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Java Swing Glue not working between 2 buttons

I am trying to make my own little game in Java as a personal excercise however I am finding a lot of issues using BoxLayout's in Java Swing.
So I have a basic MVC application and I need two buttons at the top both "New Game" and "Submit" to both be on the same line in the GUI. I have found out that I can use glue to do this however all of the guides I have found on it, do not work. Am I missing something obvious here?
This is my view code (my GUI):
package mvc;
import java.awt.*;
import java.awt.event.ActionListener;
import java.util.Map;
import java.util.Set;
import javax.swing.*;
public class View extends JFrame {
//User input Characters
private JTextField firstChar = new JTextField(1);
private JTextField secondChar = new JTextField(1);
private JTextField thirdChar = new JTextField(1);
private JTextField fourthChar = new JTextField(1);
private JTextField fifthChar = new JTextField(1);
//Displays on GUI
private JButton submitButton = new JButton("Submit");
private JButton newButton = new JButton("New Game");
View() {
JPanel gamePanel = new JPanel();
gamePanel.setLayout(new BoxLayout(gamePanel, BoxLayout.Y_AXIS));
this.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
this.setSize(600, 200);
gamePanel.add(submitButton);
gamePanel.add(Box.createHorizontalGlue());
gamePanel.add(newButton);
gamePanel.add(firstChar);
gamePanel.add(secondChar);
gamePanel.add(thirdChar);
gamePanel.add(fourthChar);
gamePanel.add(fifthChar);
this.add(gamePanel);
}
}
Any help would be massively appreciated!
I have tried using glue and rigid area's to solve this however neither worked. I am expecting both buttons to be on the same line in my GUI

You use Boxlayout, that according to https://docs.oracle.com/en/java/javase/17/docs/api/java.desktop/javax/swing/BoxLayout.html
A layout manager that allows multiple components to be laid out either vertically or horizontally.
In your case it is vertical, and I never used Glue so I am not even aware whether it can change that behaviour.
But you can for sure put the two buttons in an extra panel and add that to your gamePanel, like so:
JPanel buttonBar = new JPanel();
buttonBar.setLayout(new FlowLayout());
buttonBar.add(submitButton);
buttonBar.add(newButton);
gamePanel.add(buttonBar);

BoxLayout can either lay out the components along the X_AXIS or along the Y_AXIS. You cannot mix this two layout directions with a single BoxLayout.
One way to solve your problem is to wrap both buttons in a JPanel and use a BoxLayout(.., BoxLayout.X_AXIS) to lay out this button panel.
You would then add the button panel as the first element of the gamePanel:
package mvc;
import java.awt.*;
import java.awt.event.ActionListener;
import java.util.Map;
import java.util.Set;
import javax.swing.*;
public class View extends JFrame {
//User input Characters
private JTextField firstChar = new JTextField(1);
private JTextField secondChar = new JTextField(1);
private JTextField thirdChar = new JTextField(1);
private JTextField fourthChar = new JTextField(1);
private JTextField fifthChar = new JTextField(1);
//Displays on GUI
private JButton submitButton = new JButton("Submit");
private JButton newButton = new JButton("New Game");
View() {
JPanel gamePanel = new JPanel();
gamePanel.setLayout(new BoxLayout(gamePanel, BoxLayout.Y_AXIS));
this.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
this.setSize(600, 200);
JPanel buttonPanel = new JPanel();
buttonPanel.setLayout(new BoxLayout(buttonPanel, BoxLayout.X_AXIS));
buttonPanel.add(submitButton);
buttonPanel.add(Box.createHorizontalGlue());
buttonPanel.add(newButton);
gamePanel.add(buttonPanel);
gamePanel.add(firstChar);
gamePanel.add(secondChar);
gamePanel.add(thirdChar);
gamePanel.add(fourthChar);
gamePanel.add(fifthChar);
this.add(gamePanel);
}
}

