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Layout Managers with icon (gif)

Essentially, I am trying to add a home screen with 4 buttons, 3 difficulty buttons and a play button. I add the buttons to a JPanel and add the JPanel with a BoxLayout of Center. Why does the buttons still go all the way off to the right? Setting the icon for a JLabel on and adding it to the home screen JPanel is a possible mess up the flow of components? I want the difficulty buttons to be on top of the of the gif with the Play button at the bottom. Thanks for your help.
//container
snake = new JFrame();
snake.setLayout(new BorderLayout());
//home screen panel
homeScreen = new JPanel();
homeScreen.setLayout(new BoxLayout(homeScreen, BoxLayout.X_AXIS));
homeScreen.setPreferredSize(new Dimension(320, 320));
JLabel bg = new JLabel();
ImageIcon icon = new ImageIcon("HomeBG.gif");
icon.getImage().flush();
bg.setIcon(icon);
homeScreen.add(bg);
easy = new JButton("Easy");
medium = new JButton("Medium");
hard = new JButton("Hard");
play = new JButton("Play");
//button listeners code here
homeScreen.add(easy);
homeScreen.add(medium);
homeScreen.add(hard);
homeScreen.add(play);
snake.add(homeScreen, BorderLayout.CENTER);
snake.setTitle("Snake Game");
snake.pack();
snake.setVisible(true);
snake.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);

You need to change your code as shown below.
snake = new JFrame();
snake.setLayout(new BorderLayout());
//home screen panel
homeScreen = new JPanel(new BorderLayout());
//homeScreen.setLayout(new BoxLayout(homeScreen, BoxLayout.X_AXIS));
homeScreen.setPreferredSize(new Dimension(320, 320)); // probably you need to remove this line!
JLabel bg = new JLabel();
ImageIcon icon = new ImageIcon("HomeBG.gif");
icon.getImage().flush();
bg.setIcon(icon);
homeScreen.add(bg);
easy = new JButton("Easy");
medium = new JButton("Medium");
hard = new JButton("Hard");
play = new JButton("Play");
//button listeners code here
JPanel buttonsPanel = new JPanel(new FlowLayout(FlowLayout.CENTER));
buttonsPanel.add(easy);
buttonsPanel.add(medium);
buttonsPanel.add(hard);
buttonsPanel.add(play);
homeScreen.add(buttonsPanel, BorderLayout.NORTH);
snake.add(homeScreen, BorderLayout.CENTER);
snake.setTitle("Snake Game");
snake.pack();
snake.setVisible(true);
snake.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);

I would use a compound layout for this. Put the level buttons in a (panel in a) FlowLayout. Put the play button in a 2nd FlowLayout. Add those panels to the PAGE_START and PAGE_END of a BorderLayout. Add a label containing the GIF to the CENTER of the same border layout.
BTW - the level buttons should be radio buttons (in a button group - BNI).
import java.awt.*;
import java.awt.image.BufferedImage;
import javax.swing.*;
import javax.swing.border.EmptyBorder;
public class LayoutManagersWithIcon {
private JComponent ui = null;
LayoutManagersWithIcon() {
initUI();
}
public void initUI() {
if (ui!=null) return;
ui = new JPanel(new BorderLayout(4,4));
ui.setBorder(new EmptyBorder(4,4,4,4));
JPanel levelPanel = new JPanel(new FlowLayout(FlowLayout.CENTER, 5, 5));
ui.add(levelPanel, BorderLayout.PAGE_START);
levelPanel.add(new JRadioButton("Easy"));
levelPanel.add(new JRadioButton("Medium"));
levelPanel.add(new JRadioButton("Hard"));
JPanel startPanel = new JPanel(new FlowLayout(FlowLayout.CENTER, 5, 5));
ui.add(startPanel, BorderLayout.PAGE_END);
startPanel.add(new JButton("Play"));
JLabel label = new JLabel(new ImageIcon(
new BufferedImage(400, 100, BufferedImage.TYPE_INT_RGB)));
ui.add(label);
}
public JComponent getUI() {
return ui;
}
public static void main(String[] args) {
Runnable r = new Runnable() {
#Override
public void run() {
try {
UIManager.setLookAndFeel(UIManager.getSystemLookAndFeelClassName());
} catch (Exception useDefault) {
}
LayoutManagersWithIcon o = new LayoutManagersWithIcon();
JFrame f = new JFrame(o.getClass().getSimpleName());
f.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.DISPOSE_ON_CLOSE);
f.setLocationByPlatform(true);
f.setContentPane(o.getUI());
f.pack();
f.setMinimumSize(f.getSize());
f.setVisible(true);
}
};
SwingUtilities.invokeLater(r);
}
}

