How to set Layout with another class in Java? - java

I'm writing a programm with a complicated TabbedPane, with lots of elements. Since I hit the Byte-limit in one of my classes, I decided to split the class into Initialisation/Button Listeners and the actual GridBagLayout. But now I'm having trouble getting it to work. My Main Class looks like this:
public class Main{
JFrame mainFrame = new JFrame("");
JTabbedPane tabpane = new JTabbedPane();
JPanel panelTab1 = new Tab1();
JScrollPane scrollTab2 = new JScrollPane(new Tab2());
JScrollPane scrollTab3 = new JScrollPane(new Tab3());
JPanel panelTab4 = new Tab4();
JMenuBar bar = new MenuBar();
public Main(){
tabpane.add("Tab1", panelTab1);
tabpane.add("Tab2", scrollTab2);
tabpane.add("Tab3", scrollTab3);
tabpane.add("Tab4", panelTab4);
mainFrame.getContentPane().add(tabpane);
mainFrame.setSize(1920,1080);
mainFrame.setExtendedState(JFrame.MAXIMIZED_BOTH);
mainFrame.setVisible(true);
mainFrame.validate();
mainFrame.setJMenuBar(bar);
}
public static void main(String[] args)
{
SwingUtilities.invokeLater(new Runnable(){
public void run(){
new Main();
}
});
}}
Tab3 is the culprit so here are the two classes I split.
public class Tab3 extends JPanel {
JPanel Annex = new JPanel();
//A Bunch of Labels and Buttons
.
.
.
public Tab3(){
//ActionListeners for the Buttons
this.setLayout(new BorderLayout());
this.add(Annex,BorderLayout.WEST);
this.add(Bsp,BorderLayout.EAST);
}}
All the GridBagLayout is in the following class:
public class Tab3Layout extends Tab3{
public Tab3Layout(){
Annex.setLayout(new GridBagLayout());
GridBagConstraints co1 = new GridBagConstraints();
co1.gridx = 0;
co1.gridy = 0;
co1.anchor = GridBagConstraints.FIRST_LINE_START;
co1.weighty = 1.0;
Annex.add(Annex1, co1);
//and so on...
}}
Now my question is, how do I get this to work? Right now if I compile, Tab3 is just empty. If everything is in one class it works exactly how I want, but the code is just much too long. Seems to me like I'm missing a line in the Tab3 class, but even after hours of tinkering and searching I have no idea how to solve this. Everything I tried just produced more errors.

