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Can't get the buttons to be on the center right position

I'm trying to figure out how to position my buttons in the center right position. I added what Ive done so far and I'll add a drawing of how I want it to be.
I'm trying to understand how to determine the position I want in Swing, can't really understand the advantages of each layout.
My code so far:
package Game;
import java.awt.BorderLayout;
import java.awt.Color;
import java.awt.Container;
import java.awt.Dimension;
import java.awt.FlowLayout;
import java.awt.Font;
import java.awt.Graphics;
import java.awt.GridBagConstraints;
import java.awt.GridBagLayout;
import java.awt.GridLayout;
import java.awt.Image;
import java.awt.event.ActionEvent;
import java.awt.event.ActionListener;
import java.awt.image.BufferedImage;
import javax.swing.ImageIcon;
import javax.swing.JButton;
import javax.swing.JFrame;
import javax.swing.JLabel;
import javax.swing.JPanel;
import javax.swing.JToolBar;
import javax.swing.Timer;
public class MainWindow extends JFrame implements ActionListener {
private JButton exit;
private JButton start_Game;
private ImageIcon puzzleBackground;
// private JLabel back_Label;
// private GridBagConstraints grid = new GridBagConstraints();
private JPanel menu;
public MainWindow()
{
super("Welcome");
setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.DISPOSE_ON_CLOSE);
setSize(450,300);
setLocationRelativeTo(null);
this.setLayout(new FlowLayout(FlowLayout.RIGHT));
menu = new JPanel();
menu.setLayout(new BorderLayout());
//setResizable(false);
//===== Background =====
puzzleBackground = new ImageIcon("MyBackground.jpg");
setContentPane(new JLabel(puzzleBackground));
exit = new JButton("Exit");
menu.add(exit, BorderLayout.CENTER);
exit.addActionListener(this);
start_Game = new JButton("Start to play");
menu.add(start_Game, BorderLayout.SOUTH);
exit.addActionListener(this);
start_Game.addActionListener(this);
//
// back_Label = new JLabel(puzzleBackground);
// back_Label.setLayout(new BorderLayout());
//===== Buttons =====
// back_Label.add(exit,BorderLayout.CENTER);
//
// back_Label.add(start_Game,BorderLayout.EAST);
//
add(menu);
setVisible(true);
}
public static void main(String args[])
{
MainWindow a = new MainWindow();
}
#Override
public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e) {
if(e.getSource() == exit)
{
System.exit(0);
}
else
{
//open start up window.
}
}
}

A better way to add a BG image is to use a custom painted JPanel. Then set the layout of the panel and add other panels or components to it. Note that here the buttons are not appearing largely because they are being added to a JLabel.
Here is an alternative that works along the same lines, with the red panel being the panel which custom paints the background image and the menu panel being set to transparent (look for the opaque method).
import java.awt.*;
import java.awt.image.*;
import javax.swing.*;
import javax.swing.border.*;
public class MainWindow extends JFrame {
private JPanel menu;
private JPanel contentPane = new JPanel(new BorderLayout(4,4));
public MainWindow() {
super("Welcome");
setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.DISPOSE_ON_CLOSE);
//setSize(450, 300); // use pack() instead
setContentPane(contentPane);
contentPane.setBorder(new EmptyBorder(8,8,8,8));
contentPane.setBackground(Color.RED);
contentPane.add(new JLabel(new ImageIcon(
new BufferedImage(400,200,BufferedImage.TYPE_INT_RGB))));
menu = new JPanel(new GridLayout(0,1,10,10));
menu.add(new JButton("Exit"), BorderLayout.CENTER);
menu.add(new JButton("Start to play"), BorderLayout.SOUTH);
JPanel menuCenterPanel = new JPanel(new GridBagLayout());
menuCenterPanel.add(menu);
add(menuCenterPanel, BorderLayout.LINE_END);
pack();
setLocationRelativeTo(null); // do AFTER pack()
setMinimumSize(getSize());
setVisible(true);
}
public static void main(String args[]) {
MainWindow a = new MainWindow();
}
}

