How to arrange components in a JFrame - java

I'm trying to get a JTextArea with a "save" JButton centered underneath it, maybe with a small bit of padding between the components as well as the components to the frame if possible. I've tried messing around with layout managers, panels, etc. and can't seem to get the result i want. Just looking for the simplest way to do this. Thanks.

Suggestions:
The overall layout of the GUI container could be BorderLayout.
Add the JScrollPane that holds your JTextArea BorderLayout.CENTER.
Create a JPanel just to hold the JButton and don't give it a specific layout manager. It will now use JPanel's default FlowLayout and will center components in the horizontal direction.
Add your JButton to this last JPanel.
Add that same JPanel to the GUI in the BorderLayout.PAGE_END (bottom) position.
For example:
import java.awt.BorderLayout;
import javax.swing.*;
public class SimpleLayout extends JPanel {
private static final int ROWS = 20;
private static final int COLS = 60;
private JTextArea textArea = new JTextArea(ROWS, COLS);
private JButton button = new JButton("Button");
public SimpleLayout() {
JPanel buttonPanel = new JPanel();
buttonPanel.add(button);
setLayout(new BorderLayout());
add(new JScrollPane(textArea), BorderLayout.CENTER);
add(buttonPanel, BorderLayout.PAGE_END);
}
private static void createAndShowGui() {
SimpleLayout mainPanel = new SimpleLayout();
JFrame frame = new JFrame("SimpleLayout");
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(() -> {
createAndShowGui();
});
}
}

Related

Resizing JPanel With BorderLayout

I am trying to resize the center panel of my BorderLayout but the size is not changing. It keeps filling the rest of the frame that is available. I have tried setting the preferred size but has no effect. I would like how size of the frame but only need a portion of the center to be actually a panel for later use.
import javax.swing.*;
import javax.swing.border.Border;
import java.awt.*;
public class Gui extends JFrame {
Border blackline = BorderFactory.createLineBorder(Color.black);
private JPanel board;
private JPanel buttons;
private JButton setMissing, by4, by8;
public Gui(){
setUpGui();
}
public void setUpGui(){
this.setSize(1000,1000);
this.setTitle("Comp361 Assignment One");
addButtons();
this.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
board = new JPanel();
board.setPreferredSize(new Dimension(400,400));
this.add(board, BorderLayout.CENTER);
//Sboard.setBackground(Color.Gray);
board.setBorder(blackline);
this.setVisible(true);
}
public void addButtons(){
buttons = new JPanel(new FlowLayout());
setMissing = new JButton("Set X");
by4 = new JButton("4 by 4");
by8 = new JButton("8 by 8");
buttons.add(setMissing);
buttons.add(by4);
buttons.add(by8);
this.add(buttons,BorderLayout.PAGE_START);
}
public static void main (String[] args){
new Gui();
}
}
For extra padding around the central panel, you might put it to a panel with GridBagLayout (with no constraint) to center it, then add the GBL panel to the CENTER of the BorderLayout.