Background JSwing Image Loading Oddly

I can't seem to figure out how I would add in a background WITH all of my panels showing.
I tried to set the JFrame content pane as a label with an imageicon and the frame does show, it just doesn't show the image like above.
This is the code that I've used.
frame.setContentPane(new JLabel(new ImageIcon("res/Wallpaper.png")));
The second attempt I've used is to ADD (not set) an image into the content pane of the frame. This did not work as shown in the second picture above and it only shows the panels but no background. The code is on the bottom.
frame.getContentPane().add(new JLabel(new ImageIcon("res/Wallpaper.png")));
The third attempt I've tried is to create a subclass of JComponent and Override the paintComponents method then setan object of it as the contentpane. This does not work and instead turns my screen blank.
Here is the code I've used and the class code is in the 1st answer of this link Setting background images in JFrame. The result is the 3rd image of this post.
File img = new File("res/Wallpaper.png");
BufferedImage myImage;
try {
myImage = ImageIO.read(img);
frame.setContentPane(new ImagePanel(myImage));
} catch (IOException e) {
// TODO Auto-generated catch block
e.printStackTrace();
}
The 4th attempt I've tried is adding the picture into the main panel that fills up the screen. This does not work at all and instead breaks the image in half so half of the screen has the image half doesn't.
Here is the code I've used for my 4th attempt. The result is the 4th last image on the top.
BufferedImage myPicture;
try {
myPicture = ImageIO.read(new File("res/Wallpaper.png"));
JLabel picLabel = new JLabel(new ImageIcon(myPicture));
pMain.add(picLabel);
} catch (IOException e) {
e.printStackTrace();
}
I'm not sure why the JPanels aren't showing up.
I know that in the 1st example when you set the frame as a JLabel it gives it a null layout but that was the only way I could find to DISPLAY the image.
I would like to somehow add the panels ontop of the frame with that background but after reading numerous threads I could not find out how.
If anyone does find out, please post the code and explain if you can. I also have the class get the system class theme that sets it into the theme of what the computer is using. Ex. I am using a windows operating system so it shows it kind of like my operating system.
This thread is not a duplicate. In other threads they only have a frame but in my thread I have several panels that aren't showing for some particular reason.
EDIT: I don't know what's up, I tried to use this thread Setting background images in JFrame but I had no luck.
The 1st method it gave me I tried and then instead of showing anything it showed nothing at all, no picture no components nothing at all. In case if you need more information I have: 4 JPanels on the bottom of the screen, I also have a border surrounding my window but doesn't show up in the 1st window. I also have borders surrounding my panels too.
So the 1st method I've tried setting it on the content pane, image loads but all of the components are gone.
2nd method I've tried adding it into the content pane but yet again with no luck and I get a panel with no background.
3rd method I've tried is creating a separate class and overriding the paintComponent method and adding an image to the constructor of it then placing this object of the class into the setcontentPane() parameter of the frame. Does not work at all, all I get is a blank frame.
Code I am using for my frame:
