What I mean by a JLabel-JTextField pair is a JLabel component followed by a JTextField one, for example, "Parameter 1: -----" where "-----" denotes a blank JTextField.
The problem is, the width of JLabels varies due to the varying lengths of parameter names, so that the starts of JTextFields are not aligned vertically.
Is there any way to align the JLabels vertically to their right, so that the starts of JTextFields that follow would be aligned? Thanks.
Is there any way to align the JLabels vertically to their right, so that the starts of JTextFields that follow would be aligned?
1.6+, GroupLayout. E.G. from the JavaDocs:
Use the label alignment that pushes the text to the RHS.
See also this answer for an MCVE.
You didn't specify which layout do you use, so a good layout to implement that would be GridBagLayout. The demo in oracle site is great to start with.
And a short example:
JPanel panel = new JPanel();
panel.setLayout(new GridBagLayout());
GridBagConstraints c = new GridBagConstraints();
c.gridx = 0;
c.gridy = 0;
panel.add(new JLabel("Label 1:"), c);
c.gridx = 1;
c.gridy = 0;
panel.add(new JTextField("TextField 1"), c);
c.gridx = 0;
c.gridy = 1;
panel.add(new JLabel("Label 2:"), c);
c.gridx = 1;
c.gridy = 1;
panel.add(new JTextField("TextField 2"), c);
or
there is possible align just text inside JTextComponents with
JLabel.setHorizontalAlignment(javax.swing.SwingConstants.RIGHT);
This is a perfect use case for DesignGridLayout:
DesignGridLayout layout = new DesignGridLayout(contentPane);
layout.labelAlignment(LabelAlignment.RIGHT);
layout.row().grid(label1).add(field1);
layout.row().grid(label2).add(field2);
...
I would suggest the GridLayout layout manager. It presents the easiest solution to show pair-wise visualization of label and textbox controls. Thereby you simply define the number of rows and columns at time of instantiation and the added controls will be handled by the manager.
Good solutions for this that I've seen include use of the GridBagLayout (as noted above) or the MiGLayout, though since the latter isn't part of standard Java, it must be downloaded and placed on the classpath prior to use. MiGLayout is not as difficult to use.
The LayoutManager of the parent component has the responsability of positioning the elements contained. Maybe you need to set an XYLayout.
See the setLayoutManager() for your parent class.
Related
What I mean by a JLabel-JTextField pair is a JLabel component followed by a JTextField one, for example, "Parameter 1: -----" where "-----" denotes a blank JTextField.
The problem is, the width of JLabels varies due to the varying lengths of parameter names, so that the starts of JTextFields are not aligned vertically.
Is there any way to align the JLabels vertically to their right, so that the starts of JTextFields that follow would be aligned? Thanks.
Is there any way to align the JLabels vertically to their right, so that the starts of JTextFields that follow would be aligned?
1.6+, GroupLayout. E.G. from the JavaDocs:
Use the label alignment that pushes the text to the RHS.
See also this answer for an MCVE.
You didn't specify which layout do you use, so a good layout to implement that would be GridBagLayout. The demo in oracle site is great to start with.
And a short example:
JPanel panel = new JPanel();
panel.setLayout(new GridBagLayout());
GridBagConstraints c = new GridBagConstraints();
c.gridx = 0;
c.gridy = 0;
panel.add(new JLabel("Label 1:"), c);
c.gridx = 1;
c.gridy = 0;
panel.add(new JTextField("TextField 1"), c);
c.gridx = 0;
c.gridy = 1;
panel.add(new JLabel("Label 2:"), c);
c.gridx = 1;
c.gridy = 1;
panel.add(new JTextField("TextField 2"), c);
or
there is possible align just text inside JTextComponents with
JLabel.setHorizontalAlignment(javax.swing.SwingConstants.RIGHT);
This is a perfect use case for DesignGridLayout:
DesignGridLayout layout = new DesignGridLayout(contentPane);
layout.labelAlignment(LabelAlignment.RIGHT);
layout.row().grid(label1).add(field1);
layout.row().grid(label2).add(field2);
...
I would suggest the GridLayout layout manager. It presents the easiest solution to show pair-wise visualization of label and textbox controls. Thereby you simply define the number of rows and columns at time of instantiation and the added controls will be handled by the manager.