The problem is in iheritance. Tab3Layout has its own Annex JPanel (inherited from Tab3), which it is modifying and adding components to, while Tab3 class is inserting its Annex, which is initialized via new JPanel() and you do nothing else with it. Tab3Layout class never even touches Annex panel you intialize and add in Tab3 .
public class Tab3 extends JPanel {
JPanel Annex = new JPanel(); // <----- this, an empty JPanel
//A Bunch of Labels and Buttons
public Tab3(){
//ActionListeners for the Buttons
this.setLayout(new BorderLayout());
this.add(Annex,BorderLayout.WEST); // <----- is inserted here
this.add(Bsp,BorderLayout.EAST);
}}
You will get an error if you delete new JPanel(), which will illustrate that both classes are doing work on different objects, which just happen to be named the same. You need to pass all components/panels you want to appear in Tab3 to Tab3Layout to modify, then you can retrieve them later with getters. Another way would be to create AnnexPanel class, which itself would be extending JPanel class. It would set its own layout, components etc. and be able to be added directly. Following Single Responsibility Principle would be best, if your classes grow in size. If it's 200+ lines of code, you should consider refactoring it. If you will allow your class to grow like 3000+ lines of code, you will have a bad time. Try to forsee where you can create new class/method in early stages of development. See KISS principle .
Well..I would split those in different way.
My Tab3Layout class. Annex panel is injected via constructor, you can set a setter for that, but remember to not call createAnnex() before injection. Anyway, compiler will make you remember.
public final class Tab3Layout {
private JPanel Annex;
JPanel Annex1; //just to avoid compiler error
private GridBagLayout gridBagLayout;
private GridBagConstraints co1;
public Tab3Layout(JPanel Annex) {
this.Annex = Annex;
this.gridBagLayout = new GridBagLayout();
this.co1 = new GridBagConstraints();
}
public void createAnnex() {
this.Annex.setLayout(gridBagLayout);
this.co1.gridx = 0;
this.co1.gridy = 0;
this.co1.anchor = GridBagConstraints.FIRST_LINE_START;
this.co1.weighty = 1.0;
this.Annex.add(Annex1, co1);
}
public JPanel getAnnex() {
return this.Annex;
}
}
And then the Tab3 class:
public class Tab3 extends JPanel {
JPanel Annex;
Tab3Layout tab3Layout;
public Tab3() {
super();
this.Annex = new JPanel();
this.tab3Layout = new Tab3Layout(Annex);
this.tab3Layout.createAnnex();
this.setLayout(new BorderLayout());
this.add(tab3Layout.getAnnex(), BorderLayout.WEST);
this.add(new JPanel(), BorderLayout.EAST);
}
}
Look at my GridBagManager repo, it can give you an idea how to set layout with another class.
You can also extend Tab3Layout with JPanel. And remember to set anchor and fill with GridBagConstraints.
And Java naming convention.
JPanel Annex = new JPanel();
GridBagConstraints co1 = new GridBagConstraints();
to
JPanel annexPanel = new JPanel();
GridBagConstraints gridBagConstraints = new GridBagConstraints();
Personally I use gbc for GridBagConstraints object, as you will see in my repo I mentioned above.
Edit:
I think you should split your implementation into couple of smaller classes. That would be professional aproach. Refactor your code. For starters you can make every panel its own class extending JPanel (like i suggested with AnnexPanel class).
Edit2: createAnnex() can return JPanel type, reducing your boilerplate code, your call then would be as follows:
this.add(Tab3Layout.createAnnex(), co1);
instead of
Tab3Layout.createAnnex();
this.add(Tab3Layout.getAnnex(), co1);
Maybe even take createAnnex() to constructor (assuming class extends JPanel) if it's a singleton.

Related

Is it possible to add multiple components to JPanel in one statement?

Question is quite simple. I realized my code could be cleaned up a little if I was allowed to add components to a JPanel like this:
//north panel
JPanel northPanel = new JPanel(new GridLayout(0,3));
btnAdd = new JButton("Add");
btnEdit = new JButton("Edit");
btnDelete = new JButton("Delete");
northPanel.add(btnAdd, btnEdit, btnDelete);
instead of like this:
//north panel
JPanel northPanel = new JPanel(new GridLayout(0,3));
btnAdd = new JButton("Add");
btnEdit = new JButton("Edit");
btnDelete = new JButton("Delete");
northPanel.add(btnAdd);
northPanel.add(btnEdit);
northPanel.add(btnDelete);
Is there a way to do it? I've looked around SO and the internet, including Oracle's documentation and I know there's not an .add() method built to this particular syntax, but I would like to know if there is another method with this functionality.
Good Solution:
Thank you all for your feedback. It does make sense that a single statement would actually be more convoluted if accomplished in the way I described. L. Mehmeti suggested storing the components in an array and creating a method which adds all components in the array, which suits the question perfectly. In this way, when there gets to be a lot of components, the order is easily kept track of, instead of having to search through a bunch of separate constructors and add statements.
I am very sorry, but i guess there is no way to do that. The only way i think is writing your own method. For example:
public static void main(String[] args) {
Example main = new Example("Example");
}
public Example(String title) {
super(title);
JPanel panel = new JPanel();
panel.setLayout(new FlowLayout());
JComponent[] components = new JComponent[3];
components[0] = new JLabel("Hello!");
components[1] = new JLabel("How are you?");
components[2] = new JLabel("I am fine. Thanks");
addComponents(panel, components);
add(panel);
setVisible(true);
}
public void addComponents(JComponent target, JComponent[] components) {
for(JComponent component : components) {
target.add(component);
}
}
Hope I could help.
You could create a method and call it in your init method.
public void addComponentsJ()
{
northPanel.add(btnAdd);
northPanel.add(btnEdit);
northPanel.add(btnDelete);
}
this will allow you to use
addComponentsJ()// to add all the components..
but, this is relatively the same as what you are doing... just relocating the add method calls to another method.
thus allowing you to "add them all in one statement"
Swing does not support the adding of components in one statement... the only way is to relocate calls to another method.

