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Java swing jtextarea on a tab does not fill out the tab, cannot get it to fill even with scrollbar added

So I'm using the Oracle tabbed example to create a Java swing application to help retrieve quick data from an internal database for a very small company and I'm very new at Java (decent scripting, though). My problem is that retrieved data from the database goes outside tab boundariesenter image description here. From reading a question, I learned I should use a textarea, so I modified to use a text area but then I could not scroll. I fixed the scroll, but now the data is just in a small window on the tab. I can enlarge the tab, I have my scrolls, but I cannot fill out the text area.
This is the gridlayout from the documentation example:
super(new GridLayout(8, 40));
This is the pane that displays the information where inv is an array list defined as follows:
ArrayList<String> inv = new ArrayList<String>();
The data is pulled into the pane with the following code (note that the dimension does not change the text area, in fact, I do not believe this has any effect on the code at all so it is commented out during my testing:
JComponent panel2 = makeTextPanel(inv.toString());
//panel2.setPreferredSize(new Dimension(100, 50));
tabbedPane.addTab("Customers", null, panel2,
"Displays Customer Details");
tabbedPane.setMnemonicAt(0, KeyEvent.VK_1);
} catch (SQLException sqlException) {
System.out.println(sqlException);
}
This is the code for the panel using scroll tab, text area, etc. which is a modified version of the copied code:
//Add the tabbed pane to this panel.
add(tabbedPane);
//The following line enables to use scrolling tabs.
tabbedPane.setTabLayoutPolicy(JTabbedPane.SCROLL_TAB_LAYOUT);
}
protected JComponent makeTextPanel(String text) {
JPanel panel = new JPanel(false);
JTextArea filler = new JTextArea(text, 100, 50);
JScrollPane scroll = new JScrollPane (filler,
JScrollPane.VERTICAL_SCROLLBAR_ALWAYS, JScrollPane.HORIZONTAL_SCROLLBAR_ALWAYS);
//filler.setHorizontalAlignment(JTextArea.CENTER);
panel.setLayout(new GridLayout(1, 1));
//panel.add(filler);
panel.add(scroll);
return panel;
}
The tabbed pane is then displayed using the original code which I did not make any changes:
private static void createAndShowGUI() {
//Create and set up the window.
JFrame frame = new JFrame("TabbedPane");
frame.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
//Add content to the window.
frame.add(new TabbedPane(), BorderLayout.CENTER);
//Display the window.
frame.pack();
frame.setVisible(true);
}
The question is, how can I get the text area to fill out the pane instead of just being 1/4 the size (regardless of how I resize the window either in the code or the GUI? The documentation doesn't seem to offer me much (based on searches) that work as I am already setting the scrollbar in the textarea like the documentation specifies. I tried setLineWrap(true) like another question but that was of no help either. See the image for an example of the issue I'm having. Any thoughts?

I'd use a BorderLayout to control the layout of the JScrollPane so it can automatically fill the available space.
You can control the JTextArea's visible size via it's rows and columns properties
import java.awt.BorderLayout;
import java.awt.EventQueue;
import java.io.BufferedReader;
import java.io.IOException;
import java.io.InputStreamReader;
import java.util.ArrayList;
import java.util.List;
import java.util.StringJoiner;
import java.util.logging.Level;
import java.util.logging.Logger;
import javax.swing.JFrame;
import javax.swing.JPanel;
import javax.swing.JScrollPane;
import javax.swing.JTabbedPane;
import javax.swing.JTextArea;
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();
}
// Replace this with your text retrieval process
List<String> text = new ArrayList<String>(128);
try (BufferedReader br = new BufferedReader(new InputStreamReader(getClass().getResourceAsStream("/resources/StarWarANewHope.txt")))) {
String line = null;
while ((line = br.readLine()) != null) {
text.add(line);
}
} catch (IOException ex) {
Logger.getLogger(Main.class.getName()).log(Level.SEVERE, null, ex);
}
// Use this to format the results for the text area
StringJoiner joiner = new StringJoiner("\n");
for (String line : text) {
joiner.add(line);
}
JTabbedPane tabbedPane = new JTabbedPane();
tabbedPane.addTab("Customers", null, new TestPane(joiner.toString()), "Displays customer details");
JFrame frame = new JFrame("Testing");
frame.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
frame.add(tabbedPane);
frame.pack();
frame.setLocationRelativeTo(null);
frame.setVisible(true);
}
});
}
public class TestPane extends JPanel {
public TestPane(String text) {
JTextArea filler = new JTextArea(text, 25, 25);
filler.setWrapStyleWord(true);
filler.setLineWrap(true);
JScrollPane scroll = new JScrollPane(filler);
//filler.setHorizontalAlignment(JTextArea.CENTER);
setLayout(new BorderLayout());
//panel.add(filler);
add(scroll);
}
}
}
If you continue to have issues, consider providing a minimal reproducible example, it takes out the guess work and generally results in better answers for more details