public class LoginScreen {
JCheckBox remember_User;
JButton login, create_Account, forums, faqs;
Border whiteLine;
JTextField userField;
JFormattedTextField passField;
private void createView() {
// Created essential details for the frame
JFrame frame = new JFrame();
frame.setTitle("Name of the game");
frame.setExtendedState(JFrame.MAXIMIZED_BOTH);
frame.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
// Defining panels and a constraint on the bottomPanel.
// More info - Total amt of panels: 5
// pLogin and pInfo are in the bottomCompPanel and bottomCompPanel is in
// bottomPanel
// bottom panel is in pMain
// Giving panels some attributes like backgrounds and borders
JPanel pMain = new JPanel(new BorderLayout());
pMain.setBorder(BorderFactory.createMatteBorder(3, 3, 6, 3,
Color.DARK_GRAY));
frame.getContentPane().add(pMain);
whiteLine = BorderFactory.createLineBorder(Color.LIGHT_GRAY);
JPanel pLogin = new JPanel(new GridBagLayout());
pLogin.setBackground(Color.cyan);
pLogin.setPreferredSize(new Dimension(400, 250));
pLogin.setBorder(whiteLine);
JPanel pInfo = new JPanel(new GridBagLayout());
pInfo.setBackground(Color.green);
pInfo.setPreferredSize(new Dimension(200, 100));
pInfo.setBorder(whiteLine);
JPanel bottomCompPanel = new JPanel(new GridBagLayout());
GridBagConstraints bGBC = new GridBagConstraints();
bGBC.gridx = 0;
bGBC.gridy = 0;
bGBC.insets = new Insets(0, 20, 0, 0);
bGBC.anchor = GridBagConstraints.PAGE_END;
bottomCompPanel.add(pLogin, bGBC);
bGBC.gridx++;
bottomCompPanel.add(pInfo, bGBC);
JPanel bottomPanel = new JPanel(new FlowLayout(FlowLayout.RIGHT));
bottomPanel.add(bottomCompPanel);
pMain.add(bottomPanel, BorderLayout.SOUTH);
frame.setVisible(true);
}
public static void main(String[] args) {
LoginScreen login = new LoginScreen();
login.createView();
}
}
POST UPDATE 2: Here is the code that I've used using #peeskillet's 1st method. It works sort of but it gives me the same results as the 3rd photo, a cut off picture. P.S I add the panels down at the bottom to my JLabel at the end.
private void createView() {
//Created essential details for the frame
JFrame frame = new JFrame();
frame.setTitle("Name of the game");
frame.setExtendedState(JFrame.MAXIMIZED_BOTH);
frame.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
frame.setLocationRelativeTo(null);
JLabel background = new JLabel(new ImageIcon("res/Wallpaper.png"));
background.setLayout(new BorderLayout());
frame.setContentPane(background);
//Defining panels and a constraint on the bottomPanel.
//More info - Total amt of panels: 5
//pLogin and pInfo are in the bottomCompPanel and bottomCompPanel is in bottomPanel
//bottom panel is in pMain
//Giving panels some attributes like backgrounds and borders
whiteLine = BorderFactory.createLineBorder(Color.LIGHT_GRAY);
JPanel pLogin = new JPanel(new GridBagLayout());
pLogin.setBackground(Color.cyan);
pLogin.setPreferredSize(new Dimension(400,250));
pLogin.setBorder(whiteLine);
JPanel pInfo = new JPanel(new GridBagLayout());
pInfo.setBackground(Color.green);
pInfo.setPreferredSize(new Dimension(200,100));
pInfo.setBorder(whiteLine);
JPanel bottomCompPanel = new JPanel(new GridBagLayout());
GridBagConstraints bGBC = new GridBagConstraints();
bGBC.gridx = 0;
bGBC.gridy = 0;
bGBC.insets = new Insets(0,20,0,0);
bGBC.anchor = GridBagConstraints.PAGE_END;
bottomCompPanel.add(pLogin, bGBC);
bGBC.gridx++;
bottomCompPanel.add(pInfo, bGBC);
JPanel bottomPanel = new JPanel(new FlowLayout(FlowLayout.RIGHT));
bottomPanel.add(bottomCompPanel);
background.add(bottomPanel, BorderLayout.SOUTH);

