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Drawline not working with JPanel or JFrame

I cant seem to get the line to appear. I have a Background color and a few pictures. If I have frame.setSize(x, y); and frame.setVisible(true);
then the outcome is as expected but without the line there. If I change the code and remove frame. from these two lines, leaving setSize(x,y); and setVisible(true);. I have tried using extends JPanel and extends JFrame but neither work. I have tried adding and removing #Override, paintComponent and g2d.drawLine.
It either one or the other, how do I get both to work?
import javax.swing.*;
import java.awt.*;
import javax.imageio.*;
import java.io.*;
public class CodeBreaker extends JPanel
{
JFrame frame = new JFrame("Code Breaker!");
Picture picture = new Picture("Empty.png");
JLabel label = new JLabel(picture);
JLabel label2 = new JLabel(picture);
JLabel label3 = new JLabel(picture);
JLabel label4 = new JLabel(picture);
JLabel label5 = new JLabel(picture);
JLabel label6 = new JLabel(picture);
JLabel label7 = new JLabel(picture);
JLabel label8 = new JLabel(picture);
JPanel panel = new JPanel();
JPanel panel2 = new JPanel();
public CodeBreaker()
{
frame.setSize(600, 900);
frame.setContentPane(panel);
frame.add(panel2);
frame.setResizable(true);
frame.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
frame.getContentPane().setBackground(new Color(141, 100, 21));
panel.add(label);
panel.add(label2);
panel.add(label3);
panel.add(label4);
panel2.add(label5);
panel2.add(label6);
panel2.add(label7);
panel2.add(label8);
panel2.setOpaque(false);
frame.setVisible(true);
}
/*
void drawLines(Graphics g)
{
Graphics2D g2d = (Graphics2D) g;
g2d.drawLine(120, 50, 360, 50);
}
*/
#Override
public void paintComponent(Graphics g)
{
super.paintComponent(g);
g.setColor(Color.white);
g.drawLine(120, 50, 360, 50);
}
}
And this is my main:
public class CodeBreakerDriver
{
public static void main(String[] args)
{
CodeBreaker cb = new CodeBreaker();
}
}

Introduction
Oracle has a helpful tutorial, Creating a GUI With Swing. Skip the Learning Swing with the NetBeans IDE section.
Since the code you posted isn't executable, I went ahead and created the following GUI.
You can see a black line in the lower right of the GUI.
Explanation
All Swing applications must start with a call to the SwingUtilities invokeLater method. This method ensures that the Swing components are created and executed on the Event Dispatch Thread.
Create the JFrame and JPanels in separate methods. This makes the code much easier to read and understand.
Use Swing layout managers. The JFrame has a default BorderLayout. I used a FlowLayout for both JPanels.
Code
Here's the complete runnable code. I made the Picture class an inner class so I could post the code as one block.
import java.awt.BorderLayout;
import java.awt.Color;
import java.awt.FlowLayout;
import java.awt.Graphics;
import java.awt.image.BufferedImage;
import javax.swing.BorderFactory;
import javax.swing.ImageIcon;
import javax.swing.JFrame;
import javax.swing.JLabel;
import javax.swing.JPanel;
import javax.swing.SwingUtilities;
public class CodeBreakerGUI implements Runnable {
public static void main(String[] args) {
SwingUtilities.invokeLater(new CodeBreakerGUI());
}
private final Picture picture;
public CodeBreakerGUI() {
this.picture = new Picture();
}
#Override
public void run() {
JFrame frame = new JFrame("Code Breaker!");
frame.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
frame.add(createTopPanel(), BorderLayout.NORTH);
frame.add(createBottomPanel(), BorderLayout.SOUTH);
frame.pack();
frame.setLocationByPlatform(true);
frame.setVisible(true);
}
public JPanel createTopPanel() {
JPanel panel = new JPanel(new FlowLayout(FlowLayout.CENTER, 25, 25));
panel.setBorder(BorderFactory.createEmptyBorder(5, 5, 5, 5));
JLabel label = new JLabel(new ImageIcon(picture.getEmptyImage()));
panel.add(label);
JLabel label2 = new JLabel(new ImageIcon(picture.getEmptyImage()));
panel.add(label2);
JLabel label3 = new JLabel(new ImageIcon(picture.getEmptyImage()));
panel.add(label3);
JLabel label4 = new JLabel(new ImageIcon(picture.getEmptyImage()));
panel.add(label4);
return panel;
}
public JPanel createBottomPanel() {
JPanel panel = new JPanel(new FlowLayout(FlowLayout.CENTER, 25, 25)) {
private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
#Override
protected void paintComponent(Graphics g) {
super.paintComponent(g);
g.setColor(Color.black);
g.drawLine(120, 50, 360, 50);
}
};
panel.setBorder(BorderFactory.createEmptyBorder(5, 5, 5, 5));
JLabel label5 = new JLabel(new ImageIcon(picture.getEmptyImage()));
panel.add(label5);
JLabel label6 = new JLabel(new ImageIcon(picture.getEmptyImage()));
panel.add(label6);
JLabel label7 = new JLabel(new ImageIcon(picture.getEmptyImage()));
panel.add(label7);
JLabel label8 = new JLabel(new ImageIcon(picture.getEmptyImage()));
panel.add(label8);
return panel;
}
public class Picture {
private final BufferedImage emptyImage;
public Picture() {
this.emptyImage = new BufferedImage(64, 64, BufferedImage.TYPE_INT_RGB);
}
public BufferedImage getEmptyImage() {
return emptyImage;
}
}
}