So, your basic problem boils down the following lines...
this.setLayout(new BorderLayout());
//...
//===== Background =====
puzzleBackground = new ImageIcon("MyBackground.jpg");
setContentPane(new JLabel(puzzleBackground));
Can you tell me what the layout manager in use actually is now? Wrong. The layout manager is now null, because JLabel doesn't actually have a default layout manager.
So, the "simple" answer would be to move the setLayout call to below the setContentPane call, but this would be a short sighted answer, as JLabel calculates it's preferred based on the icon and text properties only, not it's contents of child components.
A better solution would be to do something demonstrated in How to set a background picture in JPanel (see the second example)
This means that if the image is smaller then the required space, the components will disappear off the screen.
I went through and cleaned up the code slightly, only with the intention of getting the layout to work
import java.awt.BorderLayout;
import java.awt.Dimension;
import java.awt.GridBagConstraints;
import java.awt.GridBagLayout;
import java.awt.GridLayout;
import java.awt.event.ActionEvent;
import java.awt.event.ActionListener;
import javax.swing.ImageIcon;
import javax.swing.JButton;
import javax.swing.JFrame;
import javax.swing.JPanel;
public class MainWindow extends JFrame implements ActionListener {
private JButton exit;
private JButton start_Game;
private JPanel menu;
public MainWindow() {
super("Welcome");
setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.DISPOSE_ON_CLOSE);
setLocationRelativeTo(null);
this.setLayout(new BorderLayout());
menu = new JPanel();
menu.setLayout(new GridBagLayout());
exit = new JButton("Exit");
exit.addActionListener(this);
start_Game = new JButton("Start to play");
exit.addActionListener(this);
start_Game.addActionListener(this);
GridBagConstraints gbc = new GridBagConstraints();
gbc.weightx = 1;
gbc.fill = gbc.HORIZONTAL;
gbc.gridwidth = GridBagConstraints.REMAINDER;
menu.add(exit, gbc);
menu.add(start_Game, gbc);
// This is just a filler, it can be removed, but it helps prove the point
add(new JPanel() {
#Override
public Dimension getPreferredSize() {
return new Dimension(200, 200);
}
});
add(menu, BorderLayout.EAST);
pack();
setVisible(true);
}
public static void main(String args[]) {
MainWindow a = new MainWindow();
}
#Override
public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e) {
if (e.getSource() == exit) {
System.exit(0);
} else {
//open start up window.
}
}
}
I'd also like to point out that extending directly from JFrame is also short sighted, it's locking you into a single use container and you're not actually adding any new functionality to the class.
Example of better structure...
The following is a simple example of a possibly better structure. It's missing the concept of a "controller", which controls stuff and "model" which maintains the state information which is used by the UI to display "stuff", but gives a starting point
import java.awt.BorderLayout;
import java.awt.Dimension;
import java.awt.EventQueue;
import java.awt.GridBagConstraints;
import java.awt.GridBagLayout;
import java.awt.event.ActionEvent;
import java.awt.event.ActionListener;
import javax.swing.JButton;
import javax.swing.JFrame;
import javax.swing.JPanel;
import javax.swing.UIManager;
import javax.swing.UnsupportedLookAndFeelException;
public class Main {
public static void main(String args[]) {
new Main();
}
public Main() {
EventQueue.invokeLater(new Runnable() {
#Override
public void run() {
try {
UIManager.setLookAndFeel(UIManager.getSystemLookAndFeelClassName());
} catch (ClassNotFoundException | InstantiationException | IllegalAccessException | UnsupportedLookAndFeelException ex) {
ex.printStackTrace();
}
JFrame frame = new JFrame("Welcome");
frame.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
frame.add(new MainPane());
frame.pack();
frame.setLocationRelativeTo(null);
frame.setVisible(true);
}
});
}
public class MainPane extends JPanel {
public MainPane() {
setLayout(new BorderLayout());
// This is just a filler, it can be removed, but it helps prove the point
add(new JPanel() {
#Override
public Dimension getPreferredSize() {
return new Dimension(200, 200);
}
});
add(new MenuPane(), BorderLayout.EAST);
}
}
public class MenuPane extends JPanel {
private JButton exit;
private JButton start_Game;
private JPanel menu;
public MenuPane() {
menu = new JPanel();
menu.setLayout(new GridBagLayout());
ActionHandler actionHandler = new ActionHandler();
exit = new JButton("Exit");
exit.addActionListener(actionHandler);
start_Game = new JButton("Start to play");
start_Game.addActionListener(actionHandler);
GridBagConstraints gbc = new GridBagConstraints();
gbc.weightx = 1;
gbc.fill = gbc.HORIZONTAL;
gbc.gridwidth = GridBagConstraints.REMAINDER;
menu.add(exit, gbc);
menu.add(start_Game, gbc);
}
public class ActionHandler implements ActionListener {
#Override
public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e) {
if (e.getSource() == exit) {
System.exit(0);
} else {
//open start up window.
// This should be used to notifiy a controller class
// that some new action needs to take place, the controller
// is then responsible for making it happen
}
}
}
}
}

Doing UI in Java is not advised, but ignoring that.
You get (calculate) the height and width of the screen. Then start drawing buttons depending on that. Drawing a button on screens 50% of pixel value width and 50% of pixel value of height will center the button.
Simply crate buttons with variable location that is calculated from main screen px size and place them where ever you want.

