Develop Reference

(Java) Trying to format the layout of multiple JTables with other elements in a JPanel

I've been working on a Pokemon-themed quiz game in Java (modeled after Sporcle, if you're familiar). Pretty much everything works how I want it to, except for the layout of the different components of the program.
I've never been very good with the different layout managers, and I don't know how to get them to do what I need.
Here's what the window looks like right now:
Now, I'll play around with font sizes later, but the tables themselves look exactly how I want them to. The problem is, I want them to be under the text fields and buttons and stuff. Here's the portion of the code where I add all the components to my JPanel:
panel.add(label,FlowLayout.LEFT); //adding the "big question text"
panel.add(answerfield); //adding the JTextField
panel.add(correctAnswerTracker); //adding the "x / 151" text
for(int x = sPanes.length-1; x >=0; x--) //as you keep adding to left, it gets pushed over, so doing it backwards results in the correct order
panel.add(sPanes[x],FlowLayout.LEFT);
//each table is in a scrollPane, and all my scrollPanes are in the array sPanes, so I'm looping through that to add the tables
panel.add(startStopButton); //button that says "Start"
panel.add(exit); //button that says "Exit
panel.add(timer); //the timer
As you can see, the statements to add the text field, and correct answer tracker are all written before the add statement for the tables, and yet the tables are at the top. Additionally, there's the issue of my tables in that loop being added in the backwards order, so I had to reverse the direction of the loop iterations to get the tables to appear in the correct order. I've tried using stuff like setLocation and setBounds to get my components more where I want them, but nothing happened. Also, everything just appears in a row below the tables (and I know that's what FlowLayout does), but how would I go about customizing exactly where things appear?

Wrap a panel with BorderLayout around ones with FlowLayout. Put all the content that should be above the tables in a panel and add it with BorderLayout.NORTH. Put all the content that should be below the tables in another panel and add it with BorderLayout.SOUTH. Then put the tables in their own panel just as your are now, and add it with BorderLayout.CENTER.

Either use a LayoutManager or setLayout(null). In the latter case, you can move your components around by calling setBounds on them. I've been doing that lately too (not using a LayoutManager), it's quite liberating.

Creating set of JButtons according to retrieved database values

I'm working on a POS system for a fast food restaurant. I've developed Adding, updating and deleting products using a MySQL Database. Now I need to create the POS GUI (using SWING) which the cashier uses to create the bill. The interface I have in mind is like what MacDonald's uses, there's a set of buttons with the product images. (I have stored BLOBS of products successfully)
example image :
I have no idea on how to accomplish this, it would be awesome if its possible to generate a set of dynamic Jbuttons which gets the image of a product along with the name and price. Is this the best way to accomplish this? and how do I achieve this? A few details to put me on the correct path will be greatly appreciated!
Thanks.

You have at least four containers, the top row, the bottom row and each row containing a separate container in the middle (for the buttons).
The basic layout for the rows might be a GridLayout, each row would probably use a BorderLayout with the nav buttons in the WEST and EAST positions. CENTER container could use a GridLayout, but won't give you the look you're after. You could use a FlowLayout and even a GridBagLayout, but you'd need to ensure the size of the buttons where correct for your needs
On the left I see a JTable and two JPanels, containing the buttons, held together with a GridBagLayout.
On the right I see a JList. See How to Use Lists for more details. You'll probably also want to have a look at Concepts: Editors and Renderers and Writing a Custom Cell Renderer for details about how you could customise the look of the cells and How to Write a List Selection Listener for details about how to determine when the user changes the selection
Together, they are probably maintained by a GridBagLayout within a single container for ease of use
Along the button is probably another container using a GridBagLayout.
Altogether, they are probably held together by a GridBagLayout
Have a look at Laying Out Components Within a Container, How to Use GridBagLayout, How to Use BorderLayout and How to Use FlowLayout for more details

You will need to look into the GridLayout.
In your case, it might be a little bit more complex since you have multiple grids, some of which seem to be nested within each other.
You should be able to allocate the grid dynamically and then leave it to the layout manager to distribute things evenly over the page.
Depending on the complexity of your layout, it might also be a good idea to look into the GridPane provided by JavaFX.

