Develop Reference

Why is BorderLayout not displaying properly with multiple layers?

I am setting up a UI for a blackjack helper program and while I know its not the most beautiful way to do things, it makes sense.
The layering for what seems to be the upper layers is not working properly. Any suggestions?
The left should have four layers, as should the middle and the right side should have two layers between the keypad and the enter buttons. Image is attached below.
import java.util.*;
import java.lang.*;
import java.io.*;
import java.awt.*;
import java.awt.event.*;
import javax.swing.*;
import java.text.*;
// main method, runs the program
class BlackjackHelper
{
public static void main(String\[\] args)
{
Frame21 game = new Frame21();
//pop window with rules of game
}
}
// JFrame Construction
class Frame21 extends JFrame
{
// create needed components of program
JLabel questionDisplay = new JLabel("What is your first card?");
JLabel actionDisplay = new JLabel("Enter your first card");
JLabel dealerCardText = new JLabel("Dealer's Card:");
JLabel dealerCardDisplay = new JLabel("N/A");
JLabel handOneText = new JLabel("Hand One:");
JLabel handOneDisplay = new JLabel("N/A");
JLabel handTwoText = new JLabel("Hand Two:");
JLabel handTwoDisplay = new JLabel("N/A");
JLabel statsText = new JLabel("Win %:");
JLabel statsDisplay = new JLabel("N/A");
JButton aceButton = new JButton("A");
JButton twoButton = new JButton("2");
JButton threeButton = new JButton("3");
JButton fourButton = new JButton("4");
JButton fiveButton = new JButton("5");
JButton sixButton = new JButton("6");
JButton sevenButton = new JButton("7");
JButton eightButton = new JButton("8");
JButton nineButton = new JButton("9");
JButton tenButton = new JButton("10");
JButton faceButton = new JButton("F");
JButton clearButton = new JButton("C");
JButton standButton = new JButton("Stand");
JButton hitButton = new JButton("Hit");
JButton doubleButton = new JButton("Double");
JButton splitButton = new JButton("Split");
JButton winButton = new JButton("Win");
JButton loseButton = new JButton("Lose");
JButton resetButton = new JButton("Reset All");
JButton enterButton = new JButton("Enter");
public Frame21()
{
// JFrame - the main area of the program
JFrame frame = new JFrame("Blackjack Helper");
// JPanel right - the rightside of the program
JPanel rightSide = new JPanel();
JPanel rightNorthSide = new JPanel();
rightNorthSide.setLayout(new GridLayout(3,4));
rightNorthSide.add(aceButton);
rightNorthSide.add(twoButton);
rightNorthSide.add(threeButton);
rightNorthSide.add(fourButton);
rightNorthSide.add(fiveButton);
rightNorthSide.add(sixButton);
rightNorthSide.add(sevenButton);
rightNorthSide.add(eightButton);
rightNorthSide.add(nineButton);
rightNorthSide.add(tenButton);
rightNorthSide.add(faceButton);
rightNorthSide.add(clearButton);
JPanel rightSouthSide = new JPanel();
rightSouthSide.add(resetButton, BorderLayout.WEST);
rightSouthSide.add(enterButton, BorderLayout.EAST);
rightSide.add(rightNorthSide, BorderLayout.NORTH);
rightSide.add(rightSouthSide, BorderLayout.SOUTH);
frame.add(rightSide, BorderLayout.EAST);
// JPanel Center - the center of the program
JPanel center = new JPanel();
JPanel centerNorth = new JPanel();
centerNorth.add(questionDisplay, BorderLayout.NORTH);
centerNorth.add(actionDisplay, BorderLayout.SOUTH);
JPanel centerSouth = new JPanel();
JPanel centerSouthNorth = new JPanel();
centerSouthNorth.add(dealerCardText, BorderLayout.WEST);
centerSouthNorth.add(dealerCardDisplay, BorderLayout.EAST);
JPanel centerSouthSouth = new JPanel();
JPanel centerSouthSouthWest = new JPanel();
centerSouthSouthWest.add(handOneText, BorderLayout.NORTH);
centerSouthSouthWest.add(handOneDisplay, BorderLayout.SOUTH);
JPanel centerSouthSouthEast = new JPanel();
centerSouthSouthEast.add(handTwoText, BorderLayout.NORTH);
centerSouthSouthEast.add(handTwoDisplay, BorderLayout.SOUTH);
centerSouthSouth.add(centerSouthSouthWest, BorderLayout.WEST);
centerSouthSouth.add(centerSouthSouthEast, BorderLayout.EAST);
centerSouth.add(centerSouthNorth, BorderLayout.NORTH);
centerSouth.add(centerSouthSouth, BorderLayout.SOUTH);
center.add(centerNorth, BorderLayout.NORTH);
center.add(centerSouth, BorderLayout.SOUTH);
frame.add(center, BorderLayout.CENTER);
// JPanel left - the center of the program
JPanel left = new JPanel();
JPanel leftNorth = new JPanel();
JPanel leftNorthNorth = new JPanel();
JPanel leftNorthSouth = new JPanel();
JPanel leftSouth = new JPanel();
JPanel leftSouthNorth = new JPanel();
JPanel leftSouthSouth = new JPanel();
leftNorthNorth.add(standButton, BorderLayout.WEST);
leftNorthNorth.add(hitButton, BorderLayout.EAST);
leftNorthSouth.add(doubleButton, BorderLayout.WEST);
leftNorthSouth.add(splitButton, BorderLayout.EAST);
leftNorth.add(leftNorthNorth, BorderLayout.NORTH);
leftNorth.add(leftNorthSouth, BorderLayout.SOUTH);
leftSouthNorth.add(statsText, BorderLayout.WEST);
leftSouthNorth.add(statsDisplay, BorderLayout.EAST);
leftSouthSouth.add(winButton, BorderLayout.WEST);
leftSouthSouth.add(loseButton, BorderLayout.EAST);
leftSouth.add(leftSouthNorth, BorderLayout.NORTH);
leftSouth.add(leftSouthSouth, BorderLayout.SOUTH);
left.add(leftNorth, BorderLayout.NORTH);
left.add(leftSouth, BorderLayout.SOUTH);
frame.add(left, BorderLayout.WEST);
frame.setSize(1600, 200);
frame.setVisible(true);
frame.setResizable(true);
frame.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
}
}

