Please see the image attached. I'm a beginner at Java GUI and was hoping someone could guide me in choosing a Layout Manager for GUI like this. I know I might have to use nested layoutmanagers, but I'm not sure which would help me accomplish this job.
Here's an idea:
Use a BorderLayout in the main JPanel. Set the JList at the CENTER part
On the EAST part of the above layout, add a new JPanel with a GridLayout of 6 rows, 2 columns
On the GridLayout, add each of the labels, buttons, text fields, etc. in the same order as they're defined - from top to bottom and from left to right.
Alternatively: you could use a 7x2 GridLayout and fill the two positions above the buttons with empty text fields, to separate the labels/fields above from the buttons below.
check out DesignGridLayout, it will be perfectly suited for this form I think
just look at their example:
with just a few lines of clean code:
layout.row().grid(label("Last Name")) .add(lastNameField) .grid(label("First Name")) .add(firstNameField);
layout.row().grid(label("Phone")) .add(phoneField) .grid(label("Email")) .add(emailField);
layout.row().grid(label("Address 1")) .add(address1Field);
layout.row().grid(label("Address 2")) .add(address2Field);
layout.row().grid(label("City"), 1) .add(cityField);
layout.row().grid(label("State")) .add(stateField) .grid(label("Postal Code")) .add(postalField);
layout.row().grid(label("Country"), 1) .add(countryField);
layout.emptyRow();
layout.row().center().add(newButton).add(deleteButton).add(editButton).add(saveButton).add(cancelButton);
Related
I would like to create the main menu for my program and I have difficulties with Swing.
How would you code an alignment like this?
The middle elements would be the options like exit or settings and this window should be able to be resized and its contents should get bigger proportionally.
Single column GridLayout with vertical padding declared in the constructor. A grid layout will stretch components to fit the available space.
Add a large EmptyBorder to the JPanel that contains the 3 buttons, and that's the job done.
I want to add more than 3 panels (GUI) in my project. I declared my panels as top(NORTH), center(CENTER), and bottom(SOUTH).
So my question is, can I add a 4th panel between top and center or center and south?
Is there a reason why you are using border layout? If there is no reason, I would recommend using a different layout.
Assuming that you are using swing, I would recommend using the GridLayout as it seem that you are simply putting panels in a single column. You can specify the GridLayout to have 4 rows, 1 columns,(1 panel/grid) that way you can add all 4 straight up and down. Of course, only you can decide what do use since we have no idea what you are building.
Go here for How to Use GridLayout for reference
Are you using Swing as the toolkit for your gui? If so, use a different layout manager to your frame.
Oracle Guide to layout managers
You're using BorderLayout which turns the available space into 5 zones. To get more, you can create a new JPanel, give it BorderLayout as well and add is as center of the outer container.
That way, you have again 5 zones inside of the outer CENTER zone.
If you want to have 5 vertical jpanels then you can go for Grid or box layouts. Have a look at the Orace documentation about how to use layouts and what they looks like.
Oracle Documentation
I think you should try BoxLayout. You are using BorderLayout which has only 5 zones. If you want to keep your NORTH and SOUTH panels intact then create a seperate panel say center_panel and give its layout like this
center_panel.setLayout(new BoxLayout(center_panel,BoxLayout.Y_AXIS));
and then add the panels to center_panel. They will be added in vertical way.
I'm pretty new to programming Java based GUI applications. Here's what I have in mind, I want to divide the window into two areas.
The first are contains buttons (or a list), and based on which button was clicked, or which item was selected, the second area changes. (finite number of buttons)
Something like this:
I can think of many ways to do this, but I am not sure what is the best practice. Do I have several invisible panels and make only 1 panel visible at a time, or do I change the ordering (bring panel x to front), or is there some other way?
Appreciate any help I receive!! Thanks in advance!
Although this is a primarily opinion-based answer I'd go with a Nested Layout approach:
Main panel with BorderLayout. Or you can use the frame's content pane which already has BorderLayout as default layout manager.
Left panel with BoxLayout (or GridBagLayout).
Right panel with CardLayout.
Note: Buttons in the left panel should switch right panels cards.
See Lesson: Layoing Out Components within a Container tutorial.
For complex GUIs you have also third-party layout managers available, listed in this answer:
MiG Layout
DesignGridLayout
FormLayout
I have used borderlayout to specify where the content of my java GUI shall be placed, I have then chosen to place it on EAST and then made two boxlayouts to show two columns of buttons. I now have to place something underneath it and not beside it. How would you suggest or advice me to do so, using any layout but preferably boxlayout and not absolute layout(null). Thanks in advance.
Image:
The arrow points to the place I want another JPanel to be.
You could...
Wrap both of the button panels in a JPanel
Whatever component goes at the arrow, wrap in a JPanel with GrigbagLayout (just to center it).
Create another JPanel with BorderLayout that will hold the above panels. Use CENTER and SOUTH.
Give an EmptyBorder to the SOUTH panel, only specifying the top region and space it accordingly.
Really there are many ways to accomplish this. The key though is to nest JPanels and make use of the different layout managers with each, use EmptyBorders or stuts for empty spaces til you get your desired effect. The possibilities are endless. I don't think there's one right answer. Since we don't have a runnable example, I say just try the above, and mix and match will you get what you want.
I have a somewhat simple question, but I have been looking for a solution and not finding it, since I am having some time problems I will ask here
I am programming a simple game in java(since I am still learning), and in the using a borderlayout, since it fits perfectly what I want, 3 buttons on the bottom and a internalframe in the north with the game screen, however I also require a toolbar on the top,is there anyway I can change the layout so it allows me to do this, or a any simple workaround? This type of layout is perfect for what I want and the others ones don't really please me.
I know this is probably a silly question but any help would be welcome
What if you add a JPanel that contains two other panels: one for your buttons and one for the content you want above north? Or you can similarly split up other regions by putting a panel that contains other panels or components.
Edit: You can put your toolbar in the north and the rest of your components can sit in a new panel which can be placed in the center.
If I am not mistaken, you may add a menu to a JFrame and still have the borderlayout be in the frame.
The menu would be above the top internal panel and the three buttons (having to be in a panel themselves) could be put into the south section of the frame.
All of this should work without any problems.
Just wondering, how bug is the internal panel? Is it the entire rest of the screen or only the top sliver? If its the rest of the screen, then put it in center, and for a sliver, put it in the north section.