How to fix the position of the JPanels after expanding the JFrame

I am trying to make the interface of a program using Java Swing. I have a container where I add 3 JPanels with some components. The problem is that when I expand the frame all those 3 JPanels come on the first row one next to another.
Here is my code:
import java.awt.Color;
import java.awt.Container;
import java.awt.FlowLayout;
import javax.swing.JButton;
import javax.swing.JFrame;
import javax.swing.JLabel;
import javax.swing.JPanel;
import javax.swing.JTextField;
import javax.swing.SpringLayout;
import javax.swing.border.LineBorder;
public class GraphicRefact extends JFrame {
private Container container;
private JButton button2;
private JButton button1;
private JTextField textField01;
private JLabel label01;
private JButton button03;
private JButton button04;
private JTextField textField03;
private JLabel label03;
private JButton button02;
private JButton button01;
private JTextField textField02;
private JLabel label02;
public static void main(String[] args) {
new GraphicRefact();
}
public GraphicRefact() {
initializeComponents();
setTitle("Title");
setSize(500, 150);
setVisible(true);
setDefaultCloseOperation(EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
container = new JPanel();
JPanel panel01 = new JPanel();
panel01.add(label01);
panel01.add(textField01);
panel01.add(button2);
panel01.add(button1);
panel01.setBorder(new LineBorder(Color.BLACK, 3));
container.add(panel01);
JPanel panel02 = new JPanel();
panel02.add(label02);
panel02.add(textField02);
panel02.add(button02);
panel02.add(button01);
container.add(panel02);
JPanel panel03 = new JPanel();
panel03.add(label03);
panel03.add(textField03);
panel03.add(button03);
panel03.add(button04);
container.add(panel03);
add(container);
}
private void initializeComponents() {
button1 = new JButton("Open");
button2 = new JButton("Close");
textField01 = new JTextField("Choose the path...");
label01 = new JLabel("Choose File: ");
button01 = new JButton("Button01");
button02 = new JButton("Button02");
textField02 = new JTextField("Choose the path...");
label02 = new JLabel("Choose Dir:");
button03 = new JButton("Button03");
button04 = new JButton("Button03");
textField03 = new JTextField("Choose the path...");
label03 = new JLabel("Choose Dir:");
}
}
Here is how the program looks before and after I expand the frame.
Before:
After:
So, even after I expand the frame, I want the program to leave those 3 JPanels on the middle of cotainer.
Thank you!

You can set the gridLayout and put those elements inside.
JPanel jp = new JPanel();
GridLayout gl = new GridLayout(3,4); //3 rows, 4 columns
jp.setLayout(gl);
After you do this, just put your elements inside layout, by order.
jp.add(label1);
jp.add(button1);
//etc...

You have to use a proper LayoutManager. Look at the examples there. BoxLayout seems to be what you want.

I can't see where you have defined any positions for anything, if you need to read how that's done you can start here
Positioning a JPanel in a JFrame at specific position

The inbuilt layout manger of java swing are not that useful.
You should use this
frame.setLayout(null);
component.setLocation(x, y);
frame.add(component);

Not Having any output after having added two JPanel on a JLayeredPane

What I'm trying to do is overwriting two panels, where I am Inserting an Image in the background panel through the use of a JLabel, and I want another smaller panel to appear on that same background Image! Here is what I have written:
import javax.swing.*;
import javax.swing.text.html.ImageView;
import java.awt.*;
public class addImage extends JFrame {
private JLabel label;
private ImageIcon Image;
private JButton b;
private JPanel panel1;
private JPanel panel2;
private JLayeredPane layerpanel;
public addImage() {
// JFRame
super("First Time adding Image");
setLayout(null);
setVisible(true);
setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
setLocationRelativeTo(null);
setSize(400, 400);
// JLabel containing Image
Image = new ImageIcon(getClass().getResource("image1.jpg"));
// Adding Image in JLabel
label = new JLabel(Image);
// Adding Label to panel1
panel1 = new JPanel();
panel1.add(label);
// JPanel2
panel2 = new JPanel();
panel2.setBackground(Color.darkGray);
panel2.setPreferredSize(new Dimension(200, 200));
panel2.setOpaque(true);
// LAyeredPane adding both panels
layerpanel = new JLayeredPane();
layerpanel.setLayout(new BorderLayout());
layerpanel.add(panel1, new Integer(0), 0);
layerpanel.add(panel2, new Integer(1), 1);
add(layerpanel);
}
public static void main(String[] args) {
new addImage();
}
}
After executing the piece of code Im not getting any output except the empty frame!
I am getting these errors :
Exception in thread "main" java.lang.IllegalArgumentException: cannot add to layout: constraint must be a string (or null)
at java.awt.BorderLayout.addLayoutComponent(Unknown Source)
at java.awt.Container.addImpl(Unknown Source)
at javax.swing.JLayeredPane.addImpl(Unknown Source)
at java.awt.Container.add(Unknown Source)
at addImage.<init>(addImage.java:45)
at addImage.main(addImage.java:53)
I have checked all the question related but still I have not been able to find the solution!!!!
Any kind of help will be appreciated ! Thank you