JLabels not showing up

I am trying to figure why I can't see my labels like when I try to put 2 labels into 1 panel they dissapear, the only way I can seem to get it to work is if I add everything to JFrame with no type of hierarchy.
import javax.swing.*;
import java.awt.*;
public class GUI extends JFrame {
/**
*
*/
private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
static JRadioButton tirebg1 = new JRadioButton();
static JRadioButton tirebg2 = new JRadioButton();
static JRadioButton tirebg3 = new JRadioButton();
static ButtonGroup tirebg = new ButtonGroup();
public static void main(String[] args) {
Car cspeed = new Car();
int carspeed = cspeed.getSpeed();
Motorcycle mspeed = new Motorcycle();
int motospeed = mspeed.getSpeed();
Truck tspeed = new Truck();
int truckSpeed = tspeed.getSpeed();
JRadioButton wide = new JRadioButton();
JLabel tbuttons = new JLabel();
JPanel topPane = new JPanel();
tirebg.add(tirebg1);
tirebg.add(tirebg2);
tirebg.add(tirebg3);
JFrame GUIframe = new JFrame();
JLabel label1 = new JLabel();
label1.setLayout(new FlowLayout());
JLabel tireLabel = new JLabel();
String[] names = new String[5];
names[0] = "Car";
names[1] = "Truck";
names[2] = "Motorcycle";
String[] hello = new String[5];
GUIframe.setSize(500, 500);
GUIframe.setDefaultCloseOperation(EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
JList list = new JList(names);
list.setBorder(BorderFactory.createRaisedSoftBevelBorder());
label1.add(list);
tireLabel.add(tirebg1);
tireLabel.add(tirebg2);
tireLabel.add(tirebg3);
topPane.add(tbuttons);
topPane.add(tireLabel);
topPane.setLayout(new FlowLayout());
label1.setBackground(Color.cyan);
GUIframe.add(topPane);
GUIframe.validate();
GUIframe.setBackground(Color.GREEN);
GUIframe.setVisible(true);
}
}
Since you posted a lot of code and I'm not sure what were you trying to achieve, I modified your code adding 3 JLabels at the topPane. And 3 JRadioButtons (I didn't add the ButtonGroup) below on a second JPanel, I commented how to make them appear on a vertical and horizontal align.
Something you should take into account is:
Don't extend and create objects from JFrame (One or the other, not both, I recommend you to create objects).
You were giving your JPanel a Layout after adding components to it, it should be done before.
From the above point, you were also giving your Layout to your JLabel not your JPanel.
You were adding a JList into a JLabel.
You missed to have a class constructor too.
Don't have multiple JFrames for more see The use of multiple JFrames, Good / Bad practice
Next time post a code which has no dependencies such as your Truck, Car and Motorcycle classes (i.e. a Runnable example). And use plain text instead so we can copy-paste the code and see the issue. Also try posting images (or the link and we can edit to add it).
Now, the outpus of my own program are:
And it was done with the following code.
import javax.swing.*;
import java.awt.*;
public class GUIExample {
JFrame frame;
JLabel label1, label2, label3;
JPanel topPane, radioPane;
JRadioButton radio1, radio2, radio3;
public static void main(String[] args) {
new GUIExample();
}
GUIExample () {
frame = new JFrame();
topPane = new JPanel();
radioPane = new JPanel();
topPane.setLayout(new FlowLayout());
// radioPane.setLayout(new BoxLayout(radioPane, BoxLayout.PAGE_AXIS)); //Vertical align
radioPane.setLayout(new FlowLayout()); //Horizontal align
label1 = new JLabel("Car");
label2 = new JLabel("Motorcycle");
label3 = new JLabel("Truck");
radio1 = new JRadioButton("Radio1");
radio2 = new JRadioButton("Radio2");
radio3 = new JRadioButton("Radio3");
topPane.add(label1);
topPane.add(label2);
topPane.add(label3);
radioPane.add(radio1);
radioPane.add(radio2);
radioPane.add(radio3);
frame.add(topPane, BorderLayout.PAGE_START);
frame.add(radioPane, BorderLayout.CENTER);
frame.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
frame.pack();
frame.setVisible(true);
}
}
Your code has several issues, but the reason that you're not seeing the tireLabel or the tbuttons component is because you're using a JLabel. Understand that JLabel is not built to act as a container for other components. The key concept is that it calculates its preferred size based on the text it holds and/or the icon it holds and (and this is key) not on the sizes or preferred sizes of any components it might hold.
The solution is to not use JLabel for a purpose it wasn't intended for but rather to use a JPanel which does adjust its own preferred size depending on the sizes of its held components and its layouts.
Other unrelated issues:
Your program extends JFrame but never uses itself as a JFrame, something that will confuse anyone who reads your code. If you're not going to use the instance of the class as a JFrame, then don't extend the class.
Your program isn't an OOP-compliant program, one with instance fields, public methods, and such, but rather is little more than one large static main method, and this will result in a large God-method, one with too much responsibility, and one that is very difficult to debug and to maintain. Don't throw out the OOP baby with the bath water -- Create Swing GUI's in a well-behaved OOP-compliant way.
You're trying to set background colors to components that are not opaque (a JLabel), to components that are never added to the GUI (label1), or are not fully displayed (the JFrame).
You're using FlowLayout an awful lot, and in places where other layouts would probably serve you better. It's as if it's the only layout that you know how to use, and so you use it. Try branching out and using other layouts including GridLayout for your JRadioButton container and perhaps BorderLayout for the main container (JPanel).

