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Adding a jpanel over a jlabel background

I know this question has been asked before but i cant seem to implement any of the other answers to my project. So i have my paint method in my player class here.
public void paintComponent(Graphics g)
{
//makes player(placeholder for real art)
super.paintComponent(g);
g.setColor(Color.GREEN);
g.fillRect(x,y,50,30);
}
Then I have my main class here.
import java.awt.*;
import javax.swing.*;
import java.awt.event.*;
/**
* Write a description of class Main here.
*
* #author Richard Zins
* #V01
*/
public class Main extends JFrame
{
public static void main(String[]args)
{
Player p1 = new Player();
Main m = new Main(p1);
}
public Main(Player p1)
{
JFrame ar = new JFrame();
JLabel background = new JLabel(new ImageIcon("/Users/rizins/Desktop/PacManTestBackGround.jpg"));
ar.setTitle("Runner Maze");
ar.setSize(800,600);
ar.add(background);
ar.setVisible(true);
ar.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
ar.add(p1);
}
}
Now I cant seem to get my player object to paint over my background any help would be appreciated!

There are a couple of mistakes...
JPanel by default is opaque, so you need to change it to be transparent
JFrame uses a BorderLayout by default, so only one component will be shown at the (default) center position, in this case, the last thing you add.
You should call setVisible last
Instead, set a layout manager for the JLabel and add your player class to it. Instead of adding the JLabel to the frame, you should make the label the contentPane for the frame, for example...
p1.setOpaque(false);
JFrame ar = new JFrame();
ar.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
JLabel background = new JLabel(new ImageIcon("/Users/rizins/Desktop/PacManTestBackGround.jpg"));
ar.setTitle("Runner Maze");
ar.setContentPane(background);
ar.setLayout(new BorderLayout());
ar.add(p1);
ar.pack();
ar.setVisible(true);
I should point out that using a JLabel to display a background image like this could cause you problems, as the JLabel only uses the text and icon properties to calculate its preferred size, this could cause some child components to be laid out beyond its visible range.
See How to set a background picture in JPanel for more details and a possible solution

You can make the JPanel transparent by setting the opaque to false. e.g:
panel.setOpaque(false)
Try is if this work for you.

Use a JLayeredPane and add your background at the index 0 (indexed with an Integer not an int). Then you add another JPanel that is not opaque (like in #Bahramdun Adil 's answer) and add your player to that.
This way you can have a background and display your player at the same time.

Creating a Frame with MenuBar - Size not recognized by pack(), menubar is being cutoff

for an exercise I need to have a frame consisting of 2 buttons, and, if you click one, some text displaying. I need to also add a menubar. This works fine, it shows in the frame, but only the first menu. As I already found out, the problem is that using the pack() method, only the buttons size is considered, not the size of the menubar. And because the buttons are smaller than the menubar, it gets cutoff.
import java.awt.*;
public class Example extends Frame{
private MenuBar menuBar;
private Menu program;
private Menu messageSettings;
private MenuItem itmClose;
private MenuItem
public Example() {
menuBar = new MenuBar();
program = new Menu("Programm");
messageSettings = new Menu("Nachrichtenverwaltung");
itmClose = new MenuItem("Schließen");
itmWelcome = new MenuItem("Willkommen");
setLayout(new BorderLayout());
menuBar.add(program);
menuBar.add(messageSettings);
program.add(itmClose);
messageSettings.add(itmWelcome);
setMenuBar(menuBar);
pack(); //this one doesn't show a window
//setSize(400,600); //this one shows a Window
setVisible(true);
}
public static void main(String args[]) {
Example wnd = new Example();
}
}
For this minimal example, I only showed the menubar, for me, this code now opens an empty window. If I uncomment the setSize, I see the whole menubar.
I would be very glad if someone could help me out and get this to work, using pack() or another method not using fixed values. I also have to use AWT for this course.