"I tried to set the JFrame content pane as a label with an imageicon"
You need to set the layout on the JLabel. It will be null be default.
import java.awt.*;
import java.net.URL;
import javax.swing.*;
import javax.swing.border.Border;
public class BackgroundImage {
private static final String IMG = "http://i.stack.imgur.com/JEoYs.jpg";
private void init() throws Exception {
JFrame f = new JFrame();
f.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
JLabel background = new JLabel(new ImageIcon(new URL(IMG)));
background.setLayout(new GridBagLayout());
background.add(loginPanel());
f.setContentPane(background);
f.pack();
f.setLocationRelativeTo(null);
f.setVisible(true);
}
private JPanel loginPanel() {
Border whiteLine = BorderFactory.createLineBorder(Color.LIGHT_GRAY);
JPanel pLogin = new JPanel(new GridBagLayout());
pLogin.setBackground(Color.cyan);
pLogin.setPreferredSize(new Dimension(400, 250));
pLogin.setBorder(whiteLine);
return pLogin;
}
public static void main(String[] args) {
SwingUtilities.invokeLater(() -> {
try {
new BackgroundImage().init();
} catch (Exception ex) {}
});
}
}
"I've tried is to create a subclass of JComponent and Override the paintComponents method then setan object of it as the contentpane"
Should be paintComponent (no "s"), but just like with JLabel, you need to set the layout. JComponent layout is null be default. You also need to give it a preferred size when painting.
import java.awt.*;
import java.net.URL;
import javax.swing.*;
import javax.swing.border.Border;
public class BackgroundImage {
private static final String IMG = "http://i.stack.imgur.com/JEoYs.jpg";
private void init() throws Exception {
JFrame f = new JFrame();
f.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
JComponent background = new BackgroundComponent(new ImageIcon(new URL(IMG)));
background.setLayout(new GridBagLayout());
background.add(loginPanel());
f.setContentPane(background);
f.pack();
f.setLocationRelativeTo(null);
f.setVisible(true);
}
private JPanel loginPanel() {
Border whiteLine = BorderFactory.createLineBorder(Color.LIGHT_GRAY);
JPanel pLogin = new JPanel(new GridBagLayout());
pLogin.setBackground(Color.cyan);
pLogin.setPreferredSize(new Dimension(400, 250));
pLogin.setBorder(whiteLine);
return pLogin;
}
class BackgroundComponent extends JComponent {
public ImageIcon background;
public BackgroundComponent(ImageIcon background) {
this.background = background;
}
#Override
public Dimension getPreferredSize() {
return new Dimension(background.getIconWidth(), background.getIconHeight());
}
#Override
protected void paintComponent(Graphics g) {
super.paintComponent(g);
g.drawImage(background.getImage(),
0, 0,
background.getIconWidth(),
background.getIconHeight(), this);
}
}
public static void main(String[] args) {
SwingUtilities.invokeLater(() -> {
try {
new BackgroundImage().init();
} catch (Exception ex) {}
});
}
}
Using (extending) JPanel instead of JComponent would be similar except JPanel does have a default layout which is FlowLayout.
UPDATE
To get your desired layout, you need to play around with the different layout managers. The combination I used is
Outer (main panel) -- BorderLayout
Bottom (bottom panel) -- BoxLayout inside (south) of outer layout
For the BorderLayout, you need to make sure the panel opaque property is set to false, as BorderLayout will stretch the panel and cover the background.
For the BoxLayout, you need to make sure to set the maximum size and the preferred size
import java.awt.*;
import java.net.URL;
import javax.swing.*;
import javax.swing.border.Border;
public class BackgroundImage {
private static final String IMG = "http://i.stack.imgur.com/JEoYs.jpg";
private final Border whiteLine = BorderFactory.createLineBorder(Color.LIGHT_GRAY);
private void init() throws Exception {
JFrame f = new JFrame();
f.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
JComponent background = new BackgroundComponent(new ImageIcon(new URL(IMG)));
background.setLayout(new BorderLayout());
background.add(bottomPanel(), BorderLayout.SOUTH);
f.setContentPane(background);
f.pack();
f.setLocationRelativeTo(null);
f.setVisible(true);
}
private JPanel bottomPanel() {
JPanel bottomPanel = new JPanel();
bottomPanel.setBorder(BorderFactory.createEmptyBorder(10, 10, 10, 10));
BoxLayout layout = new BoxLayout(bottomPanel, BoxLayout.X_AXIS);
bottomPanel.setLayout(layout);
bottomPanel.setOpaque(false);
bottomPanel.add(Box.createHorizontalGlue());
bottomPanel.add(loginPanel());
bottomPanel.add(Box.createRigidArea(new Dimension(10, 0)));
bottomPanel.add(infoPanel());
return bottomPanel;
}
private JPanel infoPanel() {
JPanel pInfo = new JPanel(new GridBagLayout());
pInfo.setAlignmentY(Component.BOTTOM_ALIGNMENT);
pInfo.setBackground(Color.green);
pInfo.setMaximumSize(new Dimension(200, 100));
pInfo.setPreferredSize(new Dimension(200, 100));
pInfo.setBorder(whiteLine);
return pInfo;
}
private JPanel loginPanel() {
JPanel pLogin = new JPanel(new GridBagLayout());
pLogin.setAlignmentY(Component.BOTTOM_ALIGNMENT);
pLogin.setBackground(Color.cyan);
pLogin.setPreferredSize(new Dimension(400, 250));
pLogin.setMaximumSize(new Dimension(400, 250));
pLogin.setBorder(whiteLine);
return pLogin;
}
class BackgroundComponent extends JComponent {
public ImageIcon background;
public BackgroundComponent(ImageIcon background) {
this.background = background;
}
#Override
public Dimension getPreferredSize() {
return new Dimension(background.getIconWidth(), background.getIconHeight());
}
#Override
protected void paintComponent(Graphics g) {
super.paintComponent(g);
g.drawImage(background.getImage(),
0, 0,
background.getIconWidth(),
background.getIconHeight(), this);
}
}
public static void main(String[] args) {
SwingUtilities.invokeLater(() -> {
try {
new BackgroundImage().init();
} catch (Exception ex) {
}
});
}
}
For more information about using the different layout managers, see
Laying Out Components Within a Container