The layering for what seems to be the upper layers is not working properly. Any suggestions? The left should have four layers.
A BorderLayout does not "layer".
Only a single component can be added to each of the 5 areas of the BorderLayout.
So, yes, you can create a JPanel and add multiple components to that panel, and then add the panel to an area of the BorderLayout.
JPanel rightSouthSide = new JPanel();
rightSouthSide.add(resetButton, BorderLayout.WEST);
rightSouthSide.add(enterButton, BorderLayout.EAST);
However, the above code is incorrect. The default layout manager of a JPanel is the FlowLayout. So specifying BorderLayout constraints does nothing (and is very confusing).
If by "layers" you mean "rows", then you need to use a panel with a different layout manage. Maybe you can use a BoxLayout to add rows of panels.
Overall, your approach to creating panels with different components is valid, the problem is you also need to use the appropriate layout manager for each of your child panels.
Read the Swing tutorial on Layout Managers for more information about how each of the layout managers work.

JTextArea with same parameters but not same size

public UserInterface(){
super(new BorderLayout());
fc = new JFileChooser();
setComponents();
}
public void setComponents(){
//top section
openButton = new JButton("Charger fichier");
openButton.addActionListener(this);
JPanel buttonPanel = new JPanel();
buttonPanel.add(openButton);
//left section
//class panel
JPanel classe = new JPanel();
classes = new JTextArea(25,15);
classes.setMargin(new Insets(5,5,5,5));
classes.setEditable(false);
JScrollPane classeScrollPane = new JScrollPane(classes);
classe.setBorder(new TitledBorder("Classes"));
classe.add(classeScrollPane);
//right section
JPanel right = new JPanel(new BorderLayout());
JPanel right_top = new JPanel(new GridLayout(2,2));
//attribut panel
JPanel attribut = new JPanel();
attributs = new JTextArea(8,19);
attributs.setMargin(new Insets(5,5,5,5));
attributs.setEditable(false);
JScrollPane attributScrollPane = new JScrollPane(attributs);
attribut.setBorder(new TitledBorder("Attributs"));
attribut.add(attributScrollPane);
//function panel
JPanel methode = new JPanel();
methodes = new JTextArea(8,19);
methodes.setMargin(new Insets(5,5,5,5));
methodes.setEditable(false);
JScrollPane methodeScrollPane = new JScrollPane(methodes);
methode.setBorder(new TitledBorder("Methodes"));
methode.add(methodeScrollPane);
//subclass panel
JPanel sousclasse = new JPanel();
sousclasses = new JTextArea(8,19);
methodes.setMargin(new Insets(5,5,5,5));
methodes.setEditable(false);
JScrollPane sousclasseScrollPane = new JScrollPane(sousclasses);
sousclasse.setBorder(new TitledBorder("Sous-classes"));
sousclasse.add(sousclasseScrollPane);
//relation panel
JPanel relation = new JPanel();
relations = new JTextArea(8,19);
relations.setMargin(new Insets(5,5,5,5));
relations.setEditable(false);
JScrollPane relationScrollPane = new JScrollPane(relations);
relation.setBorder(new TitledBorder("Relations"));
relation.add(relationScrollPane);
right_top.add(attribut);
right_top.add(methode);
right_top.add(sousclasse);
right_top.add(relation);
//detail panel
JPanel detail = new JPanel();