Display transparent text from Java program

I want to create a Java application that displays text on the screen, in such a way that it is not contained in any form or canvas, at least not any visible one, but rather just display it on top of the thing that is currently displaying on the computer.
I'd prefer to use it in pure Java, but I guess if there is some third party library or compiled C API's then that's fine too.
If possible then I'd also like something like Ubuntu's Always on top feature, so that if I click some other window the text still is displayed on top of it.
Is there any way to make JFrames transparent?
This is kind of what I'm aiming for, only doing it in Java
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QkxT8pC17nw/T1n_rlr20aI/AAAAAAAAAj0/xbJjYObc4Bw/s1600/screenCaptureRainmeter.png

Conceptually, you problem basically boils down to making the window transparent. To that end you should start by looking at How to Create Translucent and Shaped Windows
The next thing to keep in mind is the fact that most Swing component's are opaque by default, so just beware of that
import java.awt.BorderLayout;
import java.awt.Color;
import java.awt.Dimension;
import java.awt.EventQueue;
import java.awt.Font;
import java.awt.Graphics;
import java.awt.Graphics2D;
import java.awt.GridBagLayout;
import javax.swing.JFrame;
import javax.swing.JLabel;
import javax.swing.JPanel;
import javax.swing.UIManager;
import javax.swing.UnsupportedLookAndFeelException;
public class Test {
public static void main(String[] args) {
new Test();
}
public Test() {
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.setUndecorated(true);
frame.setBackground(new Color(0, 0, 0, 0));
frame.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
frame.add(new TestPane());
frame.pack();
frame.setLocationRelativeTo(null);
frame.setVisible(true);
}
});
}
public class TestPane extends JPanel {
public TestPane() {
setOpaque(false);
setLayout(new GridBagLayout());
JLabel label = new JLabel("I'm on top");
label.setFont(label.getFont().deriveFont(Font.BOLD, 64));
label.setForeground(Color.WHITE);
add(label);
}
}
}
You may also want to have a look at Window#setAlwaysOnTop

JFrame Start Up Display Delay

I am having difficulties displaying a JFrame with all of the contents showing immediately. I would like to show the JFrame with all Components already added, but the window appears to become visible out-of-focus, wait a second, then come into focus with the Component(s) added. The code for my SSCCE is extremely short/simple, so I don't know why this effect is happening.
import java.awt.*;
import java.awt.event.*;
import javax.swing.*;
public class DelayTest
{
public static void main(String[] args)
{
JLabel label = new JLabel("DELAY TEST");
label.setHorizontalAlignment(JLabel.CENTER);
label.setPreferredSize(new Dimension(400, 60));
JFrame frame = new JFrame("Delay Test");
frame.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
frame.add(label);
frame.pack();
frame.setLocationRelativeTo(null);
frame.setVisible(true);
}
}
I know that this effect does not happen if I comment out label.setPreferredSize(new Dimension(400,60));, so though it may simply be a correlation & not a causation, I'm guessing somehow PreferredSizes have to do with it. But, why?
ALSO, this effect occurs even if I create the GUI in a separate Runnable thread apart from the main thread. Although clearly the effect is related to the order of thread execution, I do not believe that specific factor is the cause.
Upon startup:
About 1 second later:

The likely delay is caused by the need for the system to initialize the synchronize the Event Dispatching Thread with the native system before it can render content.
You should make sure that your UI is initialised and shown from within the context of the Event Dispatching Thread, which should make the initial startup more synchronised...
Take a look at Initial Threads for more details
import java.awt.Dimension;
import java.awt.EventQueue;
import java.awt.Font;
import java.awt.Graphics;
import java.awt.Graphics2D;
import javax.swing.JFrame;
import javax.swing.JLabel;
import javax.swing.JPanel;
import javax.swing.UIManager;
import javax.swing.UnsupportedLookAndFeelException;
public class TestDelay {
public static void main(String[] args) {
new TestDelay();
}
public TestDelay() {
EventQueue.invokeLater(new Runnable() {
#Override
public void run() {
try {
UIManager.setLookAndFeel(UIManager.getSystemLookAndFeelClassName());
} catch (ClassNotFoundException | InstantiationException | IllegalAccessException | UnsupportedLookAndFeelException ex) {
ex.printStackTrace();
}
JLabel label = new JLabel("Delay Test");
Font font = label.getFont();
label.setFont(font.deriveFont(Font.BOLD, 24f));
JFrame frame = new JFrame("Testing");
frame.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
frame.add(label);
frame.pack();
frame.setLocationRelativeTo(null);
frame.setVisible(true);
}
});
}
}

testing suite with swing

I'm started to make a "testing suite" in java. I'm currently working on sentence completion type tests. Basically I have a text with placeholders, where the user should put in some text, and which will be evaluated later. I found out that by using FlowLayout I could fit the JLabels and JTextFields after each other. The problem is when a block of text is too long. It should span into multiple lines, and I'm not sure how to actually do that. And while that's okay, if I push a small text from the end of the line to a new line, but I'm still stuck if the whole text block is longer than the line width.
And I don't want to reinvent the wheel, so is there any opensource libraries for testing suites? My googlefu failed.

The best solution I've found to this problem is using Rob Camick's WrapLayout
WrapLayout is essentially an extension of FlowLayout which wraps the content when it can no longer fit horizontally.
Check out the linked blog above as it explains why your having the problems you are.
Updated
Another option would be to use JTextPane and insert fields into, for example...
import java.awt.BorderLayout;
import java.awt.EventQueue;
import java.awt.HeadlessException;
import javax.swing.JFrame;
import javax.swing.JScrollPane;
import javax.swing.JTextField;
import javax.swing.JTextPane;
import javax.swing.UIManager;
import javax.swing.UnsupportedLookAndFeelException;
import javax.swing.text.BadLocationException;
import javax.swing.text.StyledDocument;
public class TestText {
public static void main(String[] args) {
new TestText();
}
public TestText() {
EventQueue.invokeLater(new Runnable() {
#Override
public void run() {
try {
UIManager.setLookAndFeel(UIManager.getSystemLookAndFeelClassName());
} catch (ClassNotFoundException | InstantiationException | IllegalAccessException | UnsupportedLookAndFeelException ex) {
}
JTextPane tp = new JTextPane();
tp.replaceSelection("Asd, asd, asd, fgh ");
addField(tp);
tp.replaceSelection(" more funky text here ");
addField(tp);
tp.replaceSelection(" and this must wrap on the edge. The color code of red is: #");
addField(tp);
tp.replaceSelection(". ");
tp.setEditable(false);
JFrame frame = new JFrame("Testing");
frame.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
frame.setLayout(new BorderLayout());
frame.add(new JScrollPane(tp));
frame.pack();
frame.setLocationRelativeTo(null);
frame.setVisible(true);
}
protected void addField(JTextPane tp) {
JTextField field = new JTextField(10);
field.setAlignmentY(0.75f);
tp.insertComponent(field);
}
});
}
}
Note, the editor itself is not editable, but the text fields are...