Good solutions for this that I've seen include use of the GridBagLayout (as noted above) or the MiGLayout, though since the latter isn't part of standard Java, it must be downloaded and placed on the classpath prior to use. MiGLayout is not as difficult to use.
The LayoutManager of the parent component has the responsability of positioning the elements contained. Maybe you need to set an XYLayout.
See the setLayoutManager() for your parent class.
how can I make the buttons height a bit bigger and the width of right and left columns on the same size. I have tried weightx weighty heightx heighty but it didn't work. Thanks in advance. Here's my code:
Container contentPane = getContentPane();
contentPane.setLayout(new GridBagLayout());
GridBagConstraints c = new GridBagConstraints();
c.insets = new Insets(20,20,20,20);
c.fill = GridBagConstraints.HORIZONTAL;
c.weightx = 1.0;
JButton back = new JButton("Back to previous menu");
c.gridx = 1;
c.gridy = 0;
contentPane.add(back,c);
JLabel welcome = new JLabel("Hi secretary, please select an action");
c.gridx = 0;
c.gridy = 0;
contentPane.add(welcome,c);
There's more code of buttons definition but it's just positioning themselves on the layout.
Do not set the preferred size of your buttons. This will cause serious visual issues for users who have desktop fonts which are different from yours.
You should let the button define its own preferred size. The best way to augment the preferred height is with GridBagConstraints.ipady:
c.ipady = 24;
Another option is to use JButton.setMargin to give each button an additional margin:
Insets margin = new Insets(12, 0, 12, 0);
back.setMargin(margin);
welcome.setMargin(margin);
Forcing the left and right sides to have equal widths is more difficult. GridBagLayout is not capable of doing that. The weightx field only determines the distribution of extra space, when the window is wider than it needs to be in order to accommodate all child components’ preferred sizes. If the columns have different widths to begin with, distributing the extra space with weightx will not make their widths equal.
Personally, I don’t think forcing the two sides to have equal widths will add any value. If you insist on the left and right sides being exactly equal width, you will have to abandon the use of GridBagLayout. SpringLayout can do it, but it’s difficult to use. If you’re willing to introduce a third-party dependency, something like MiG Layout may be able to do it.
So I have a JPanel that is split into 2 other separate JPanels (although this is mostly irrelevant). On the left side I have a GridBagLayout that I have organized to have a JLabel at the top, and a JTextArea below it, however the JTextArea isn't directly beneath the JLabel. Instead there is this empty space and I can't figure out why it's there or how to fix it. I'm fairly new to Java in general and GridBagLayout so I could be missing something, but I've tried several things to get it to work. I have the code for this below along with a visual representation of what it's doing. Any help is appreciated.
CODE
//LEFT SIDE
GridBagConstraints leftGBC = new GridBagConstraints();
JPanel leftSide = new JPanel(new GridBagLayout());
leftSide.setBorder(new EmptyBorder(inset, inset, inset, inset));
Font titleFont = bb5.comfortaa.deriveFont(Font.PLAIN, 16f);
leftGBC.gridx = 0;
leftGBC.gridy = 0;
leftGBC.weightx = 1;
leftGBC.weighty = 1;
leftGBC.anchor = GridBagConstraints.NORTH;
JLabel leftTitle = new JLabel("Objective");
leftTitle.setFont(titleFont);
leftTitle.setBorder(BorderFactory.createMatteBorder(0, 0, 2, 0, Color.BLACK));
leftGBC.fill = GridBagConstraints.HORIZONTAL;
leftSide.add(leftTitle, leftGBC);
leftGBC.gridy = 1;
leftGBC.anchor = GridBagConstraints.NORTH;
JTextArea objectiveArea = new JTextArea(objectiveText);
objectiveArea.setBackground(leftTitle.getBackground());
objectiveArea.setEditable(false);
objectiveArea.setFocusable(false);
objectiveArea.setFont(bb5.samsung1.deriveFont(16f));
objectiveArea.setLineWrap(true);
objectiveArea.setWrapStyleWord(true);
leftSide.add(objectiveArea, leftGBC);
VISUAL
leftGBC.weightx = 1;
leftGBC.weighty = 1;
Read the section from the Swing tutorial How to use GridBagLayout. The tutorial explains how the weightx/weighty constraints work. Those values indicate how to allocate "extra space" to each cell. So it would appear that both the label and text area getting extra space. I would guess you want 0 for the label.
If this doesn't help (and in the future when you ask a question), post a proper SSCCE that demonstrates the problem.