Adding JScrollPane to a JFrame

I want to add JPanel containers to a JScrollPane and add this scroll pane to a JFrame. But when I add multiple panels to the scroll pane this happens. The gap between the scroll pane and the top bar increases. I use BoxLayout as layout manager for all the components that I use.
Here is my take on laying out this GUI. Some notes:
Rather than use a BoxLayout in the JScrollPane it puts a GridLayout in the PAGE_START of a BorderLayout. This is fine for when it's OK to stretch the elements in the scroll pane to the full width of the GUI. Stick to a BoxLayout (which I rarely use) or a GridBagLayout if it's necessary to keep the elements at their preferred size.
This strategy of layout is basically 'divide and conquer' in that it starts with the smallest sub-divisions of the GUI (e.g. the FlowLayout for the buttons) and then adds those containers to larger containers with different layouts and constraints (e.g. adding that button panel to the LINE_END of a BorderLayout - to push I to the right of the GUI) as needed for the overall effect.
I'd also consider using a JList (using a panel for the renderer) in the scroll pane. It depends on the use as to whether that makes sense.
Note that this code is an MRE. An MRE should have everything that's needed (including imports, a class structure and the main method) for another person to compile and run the code.
import javax.swing.*;
import javax.swing.border.*;
import java.awt.*;
import java.awt.event.ActionEvent;
// ref: https://stackoverflow.com/a/70934802/418556
public class ScrollPaneTestGUI {
int elementCount = 1;
JPanel elementsPanel = new JPanel(new GridLayout(0,1,2,2));
public ScrollPaneTestGUI() {
initGUI();
}
private void initGUI() {
// this will become the content pane of the frame
JPanel gui = new JPanel(new BorderLayout(4,4));
gui.setBorder(new EmptyBorder(4,4,4,4));
JPanel pageStartPanel = new JPanel(new BorderLayout(2,2));
gui.add(pageStartPanel, BorderLayout.PAGE_START);
pageStartPanel.add(new JLabel("LINE START label"), BorderLayout.LINE_START);
// default flow layout is good for this one
JPanel buttonPanel = new JPanel();
pageStartPanel.add(buttonPanel, BorderLayout.LINE_END);
buttonPanel.add(new JButton("Does Nothing"));
Action addToScrollAction = new AbstractAction("Add to scrollPane") {
#Override
public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e) {
elementsPanel.add(getPanelForScroll());
elementsPanel.revalidate();
}
};
JButton addToScrollButton = new JButton(addToScrollAction);
buttonPanel.add(addToScrollButton);
JPanel scrollPanel = new JPanel(new BorderLayout());
scrollPanel.add(elementsPanel, BorderLayout.PAGE_START);
gui.add(new JScrollPane(scrollPanel,
JScrollPane.VERTICAL_SCROLLBAR_ALWAYS,
JScrollPane.HORIZONTAL_SCROLLBAR_NEVER)
);
for (int ii=0; ii<2; ii++) {
elementsPanel.add(getPanelForScroll());
}
JFrame frame = new JFrame("ScrollPane GUI");
frame.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.DISPOSE_ON_CLOSE);
frame.setContentPane(gui);
frame.pack(); // sets the GUI to the exact size needed
frame.setMinimumSize(frame.getSize());
frame.setVisible(true);
}
private JPanel getPanelForScroll() {
JPanel p = new JPanel();
p.add(new JLabel("Panel " + elementCount++));
p.setBorder(new EmptyBorder(10,200,10,200));
p.setBackground(Color.GREEN);
return p;
}
public static void main(String[] args) {
Runnable r = new Runnable() {
#Override
public void run() {
new ScrollPaneTestGUI();
}
};
SwingUtilities.invokeLater(r);
}
}

How can I align elements in JPanels / JFrames?

