here");
pGeneral.add(lGeneral);
//Adds the first tabs to our tab pane objects
jtp.addTab("Pools", pools);
jtp.addTab("Hot Tub", hotTubs);
jtp.addTab("Temp Convert", pTemperature);
jtp.addTab("Length Convert", pLength);
jtp.addTab("Edit", pEdit);
jtp.addTab("Customers", pCustInfo);
jtp.addTab("Company", pCoInfo);
jtp.addTab("General", pGeneral);
//This will create the title you see in the upper left of the window
setTitle("Engineer Specifications Calculator");
//Set size
frame.setSize(345, 400);
frame.setVisible(true);
}
public static void main (String []args){
EngineerCalculator tab = new EngineerCalculator();
Temperature temperature = new Temperature();
Length length = new Length();
Edit edit = new Edit();
CustInfo custInfo = new CustInfo();
CoInfo coInfo = new CoInfo();
General general = new General();
}
}

My GUI window doesn't show anything

I'm trying to use a grid layout to make a GUI window. I add all my components and it compiles but when it runs it doesn't show anything. I'm trying to make a simple layout grouped and stacked like this.
{introduction message}
{time label
time input text}
{gravity label
gravity input text}
{answer label
answer text box}
{calculate button clear button}
Here is my code
import javax.swing.*;
import java.awt.*;
public class TurnerRandyFallingGUI extends JFrame
{
final int WINDOW_HEIGHT=500;
final int WINDOW_WIDTH=500;
public TurnerRandyFallingGUI()
{
setTitle("Falling Distance Calculator");
setSize(WINDOW_WIDTH,WINDOW_HEIGHT);
setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
setLayout(new GridLayout(1, 5));
//labels
JLabel introMessage = new JLabel("Welcome to the Falling distance"+
"calculator");
JLabel timeLabel = new JLabel("Please enter the amount of time "+
"in seconds the object was falling.");
JLabel gravityLabel = new JLabel("Enter the amount of gravity being "+
"forced onto the object");
JLabel answerLabel = new JLabel("Answer");
//text fields
JTextField fTime = new JTextField(10);
JTextField gForce = new JTextField(10);
JTextField answerT = new JTextField(10);
//buttons
JButton calculate = new JButton("Calculate");
JButton clr = new JButton("clear");
//panels
JPanel introP = new JPanel();
JPanel timeP = new JPanel();
JPanel gravityP = new JPanel();
JPanel answerP = new JPanel();
JPanel buttonsP = new JPanel();
//adding to the panels
//intro panel
introP.add(introMessage);
//time panel
timeP.add(timeLabel);
timeP.add(fTime);
//gravity panel
gravityP.add(gravityLabel);
gravityP.add(gForce);
//answer panel
answerP.add(answerLabel);
answerP.add(answerT);
//button panel
buttonsP.add(calculate);
buttonsP.add(clr);
setVisible(true);
}
public static void main(String[] args)
{
new TurnerRandyFallingGUI();
}
}

You've added nothing to the JFrame that your class above extends. You need to add your components to containers whose hierarchy eventually leads to the top level window, to the this if you will. In other words, you have no add(someComponent) or the functionally similar this.add(someComponent)method call in your code above.
Consider adding all of your JPanels to a single JPanel
Consider adding that JPanel to the JFrame instance that is your class by calling add(thatJPanel).
Even better would be to not extend JFrame and just to create one when needed, but that will likely be the subject of another discussion at another time.

Before setVisible (true) statement add following statements:
add (introP);
add (timeP);
add (gravityP);
add (answerP);
add (buttonsP);