Changing Width of JTextField?

I am trying to set the width of the JTextField but non of the methods to change it's size are working I have tried to change the amount of columns to change the width of the JTextField but it's not working?
What is causing this?
And how will I be able to change the width?
import javax.swing.*;
import java.awt.*;
import java.awt.event.ComponentEvent;
import java.awt.event.ComponentListener;
public class main {
public static void main(String[] args) {
//Create and set up the window.
final JFrame frame = new JFrame("Layout 1");
frame.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
frame.setBounds(0, 0, 1500, 1000);
frame.setBackground(new Color(255,255,255));
frame.setLayout(null);
Container pane = frame.getContentPane();
pane.setLayout(null);
JLayeredPane jlp = new JLayeredPane();
frame.setContentPane(jlp);
JPanel container = new JPanel();
//container.setBackground(new Color(241,241,241));
container.setBackground(Color.RED);
container.setBounds(0,0,frame.getWidth(), 75);
container.setLayout(null);
JPanel containerA = new JPanel();
containerA.setBackground(Color.blue);
containerA.setBounds(90 ,10,50,50);
JPanel containerB = new JPanel();
containerB.setBackground(Color.RED);
containerB.setBounds(95 ,20,50,50);
//This is the top textfield
JTextField textField = new JTextField(1000);
textField.setLayout(null);
textField.setPreferredSize(new Dimension(1000,1000));
textField.setBounds(0,0,2300,50);
textField.setColumns(1000);
textField.setSize(1000,10);
textField.invalidate();
textField.setMinimumSize(new Dimension(1000,100));
container.add(textField);
jlp.add(container, Integer.valueOf(2));
jlp.add(containerA, Integer.valueOf(1));
jlp.add(containerB, Integer.valueOf(3));
container.setVisible(true);
frame.invalidate();
frame.setVisible(true);
}
}

You need to change just this line, and will get width of text field,
textField.setSize(1000,25);

How to give a preffered size to the JButton?