Hi I look for you this problem and I find this solution ;
http://www.javasrilankansupport.com/2012/06/create-dynamic-jbutton-with-image-and.html

UI not aligning

I am using LibGDX and Scene2D to create a simple menu for my game.
Here is a simple example that works for me:
table.add(gameLogo).row();
table.add(button1).row();
table.add(button2).row();
table.add(button3).row();
I didn't include the irrelevant code(including the table into the stage for example).
If I don't include .row() to each object that I add to the table, then the menu isn't aligning to the center, which is very odd, for example:
table.add(gameLogo).row();
table.add(button1);
table.add(button2).row();
table.add(button3);
Why is the menu behaving like that? should I use more tables or add some HorizontalGroups perhaps?
If you need any additional information, or images I can provide, although it does the same for even the simplest menu implemention possible with LibGDX and Scene2d.

This is a colspan problem.
Looking at your code, this is what you are currently doing :
I assume that you would like to display your menu like that :
In order to do that, as you can see, you need to set the colspan size of your gamelogo to 2, so that it will take as much size as 2 regular cells.
So, to achieve this result, your code should be :
table.add(gameLogo).colspan(2).center().row();
table.add(button1);
table.add(button2).row();
table.add(button3);
The align(Align.center) or center() methods will not work alone, since these methods are only used to align the widget inside it's own cell.
If you experience more problems with libgdx ui table, remember that you can enable a debug renderer to display the cells border :
table.setDebug(true);

JTable Header contains Image and on top of that image I want to place 3 buttons in a single header

JTable Header contains Image and on top of that image I want to place 3 buttons in a single header. My requirement is to Create a "Play List" table in which user can add their favourite songs.
So in the header I want to put a "Play List" title and "+" button to insert new playlists and "Export" and "Import" buttons.
How I can do that? Thanks in Advance.

I doubt(1) this use-case actually calls for cramming extra components into a JTable header. E.G. Take the UI of DukeBox.
We can see the play list on the left (a JTable) with a Filter text field and Random check-box above it, and the Enqueue & History buttons below.
This was created with a nested layout. The 'outer layout' is BorderLayout, that panel has the table in the CENTER, and nested panels in the NORTH & SOUTH. The NORTH panel has another BorderLayout, while the SOUTH uses a GridLayout.
If using a nested layout does not give you some ideas, I suggest you post a drawing or better, ASCII art, of the UI as it should appear at the smallest size, as well as a representation of it when it is resized (where is the extra width/height assigned?).
1) I have that suspicion every time I hear words to the effect "Wouldn't it be great if we had a component that..?". Of course, there are some classic counter-examples where the standard widget tool-kit seems lacking (e.g. a date picker or switch list), but these are common components to which a name can be put. If the person asking cannot put a 'catchy name' to the custom component, there is a good chance they are over (or under) thinking the matter.

How to set the tables in the CENTER of the window

Please,can anyone help me for this problem:
I have built the code in the way that each time I press one of the radio buttons on of the 5 tables I have must be visible in the window while the other 4 are invisible.
The only problem I have is to make the content of this table which has 2 colomns,,,Emer and Nota in the center of the second panel,,,because I have separated the window in 3 panels,
The first panel contains the radio buttons which are ok:)
The second panel contains the 5 tables,,,1 for each radioButton,,,I only need that when I press one of the buttons the selected table to show on the CENTER of the second panel.
The third panel contains only one button,but it's fine;)
Plz help me.
If you need the code tell me to write it here and I would like to put a print screen on it,so you can understand better...I hope so.

I can think of a few ways to solves this. The simplest being just remove the existing table from the second panel and add the table you want to see (should be in a scroll pane too). The other is to use something like a card layout and simply switch to the card that corresponds to your radio button.