You're problem is here:
layerpanel.setLayout(new BorderLayout());
layerpanel.add(panel1, new Integer(0), 0);
layerpanel.add(panel2, new Integer(1), 1);
and it's not helped by
setLayout(null);
The JLayeredPane now requires that you pass it one of the valid constraints for BorderLayout (like BorderLayout.NORTH).
Having said that, I'm not sure what you hope to achieve doing this.
You could get the same effect by using a CardLayout with a lot less mess, see How to Use CardLayout for more details
I can "replicate" your desired output using something like...
import java.awt.BorderLayout;
import java.awt.Color;
import java.awt.Dimension;
import java.awt.GridBagConstraints;
import java.awt.GridBagLayout;
import javax.swing.ImageIcon;
import javax.swing.JButton;
import javax.swing.JFrame;
import javax.swing.JLabel;
import javax.swing.JLayeredPane;
import javax.swing.JPanel;
public class AddImage extends JFrame {
private JLabel label;
private ImageIcon Image;
private JButton b;
private JPanel panel1;
private JPanel panel2;
private JLayeredPane layerpanel;
public AddImage() {
// JFRame
super("First Time adding Image");
setLayout(new BorderLayout());
setVisible(true);
setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
setLocationRelativeTo(null);
setSize(400, 400);
// JLabel containing Image
// Image = new ImageIcon(getClass().getResource("image1.jpg"));
// Adding Image in JLabel
label = new JLabel("Help");
// Adding Label to panel1
panel1 = new JPanel();
panel1.add(label);
// JPanel2
panel2 = new JPanel();
panel2.setBackground(Color.darkGray);
panel2.setPreferredSize(new Dimension(200, 200));
panel2.setOpaque(true);
// LAyeredPane adding both panels
layerpanel = new JLayeredPane();
layerpanel.setLayout(new GridBagLayout());
GridBagConstraints gbc = new GridBagConstraints();
gbc.gridx = 0;
gbc.gridy = 0;
layerpanel.add(panel1, gbc);
layerpanel.add(panel2, gbc);
layerpanel.setLayer(panel1, new Integer(0));
layerpanel.setLayer(panel2, new Integer(1));
add(layerpanel);
}
public static void main(String[] args) {
new AddImage();
}
}

How to program this GUI in Java Swing

I'm currently developing a small utility with the following GUI:
Right now i have a container (JPanel) with the BorderLayout layout that holds everything in place. The i have another 2 JPanels placed on BorderLayout.NORTH and BorderLayout.SOUTH respectively, each whith the GridLayout (2 columns by 1 row). The table is on the main container placed at the CENTER of it.
Do you think this is the best approach? I'm having a rough time dealing with spacing between the components and the borders of the frame.
Right now i have this code:
import java.awt.BorderLayout;
import java.awt.Dimension;
import java.awt.GridLayout;
import javax.swing.JButton;
import javax.swing.JFrame;
import javax.swing.JLabel;
import javax.swing.JMenu;
import javax.swing.JMenuBar;
import javax.swing.JMenuItem;
import javax.swing.JPanel;
import javax.swing.JSeparator;
import javax.swing.JTable;
import javax.swing.SwingUtilities;
public class GUI extends JFrame {
private JButton loadFileBtn = new JButton("Load File");
private JButton generateReportBtn = new JButton("Generate Report");
private JButton exitBtn = new JButton("Exit");
private JLabel fileNameLbl = new JLabel("File Name Here");
private JMenuBar menuBar = new JMenuBar();
private JMenu fileMI = new JMenu("File");
private JMenuItem openFileMenu = new JMenuItem("Open File");
private JSeparator separator = new JSeparator();
private JMenuItem exitMenu = new JMenuItem("Exit");
private JMenu reportMI = new JMenu("Report");
private JMenuItem generateReportMenu = new JMenuItem("Generate Report");
private JMenu helpMI = new JMenu("Help");
private JMenuItem aboutMenu = new JMenuItem("About");
private JTable table = new JTable(5, 2);
private JPanel mainPanel = new JPanel(new BorderLayout(10, 10));
private JPanel panel1 = new JPanel(new BorderLayout());
private JPanel panel2 = new JPanel(new GridLayout(1, 2));
private JPanel panel3 = new JPanel(new GridLayout(1, 2));
public GUI() {
super("Sample GUI");
setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
setSize(new Dimension(300, 300));
setResizable(false);
setLayout(new BorderLayout(10, 10));
fileMI.add(openFileMenu);
fileMI.add(separator);
fileMI.add(exitMenu);
reportMI.add(generateReportMenu);
helpMI.add(aboutMenu);
menuBar.add(fileMI);
menuBar.add(reportMI);
menuBar.add(helpMI);
setJMenuBar(menuBar);
panel1.add(table, BorderLayout.CENTER);
panel2.add(fileNameLbl);
panel2.add(loadFileBtn);
panel3.add(generateReportBtn);
panel3.add(exitBtn);
mainPanel.add(panel2, BorderLayout.NORTH);
mainPanel.add(panel1, BorderLayout.CENTER);
mainPanel.add(panel3, BorderLayout.SOUTH);
add(mainPanel);
}
public static void main(String[] args) {
SwingUtilities.invokeLater(new Runnable() {
#Override
public void run() {
GUI app = new GUI();
app.setVisible(true);
}
});
}
}
What do you think would be the best approach to do this?
Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.
UPDATE:
Right now, i have the following GUI
I want the components to space away from the borders evenly, like in the mockup.