You can try JLayeredPane and setOpaque(boolean) method.
Code:
public class BackgroundImageTest{
private JFrame frame;
public BackgroundImageTest() {
frame = new JFrame("Background Image Frame");
// set frame properties
JPanel panel = new JPanel(new FlowLayout());
panel.setOpaque(false);
JButton btn = new JButton("Change Background");
panel.add(btn);
btn.addActionListener(new ActionListener(){
public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent ae) {
setBackgroundImage(getImage(new File("Wallpaper2.png")));
}
});
JPanel main = (JPanel) frame.getContentPane();
main.setLayout(new FlowLayout());
main.add(panel);
main.setOpaque(false);
setBackgroundImage(getImage(new File("Wallpaper.png")));
frame.setVisible(true);
}
private Image getImage(File imageFile) {
BufferedImage image = null;
try {
image = ImageIO.read(imageFile);
} catch (IOException e) {
// TODO Auto-generated catch block
e.printStackTrace();
}
return image;
}
private void setBackgroundImage(Image img) {
if(img == null) return;
ImageIcon ii = new ImageIcon(img);
JLabel lblBG = new JLabel(ii);
lblBG.setName("BackgroundImageLabel");
JLayeredPane layeredPane = frame.getLayeredPane();
Component[] comps = layeredPane.getComponentsInLayer(new Integer(Integer.MIN_VALUE));
for (int i = 0; i < comps.length; i++) {
System.out.println(comps[i].getName());
if (comps[i] instanceof JLabel && comps[i].getName().equals("BackgroundImageLabel")){
layeredPane.remove(comps[i]);
break;
}
}
layeredPane.add(lblBG, new Integer(Integer.MIN_VALUE));
lblBG.setBounds(0,0,ii.getIconWidth(), ii.getIconHeight());
}
}

Remove huge gaps between check boxes on panel

Its pretty basic UI, but I cannot setup the JCheckBox buttons so that they are placed immediately after one another (vertically) without any spacing. How would I reduce the spacing seen below?
JPanel debugDrawPanel = new JPanel(new GridLayout(0,1));
JPanel eastPanel = new JPanel(new GridLayout(1,0));
JTabbedPane tab = new JTabbedPane();
click = new ClickPanel(this);
setSettings(new Settings());
for (Setting setting: getSettings().getAll()){
JCheckBox checkBox = new JCheckBox(setting.name);
checkBox.setName(setting.name);
checkBox.addItemListener(new CheckBoxItemListener(this));
debugDrawPanel.add(checkBox);
}
tab.addTab("Object Parameters", click);
tab.addTab("Debug Draw", debugDrawPanel);