Without a Component that has a preferred size, your window's content pane is empty. As an example, I've added a small, colored Panel below. As an exercise, try removing the arbitrary size and adding a Component such as Label or Button; experiment with different layout managers on the Panel.
import java.awt.*;
public class Example extends Frame {
private MenuBar menuBar = new MenuBar();
private Menu program = new Menu("Program");
private Menu message = new Menu("Nachrichtenverwaltung");
private MenuItem itmClose = new MenuItem("Schließen");
private MenuItem itmWelcome = new MenuItem("Willkommen");
public Example() {
menuBar.add(program);
menuBar.add(message);
program.add(itmClose);
message.add(itmWelcome);
setMenuBar(menuBar);
Panel panel = new Panel(){
#Override
public Dimension getPreferredSize() {
return new Dimension(320, 240);
}
};
panel.setBackground(Color.cyan.darker());
add(panel);
pack();
setVisible(true);
}
public static void main(String args[]) {
Example wnd = new Example();
}
}
Note that the platform pictured above moves the MenuBar to a place expected by users.

I would recommend using Java Swing library instead of using the old Java AWT library, unless you have to.
EDIT for detail:
The Swing library is much more portable than the AWT library. This is because it is a purely Java based GUI as opposed to AWT which uses most of the OS based GUI features. So, in terms of the OS, the swing library is just putting some pixels on the screen.
I find that the swing library is easier to use than AWT, although you do still have to use AWT for Listeners. I feel that it would be better for you to have a look into the swing API, as it should make it easier for you to do what you are trying.

How to Get JPanel to Fit Snug With Its Components?