Swing Components in Different Classes

probably a simple question here working on learning to make a GUI using swing and making mild headway but hit another speed bump. I am trying to keep GUI components grouped in different classes to keep my classes small and allow a more flexible GUI, but I have one component built how do I call it to my main class. Posted below is code to make the frame and the component. I would imagine there is an issue with the way I am calling but am running out of ideas on how else to call it. Any thoughts would be appreciated.....Wasn't very clear with the question trying to add the component to the JFrame in frmMainMenu, issue is that the component doesn't appear in the Frame when run currently
Main Class with JFrame
public class frmMainMenu {
public static void main(String main[]){
//Create Frame
JFrame frmMainMenu = new JFrame();
//Define Layout Manager
GridBagLayout gridBag = new GridBagLayout();
GridBagConstraints c = new GridBagConstraints();
frmMainMenu.setLayout(gridBag);
//Add Components
//Create Left Container
c.fill = GridBagConstraints.VERTICAL;
c.weighty = 1;
c.gridx = 0;
c.gridy = 1;
c.ipadx = 30;
frmMainMenu.add(new comLeftToolBar(),c);
frmMainMenu.setExtendedState(JFrame.MAXIMIZED_BOTH);
frmMainMenu.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.DISPOSE_ON_CLOSE);
//Display Frame
frmMainMenu.setVisible(true);
}
}
Component Code
public class comLeftToolBar extends JPanel{
public comLeftToolBar() {
JPanel comLeftContainer = new JPanel();
GridBagLayout leftGridBag = new GridBagLayout();
comLeftContainer.setLayout(leftGridBag);
GridBagConstraints b = new GridBagConstraints();
JToolBar comLeftToolBar = new JToolBar(JToolBar.VERTICAL);
b.gridx = 0;
b.gridy = 0;
b.ipady = 50;
JButton comNavButton = new JButton();
JButton comProButton = new JButton();
comLeftToolBar.add(comNavButton);
comLeftToolBar.add(comProButton);
comLeftContainer.add(comLeftToolBar,b);
comLeftContainer.setBorder(BorderFactory.createLineBorder(Color.black));
}
}
issue is that the component doesn't appear in the Frame when run currently
Your class is a panel. But then you create another panel (comLeftContainer) and add components to this panel. But you don't add any components to the ComLeftToolBar panel so it remains empty.
For a simple solution, at the bottom of your class you can use:
add( comLeftContainer );
Of course this is not the best solution. This will give you a structure of:
JPanel
JPanel
JToolbar
button
button
There is no need to have such a complicated structure. A toolbar is a component that be added directly to the frame.
If you want to create a class that you can add to the frame then take a look at the Swing tutorial on How to Use Tool Bars for a better structure.