2 things you can use to make this happen:
Use BorderFactory.createEmptyBorder(int, int, int, int)
Use the 4-args constructor of GridLayout
There are other LayoutManager's which can bring the same functionality (like GridBagLayout, or using nested BorderLayout), but if you feel comfortable with the current LayoutManager's, there is no imperious need to change to those. The way you did is also acceptable.
You might consider wrapping the table in a JScrollPane to make it nicer, with headers and scrollbars if ever needed.
Small example code:
import java.awt.BorderLayout;
import java.awt.Dimension;
import java.awt.GridLayout;
import javax.swing.BorderFactory;
import javax.swing.JButton;
import javax.swing.JFrame;
import javax.swing.JLabel;
import javax.swing.JMenu;
import javax.swing.JMenuBar;
import javax.swing.JMenuItem;
import javax.swing.JPanel;
import javax.swing.JSeparator;
import javax.swing.JTable;
import javax.swing.SwingUtilities;
public class GUI extends JFrame {
private JButton loadFileBtn = new JButton("Load File");
private JButton generateReportBtn = new JButton("Generate Report");
private JButton exitBtn = new JButton("Exit");
private JLabel fileNameLbl = new JLabel("File Name Here");
private JMenuBar menuBar = new JMenuBar();
private JMenu fileMI = new JMenu("File");
private JMenuItem openFileMenu = new JMenuItem("Open File");
private JSeparator separator = new JSeparator();
private JMenuItem exitMenu = new JMenuItem("Exit");
private JMenu reportMI = new JMenu("Report");
private JMenuItem generateReportMenu = new JMenuItem("Generate Report");
private JMenu helpMI = new JMenu("Help");
private JMenuItem aboutMenu = new JMenuItem("About");
private JTable table = new JTable(5, 2);
private JPanel mainPanel = new JPanel(new BorderLayout(10, 10));
private JPanel panel1 = new JPanel(new BorderLayout());
private JPanel panel2 = new JPanel(new GridLayout(1, 2, 10, 10));
private JPanel panel3 = new JPanel(new GridLayout(1, 2, 10, 10));
public GUI() {
super("Sample GUI");
setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
setSize(new Dimension(300, 300));
setResizable(false);
setLayout(new BorderLayout(10, 10));
fileMI.add(openFileMenu);
fileMI.add(separator);
fileMI.add(exitMenu);
reportMI.add(generateReportMenu);
helpMI.add(aboutMenu);
menuBar.add(fileMI);
menuBar.add(reportMI);
menuBar.add(helpMI);
setJMenuBar(menuBar);
panel1.add(table, BorderLayout.CENTER);
panel2.add(fileNameLbl);
panel2.add(loadFileBtn);
panel3.add(generateReportBtn);
panel3.add(exitBtn);
mainPanel.add(panel2, BorderLayout.NORTH);
mainPanel.add(panel1, BorderLayout.CENTER);
mainPanel.add(panel3, BorderLayout.SOUTH);
mainPanel.setBorder(BorderFactory.createEmptyBorder(10, 10, 10, 10));
add(mainPanel);
}
public static void main(String[] args) {
SwingUtilities.invokeLater(new Runnable() {
#Override
public void run() {
GUI app = new GUI();
app.setVisible(true);
}
});
}
}