import javax.swing.*;
import java.awt.*;
class MainGui{
JFrame frame = new JFrame();
JPanel mainPanel = new JPanel();
JButton newBut = new JButton("New Game");
JButton continueBut = new JButton("Continue");
JButton exitBut = new JButton("Exit");
JLabel backImage = new JLabel(new ImageIcon("C:\\Users\\BSK\\Desktop\\game5.jpg"));
public MainGui(){
frame.setSize(600,800);
frame.setVisible(true);
frame.setResizable(false);
setButtonSize();
frame.setLayout(new BorderLayout());
frame.setContentPane(backImage);
frame.getContentPane().setLayout(new BoxLayout(frame.getContentPane(),BoxLayout.Y_AXIS));
insertBlankArea(frame);
frame.getContentPane().add(newBut);
insertBlankArea(frame);
frame.getContentPane().add(continueBut);
insertBlankArea(frame);
frame.getContentPane().add(exitBut);
frame.setSize(799,800);
}
public void insertBlankArea(JFrame frame){
frame.getContentPane().add(Box.createRigidArea(new Dimension(280,155)));
}
public void setButtonSize(){
Dimension dim = new Dimension(100,100);//here is the problem,i am not getting the desired dimension and the size of buttons remains the default.
newBut.setPreferredSize(dim);
continueBut.setPreferredSize(dim);
exitBut.setPreferredSize(dim);
}
public static void main(String[] args) {
MainGui mainGui = new MainGui();
}
}
So iam not getting the defined size for the buttons but when i set frame.setResizable(false); then when i stretch the screen the button's height increases but its width still remains the same.
So please tell me what is going wrong?

You should take a look at A Visual Guide to Layout Managers and choose the most appropriate one for your situation. You should also avoid explicitly setting sizes (ie: setSize, setMinimumSize, setMaximumSize, and setPreferredSize) because those methods are the responsibility of the layout manager. You may also be interested in reading this question on whether or not the use of the different set size methods should be avoided or not.
Finally, you should not be calling your MainGUI class outside of the Event Dispatch Thread (EDT). Most Swing GUI-related methods are not thread safe and therefore require being executed in the EDT. Below is a corrected version of your main method:
public static void main(String[] args) {
SwingUtilities.invokeLater(new Runnable() {
#Override
public void run() {
MainGui mainGui = new MainGui();
}
});
}

Just reading your short descrption, I have no idea what your problem is. But based solely on the question title
"How to give a preffered size to the JButton?"
Don't. Let the the layout manager handle this for you. If you want a bigger button, you can use JButton.setMargins(Insets) and/or JButton.setFont(Font) where you specify a bigger font.
If you want you button stretched or not to stretch, You need to select an appropriate layout manager, that will or won't respect the buttons preferred size. For instance, BorderLayout and GridLayout won't respect preferred sizes and will stretch the button the fit, and FlowLayout, BoxLayout, and GridBagLayout will respect the preferred size. As you can see here
See example with GridBagLayout
import javax.swing.*;
import java.awt.*;
class MainGui {
JFrame frame = new JFrame();
JPanel mainPanel = new JPanel();
JButton newBut = new JButton("New Game");
JButton continueBut = new JButton("Continue");
JButton exitBut = new JButton("Exit");
JLabel backImage = new JLabel(new ImageIcon(
getClass().getResource("images.jpg")));
public MainGui() {
backImage.setLayout(new BorderLayout());
frame.setContentPane(backImage);
JPanel mainPanel = new JPanel(new GridBagLayout());
mainPanel.setOpaque(false);
GridBagConstraints gbc = new GridBagConstraints();
gbc.gridy = 0;
gbc.weightx = 1.0;
gbc.weighty = 1.0;
mainPanel.add(newBut, gbc);
gbc.gridy = 1;
mainPanel.add(continueBut, gbc);
gbc.gridy = 2;
mainPanel.add(exitBut, gbc);
frame.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
frame.add(mainPanel);
frame.setSize(250, 275);
frame.setLocationRelativeTo(null);
frame.setVisible(true);
}
public static void main(String[] args) {
SwingUtilities.invokeLater(new Runnable(){
public void run() {
MainGui mainGui = new MainGui();
}
});
}
}
And here's with nesting panels which will give the same result
import java.awt.GridBagLayout;
import java.awt.GridLayout;
import javax.swing.ImageIcon;
import javax.swing.JButton;
import javax.swing.JFrame;
import javax.swing.JLabel;
import javax.swing.JPanel;
import javax.swing.SwingUtilities;
class MainGui {
JFrame frame = new JFrame();
JPanel mainPanel = new JPanel();
JButton newBut = new JButton("New Game");
JButton continueBut = new JButton("Continue");
JButton exitBut = new JButton("Exit");
JLabel backImage = new JLabel(new ImageIcon(
getClass().getResource("images.jpg")));
public MainGui() {
backImage.setLayout(new GridLayout(3,1));
frame.setContentPane(backImage);
JPanel p1= new JPanel(new GridBagLayout());
p1.setOpaque(false);
p1.add(newBut);
JPanel p2 = new JPanel(new GridBagLayout());
p2.setOpaque(false);
p2.add(continueBut);
JPanel p3 = new JPanel(new GridBagLayout());
p3.setOpaque(false);
p3.add(exitBut);
frame.add(p1);
frame.add(p2);
frame.add(p3);
frame.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
frame.setSize(250, 275);
frame.setLocationRelativeTo(null);
frame.setVisible(true);
}
public static void main(String[] args) {
SwingUtilities.invokeLater(new Runnable(){
public void run() {
MainGui mainGui = new MainGui();
}
});
}
}