details = new JTextArea(5,40);
details.setMargin(new Insets(5,5,5,5));
details.setEditable(false);
JScrollPane detailScrollPane = new JScrollPane(details);
detail.setBorder(new TitledBorder("Détails"));
detail.add(detailScrollPane);
right.add(right_top,BorderLayout.CENTER);
right.add(detail,BorderLayout.SOUTH);
add(buttonPanel, BorderLayout.NORTH);
add(classe, BorderLayout.WEST);
add(right, BorderLayout.CENTER);
}
the layout created from code above is:
You can see the text area of 'sousclass' panel is smaller than other JTextArea with the same parameters(8,19). Could anyone tell me why?
Also, assume that i have some data, I'd like to display class name in class section, once i click one of classes, it displays attributs of that class in the attribut section, how could i realize this function？ Thanks。

JPanel sousclasse = new JPanel();
sousclasses = new JTextArea(8,19);
methodes.setMargin(new Insets(5,5,5,5)); // wrong variable
methodes.setEditable(false); // wrong variable
You didn't set the margin on the text area. You are using the wrong variable name.

About the layout of a GUI

I'm in the middle of working on a program. It's GUI has two main parts, the left of the JFrame and the right of the JFrame. (Currently the right half is blank because I havn't started working on it yet).
The left part doesn't look good. All the buttons and textfields are stretched. I want them to have the height of standard buttons, similiar to the ones on this site. (You know, standard windows buttons).
How do I do that?
(I wouldn't want to simply pack() the whole thing, since the right half of the window is going to have a big square JPanel, and so pack()ing would mean that the window will still be square and the buttons on the left half would still be streched up and down).
Here's a picture:
And here's the code so far:
import javax.swing.*;
import java.awt.*;
import java.awt.Event.*;
public class GUI extends JFrame {
JButton rect,oval,tri,free,addPoint;
JLabel xLabel,yLabel;
JTextField xTextField,yTextField;
JPanel leftPanel,rightPanel,optionsPanel,pointsPanel;
public GUI(){
initUI();
}
private void initUI(){
setLayout(new GridLayout(1,2,5,5));
setDefaultCloseOperation(EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
setTitle("Graphics Generator");
setSize(500,500);
rect = new JButton("Rectangle");
oval = new JButton("Oval");
tri = new JButton("Triangle");
free = new JButton("Free Shape");
addPoint = new JButton("Add point");
xLabel = new JLabel("X: ");
yLabel = new JLabel("Y: ");
xTextField = new JTextField(2);
yTextField = new JTextField(2);
leftPanel = new JPanel();
rightPanel = new JPanel();
optionsPanel = new JPanel();
pointsPanel = new JPanel();
add(leftPanel);
add(rightPanel);
leftPanel.setLayout(new GridLayout(2,1,5,5));
leftPanel.add(optionsPanel);
optionsPanel.setLayout(new GridLayout(1,4,2,2));
optionsPanel.add(rect);
optionsPanel.add(oval);
optionsPanel.add(tri);
optionsPanel.add(free);
leftPanel.add(pointsPanel);
pointsPanel.setLayout(new GridLayout(1,5,2,2));
pointsPanel.add(xLabel);
pointsPanel.add(xTextField);
pointsPanel.add(yLabel);
pointsPanel.add(yTextField);
pointsPanel.add(addPoint);
setVisible(true);
}
public static void main(String[] args) {
GUI gui = new GUI();
}
}