This question already has an answer here:
JPanel & components change position automatically
(1 answer)
Closed 8 years ago.
I want to have a list of text fields and labels aligned vertically on a panel with each label corresponding to the appropriate text field and appearing beside it on the UI. The value in the text field will be later called for another function.
The problem is that I can't seem to get the layout right. I have tried using Spring Layout but I can't get my head around it......Basically can I do this any other way? I'm currently using box layout for the panel but it only shows up a list of text fields with a list of labels underneath it. I'm still a noob and I really need some fresh input on this. Any help would be very much appreciated, thanks.
You could simply use GridBagLayout (although MigLayout might worth a look as well)...
setLayout(new GridLayout());
GridBagConstraints gbc = new GridBagConstraints();
gbc.gridx = 0;
gbc.gridy = 0;
for (int index = 0; index < 10; index++) {
gbc.anchor = GridBagConstraints .EAST;
gbc.gridx = 0;
add(new JLabel("Label " + index), gbc);
gbc.anchor = GridBagConstraints .WEST;
gbc.gridx++;
add(new JTextField(10), gbc);
gbc.gridy++;
}
Now, obviously, this is just an example used to demonstrate the concept, you'll need to expand the idea and apply it to your particular problem...
Take a look at How to use GridBagLayout for more detaols
I would suggest to have a look at RiverLayout manager. It is really simple and straightforward to use.
http://www.datadosen.se/riverlayout/
JFrame frame = new JFrame("Test RiverLayout");
Container container = frame.getContentPane();
container.setLayout(new RiverLayout());
container.add("left", new JLabel("Label 1"));
container.add("tab", new JTextField("Text field 1"));
container.add("br left", new JLabel("Label 2"));
container.add("tab", new JTextField("Text field 2"));
frame.pack();
frame.setVisible(true);
I am using a GridBagLayout to (currently) display two rows. I am aware this layout is overkill for this task, but am trying to learn how to use it. The problem is that I have added the two panels to the two separate rows and there is a huge gap around the content (see image and code below):
alt text http://www.imagechicken.com/uploads/1264533379009864500.png
Image background;
public Table(){
super();
ImageIcon ii = new ImageIcon(this.getClass().getResource("pokerTableV2.png"));
background = ii.getImage();
setSize(Constants.FRAME_WIDTH, Constants.TABLE_HEIGHT);
setLayout(new GridBagLayout());
GridBagConstraints constraints = new GridBagConstraints();
constraints.gridx = 0;
constraints.gridy = 0;
constraints.fill = GridBagConstraints.HORIZONTAL;
JButton button = new JButton("hello world");
JPanel panel1 = new JPanel();
panel1.setPreferredSize(new Dimension(800,100));
panel1.add(button, BorderLayout.CENTER);
panel1.setBackground(Color.yellow);
add(panel1, constraints);
constraints.gridx = 0;
constraints.gridy = 1;
JPanel middlePanel = new JPanel();
middlePanel.setPreferredSize(new Dimension(800,350));
middlePanel.add(button, BorderLayout.CENTER);
middlePanel.setBackground(Color.blue);
add(middlePanel, constraints);
}
Use
constraints.fill = GridBagConstraints.BOTH;
constraints.weightx = 1d;
constraints.weighty = 1d;
JavaDoc for weightx/weighty says:
Specifies how to distribute extra horizontal/vertical space.
JavaDoc for fill:
This field is used when the component's display area is larger
than the component's requested size. It determines whether to
resize the component, and if so, how.
Unfortunately, with GridBagLayout, if the contents do not fill the entire container that it is in, it will automatically center all its contents within its container. That is why you are getting a really large gap.
There are essentially two ways to fix this:
The hard way: Fiddle with the GridBagConstraints. I had limited success with this when trying to avoid the centre-ing behaviour.
The easy way: Put the GridBagLayout inside of a FlowLayout, and then set the alignment of the FlowLayout to top-left, or whatever you wish.
I have asked, and answered, this question myself sometime last week.
So in your case you are adding your panel1 and middlePanel directly to the JFrame (?), with a GridBagLayout
JFrame (GridBagLayout)
- panel1
- middlePanel
I would suggest this alternative structure instead, to get rid of all the extra space (and centre alignment as well, if you like).
JFrame (FlowLayout)
- JPanel (GridBagLayout)
- panel1
- middlePanel
HTH