Several similar panels GUI Java

I'm creating GUI and I don't know how to resolve my problem. What I'd like to do is to create several panels from PanelClass like i did in Main.
I don't know how:
Name buttons in my Panels and gave them some functionality (Like i was trying with button b1)
Add to panel3 additional labels, and buttons.
My main class
public class Main {
JFrame f;
PanelClass panel1, panel2, panel3;
JButton b1, b2;
public Main() {
b1 = new JButton("asasa");
f = new JFrame();
f.setSize(300, 300);
f.setLayout(new GridBagLayout());
f.setVisible(true);
f.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
panel1 = new PanelClass(b1, b2, panel1);
panel2 = new PanelClass(b1, b2, panel2);
panel3 = new PanelClass(b1, b2, panel3);
f.add(panel1);
f.add(panel2);
f.add(panel3);
}
public static void main(String[] args) {
Main m = new Main();
}
}
My Panel class
public class PanelClass extends JPanel {
public PanelClass(JButton btn, JButton btn1, JPanel p) {
super();
p = new JPanel(new GridBagLayout());
btn = new JButton();
btn1 = new JButton();
GridBagConstraints c = new GridBagConstraints();
c.gridx = 0;
c.gridy = 0;
p.add(btn, c);
c.gridx = 0;
c.gridy = 1;
p.add(btn1, c);
add(p);
}
}
A component can only exist in one visible container at a time (unless it is being used as a flyweight renderer). So putting the same buttons into 3 panels will not work.
The code passes a button(s) in the constructor of PanelClass which is(are) ignored. Instead 2 new button instances are created. Just assign the passed buttons to the ..I was going to say 'class level attributes' when I noted they were not. Entirely remove
btn = new JButton(); and the text passed in the button constructor will appear.
For events, see How to Write an Action Listener.
Try to read the official Swing tutorial. It explains how to add panels, labels, etc.
To edit label names you could use setText(String name) method. To add functionalities to buttons you must implement a listener in each one. Add labels like you do in other panels, I don't see the problem.
To add "events" like click and mouse hovers etc - you must implement the correct "Listener" for the Widget. Go through any good tutorial on Swing and it will tell you everything about it. Widgets on screen are regular objects as well, so they can be added to "Collections", iterated and played around with, like regular objects. Take note of THREAD complexities and warning 'Cross-Thread invocation is Injurious To Your Program'.

JTabbed Pane creation in an external class

I'm playing around with some swing guis and am trying to create a basic program. This program is going to have a tabbed pane with a varying amount of tabs depending on the size of an array. (My end goal is to have users change the amount of items in the array, therefore changing the amount of tabs).
Each tab is going to have the exact same components, text area, table and a few buttons and labels. What I would like to do is instead of coding these tabs individually and rewriting my code over and over what I want to do is create a class to put all my components into.
I am however kind of stumped. This is my class for creating the tabs:
public class LocaleTab {
public LocaleTab(){
JPanel tab = new JPanel();
JLabel label = new JLabel();
label.setPreferredSize(new Dimension(300, 300));
tab.add(label);
}
}
And here's my code that I'm trying to call with it:
LocaleTab tab1 = new LocaleTab();
JTabbedPane localesTabPane = new JTabbedPane();
localesTabPane.add(tab1);
I'm getting an error when I try and compile this. I'm thinking my methodology is probably completely wrong.
The method add(Component) in the type JTabbedPane is not applicable
for the arguments (LocaleTab)
One are that concerns me is when I try to use the data in the tables and text areas in each tab(event listeners is what I'll be using i think? I haven't gotten to that stage yet though!) how will I target the individual tabs components?
Change to:
public class LocaleTab extends JPanel {
public LocaleTab(){
JLabel label = new JLabel();
label.setPreferredSize(new Dimension(300, 300));
add(label);
}
}
Probably you are looking for something close to this:
public class LocaleTab {
private JPanel tab;
public LocaleTab() {
tab = new JPanel();
JLabel label = new JLabel();
label.setPreferredSize(new Dimension(300, 300));
tab.add(label);
}
public JPanel getTabPanel() {
return tab;
}
}
And use LocaleTab as shown below.
LocaleTab tab1 = new LocaleTab();
JTabbedPane localesTabPane = new JTabbedPane();
localesTabPane.add(tab1.getTabPanel());
Additionally to know about how JTabbedPane works please take a look here: How to Use Tabbed Panes

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