I'm completely new to using the GUI in java, so I'm having a bit of trouble figuring out how to align everything that I need to. I have to panels in my JFrame that I need to align (One to the left, one to the right) and a few buttons in one of the panels that I need to be centered in the panel. Here is my code.
package application;
import javax.swing.*;
import java.awt.event.*;
import java.awt.*;
import java.io.*;
import java.nio.*;
import java.util.*;
public class Main extends JPanel
{
public static void main(String[] args)
{
//set the ui to the native OS
try
{
UIManager.setLookAndFeel(UIManager.getSystemLookAndFeelClassName());
}catch(ClassNotFoundException | InstantiationException | IllegalAccessException
| UnsupportedLookAndFeelException e)
{
}
JFrame frame = new JFrame("Application Name");
Menu menu = new Menu();
JPanel iconPanel = new JPanel();
final JPanel grid = new JPanel(new FlowLayout());
JButton firewallButton = new JButton("Firewall");
JButton networkButton = new JButton("Network");
JButton printerButton = new JButton("Printer");
int iconPanelSizeX;
int iconPanelSizeY;
int gridSizeX;
int gridSizeY;
int gridPosition;
//frame setting
frame.setSize(800, 600);
frame.setMinimumSize(new Dimension(800, 600));
frame.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
frame.setLocationRelativeTo(null);
frame.setVisible(true);
//add grid and iconPanel JPanels to the frame
frame.add(iconPanel);
iconPanel.add(firewallButton);
iconPanel.add(networkButton);
iconPanel.add(printerButton);
frame.add(grid);
//iconPanel settings
iconPanel.setBorder(BorderFactory.createLoweredSoftBevelBorder());
iconPanel.setBackground(Color.gray);
iconPanel.setLayout(new FlowLayout());
iconPanel.setSize(new Dimension(100, 600));
iconPanel.setVisible(true);
//grid setting
grid.setBackground(Color.red);
grid.setSize(new Dimension(700, 600));
grid.setVisible(true);
//this is for resizing components when the user resizes the window
int counter = 0;
while(counter == 0)
{
firewallButton.setSize(new Dimension(iconPanel.getWidth(), 50));
networkButton.setSize(new Dimension(iconPanel.getWidth(), 50));
printerButton.setSize(new Dimension(iconPanel.getWidth(), 50));
iconPanelSizeX = frame.getWidth() / 10;
iconPanelSizeY = frame.getHeight();
gridSizeX = (frame.getWidth() / 10) * 9;
gridSizeY = frame.getHeight();
iconPanel.setSize(new Dimension(iconPanelSizeX, iconPanelSizeY));
grid.setSize(new Dimension(gridSizeX, gridSizeY));
}
}
}
As you can see, the second JPanel (grid) doesn't line up with the right side of the frame, and the buttons inside iconTray don't center either. I realize these are both probably simple layout fixes, but I have no clue where to start.
For simple splitting of JFrame you can use GridLayout with 1 row and 2 colums.
frame.setLayout(new GridLayout(1,2,3,3)); //3,3 are gaps
frame.add(grid);
frame.add(iconPanel);
For centering components in panels you can use FlowLayout which is by default set on JPanels:
Doing it manualy:
grid.setLayout(new FlowLayout()); //Centered components
grid.setLayout(new FlowLayout(FlowLayout.LEFT,3,3)); //Components aligned to left
grid.setLayout(new FlowLayout(FlowLayout.RIGHT,3,3)); //Components aligned to right
This is how it looks:
Also, few observations:
Never call setXXXSize() methods for your components;
Try to avoid calling setSize(); for JFrame, call pack(); instead;
Call setVisible(true); in the end of code;
All your huge code can be "stripped" to this:
import javax.swing.*;
import java.awt.*;
public class Main extends JPanel
{
public static void main(String[] args)
{
JFrame frame = new JFrame("Application Name");
JPanel iconPanel = new JPanel();
JPanel grid = new JPanel(new FlowLayout());
JButton firewallButton = new JButton("Firewall");
JButton networkButton = new JButton("Network");
JButton printerButton = new JButton("Printer");
frame.add(iconPanel);
iconPanel.add(firewallButton);
iconPanel.add(networkButton);
iconPanel.add(printerButton);
grid.setBackground(Color.GREEN);
frame.setLayout(new GridLayout(1,2,3,3));
frame.add(grid);
frame.add(iconPanel);
frame.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
frame.pack();
frame.setLocationRelativeTo(null);
frame.setVisible(true);
}
}
how to align buttons vertically?
This example uses a vertical Box in the WEST area of the frame's default BorderLayout:
import java.awt.*;
import javax.swing.*;
/** #see http://stackoverflow.com/a/14927280/230513 */
public class Main {
public static void main(String[] args) {
EventQueue.invokeLater(new Runnable() {
#Override
public void run() {
display();
}
});
}
private static void display() throws HeadlessException {
JFrame frame = new JFrame("Application Name");
JButton firewallButton = new JButton("Firewall");
JButton networkButton = new JButton("Network");
JButton printerButton = new JButton("Printer");
//iconPanel settings
Box iconPanel = new Box(BoxLayout.Y_AXIS);
iconPanel.add(firewallButton);
iconPanel.add(networkButton);
iconPanel.add(printerButton);
iconPanel.setBackground(Color.gray);
iconPanel.setVisible(true);
frame.add(iconPanel, BorderLayout.WEST);
//grid setting
JPanel grid = new JPanel() {
#Override
// arbitrary placeholder size
public Dimension getPreferredSize() {
return new Dimension(320, 230);
}
};
grid.setBackground(Color.red);
frame.add(grid, BorderLayout.CENTER);
//frame setting
frame.pack();
frame.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
frame.setLocationRelativeTo(null);
frame.setVisible(true);
}
}
I suggest you take some time going through A Visual Guide to Layout Managers. This will help you become familiar with the layout managers which are available with the Standard API. It takes some experience and hard work to figure out which of these is the right tool to get the exact look you want. Once you become comfortable with what is available from the Standard API, you should also look around for third-party Layout Manager APIs which provide other options.
I have to panels in my JFrame that I need to align (One to the left,
one to the right) and a few buttons in one of the panels that I need
to be centered in the panel. Here is my code.
I realize these are both probably simple layout fixes, but I have no
clue where to start.
Use more complex layout than simple FlowLayout which you actually using. I suggest to you use
GridBagLayout
BoxLayout
Check references here