How to show only JLabel hiding JFrame or any lower level container

I want to show JLabel but want to hide JFrame border and other lower level containers like JPanel.
It just JLabel displayed on the screen.
I tried window transparency but following piece of code hides everything if trying to work with window opacity.
On decreasing windowOpacity , even JLabel becomes blurred. I tried with JPanel as well but couldn't get exact output.
I want this behaviour in jdk1.6 only
I want the JLabel content to be visible properly without any opacity impact but backbround must be purely transparent.
public class TEST {
public static void main(String[] args) {
JFrame frame = new JFrame("Sanjaal Corps - Windows On Top Demo!");
frame.setSize(400, 100);
frame.setLocation(100, 150);
com.sun.awt.AWTUtilities.setWindowOpacity(frame,0.4f);
frame.setUndecorated(true);
frame.add(new JLabel("TESTING"));
frame.setAlwaysOnTop(true);
frame.setVisible(true);
}
}
I tried with solution provided
http://www.dreamincode.net/forums/topic/140041-make-a-jpanel-transparent-to-see-the-desktop-behind/
But the problem here is if we minimize or maximize the window , then a constant color being set, So found its not the best solution or may say the Perfect one.

Assuming I understand your requirements correctly...
I typically add a transparent panel to the Window. This means that, generally, the transparency properties of the Window don't then effect the child components, for example...
Generally speaking, there are now two ways to make a window transparent.
Under Java 7, you simply make it's background color transparent.
Under Java 6 (update 10+), you need to use the unofficial com.sun.AWTUtilities class
...
import java.awt.BorderLayout;
import java.awt.Color;
import java.awt.EventQueue;
import java.awt.Window;
import java.awt.event.MouseAdapter;
import java.awt.event.MouseEvent;
import java.lang.reflect.Method;
import javax.swing.JFrame;
import javax.swing.JLabel;
import javax.swing.JPanel;
import javax.swing.SwingUtilities;
import javax.swing.UIManager;
import javax.swing.UnsupportedLookAndFeelException;
import javax.swing.border.LineBorder;
public class TransparentWindow02 {
public static void main(String[] args) {
new TransparentWindow02();
}
public TransparentWindow02() {
EventQueue.invokeLater(new Runnable() {
#Override
public void run() {
try {
UIManager.setLookAndFeel(UIManager.getSystemLookAndFeelClassName());
} catch (ClassNotFoundException | InstantiationException | IllegalAccessException | UnsupportedLookAndFeelException ex) {
}
JFrame frame = new JFrame("Testing");
frame.setUndecorated(true);
setOpaque(frame, false);
frame.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
frame.add(new TestPane());
frame.pack();
frame.setLocationRelativeTo(null);
frame.setVisible(true);
}
});
}
public class TestPane extends JPanel {
public TestPane() {
setOpaque(false);
setLayout(new BorderLayout());
setBorder(new LineBorder(Color.RED));
JLabel label = new JLabel("Click me if you can see me");
label.addMouseListener(new MouseAdapter() {
#Override
public void mouseClicked(MouseEvent e) {
SwingUtilities.windowForComponent(TestPane.this).dispose();
}
});
add(label);
}
}
public static void setOpaque(Window window, boolean opaque) {
String version = System.getProperty("java.runtime.version");
if (version.startsWith("1.7")) {
window.setBackground(new Color(0, 0, 0, 0));
} else {
try {
Class<?> awtUtilsClass = Class.forName("com.sun.awt.AWTUtilities");
if (awtUtilsClass != null) {
Method method = awtUtilsClass.getMethod("setWindowOpaque", Window.class, boolean.class);
method.invoke(null, window, opaque);
}
} catch (Exception exp) {
exp.printStackTrace();
}
}
}
}

Assuming you want to show the foreground, of the label (nothing else) that is its text/icon, you would set the frame's opacity to false:
com.sun.awt.AWTUtilities.setWindowOpaque(frame, false);
The usual caveat against using com.sun.** classes, which unfortunately is the only way to reach transparent windows prior to java7