I have 2 issues.
First issue: I have to set the JFrame as non resizable, however, an error is thrown up when I enter in frame.setResizable(false);
Second issue: I have ran into the problem of the JFrame not fitting the component within it perfectly. I have set the dimensions for the JFrame to 600x720 and the board component as being 600x600. However, when I extend the JFrame I can see that there is more of the component to be revealed. How would I change this to accommodate the component to fit snugly but also leave space for another component of size 100x120? My understanding of this is that JFrame sets the size with the borders included, however, I want the space within the JFrame to be exactly 600x720 pixels without including the border.
The code is set out below.
Game Class
package snake;
//This class is used to run the game.
public class Game {
/**
* #author HyperBlue
*/
//Declaring a static variable of type Board. This can be accessed from anywhere in the program. The fact that it is static means that it cannot be edited.
public static Board board;
public static void main(String[] args) {
// TODO Auto-generated method stub
//Creates an object board from the Board() construct
board = new Board();
}
}
Board Class
package snake;
//Importing allows us to use pre-defined classes in Java, this contains its methods. We can also import entire packages which contain a number of classes in that package.
//This class allows us to assign/capture the width and height of an object.
import java.awt.Dimension;
//The Toolkit is an abstract class containing abstract and (possibly) non-abstract methods. Abstract classes cannot be instantiated (i.e. we cannot make an object from them). Abstract methods have no body (no code), for example we declare it as "public abstract boolean isChanged() ;", the semi colon shows it has no body (i.e. no {}).
import java.awt.Toolkit;
//ActionEvent gets information about an event (input) and its source. You can create an object from this.
import java.awt.event.ActionEvent;
//The ActionListener defines what should be done when a certain action is performed by the user.
import java.awt.event.ActionListener;
//This imports the JFrame class from the swing package.
import javax.swing.JFrame;
import javax.swing.Timer;
//This class is used to create the game board.
//The ActionListener is implemented because it is implementing an interface. What ActionListener does is it handles events; the ActionListener defines what should be done when a certain action is performed by the user.
public class Board implements ActionListener {
//The JFrame is the window in which everything will be placed into, this will provide the framed window (what is visible to us) in which the game will run in. We are creating a variable frame of type JFrame.
public JFrame frame;
//Creating a variable drawBoard of type DrawBoard. This allows us to add the component of drawBoard to the Board.
public DrawBoard drawBoard;
//Defining a new Timer called ticker. This is using the form new Timer(int delay in milliseconds, ActionListener listener). What the timer does is it allows threads to schedule the execution of instructions. In this case to constantly refresh the drawBoard component at regular intervals. This will give the appearance of motion. What "this" does is it is in reference to the current instance,
public Timer ticker = new Timer(20, this);
//This is a constructor for the class Board. This will allow us to create an object.
public Board() {
//Making an instance of dimension dim and assigning it to the size of the screen.
Dimension dim = Toolkit.getDefaultToolkit().getScreenSize();
//Declaring instance of the JFrame 'frame'. This JFrame is called to declare a title for this frame - "Snake".
frame = new JFrame("Snake");
//JFrame is initially set to invisible, so we use the setVisible method (setting it to true) to make the JFrame 'frame' visible.
frame.setVisible(true);
frame.setPreferredSize(new Dimension(600, 720));
frame.getContentPane().add(drawBoard = new DrawBoard());
frame.pack();
//What this does is it places the JFrame 'frame' into the middle of the user's screen, this diminishes the issue of not all screens being the same resolution and size. This is done by setting the (x, y) position of the JPanel. For example, the x position is gained by dividing the size of the monitor by 2 and negating the size of the JPanel by 2 from that value, this places it in the middle of the screen's x axis. This is true for the y-axis too.
frame.setLocation((dim.width / 2) - (frame.getWidth() / 2), (dim.height / 2) - (frame.getHeight() / 2));
//Sets the operation which will happen when the user closes the JFrame 'frame', the EXIT_ON_CLOSE exits the application using the System exit method. This means that when the JFrame is closed, the application will be exited (closed).
frame.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
//Starts the timer, this starts is sending action events to its listeners.
ticker.start();
}
//Overriding the actionPerformed method from the ActionListener class.
#Override
//This is the actionPerformed method. We parse it the ActionEvent e, what this is is an object which gives information about the event and its source. This allows us to perform an action based upon a specific event (e.g. a keyboard key pressed).
public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e) {
//This repaints this component for every tick
//drawBoard.repaint();
}
}
DrawBoard Class
package snake;
//Allows use of default sRGB colours.
import java.awt.Color;
//Graphics is an abstract class that allows us to draw onto components.
import java.awt.Graphics;
import javax.swing.JPanel;
//Warnings will not be thrown (are suppressed).
#SuppressWarnings("serial")
//This class is used to create the board component in which the snake can move on.
//What extending does is it allows us to inherit the methods and attributes (properties) of another class. In this case, the DrawBoard class (subclass - inherits state and behaviour from all of its ancestors) inherits properties from the JPanel class (superclass - gives properties to its subclasses).
public class DrawBoard extends JPanel{
//Declaring the colour 'yellow' as the hex colour code (turned to decimal using a hex calculator so Java can use it) which was chosen in the design stage.
public static Color yellow = new Color(13816442);
//We are overriding the protected method in order to define our own body (and properties) for the paintComponent method. Overriding this allows us to define how we will paint the component DrawBoard. Protected means that it can only be accessed by things within the same package.
#Override
//A component is an object which has a graphical representation that can interact with the user (e.g. buttons).
//What this does is it paints the component using the graphics class, defined as instance g.
protected void paintComponent(Graphics g) {
//'Super.' refers to the method calling its super class, which in this case is JPanel. Doing this allows me to use in built 'drawings' such as rectangle and oval, which can be drawn by calling their methods.
super.paintComponent(g);
//Setting the colour in which graphics objects are made to the colour defined in the colour 'yellow'
g.setColor(yellow);
//Filling in a rectangle which starts at the point (0, 120) - [this is from the top left of the screen, with (0, 120) referring to 120 pixels down] and has a width and height of (600, 600), in other words provides a background of colour 'yellow' defined.
g.fillRect(0, 120, 600, 600);
}
}