problem in nested Jpanel over Jframe

I have a JFrame and a Jpanel over that in which various buttons are placed.so on click of a button I have called a new class which is also having containers placed in a Jpanel.so I want to show that new class panel over the main Jframe panel.How can I do that?
And if we use card layout in it then how can i use that as on click button i have called an object of a new class.
as
Card layout consider each component in a container as card and i want whole Jpanel as a card so is it possible to do that???
Can We do nesting of Jpanels in it?
Please suggest me a right way to do that?
here is SSCCE:
// this is the main class on which i want to use panel of other class
public class mymain
{
JFrame jframe = new JFrame();
JPanel panel = new JPanel();
BorderLayout borderlayout = new BorderLayout();
public mymain()
{
jframe.setLayout(borderlayout);
JMenuBar menubar = new JMenuBar();
jframe.setJMenuBar(menubar);
JButton home_button = new JButton("HOME");
menubar.add(home_button);
jframe.getContentPane().add(panel,BorderLayout.CENTER);
panel.setLayout(new GridBagLayout());
//here used containers over that frame
and call it from main()
}
here is another class to manage category is
public class manageCategory
{
JPanel panel = new JPanel();
GridBagLayout gridbglayout = new GridBagLayout();
GridBagConstraints gridbgconstraint = new GridBagConstraints();
public manageCategory()
{
panel.setLayout(new BorderLayout());
// i have again here used containers placed with grid bag layout
}
}
So now i want that as i click on home button used in mymain class then the panel that is used in manageCategory() should be displayed on the same panel.and when i again click on home button then the mymain panel get displayed.how can i do that???
I would advise you to use a CardLayout for this task.
Updated example with JPanel and "classes":
static class MainPanel extends JPanel {
public MainPanel(final Container frame) {
add(new JButton(new AbstractAction("Click to view next") {
#Override
public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e) {
frame.add(new NextPanel(), "NextPanel");
((CardLayout) frame.getLayout()).show(frame, "NextPanel");
}
}));
}
}
static class NextPanel extends JPanel {
public NextPanel() {
add(new JLabel("Next page in the card layout"));
}
}
public static void main(String[] args) throws Exception {
JFrame frame = new JFrame("Test");
frame.setLayout(new CardLayout());
frame.add(new MainPanel(frame.getContentPane()), "MainPanel");
frame.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
frame.setSize(400, 300);
frame.setVisible(true);
}
CardLayout is one of possible ways, but there are another options valid or required by most completed GUI
1) BorderLayout, because there only one JComponent can occupate decision area
someContainer.add(myPanel, BorderLayout.CENTER)
revalidate();
repaint();
2) GridBagLayout
before anything you have to get declared GridBagConstraints from myOldComponent layed by GridBagLayout
myContainer.setVisible(myOldComponent);
//or
myContainer.remove(myOldComponent);
myContainer.add(myNewComponent, gbc);
revalidate();
repaint();
You can
JFrame myFrame = new JFrame();
JPanel panel1 = new JPanel();
Panel1.setVisible(true);
myFrame.add(panel1);
JPanel panel2 = new JPanel();
Panel2.setVisible(false);
myFrame.add(panel2);
//Here you setup your panels and your actionlisteners etc and when
//you wish for your second panel to show up just run the code below.
panel1.setVisible(false);
panel2.setVisible(true);
Obviously you first have to add both panels to your Jframe. Panel1 will be at first visible, as it is the one shown by default. Panel2 must be set to be invisible in the beginning.