It appears that the minimum vertical size is being set by the content of another tab. One way to get around that is to put the GridLayout in the PAGE_START of a BorderLayout before putting the panel with border layout into the tabbed pane.
The panel with GridLayout has an orange BG.
The panel with BorderLayout has a yellow BG.
import java.awt.*;
import java.awt.image.BufferedImage;
import javax.swing.*;
import javax.swing.border.EmptyBorder;
public class TopAlignedComponents {
private JComponent ui = null;
TopAlignedComponents() {
initUI();
}
public void initUI() {
if (ui!=null) return;
ui = new JPanel(new BorderLayout(4,4));
ui.setBorder(new EmptyBorder(4,4,4,4));
JTabbedPane tb = new JTabbedPane();
ui.add(tb);
Image spacer = new BufferedImage(300, 100, BufferedImage.TYPE_INT_RGB);
tb.addTab("Spacer", new JLabel(new ImageIcon(spacer)));
String[] labels = {"Shapes", "Joints", "AABBs"};
JPanel checkPanel = new JPanel(new GridLayout(0, 1, 4, 4));
checkPanel.setBackground(Color.ORANGE);
for (String label : labels) {
checkPanel.add(new JCheckBox(label));
}
JPanel checkConstrain = new JPanel(new BorderLayout());
checkConstrain.setBackground(Color.YELLOW);
checkConstrain.add(checkPanel, BorderLayout.PAGE_START);
tb.addTab("Check", checkConstrain);
}
public JComponent getUI() {
return ui;
}
public static void main(String[] args) {
Runnable r = new Runnable() {
#Override
public void run() {
try {
UIManager.setLookAndFeel(UIManager.getSystemLookAndFeelClassName());
} catch (Exception useDefault) {
}
TopAlignedComponents o = new TopAlignedComponents();
JFrame f = new JFrame("Top Aligned Components");
f.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.DISPOSE_ON_CLOSE);
f.setLocationByPlatform(true);
f.setContentPane(o.getUI());
f.pack();
f.setMinimumSize(f.getSize());
f.setVisible(true);
}
};
SwingUtilities.invokeLater(r);
}
}

If i remember correctly, its because of your layout!
GridLayout divides your windowsize into equal parts, so i think you should either unset your windows size and use pack() or you could switch to a different layout.
( I assume your window's size is or minimum-size is set somewhere )

Multiple JPanels - All buttons same size

I have a a main panel that contains multiple panels inside. Each 'children' panel contains one (or more) JButtons. Since I am displaying all the panels at the same time, I would like to make all the buttons the same size (to have consistency).
This code illustrates my problem:
public class Test
{
public static void main(String[] args)
{
JFrame f = new JFrame();
f.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
f.setSize(new Dimension(200, 200));
// 1st Panel
JPanel panel1 = new JPanel(new MigLayout());
panel1.add(new JButton("button in panel 1"));
// 2nd Panel
JPanel panel2 = new JPanel(new MigLayout());
panel2.add(new JButton("2nd button"));
JPanel parent = new JPanel(new MigLayout("wrap"));
parent.add(panel1, "pushx, growx");
parent.add(new JSeparator(), "pushx, growx");
parent.add(panel2, "pushx, growx");
f.add(parent);
f.setVisible(true);
}
}
The size of the "button in panel 1" is different from the button in the other panel. Is there an 'easy' way to set their size using the layout? (Hardcoding the size is NOT an option).