Regarding:
How to Get JPanel to Fit Snugly With It's Components?
Let the layout managers do this work for you.
Suggestions:
Don't set sizes or preferred sizes.
Instead let the component's preferred size and your layout managers do the sizing for you.
If you do need to actively have a hand in setting some sizes, override getPreferredSize() and return an appropriate dimension, but do so taking care not to upset the preferred size of the constituent components. This must be done with care.
Re " I have set the dimensions for the JFrame to 600x720 and the board component as being 600x600. However, when I extend the JFrame I can see that there is more of the component to be revealed." -- You're forgetting the size of the top bar of the JFrame, something that may change size depending on the look and feel. Again, don't set the JFrame's size, and this will be a moot point.
To center a JFrame, simply call frame.setLocationRelativeTo(null); after it has been packed.
Avoid over-use of comments as these make your code nearly unreadable.
If you have problems and need help with an error such as you mention here: "I have to set the JFrame as non resizable, however, an error is thrown up when I enter in frame.setResizable(false);", then show the offending code and the error message.
Don't call frame.setVisible(true); until all components have been added and the JFrame has been packed.
For example
import java.awt.BorderLayout;
import java.awt.Color;
import java.awt.Dimension;
import java.awt.Graphics;
import java.awt.event.*;
import javax.swing.*;
public class Game {
public static Board board;
public static void main(String[] args) {
board = new Board();
}
}
class Board implements ActionListener {
public JFrame frame;
public DrawBoard drawBoard;
public Timer ticker = new Timer(20, this);
public Board() {
frame = new JFrame("Snake");
frame.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
// frame.setPreferredSize(new Dimension(600, 720));
frame.getContentPane().add(drawBoard = new DrawBoard(), BorderLayout.CENTER);
frame.getContentPane().add(new BottomComponent(), BorderLayout.PAGE_END);
frame.pack();
frame.setLocationRelativeTo(null);
frame.setVisible(true);
ticker.start();
}
#Override
public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e) {
}
}
class DrawBoard extends JPanel {
private static final int PREF_W = 600;
private static final int PREF_H = PREF_W;
public static Color yellow = new Color(13816442);
public DrawBoard() {
setBorder(BorderFactory.createTitledBorder("Draw Board"));
}
#Override
public Dimension getPreferredSize() {
if (isPreferredSizeSet()) {
return super.getPreferredSize();
}
return new Dimension(PREF_W, PREF_H);
}
#Override
protected void paintComponent(Graphics g) {
super.paintComponent(g);
g.setColor(yellow);
g.fillRect(0, 120, 600, 600);
}
}
class BottomComponent extends JPanel {
private static final int PREF_W = 600;
private static final int PREF_H = 120;
public BottomComponent() {
setBorder(BorderFactory.createTitledBorder("Bottom Component"));
}
#Override
public Dimension getPreferredSize() {
if (isPreferredSizeSet()) {
return super.getPreferredSize();
}
return new Dimension(PREF_W, PREF_H);
}
}

Can I set the size of individual panels in a CardLayout?

When I create my GUI I use a cardlayout to hold my different panels as I'm sure many know. This sets my screen to the width and height of my largest panel. This causes problems with the aesthetics of my first to screens, which are much smaller than SudokuPanel and CalkuroPanel.
I have tried setting the preferred size when I change to the larger screens, but to no avail.
Any help with links to good info or anything that will just generally help would be greatly appreciated :).
Please find my main class (where I draw the GUI) below:
import java.awt.*; import javax.swing.*; import java.util.*;
public class puzzleGUI{
private static JPanel screens;
public static String username;
static public void main (String[] args){
JFrame puzzle = new JFrame ("Sudoku/Calkuro Pro");
...
PuzzleStartPanel startPanel = new PuzzleStartPanel();
PuzzleChoosePanel choosePanel = new PuzzleChoosePanel();
PuzzleSudokuPanel sudokuPanel = new PuzzleSudokuPanel();
PuzzleCalkuroPanel calkuroPanel = new PuzzleCalkuroPanel();
screens = new JPanel(new CardLayout());
screens.add(startPanel, "start");
screens.add(choosePanel, "choosePuzzle");
screens.add(sudokuPanel, "sudoku");
screens.add(calkuroPanel, "calkuro");
screens.setPreferredSize (new Dimension(250, 80));
puzzle.setJMenuBar(menuBar);
puzzle.getContentPane().add(screens);
puzzle.pack();
puzzle.setVisible(true);
puzzle.setResizable(false);
puzzle.setDefaultCloseOperation (JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
}
static public void getUsername(String str){
username = str;
}
static public void openWindow(String newFrame){
CardLayout cl = (CardLayout)(screens.getLayout());
cl.show(screens, newFrame);
}
}
Edit
brainblast tried to pack the frame after resetting the preferred size when openWindow is called, and wolah, new frame size :D
static public void openWindow(String newFrame, int a, int b){
CardLayout cl = (CardLayout)(screens.getLayout());
cl.show(screens, newFrame);
screens.setPreferredSize (new Dimension(a, b));
puzzle.pack();
}