setting the size of a JPanel

I have a class that extends a JPanel called Row. I have a bunch of Row added to a JLabel, the code is the following:
JFrame f=new JFrame();
JPanel rowPanel = new JPanel();
//southReviewPanel.setPreferredSize(new Dimension(400,130));
rowPanel.setLayout(new BoxLayout(rowPanel, BoxLayout.Y_AXIS));
rowPanel.add(test1);
rowPanel.add(test1);
rowPanel.add(test2);
rowPanel.add(test3);
rowPanel.add(test4);
rowPanel.setPreferredSize(new Dimension(600, 400));
rowPanel.setMaximumSize(rowPanel.getPreferredSize());
rowPanel.setMinimumSize(rowPanel.getPreferredSize());
f.setSize(new Dimension(300,600));
JScrollPane sp = new JScrollPane(rowPanel);
sp.setSize(new Dimension(300,600));
f.add(sp);
f.setVisible(true);
where test1...etc is a Row. However when I resize the window the layout of the Row somehow becomes messy (it resizes as well)... how can I prevent this from happening?
Read the Swing tutorial on Using Layout Managers. Each layout manager has its own rules about what happens when the container is resized. Experiment and play.
In the case of a BoxLayout it should respect the maximum size of the components added to the panel so you can do:
childPanel.setMaximumSize( childPanel.getPreferredSize() );
If you need more help post your SSCCE demonstrating the problem.
I took the code in http://download.oracle.com/javase/tutorial/uiswing/examples/layout/BoxLayoutDemoProject/src/layout/BoxLayoutDemo.java and adapted it with what you are trying to do, only using buttons instead of custom JPanels:
public class BoxLayoutDemo {
public static void addComponentsToPane(Container pane) {
JPanel rowPanel = new JPanel();
pane.add(rowPanel);
rowPanel.setLayout(new BoxLayout(rowPanel, BoxLayout.Y_AXIS));
rowPanel.add(addAButton("Button 1"));
rowPanel.add(addAButton("Button 2"));
rowPanel.add(addAButton("Button 3"));
rowPanel.add(addAButton("Button 4"));
rowPanel.add(addAButton("5"));
rowPanel.setPreferredSize(new Dimension(600, 400));
rowPanel.setMaximumSize(rowPanel.getPreferredSize());
rowPanel.setMinimumSize(rowPanel.getPreferredSize());
}
private static JButton addAButton(String text) {
JButton button = new JButton(text);
button.setAlignmentX(Component.CENTER_ALIGNMENT);
return button;
}
private static void createAndShowGUI() {
JFrame frame = new JFrame("BoxLayoutDemo");
frame.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
//Set up the content pane.
addComponentsToPane(frame.getContentPane());
//Display the window.
frame.pack();
frame.setVisible(true);
}
public static void main(String[] args) {
javax.swing.SwingUtilities.invokeLater(new Runnable() {
public void run() {
createAndShowGUI();
}
});
}
}
The end result is this:
As you can see, the button row is perfectly aligned. If you resize the JFrame, they stay aligned. Is that what you are looking for?

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