In the past, I have found that using MigLayout, solves all my problems

Here's how I would arrange your GUI. This is just one way. It's not the only way.
The JTable goes inside of a JScrollPane.
Button2 and Button3 go inside of a button JPanel with a FlowLayout.
Label and Button1 go inside of a label JPanel with a FlowLayout.
File, Report, and Help are JMenuItems on a JMenuBar.
The main JPanel has a BoxLayout with a Y_AXIS orientation.
Add the label JPanel, the JScrollPane, and the button JPanel to the main JPanel.

The best way is to create a GUI is to code in a way you and others will understand . Take a look at this Guide to Layout Managers. You can use different layout managers for different components. This will help you setting correct spacing.
If your problem is just the spacing around the components, set its Insets.

adding a label to a text field

Hi I am trying to create an interface consisting of a JComboBox and a JTextField. I have sorted out the code to add a label to the JComboBox but I am having trouble adding a label to the text field. Any help would be appreciated.
import javax.swing. *;
import java.awt.event. *;
import java.awt.FlowLayout;
import java.lang.Math;
public class AreaFrame3 extends JFrame
{
public static void main(``String[]args)
{
//Create array containing shapes
String[] shapes ={"(no shape selected)","Circle","Equilateral Triangle","Square"};
//Use combobox to create drop down menu
JComboBox comboBox=new JComboBox(shapes);
JPanel panel1 = new JPanel(new FlowLayout()); //set frame layout
JLabel label1 = new JLabel("Select shape:");
panel1.add(label1);
panel1.add(comboBox);
JTextField text = new JTextField(10); //create text field
JFrame frame=new JFrame("Area Calculator Window");//create a JFrame to put combobox
frame.setLayout(new FlowLayout()); //set layout
frame.add(panel1);
frame.add(text);
JButton button = new JButton("GO"); //create GO button
frame.add(button);
//set default close operation for JFrame
frame.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
//set JFrame ssize
frame.setSize(400,250);
//make JFrame visible. So we can see it
frame.setVisible(true);
}
}

Here is one way to do it. Simply put all the widgets in your panel1 in appropriate order.
In the long run this is probably not very much maintainable and you would want to have a better LayoutManager than FlowLayout, but if you just want to learn Swing, this may be a good start. If you feel that FlowLayout is not good enough, take a look at the LayoutManager tutorial. My personal favourites are: BorderLayout and GridBagLayout. MigLayout may also be a good one, but I have never used it and it is not part of the JVM.
import java.awt.FlowLayout;
import javax.swing.JButton;
import javax.swing.JComboBox;
import javax.swing.JFrame;
import javax.swing.JLabel;
import javax.swing.JPanel;
import javax.swing.JTextField;
import javax.swing.SwingUtilities;
public class AreaFrame3 {
protected void initUI() {
// Create array containing shapes
String[] shapes = { "(no shape selected)", "Circle", "Equilateral Triangle", "Square" };
// Use combobox to create drop down menu
JComboBox comboBox = new JComboBox(shapes);
JLabel label1 = new JLabel("Select shape:");
JPanel panel1 = new JPanel(new FlowLayout()); // set frame layout
JLabel label2 = new JLabel("Text label:");
JTextField text = new JTextField(10); // create text field
panel1.add(label1);
panel1.add(comboBox);
panel1.add(label2);
panel1.add(text);
JFrame frame = new JFrame("Area Calculator Window");// create a JFrame to put combobox
frame.setLayout(new FlowLayout()); // set layout
frame.add(panel1);
JButton button = new JButton("GO"); // create GO button
frame.add(button);
// set default close operation for JFrame
frame.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
frame.pack();
// make JFrame visible. So we can see it
frame.setVisible(true);
}
public static void main(String[] args) {
SwingUtilities.invokeLater(new Runnable() {
#Override
public void run() {
new AreaFrame3().initUI();
}
});
}
}