How do I add a background image on a JFrame using a JLabel?

I am trying to display a background image on the JFrame using a JLabel. The code runs and the buttons appear, but the image does not. I have researched for solutions, yet I have not found one for my code specifically. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
/**
* Adds details to interface and programs buttons
*
* Imani Davis
* Final Project
*/
import java.awt.*;
import java.awt.GridBagLayout;
import java.awt.event.*;
import javax.swing.*;
import javax.swing.JFrame;
import javax.swing.JPanel;
import javax.swing.JLabel;
import javax.swing.JButton;
import javax.swing.ImageIcon;
import javax.swing.border.EmptyBorder;
public class Use_PF_Interface extends JFrame implements Pet_Fish_Interface
{
// instance variables - replace the example below with your own
private JFrame window;
private JPanel panel1, panel2, panel3;
private JLabel lblBackgroundImage = new JLabel();
private JButton feedButton = new JButton("Feed Fish");
private JButton playGamesButton = new JButton("Play Game");
/**
* Constructor for objects of class Use_PF_Interface
*/
public Use_PF_Interface()
{
setTitle("Virtual Pet Fish");
setSize(650, 650);
//initializes panels and panel layout
panel1 = new JPanel();
panel2 = new JPanel();
panel3 = new JPanel();
panel1.setLayout(new FlowLayout());
panel2.setLayout(new FlowLayout());
panel3.setLayout(new FlowLayout());
lblBackgroundImage.setLayout(new FlowLayout());
//sets background image of panel
lblBackgroundImage.setIcon(new ImageIcon("C:\\Users\\This PC\\Desktop\\OCEAN2.JPEG"));
panel1.add(lblBackgroundImage);
validate();
//adds button to panels
panel2.add(feedButton);
panel2.add(playGamesButton);
//add panels to frame
add(panel1);
add(panel2);
}
}

JFrame uses a BorderLayout by default, a BorderLayout can only manage a single component within any of the five available positions it provides, this means that panel2 is most likely the only component getting shown.
An alternative is to add you components to the JLabel, but remember, JLabel doesn't have a default layout manager. Also, remember, JLabel only uses the icon and text properties to calculate its preferred size, so if the contents require more space, they will be clipped.
Start by having a look at How to Use BorderLayout for more details
Also, remember, most Swing components are opaque generally, so you need to set them transparent when you want to do something like this
import java.awt.BorderLayout;
import java.awt.EventQueue;
import java.awt.FlowLayout;
import javax.swing.ImageIcon;
import javax.swing.JButton;
import javax.swing.JFrame;
import javax.swing.JLabel;
import javax.swing.JPanel;
import javax.swing.UIManager;
import javax.swing.UnsupportedLookAndFeelException;
public class Use_PF_Interface extends JFrame {
// instance variables - replace the example below with your own
private JPanel panel2;
private JLabel lblBackgroundImage = new JLabel();
private JButton feedButton = new JButton("Feed Fish");
private JButton playGamesButton = new JButton("Play Game");
/**
* Constructor for objects of class Use_PF_Interface
*/
public Use_PF_Interface() {
setTitle("Virtual Pet Fish");
setSize(650, 650);
//initializes panels and panel layout
panel2 = new JPanel();
panel2.setOpaque(false);
panel2.setLayout(new FlowLayout());
lblBackgroundImage.setLayout(new FlowLayout());
//sets background image of panel
lblBackgroundImage.setIcon(new ImageIcon("..."));
lblBackgroundImage.setLayout(new BorderLayout());
//adds button to panels
panel2.add(feedButton);
panel2.add(playGamesButton);
lblBackgroundImage.add(panel2);
add(lblBackgroundImage);
}
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) {
ex.printStackTrace();
}
JFrame frame = new Use_PF_Interface();
frame.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
frame.pack();
frame.setLocationRelativeTo(null);
frame.setVisible(true);
}
});
}
}