can i set the size of individual panels in a cardlayout
Certainly. But the layout will ignore them and make every card the same size. The best you can hope for is to add the smaller panels to another panel (with a layout) that allows the content to shrink.
This answer shows this technique using a single label. Swap the label for the 'small panels' and using the layouts on the right, it will be centered.

I had a similar problem and I resolved it by a little cheat ("dirty code").
I had two panels: SmallOne and HugeOne. I set visibility of HugeOne to false. In this case the SmallOne sets the size of whole CardPanel. You can make a method that is called when user selects HugeOne panel and in this method you put HugeOne visibility on true. And CardPanel will resize.
Works like a charm :)

java panel with png background

i found this link.. LINK what i want is there's a JPanel that has a background and another JPanel with half the size of the first JPanel but with an image that is transparent and with a face or a ball at the middle.. :) just like the screenshot from the link.. is that possible to code in java? :) im just thinking it like for web programming. just a sort of DIV's to have that but i dont know in java.. :) sorry for bad english.. :D i have this as a background..
package waterKing;
import javax.swing.*;
import java.awt.*;
import java.awt.event.*;
#SuppressWarnings("serial")
public class Main extends JFrame {
MainData data = new MainData();
public static void main(String[] args) {
Main frmMain = new Main();
frmMain.setExtendedState(Frame.MAXIMIZED_BOTH);
frmMain.setVisible(true);
}
public Main() {
data.tk = getToolkit();
data.d = data.tk.getScreenSize();
data.jP = new JPanel() {
protected void paintComponent(Graphics g) {
data.e = getSize();
data.iI = new ImageIcon("images/mainBG.png").getImage();
g.drawImage(data.iI,0, 0, data.d.width, data.d.height, null);
super.paintComponent(g);
}
};
data.jP.setOpaque(false);
data.jSp = new JScrollPane(data.jP);
data.jB = new JButton("EXIT");
data.jB.setBounds(10,10,200,40);
data.jB.addActionListener(new ActionListener() {
public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e) {
System.exit(0);
}
});
data.jP.setLayout(null);
data.jP.add(data.jB);
this.setTitle("Water King Inventory System");
this.setUndecorated(true);
this.getContentPane();
this.add(data.jSp);
this.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
this.setLocationRelativeTo(null);
}
}
i dont know how to add another JPanel to show in the middle with this background

i dont know how to add another JPanel to show in the middle with this background
Its just like adding components to a panel. You need to use a layout manager and then the component will be positioned properly based on the rules of the layout manager. In your case you can set the layout manager of the background panel to be a BorderLayout. Then you can add a JLabel with the appropriate Icon to the center of the BorderLayout.
You will need to set the preferred size (or override the getPreferredSize() method of your panel since you add it to a scroll pane. Scrollbars will only appear when the preferred size of the panel is greater than the size of the scroll pane.
You should not be reading the image in your paintComponent() method since this method is called multiple times.
You should not be using the "screen size" to determine the width/height of the image because the frame will contain a border. You need to use the size of the panel.
Get rid of all the setBounds() code. Learn to use layout managers.
For a general purpose background panel that takes into account most of the suggestions made here check out Background Panel.