Try this
import javax.swing.*;
import java.awt.*;
import java.awt.Event.*;
public class GUI extends JFrame {
JButton rect,oval,tri,free,addPoint;
JLabel xLabel,yLabel;
JTextField xTextField,yTextField;
JPanel leftPanel,rightPanel,optionsPanel,pointsPanel;
public GUI(){
initUI();
}
private void initUI(){
setLayout(new GridLayout(1,2,5,5));
setDefaultCloseOperation(EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
setTitle("Graphics Generator");
setSize(500,500);
rect = new JButton("Rectangle");
oval = new JButton("Oval");
tri = new JButton("Triangle");
free = new JButton("Free Shape");
addPoint = new JButton("Add point");
JPnel p=new JPanel();
p.add(rect);
p.add(oval);
p.add(tri);
p.add(free);
p.add(addPoint);
xLabel = new JLabel("X: ");
yLabel = new JLabel("Y: ");
xTextField = new JTextField(2);
yTextField = new JTextField(2);
leftPanel = new JPanel();
rightPanel = new JPanel();
optionsPanel = new JPanel();
pointsPanel = new JPanel();
add(leftPanel);
add(rightPanel);
leftPanel.setLayout(new GridLayout(2,1,5,5));
leftPanel.add(optionsPanel);
optionsPanel.setLayout(new GridLayout(1,4,2,2));
optionsPanel.add(p);
//optionsPanel.add(oval);
//optionsPanel.add(tri);
//optionsPanel.add(free);
leftPanel.add(pointsPanel);
pointsPanel.setLayout(new GridLayout(1,5,2,2));
pointsPanel.add(xLabel);
pointsPanel.add(xTextField);
pointsPanel.add(yLabel);
pointsPanel.add(yTextField);
pointsPanel.add(addPoint);
setVisible(true);
}
public static void main(String[] args) {
GUI gui = new GUI();
}
}
Like this for JLabels and JTextFields

Please go through following link for more information about Grid layout
How to Use GridLayout
Also try with different layouts in java swing
A Visual Guide to Layout Managers

Please try FlowLayout it is suitable for your requirement.
Just change setLayout(new FlowLayout());
Output :

You have that effect, because you use GridLayout, which resize component to whole cell(vertically/horizontally). You need to use another LayoutManager, or combinations of layouts.
For example I've changed your code with GridBagLayout:
private void initUI(){
setDefaultCloseOperation(EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
setTitle("Graphics Generator");
setLayout(new GridBagLayout());
rect = new JButton("Rectangle");
oval = new JButton("Oval");
tri = new JButton("Triangle");
free = new JButton("Free Shape");
addPoint = new JButton("Add point");
xLabel = new JLabel("X: ");
yLabel = new JLabel("Y: ");
xTextField = new JTextField(2);
yTextField = new JTextField(2);
leftPanel = new JPanel();
leftPanel.setBorder(BorderFactory.createLineBorder(Color.RED));
rightPanel = new JPanel();
rightPanel.setBorder(BorderFactory.createLineBorder(Color.BLUE));
optionsPanel = new JPanel(new GridBagLayout());
pointsPanel = new JPanel(new GridBagLayout());
GridBagConstraints cMain = new GridBagConstraints();
cMain.insets = new Insets(5, 5, 5, 5);
cMain.gridx = 0;
cMain.gridy = 0;
cMain.anchor = GridBagConstraints.NORTHWEST;
add(leftPanel,cMain);
cMain.fill = GridBagConstraints.BOTH;
cMain.gridx++;
cMain.weighty = 1;
cMain.weightx = 1;
add(rightPanel,cMain);
leftPanel.setLayout(new GridBagLayout());
GridBagConstraints c = new GridBagConstraints();
c.insets = new Insets(5, 5, 5, 5);
c.gridx = 0;
c.gridy = 0;
c.anchor = GridBagConstraints.WEST;
leftPanel.add(optionsPanel,c);
c.gridy++;
leftPanel.add(pointsPanel,c);
c.gridy = 0;
optionsPanel.add(rect,c);
c.gridx++;
optionsPanel.add(oval,c);
c.gridx++;
optionsPanel.add(tri,c);
c.gridx++;
optionsPanel.add(free,c);
c.gridx = 0;
c.gridy = 1;
pointsPanel.add(xLabel,c);
c.gridx++;
pointsPanel.add(xTextField,c);
c.gridx++;
pointsPanel.add(yLabel,c);
c.gridx++;
pointsPanel.add(yTextField,c);
c.gridx++;
pointsPanel.add(addPoint,c);
setSize(500,500);
setVisible(true);
}