Try this,
import java.awt.image.BufferedImage;
import java.io.File;
import java.io.IOException;
import javax.imageio.ImageIO;
import javax.swing.*;
public class ImageInFrame {
public static void main(String[] args) throws IOException {
String path = "Image1.jpg";
File file = new File(path);
BufferedImage image = ImageIO.read(file);
JLabel label = new JLabel(new ImageIcon(image));
JFrame f = new JFrame();
f.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
f.getContentPane().add(label);
f.pack();
f.setLocation(200,200);
f.setVisible(true);
}
}

java object resize on window resize

I've to resize few elements like JTable on window resize. I've been trying this code, but it doesn't work correctly:
table.setLocation(0, 23);
Dimension siz = contentPane.getMaximumSize();
table.setSize(siz.height, siz.width - 46);
It resizing my table, but it making it endless, what i don't want. Also I would like to connent scrollbar to this table, and if it's possible - set column width in precentage

Your main problem (with resizing) has more to do with your reliance on form editors then anything to do with Swing or Java
Have a look at Laying Out Components Within a Container for more details.
You're also don't seem to be utilising a JScrollPane to house the JTable in. Have a look at How to Use Tables and How to Use Scroll Panes for more details
import java.awt.BorderLayout;
import java.awt.Dimension;
import java.awt.EventQueue;
import java.awt.FlowLayout;
import java.awt.Graphics;
import java.awt.Graphics2D;
import java.awt.GridLayout;
import javax.swing.JButton;
import javax.swing.JFrame;
import javax.swing.JLabel;
import javax.swing.JPanel;
import javax.swing.JScrollPane;
import javax.swing.JTable;
import javax.swing.UIManager;
import javax.swing.UnsupportedLookAndFeelException;
import javax.swing.table.DefaultTableModel;
public class ResizeTest {
public static void main(String[] args) {
new ResizeTest();
}
public ResizeTest() {
EventQueue.invokeLater(new Runnable() {
#Override
public void run() {
try {
UIManager.setLookAndFeel(UIManager.getSystemLookAndFeelClassName());
} catch (ClassNotFoundException | InstantiationException | IllegalAccessException | UnsupportedLookAndFeelException ex) {
ex.printStackTrace();
}
JFrame frame = new JFrame("Testing");
frame.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
frame.add(new TestPane());
frame.pack();
frame.setLocationRelativeTo(null);
frame.setVisible(true);
}
});
}
public class TestPane extends JPanel {
private JTable table;
private JButton historyButton;
private JButton otherButton;
public TestPane() {
table = new JTable(new DefaultTableModel(10, 10));
historyButton = new JButton("History");
otherButton = new JButton("Other");
setLayout(new BorderLayout());
JPanel buttons = new JPanel(new FlowLayout(FlowLayout.LEFT));
buttons.add(historyButton);
buttons.add(otherButton);
add(buttons, BorderLayout.NORTH);
add(new JScrollPane(table));
JPanel footers = new JPanel(new GridLayout(1, 2));
JLabel left = new JLabel("Left");
left.setHorizontalAlignment(JLabel.LEFT);
JLabel right = new JLabel("Right");
right.setHorizontalAlignment(JLabel.LEFT);
footers.add(left);
footers.add(right);
add(footers, BorderLayout.SOUTH);
}
#Override
public Dimension getPreferredSize() {
return new Dimension(200, 200);
}
}
}

web picture is cropped in jframe

The picture from a camera (accesible trhough direct IP address like "http://1111.11.11.1")
is croped ti fit my max screen size. I added a scrollbar, but it doesn't seem to have an affect. Maybe i need to implement them in a nother order, but i can't seem to find out how.
Here is the code and for reasons i can't give the camera IP, but i added a link to a rather big picture as demonstration.
import java.awt.event.KeyAdapter;
import java.awt.event.KeyEvent;
import java.awt.event.KeyListener;
import javax.swing.JFrame;
import java.awt.BorderLayout;
import java.awt.image.BufferedImage;
import java.io.IOException;
import java.net.URL;
import javax.imageio.ImageIO;
import javax.swing.ImageIcon;
import javax.swing.JLabel;
import javax.swing.JScrollPane;
public class ShowWebPic {
private static JFrame frame;
public static void main(String[] args){
frame = new JFrame();
frame.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
BufferedImage image = null;
try {
URL url = new URL("http://wallpoper.com/images/00/40/86/79/galaxies-nebulae_00408679.jpg");
image = ImageIO.read(url);}
catch (IOException e) {e.printStackTrace();}
JLabel lblimage = new JLabel(new ImageIcon(image));
frame.addKeyListener(escape);
frame.getContentPane().add(lblimage, BorderLayout.CENTER);
JScrollPane pane = new JScrollPane(JScrollPane.VERTICAL_SCROLLBAR_ALWAYS, JScrollPane.HORIZONTAL_SCROLLBAR_AS_NEEDED);
frame.getContentPane().add(pane, BorderLayout.EAST);
// frame.add(pane, BorderLayout.EAST); // tried this as well
frame.pack();
frame.setVisible(true);
} //end of show
private static KeyListener escape = new KeyAdapter() {
#Override
public void keyTyped(KeyEvent e) {if (e.getKeyChar() == KeyEvent.VK_ESCAPE) {frame.dispose();}}};
}
The code itself can be run independently and works... just not the way i need it to :D