There is nothing in your JFrame. That is the reason
import javax.swing.*;
import java.awt.*;
public class TurnerRandyFallingGUI extends JFrame
{
final int WINDOW_HEIGHT=500;
final int WINDOW_WIDTH=500;
public TurnerRandyFallingGUI()
{
//labels
JLabel introMessage = new JLabel("Welcome to the Falling distance"+
"calculator");
JLabel timeLabel = new JLabel("Please enter the amount of time "+
"in seconds the object was falling.");
JLabel gravityLabel = new JLabel("Enter the amount of gravity being "+
"forced onto the object");
JLabel answerLabel = new JLabel("Answer");
//text fields
JTextField fTime = new JTextField(10);
JTextField gForce = new JTextField(10);
JTextField answerT = new JTextField(10);
//buttons
JButton calculate = new JButton("Calculate");
JButton clr = new JButton("clear");
//panels
JPanel introP = new JPanel();
JPanel timeP = new JPanel();
JPanel gravityP = new JPanel();
JPanel answerP = new JPanel();
JPanel buttonsP = new JPanel();
//adding to the panels
//intro panel
introP.add(introMessage);
//time panel
timeP.add(timeLabel);
timeP.add(fTime);
//gravity panel
gravityP.add(gravityLabel);
gravityP.add(gForce);
//answer panel
answerP.add(answerLabel);
answerP.add(answerT);
//button panel
buttonsP.add(calculate);
buttonsP.add(clr);
setLayout(new GridLayout(5, 1));
this.add(introP);
this.add(timeP);
this.add(gravityP);
this.add(answerP);
this.add(buttonsP);
setTitle("Falling Distance Calculator");
this.pack();
setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
setVisible(true);
this.validate();
}
public static void main(String[] args)
{
SwingUtilities.invokeLater(new Runnable() {
#Override
public void run() {
new TurnerRandyFallingGUI();
}
});
}
}
Consider the following
In GridLayout, the first parameter is Rows, Second is columns
Never set the size of JFrame manually. Use pack() method to decide
the size
Use SwingUtilities.InvokeLater() to run the GUI in another thread.

GUI not showing as intended

I'm trying to draw a gui like shown in the figure, but somehow I'm not able to place the objects in right place (I guess that the problem is with the layout) the textArea is suppose to go in the middle... but is not showing at all
package Chapter22Collections;
import javax.swing.*;
import java.awt.*;
public class Exercise226 extends JFrame {
private JButton jbSort;
private JButton jbReverse;
private JButton jbAdd;
private JButton jbShuffle;
private JLabel jlAddnum;
private JTextArea jTextDisplay;
private JTextField jTextAdd;
public Exercise226() {
jbSort = new JButton("Sort");
jbReverse = new JButton("Reverse");
jbShuffle = new JButton("Shuffle");
jbAdd = new JButton("Add");
jlAddnum = new JLabel("Add number here: ");
jTextDisplay = new JTextArea();
jTextAdd = new JTextField(8);
setLayout(new BorderLayout());
JPanel p1 = new JPanel(new GridLayout(1,3));
p1.add(jlAddnum);
p1.add(jTextAdd);
p1.add(jbAdd);
JPanel p2 = new JPanel(new GridLayout(1,3));
p2.add(jbSort);
p2.add(jbReverse);
p2.add(jbShuffle);
add(p1, BorderLayout.NORTH);
add(jTextDisplay, BorderLayout.CENTER);
add(p2, BorderLayout.SOUTH);
}
public static void main(String... args) {
Exercise226 gui = new Exercise226();
gui.setTitle("Numbers");
gui.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
gui.setSize(300, 200);
gui.setLocationRelativeTo(null);
gui.setVisible(true);
}
}

The JTextArea is actually where you expect it to be but has no outline border. It is usual to place the component in a JScrollPane which will give this effect:
add(new JScrollPane(jTextDisplay), BorderLayout.CENTER);
or simply
add(new JScrollPane(jTextDisplay));

To make the textArea re-size with the window, try BoxLayout. Box is "A lightweight container that uses a BoxLayout object as its layout manager."
Box p1 = new Box(BoxLayout.X_AXIS);