I think you didn't read the document carefully, to demonstrate the use I have written a code. You should not copy the same snippet showed in that link. They have specified that the component you have updating must be passed into updateComponentTreeUI() method. You can replace the size by replacing the "large" with "small" or "mini".
import javax.swing.*;
import java.awt.*;
public class Demo {
/**
* #param args
*/
JFrame frame ;
JButton btn;
public Demo()
{
frame = new JFrame("Example");
frame.setLocationRelativeTo(null);
frame.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
frame.setSize(400,400);
frame.setLayout(new FlowLayout());
btn = new JButton("Example");
btn.putClientProperty("JComponent.sizeVariant", "large");
SwingUtilities.updateComponentTreeUI(btn);
frame.add(btn);
frame.setVisible(true);
}
public static void main(String[] args) {
// TODO Auto-generated method stub
try
{
UIManager.setLookAndFeel("com.sun.java.swing.plaf.nimbus.NimbusLookAndFeel");
}
catch(Exception e)
{
e.printStackTrace();
}
Demo d = new Demo();
}
}

Java panel alignment

class CipherGUIFrame extends JFrame {
public CipherGUIFrame() {
super("Caesar Cipher GUI");
setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
setSize(400, 600);
JTextArea area1 = new JTextArea();
JTextArea area2 = new JTextArea();
JSpinner myspinner=new JSpinner();
JPanel mainframe = new JPanel();
mainframe.setLayout(new BoxLayout(mainframe, BoxLayout.Y_AXIS));
JPanel p1 = new JPanel();
JPanel p2 = new JPanel();
JPanel p3 = new JPanel();
p1.setLayout(new BoxLayout(p1, BoxLayout.Y_AXIS));
p2.setLayout(new BoxLayout(p2, BoxLayout.Y_AXIS));
p1.setBorder(BorderFactory.createTitledBorder("Cleartext"));
p2.setBorder(BorderFactory.createTitledBorder("Spinner"));
p3.setLayout(new BoxLayout(p3, BoxLayout.Y_AXIS));
p3.setBorder(BorderFactory.createTitledBorder("Ciphertext"));
p1.add(area1);
p2.add(myspinner);
p3.add(area2);
mainframe.add(p1);
mainframe.add(p2);
mainframe.add(p3);
this.add(mainframe);
}
}
It seems that this code produces something which looks similar to this:
I am trying to tidy this up so it looks cleaner; is there a way to shrink the middle panel or to make the others bigger to make it look nicer?

Don't set the sizes of anything, but instead set the columns and rows of your JTextAreas. Don't use BoxLayout when you don't want its behaviors. Put your JTextAreas in JScrollPanes instead. And don't forget to pack() your JFrame.
import java.awt.BorderLayout;
import javax.swing.*;
public class Cipher2 extends JPanel {
public static final int ROWS = 12;
public static final int COLS = 30;
private JTextArea textArea1 = new JTextArea(ROWS, COLS);
private JTextArea textArea2 = new JTextArea(ROWS, COLS);
public Cipher2() {
setLayout(new BoxLayout(this, BoxLayout.Y_AXIS)); // Box OK here
JScrollPane scroll1 = new JScrollPane(textArea1);
add(wrapComponentWithTitle(scroll1, "Fubar"), BorderLayout.PAGE_START);
add(wrapComponentWithTitle(new JSpinner(), "Spinner"), BorderLayout.CENTER);
scroll1 = new JScrollPane(textArea2);
add(wrapComponentWithTitle(scroll1, "Snafu"), BorderLayout.PAGE_END);
}
private JPanel wrapComponentWithTitle(JComponent component, String title) {
// BoxLayout NOT OK here. Use BorderLayout instead
JPanel wrapPanel = new JPanel(new BorderLayout());
wrapPanel.add(component);
wrapPanel.setBorder(BorderFactory.createTitledBorder(title));
return wrapPanel;
}
private static void createAndShowGui() {
Cipher2 mainPanel = new Cipher2();
JFrame frame = new JFrame("Foo");
frame.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.DISPOSE_ON_CLOSE);
frame.getContentPane().add(mainPanel);
frame.pack();
frame.setLocationByPlatform(true);
frame.setVisible(true);
}
public static void main(String[] args) {
SwingUtilities.invokeLater(new Runnable() {
public void run() {
createAndShowGui();
}
});
}
}

I figured out the answer: change Y_AXIS to X_AXIS.
<3