Change:
frame.getContentPane().add(lblimage, BorderLayout.CENTER);
JScrollPane pane = new JScrollPane(JScrollPane.VERTICAL_SCROLLBAR_ALWAYS,
JScrollPane.HORIZONTAL_SCROLLBAR_AS_NEEDED);
frame.getContentPane().add(pane, BorderLayout.EAST);
To:
//frame.getContentPane().add(lblimage, BorderLayout.CENTER);
JScrollPane pane = new JScrollPane(lblimage, // add image to scroll-pane!
JScrollPane.VERTICAL_SCROLLBAR_ALWAYS,
JScrollPane.HORIZONTAL_SCROLLBAR_AS_NEEDED);
frame.getContentPane().add(pane, BorderLayout.CENTER);

How to make JTextArea Stick to the window

Hello I would like to make this TextArea stick to the windows size whene I resize it by mouse, the same way as lower buttons does. This is the code it is perfectly working no bugs, please have a glance at it.
import java.awt.BorderLayout;
import java.awt.Component;
import java.awt.Container;
import java.awt.Dimension;
import java.awt.FlowLayout;
import java.awt.GridBagConstraints;
import java.awt.GridBagLayout;
import java.awt.GridLayout;
import java.awt.LayoutManager;
import javax.swing.BoxLayout;
import javax.swing.JButton;
import javax.swing.JFrame;
import javax.swing.JPanel;
import javax.swing.JTextArea;
import javax.swing.JTextField;
import javax.swing.SwingUtilities;
public class Rozklady extends JFrame {
public Rozklady() {
super();
}
public void createGUI(){
setPreferredSize(new Dimension(400,150));
JPanel jp = new JPanel();
// jp.setLayout(new BoxLayout(jp, BoxLayout.Y_AXIS));
jp.setLayout(new GridLayout(0,1));
JPanel gora = new JPanel();
JPanel dol = new JPanel();
pack();
JTextArea jt1 = new JTextArea("JF1");
gora.add(jt1);
jt1.setPreferredSize(new Dimension(getWidth(),getHeight()/2));
dol.setLayout(new BorderLayout());
JPanel lewo = new JPanel();
JPanel prawo = new JPanel();
JPanel srodek = new JPanel();
dol.add(lewo, BorderLayout.EAST);
dol.add(prawo,BorderLayout.WEST);
dol.add(srodek, BorderLayout.CENTER);
lewo.setLayout(new GridLayout(2,2));
prawo.setLayout(new GridLayout(2,2));
srodek.setLayout(new GridLayout(0,1));
for(int i = 0; i < 4; i++){
lewo.add(new JButton(i+""));
prawo.add(new JButton(i+""));
if(i < 3){
srodek.add(new JTextField("JF"+i));
}
}
jp.add(gora);
jp.add(dol);
add(jp);
setVisible(true);
pack();
setDefaultCloseOperation(EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
}
public static void main(String[] args) {
SwingUtilities.invokeLater(new Runnable()
{
public void run()
{
new Rozklady().createGUI();
}
});
}
}

Use BorderLayout for you gora panel. Put text area to the center:
gora.setLayout(new BorderLayout());
gora.add(jt1, BorderLayout.CENTER);

// declare a GridLayout in constructor, one component will 'fill the container'
JPanel gora = new JPanel(new GridLayout());
JPanel dol = new JPanel();
// this should be called after all components are added! BNI
pack();
JTextArea jt1 = new JTextArea("JF1");
// be sure to use a scroll pane for multi-line text components
gora.add(new JScrollPane(jt1));
// ..
Stretching a single component to fill the available space can be achieved various was. Two common ways are using either BorderLayout as mentioned by AlexR or GridLayout. See this answer for sample code. I prefer GridLayout because it is shorter (less typing). ;)