Why aren't the Jpanels working?

I am trying to write a program with JPanels and for the life of me, I can't seem to get the JPanels to go into the proper positions. I don't have a clue what I am doing wrong.
Here is some of the code I have so far:
package mainGUIWindowFrames;
import javax.swing.*;
import javax.swing.border.*;
import javax.swing.event.*;
import java.awt.*;
import java.awt.event.*;
import java.util.*;
public class CustomerWindow extends JFrame
{
//Attribute
private JTextField textTF;
private JButton copyButton;
private JLabel copyLabel;
private Border panelEdge;
//Constructor
public CustomerWindow()
{
this.setBounds(100,100,800,600);
panelEdge = BorderFactory.createEtchedBorder();
JPanel mainPanel = new JPanel(new BorderLayout(5, 5));
mainPanel.add(createCustomerPanel(), BorderLayout.NORTH);
mainPanel.add(createCustomerInfoPanel(), BorderLayout.EAST);
mainPanel.add(createSearchPanel(), BorderLayout.WEST);
}
//Operational Methods
public JPanel createCustomerPanel()
{
JPanel customerPanel = new JPanel();
JLabel customerL = new JLabel("Clients",SwingConstants.CENTER);
customerL.setForeground(Color.blue);
customerL.setFont(new Font("Copperplate Gothic Bold",Font.BOLD,48));
customerPanel.add(customerL);
customerPanel.setBorder(panelEdge);
return customerPanel;
}
public JPanel createCustomerInfoPanel()
{
JPanel infoPanel = new JPanel();
infoPanel.setBorder(panelEdge);
JLabel infoL = new JLabel("Clients",SwingConstants.CENTER);
infoL.setForeground(Color.blue);
infoL.setFont(new Font("Copperplate Gothic Bold",Font.BOLD,48));
infoPanel.add(infoL);
//add a text field
textTF = new JTextField(50);
infoPanel.add(textTF);
//add a button
copyButton = new JButton("Copy Text");
copyButton.addActionListener(new ButtonListener());
infoPanel.add(copyButton);
copyLabel = new JLabel("-----------------");
infoPanel.add(copyLabel);
return infoPanel;
}
public JPanel createSearchPanel()
{
JPanel lowerPanel = new JPanel();
JLabel label = new JLabel("Text Transferred from JList:");
//the spot where the data shows up
lowerPanel.add(label);
return lowerPanel;
}
The only Panel that shows up is the CreateCustomerPanel(). I have no idea what I need to do to get the other two panels to work.
If you could help me out that would be great!!
well I eventually wound up solving it by creating another panel and moving the panels I had out of the main constructor.
public CustomerWindow() {
panelEdge = BorderFactory.createEtchedBorder();
}
public JPanel createNorthPanel()
{
JPanel customerPanel = new JPanel();
JLabel customerL = new JLabel("Clients",SwingConstants.CENTER);
customerL.setForeground(Color.blue);
customerL.setFont(new Font("Copperplate Gothic Bold",Font.BOLD,48));
customerPanel.add(customerL);
customerPanel.setBorder(panelEdge);
return customerPanel;
}
//Operational Methods
public JPanel createCustomerPanel()
{
JPanel mainPanel = new JPanel(new BorderLayout(5, 5));
mainPanel.add(createNorthPanel(), BorderLayout.NORTH);
mainPanel.add(createCustomerInfoPanel(), BorderLayout.EAST);
mainPanel.add(createSearchPanel(), BorderLayout.WEST);
return mainPanel;
}
public JPanel createCustomerInfoPanel()
{
JPanel infoPanel = new JPanel();
Box vBox = Box.createVerticalBox();
infoPanel.setBorder(panelEdge);
JLabel infoL = new JLabel("Clients",SwingConstants.CENTER);
infoL.setForeground(Color.blue);
infoL.setFont(new Font("Copperplate Gothic Bold",Font.BOLD,48));
infoPanel.add(infoL);
//add a text field
clientId = new JTextField(10);
vBox.add(clientId);
vBox.add(Box.createVerticalStrut(25));
fName = new JTextField(10);
vBox.add(fName);
vBox.add(Box.createVerticalStrut(25));
lName = new JTextField(10);
vBox.add(lName);
vBox.add(Box.createVerticalStrut(25));
address = new JTextField(10);
vBox.add(address);
vBox.add(Box.createVerticalStrut(25));
postalCode = new JTextField(10);
vBox.add(postalCode);
vBox.add(Box.createVerticalStrut(25));
number = new JTextField(10);
vBox.add(number);
vBox.add(Box.createVerticalStrut(25));
type = new JTextField(10);
vBox.add(type);
infoPanel.add(vBox);
return infoPanel;
Ive still got a lot of work to do but thanks to all those who helped me out!!