JScrollPane not properly stretching horizontal distance in GridBagLayout

I've seen other posts on this subject, but the solutions they found do not apply to me. I am setting a weighted value and using the c.fill = GridBagConstraints.BOTH constraints as well.
I'm including the whole GUI code I have, just in case my mistake is coming form something other than the GridBagLayout.
I want the scrollable text block on the right to expand the remaining space within the GUI and I have set all the variables that should be attributed to that and yet it still isn't working. What am I doing wrong?
My result:
import java.awt.*;
import javax.swing.*;
public class TestCode extends JFrame {
JTextArea textArea = new JTextArea ();
JComboBox <String> typeComboBox;
JTextField searchField;
JTextField fileField;
public TestCode(){
setTitle ("GUI Test");
setSize (600, 300);
setDefaultCloseOperation (JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
setVisible (true);
JScrollPane scrollPane = new JScrollPane(textArea);
JButton readButton = new JButton("Read File");
JButton displayButton = new JButton("Display");
JButton searchButton = new JButton("Search");
searchField = new JTextField(10);
fileField = new JTextField(15);
typeComboBox = new JComboBox <String> ();
typeComboBox.addItem("Index");
typeComboBox.addItem("Type");
typeComboBox.addItem("Name");
JPanel container = new JPanel();
container.setLayout(new GridBagLayout());
container.setPreferredSize(new Dimension(250, 100));
JPanel filePanel = new JPanel();
filePanel.setLayout(new BoxLayout(filePanel, BoxLayout.Y_AXIS));
filePanel.add(new JLabel("Source file", SwingConstants.LEFT));
JPanel filePanelTop = new JPanel();
filePanelTop.setLayout(new FlowLayout(FlowLayout.LEFT));
filePanelTop.add(fileField);
JPanel filePanelBottom = new JPanel();
filePanelBottom.setLayout(new FlowLayout(FlowLayout.RIGHT));
filePanelBottom.add(readButton);
filePanelBottom.add(displayButton);
filePanel.add(filePanelTop);
filePanel.add(filePanelBottom);
filePanel.setMaximumSize(filePanel.getPreferredSize());
filePanel.setBorder(BorderFactory.createTitledBorder("Import File"));
JPanel searchPanel = new JPanel();
searchPanel.setLayout(new BoxLayout(searchPanel, BoxLayout.Y_AXIS));
searchPanel.add(new JLabel("Search target", SwingConstants.LEFT));
JPanel searchPanelTop = new JPanel();
searchPanelTop.setLayout(new FlowLayout(FlowLayout.LEFT));
searchPanelTop.add(searchField);
searchPanelTop.add(typeComboBox);
searchPanel.add(searchPanelTop);
searchPanel.add(searchButton);
searchPanel.setMaximumSize(searchPanel.getPreferredSize());
searchPanel.setBorder(BorderFactory.createTitledBorder("Search Objects"));
GridBagConstraints c = new GridBagConstraints();
c.gridx = 0;
c.gridy = 0;
container.add(filePanel, c);
c.gridx = 0;
c.gridy = 1;
container.add(searchPanel, c);
c.gridx = 1;
c.gridy = 0;
c.weightx = 1.0;
c.weighty = 1.0;
c.gridwidth = GridBagConstraints.REMAINDER;
c.gridheight = GridBagConstraints.REMAINDER;
c.fill = GridBagConstraints.BOTH;
c.anchor = GridBagConstraints.NORTHWEST;
container.add(scrollPane, c);
add(container, BorderLayout.WEST);
validate();
} // end method toString
public static void main(String[] args){
TestCode run = new TestCode();
}
} // end class Treasure

//add(container, BorderLayout.WEST);
add(container);
The West contrains the components to their preferred width. The default is the CENTER which allows components to expand to fill the space available.
Also, the main structure of you code is wrong. You should be adding all the component to the frame first and then invoke:
frame.pack();
frame.setVisible(true);
Then there is no need for the validate().