How could I add spacing/padding between the elements in the frame? So the text area is more visible and centered.
Borders and padding. E.G.
Compared with:
import javax.swing.*;
import java.awt.*;
import javax.swing.border.EmptyBorder;
import javax.swing.border.TitledBorder;
public class Exercise226 {
private JButton jbSort;
private JButton jbReverse;
private JButton jbAdd;
private JButton jbShuffle;
private JLabel jlAddnum;
private JTextArea jTextDisplay;
private JTextField jTextAdd;
private JPanel gui;
public Exercise226() {
gui = new JPanel(new BorderLayout(5,5));
jbSort = new JButton("Sort");
jbReverse = new JButton("Reverse");
jbShuffle = new JButton("Shuffle");
jbAdd = new JButton("Add");
jlAddnum = new JLabel("Add number here: ");
// set the size constraints using columns/rows
jTextDisplay = new JTextArea("Here I am!", 6,20);
jTextAdd = new JTextField(8);
JPanel p1 = new JPanel(new GridLayout(1,3,3,3));
p1.add(jlAddnum);
p1.add(jTextAdd);
p1.add(jbAdd);
JPanel p2 = new JPanel(new GridLayout(1,3,3,3));
p2.add(jbSort);
p2.add(jbReverse);
p2.add(jbShuffle);
JPanel textAreaContainer = new JPanel(new GridLayout());
textAreaContainer.add(new JScrollPane(jTextDisplay));
textAreaContainer.setBorder(new TitledBorder("Text Area Here"));
gui.add(p1, BorderLayout.PAGE_START);
gui.add(textAreaContainer, BorderLayout.CENTER);
gui.add(p2, BorderLayout.PAGE_END);
gui.setBorder(new EmptyBorder(4,4,4,4));
}
public Container getGui() {
return gui;
}
public static void main(String... args) {
JFrame f = new JFrame();
Exercise226 gui = new Exercise226();
f.setContentPane(gui.getGui());
f.setTitle("Numbers");
f.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.DISPOSE_ON_CLOSE);
f.pack();
f.setLocationByPlatform(true);
f.setVisible(true);
}
}
This code:
Primarily provides 'white space' in the GUI using different constructors for the layouts that accept 2 int arguments for horizontal & vertical spacing.
Also adds 2 borders:
An empty border around the entire GUI to provide some spacing between it and the frame decorations.
A titled border around the text area, to make it very obvious.
Does implement a change for one unnecessary part of the original code. Instead of extending frame, it simply retains an instance of one.
Uses the JScrollPane container for the text area, as suggested by #Reimeus. It adds a nice beveled border of its own to an element that needs no scroll bars.
Creates a textAreaContainer specifically so that we can set a titled border to surround the scroll pane - without interfering with its existing border. It is possible to use a CompoundBorder for the scroll pane that consists of the existing border (scroll.getBorder()) & the titled border. However that gets complicated with buttons & other elements that might change borders on selection or action. So to set an 'outermost border' for a screen element (like the text area here) - I generally prefer to wrap the entire component in another container first.
Does not create and show the GUI on the EDT. Swing GUIs should be created and modified on the EDT. Left as an exercise for the user. See Concurrency in Swing for more details.
Old Code
The original code on this answer that provides the 'comparison GUI image' seen above. IT is closely based on the original code but with the text area wrapped in a scroll pane (and gaining a beveled border because of that) & given some text to display.
import javax.swing.*;
import java.awt.*;
public class Exercise226 extends JFrame {
private JButton jbSort;
private JButton jbReverse;
private JButton jbAdd;
private JButton jbShuffle;
private JLabel jlAddnum;
private JTextArea jTextDisplay;
private JTextField jTextAdd;
public Exercise226() {
jbSort = new JButton("Sort");
jbReverse = new JButton("Reverse");
jbShuffle = new JButton("Shuffle");
jbAdd = new JButton("Add");
jlAddnum = new JLabel("Add number here: ");
// set the size constraints using columns/rows
jTextDisplay = new JTextArea("Here I am!", 6,20);
jTextAdd = new JTextField(8);
setLayout(new BorderLayout());
JPanel p1 = new JPanel(new GridLayout(1,3));
p1.add(jlAddnum);
p1.add(jTextAdd);
p1.add(jbAdd);
JPanel p2 = new JPanel(new GridLayout(1,3));
p2.add(jbSort);
p2.add(jbReverse);
p2.add(jbShuffle);
add(p1, BorderLayout.NORTH);
add(new JScrollPane(jTextDisplay), BorderLayout.CENTER);
add(p2, BorderLayout.SOUTH);
}
public static void main(String... args) {
Exercise226 gui = new Exercise226();
gui.setTitle("Numbers");
gui.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
//gui.setSize(300, 200);
gui.pack();
//gui.setLocationRelativeTo(null);
gui.setLocationByPlatform(true);
gui.setVisible(true);
}
}