Based on your example, nothing should show up, as you've not added mainPanel to anything.
Once I did that, I was able to get
to show up...
Modified code example
import java.awt.BorderLayout;
import java.awt.Color;
import java.awt.EventQueue;
import java.awt.Font;
import javax.swing.BorderFactory;
import javax.swing.JButton;
import javax.swing.JFrame;
import javax.swing.JLabel;
import javax.swing.JPanel;
import javax.swing.JTextField;
import javax.swing.SwingConstants;
import javax.swing.UIManager;
import javax.swing.UnsupportedLookAndFeelException;
import javax.swing.border.Border;
public class CustomerWindow extends JFrame {
//Attribute
public static void main(String[] args) {
EventQueue.invokeLater(new Runnable() {
#Override
public void run() {
try {
UIManager.setLookAndFeel(UIManager.getSystemLookAndFeelClassName());
} catch (ClassNotFoundException | InstantiationException | IllegalAccessException | UnsupportedLookAndFeelException ex) {
}
CustomerWindow frame = new CustomerWindow();
frame.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
frame.pack();
frame.setLocationRelativeTo(null);
frame.setVisible(true);
}
});
}
private JTextField textTF;
private JButton copyButton;
private JLabel copyLabel;
private Border panelEdge;
//Constructor
public CustomerWindow() {
this.setBounds(100, 100, 800, 600);
panelEdge = BorderFactory.createEtchedBorder();
JPanel mainPanel = new JPanel(new BorderLayout(5, 5));
mainPanel.add(createCustomerPanel(), BorderLayout.NORTH);
mainPanel.add(createCustomerInfoPanel(), BorderLayout.EAST);
mainPanel.add(createSearchPanel(), BorderLayout.WEST);
add(mainPanel);
}
//Operational Methods
public JPanel createCustomerPanel() {
JPanel customerPanel = new JPanel();
JLabel customerL = new JLabel("Clients", SwingConstants.CENTER);
customerL.setForeground(Color.blue);
customerL.setFont(new Font("Copperplate Gothic Bold", Font.BOLD, 48));
customerPanel.add(customerL);
customerPanel.setBorder(panelEdge);
return customerPanel;
}
public JPanel createCustomerInfoPanel() {
JPanel infoPanel = new JPanel();
infoPanel.setBorder(panelEdge);
JLabel infoL = new JLabel("Clients", SwingConstants.CENTER);
infoL.setForeground(Color.blue);
infoL.setFont(new Font("Copperplate Gothic Bold", Font.BOLD, 48));
infoPanel.add(infoL);
//add a text field
textTF = new JTextField(50);
infoPanel.add(textTF);
//add a button
copyButton = new JButton("Copy Text");
// copyButton.addActionListener(new ButtonListener());
infoPanel.add(copyButton);
copyLabel = new JLabel("-----------------");
infoPanel.add(copyLabel);
return infoPanel;
}
public JPanel createSearchPanel() {
JPanel lowerPanel = new JPanel();
JLabel label = new JLabel("Text Transferred from JList:");
//the spot where the data shows up
lowerPanel.add(label);
return lowerPanel;
}
}