How to set the size of a gridlayout jpanel

I'm trying to set the size of a gridlayout jpanel. Here is the code:
JFrame myFrame = new JFrame();
myFrame.setLayout(new FlowLayout());
myFrame.setLocation(400, 100);
myFrame.setDefaultCloseOperation(WindowConstants.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
JLabel jlMins = new JLabel("Number of minutes for tutoring session (should be a positive decimal number): 0.0");
JLabel jlEarnings = new JLabel("Earnings in dollars and cents received (should be positive decimal number): 0.0");
jtfMins = new JTextField(20);
jtfEarnings = new JTextField(20);
JPanel jpMins = new JPanel(new BorderLayout());
JPanel jpEarnings = new JPanel(new BorderLayout());
jpMins.setPreferredSize(new Dimension(300,50));
jpEarnings.setPreferredSize(new Dimension(300,50));
jpMins.add(jlMins,BorderLayout.NORTH);
jpMins.add(jtfMins,BorderLayout.CENTER);
jpEarnings.add(jlEarnings,BorderLayout.NORTH);
jpEarnings.add(jtfEarnings,BorderLayout.CENTER);
JButton jbQuit = new JButton("Quit");
JButton jbEnter = new JButton("Enter");
JButton jbReport = new JButton("Run Report");
jbQuit.setActionCommand("quit");
jbEnter.setActionCommand("enter");
jbReport.setActionCommand("report");
jbQuit.addActionListener(this);
jbEnter.addActionListener(this);
jbReport.addActionListener(this);
JPanel jpButtons = new JPanel(new GridLayout(4,1,0,20));
jpButtons.setSize(new Dimension(50,150));
jpButtons.add(jbEnter);
jpButtons.add(jbReport);
jpButtons.add(jbQuit);
JPanel jpNorth = new JPanel(new BorderLayout());
jpNorth.add(jpMins,BorderLayout.NORTH);
jpNorth.add(jpEarnings,BorderLayout.CENTER);
jpNorth.add(jpButtons,BorderLayout.SOUTH);
jtaReports = new JTextArea();
jtaReports.setColumns(40);
jtaReports.setRows(10);
jtaReports.setLineWrap(true);
JScrollPane jspReports = new JScrollPane(jtaReports);
jspReports.setVerticalScrollBarPolicy(JScrollPane.VERTICAL_SCROLLBAR_ALWAYS);
JPanel jpSouth = new JPanel();
jpSouth.setPreferredSize(new Dimension(350,200));
jpSouth.add(jspReports);
JPanel jpMain = new JPanel(new BorderLayout());
jpMain.add(jpNorth,BorderLayout.NORTH);
jpMain.add(jpSouth,BorderLayout.SOUTH);
jpMain.setPreferredSize(new Dimension(500,500));
myFrame.setContentPane(jpMain);
myFrame.pack();
myFrame.setVisible(true);
The panel name is jpButtons. Of the above code I'm talking mainly about this section:
JButton jbQuit = new JButton("Quit");
JButton jbEnter = new JButton("Enter");
JButton jbReport = new JButton("Run Report");
jbQuit.setActionCommand("quit");
jbEnter.setActionCommand("enter");
jbReport.setActionCommand("report");
jbQuit.addActionListener(this);
jbEnter.addActionListener(this);
jbReport.addActionListener(this);
JPanel jpButtons = new JPanel(new GridLayout(4,1,0,20));
jpButtons.setSize(new Dimension(50,150));
jpButtons.add(jbEnter);
jpButtons.add(jbReport);
jpButtons.add(jbQuit);
How exactly does setSize, and setPreferredSize work or how to get them to work properly on jpanel, components, etc.

scaling and positioning is handled by the layout manager; let it do its job.