You didn't add the mainpanel in the constructor.
add(mainPanel);

Panels overlap each other when box not big enough

I have this gui; and when the height is not big enough the panes will overlap each other. I have to set it at least 200, so I can completely see the two rows; but when it is set at 200, then I have like a big empty row at the end, and I don't want that. How could I fix this? Thanks.
import java.awt.FlowLayout;
import javax.swing.*;
import java.awt.*;
public class MyFrame extends JFrame {
JButton panicButton;
JButton dontPanic;
JButton blameButton;
JButton newsButton;
JButton mediaButton;
JButton saveButton;
JButton dontSave;
public MyFrame() {
super("Crazy App");
setSize(400, 150);
setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
JPanel row1 = new JPanel();
panicButton = new JButton("Panic");
dontPanic = new JButton("No Panic");
blameButton = new JButton("Blame");
newsButton = new JButton("News");
//adding first row
GridLayout grid1 = new GridLayout(4, 2, 10, 10);
setLayout(grid1);
FlowLayout flow1 = new FlowLayout(FlowLayout.CENTER, 10, 10);
row1.setLayout(flow1);
row1.add(panicButton);
row1.add(dontPanic);
row1.add(blameButton);
row1.add(newsButton);
add(row1);
//adding second row
JPanel row2 = new JPanel();
mediaButton = new JButton("Blame");
saveButton = new JButton("Save");
dontSave = new JButton("No Save");
GridLayout grid2 = new GridLayout(3, 2, 10, 10);
setLayout(grid2);
FlowLayout flow2 = new FlowLayout(FlowLayout.CENTER, 10, 10);
row2.setLayout(flow2);
row2.add(mediaButton);
row2.add(saveButton);
row2.add(dontSave);
add(row2);
setVisible(true);
}
public static void main(String[] args) {
MyFrame frame = new MyFrame();
}
}

The original code set the layout for one panel on two separate occasions. For clarity, set it once in the constructor.
The 2nd layout specified 3 rows
Call pack() on the top-level container to have the GUI reduce to the minum sze needed for the components.
End result
import java.awt.FlowLayout;
import javax.swing.*;
import java.awt.*;
public class MyFrame17 extends JFrame {
JButton panicButton;
JButton dontPanic;
JButton blameButton;
JButton newsButton;
JButton mediaButton;
JButton saveButton;
JButton dontSave;
public MyFrame17() {
super("Crazy App");
setLayout(new GridLayout(2, 2, 10, 10));
setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
JPanel row1 = new JPanel();
panicButton = new JButton("Panic");
dontPanic = new JButton("No Panic");
blameButton = new JButton("Blame");
newsButton = new JButton("News");
FlowLayout flow1 = new FlowLayout(FlowLayout.CENTER, 10, 10);
row1.setLayout(flow1);
row1.add(panicButton);
row1.add(dontPanic);
row1.add(blameButton);
row1.add(newsButton);
add(row1);
//adding second row
JPanel row2 = new JPanel();
mediaButton = new JButton("Blame");
saveButton = new JButton("Save");
dontSave = new JButton("No Save");
FlowLayout flow2 = new FlowLayout(FlowLayout.CENTER, 10, 10);
row2.setLayout(flow2);
row2.add(mediaButton);
row2.add(saveButton);
row2.add(dontSave);
add(row2);
pack();
setVisible(true);
}
public static void main(String[] args) {
MyFrame17 frame = new MyFrame17();
}
}
Further tips
Don't extend frame, just use an instance of one.
Build the entire GUI in a panel which can then be added to a frame, applet, dialog..
When developing test classes, give them a more sensible name than MyFrame. A good word to add is Test, then think about what is being tested. This is about the layout of buttons, so ButtonLayoutTest might be a good name.
GUIs should be started on the EDT.