Develop Reference

Why does this GUI shift after it updates?

I am working on a simple TicTacToe game with java swing and everything works properly, but whenever the GUI updates the layout changes. This happens with the buttons getting bigger when they are pressed and change to display an 'x' or an 'o' or when the entire game stops and displays a new label saying who won. I'm pretty much a beginner when it comes to programs like this, and the code itself is a huge hodgepodge of copy-pastes from programs that I have made with each separate components, so I figure that could be a reason for this issue.
Code below:
import java.awt.GridBagLayout;
import java.awt.Insets;
import java.awt.event.ActionEvent;
import java.awt.event.ActionListener;
import javax.swing.JButton;
import javax.swing.JFrame;
import javax.swing.JLabel;
import javax.swing.JTextField;
import javax.swing.Timer;
import java.text.DecimalFormat;
public class test extends JFrame {
private JButton [] buttons = new JButton[9];
private char player = 'x';
private JLabel turnLabel = new JLabel("Player turn: ");
private JLabel turn = new JLabel(Character.toString(player).toUpperCase());
private JLabel winnerLabel = new JLabel("");
private JLabel timeLabel = new JLabel("");
private byte centiseconds = 0;
private byte seconds = 0;
private short minutes = 0;
private DecimalFormat timeFormatter;
private Timer timer;
/* Constructor initializes the Frame,
creates GUI components, and adds them
using a GridBagLayout. */
test() {
GridBagConstraints layoutConst; // Used to specify GUI component layout
// Set frame's title
setTitle("TicTacToe");
// Use a GridBagLayout
setLayout(new GridBagLayout());
// Create GridBagConstraints
layoutConst = new GridBagConstraints();
createObjects(layoutConst);
timer.start();
}
public void createObjects(GridBagConstraints layoutConst) {
int i = 0;
for(int r = 0; r <= 2; r++) {
for(int c = 0; c <= 2; c++) {
buttons[i] = new JButton();
buttons[i].setText(" ");
layoutConst.gridx = r;
layoutConst.gridy = c;
layoutConst.ipadx = 70;
layoutConst.ipady = 70;
add(buttons[i], layoutConst);
buttons[i].addActionListener(e -> {
layoutConst.insets = new Insets(0, 0, 0, 0);
JButton clickedBtn = (JButton) e.getSource();
clickedBtn.setText(String.valueOf(player));
clickedBtn.setEnabled(false);
if (player == 'x')
player = 'o';
else
player = 'x';
turn.setText(Character.toString(player).toUpperCase());
findWinner();
});
i++;
}
createLabels(layoutConst);
}
}
public void createLabels(GridBagConstraints layoutConst) {
layoutConst.gridx = 5;
layoutConst.gridy = 1;
layoutConst.ipady = 0;
layoutConst.ipadx = 0;
layoutConst.insets = new Insets(10, 10, 10, 10);
add(turnLabel, layoutConst);
layoutConst.gridx = 6;
layoutConst.gridy = 1;
layoutConst.gridwidth = 1;
layoutConst.insets = new Insets(0, 0, 0, 0);
add(turn, layoutConst);
layoutConst.gridx = 6;
layoutConst.gridy = 2;
layoutConst.gridwidth = 1;
layoutConst.insets = new Insets(0, 0, 0, 0);
add(winnerLabel, layoutConst);
layoutConst.gridx = 7;
layoutConst.gridy = 0;
layoutConst.insets = new Insets(0, 0, 0, 0);
add(timeLabel, layoutConst);
timeFormatter = new DecimalFormat("00");
timer = new Timer(10, new ActionListener() {
#Override
public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e) {
if (centiseconds >= 0 && centiseconds != 100) {
centiseconds++;
}
else if(centiseconds == 100) {
seconds++;
centiseconds = 0;
}
else if(seconds == 60 && centiseconds == 100) {
minutes++;
seconds = 0;
centiseconds = 0;
}
timeLabel.setText(timeFormatter.format(minutes) + ":"
+ timeFormatter.format(seconds) + "."
+ timeFormatter.format(centiseconds));
}
});
timeLabel.setText(timeFormatter.format(minutes) + ":"
+ timeFormatter.format(seconds) + "."
+ timeFormatter.format(centiseconds));
}
public void findWinner() {
if (checkForWinner()) {
if (player == 'x') {
player = 'o';
}
else {
player = 'x';
}
winnerLabel.setText("Player " + Character.toString(player) + " wins!");
timer.stop();
}
else if (checkIfMatchDraw()) {
winnerLabel.setText("It's a draw!");
timer.stop();
}
}
public boolean checkIfMatchDraw() {
boolean gridsFull = true;
for (int i = 0; i < 9; i++) {
if (buttons[i].getText().equals(" ")) {
gridsFull = false;
}
}
return gridsFull;
}
public boolean checkForWinner() {
return checkAllRows() || checkAllColumns() || checkTheDiagonals();
}
public boolean checkAllRows() {
int i = 0;
for (int j = 0; j < 3; j++) {
if (buttons[i].getText().equals(buttons[i + 1].getText()) && buttons[i].getText().equals(buttons[i + 2].getText())
&& !buttons[i].getText().equals(" ")) {
return true;
}
i = i + 3;
}
return false;
}
public boolean checkAllColumns() {
int i = 0;
for (int j = 0; j < 3; j++) {
if (buttons[i].getText().equals(buttons[i + 3].getText()) && buttons[i].getText().equals(buttons[i + 6].getText())
&& !buttons[i].getText().equals(" ")) {
return true;
}
i++;
}
return false;
}
public boolean checkTheDiagonals() {
if (buttons[0].getText().equals(buttons[4].getText()) && buttons[0].getText().equals(buttons[8].getText())
&& !buttons[0].getText().equals(" "))
return true;
else
return buttons[2].getText().equals(buttons[4].getText()) && buttons[2].getText().equals(buttons[6].getText())
&& !buttons[2].getText().equals(" ");
}
/* Creates a Frameand makes it visible */
public static void main(String[] args) {
// Creates Frame and its components
test myFrame = new test();
// Terminate program when window closes
myFrame.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
// Resize window to fit components
myFrame.pack();
// Display window
myFrame.setVisible(true);
}
}

Java Connect4 Game with GUI bug issues

http://imgur.com/a/V7LPP
Grid images are in the link
I have 2 main issues with my current connect4 code, sometimes the "AI" places 2 discs in one turn and the player can't fill the entire board without the "AI" entering an infinite loop. Any help is appreciated.
/**
* Auto Generated Java Class.
*/
import java.awt.Dimension;
import java.awt.GridLayout;
import java.awt.event.ActionEvent;
import java.awt.event.ActionListener;
import javax.swing.BoxLayout;
import javax.swing.ImageIcon;
import javax.swing.JButton;
import javax.swing.JFrame;
import javax.swing.JLabel;
import javax.swing.JPanel;
public class EmptyFrame1 implements ActionListener
{
//Array of JButtons
static JButton [] mnuBtn = new JButton[2];
static JButton [] btnArray = new JButton[7];
static JLabel [][] board = new JLabel[6][7];
static int [][] numBoard = new int[6][7];
static int choice = 0;
static int playerColour = 1;
static int computerColour = 2;
static int computerTurn = 0;
static ImageIcon emptyGrid = new ImageIcon("EmptyGrid.png");
static ImageIcon yellowGrid = new ImageIcon("YellowGrid.png");
static ImageIcon redGrid = new ImageIcon("RedGrid.png");
static JPanel pnlBoard;
static boolean validTurn;
static int pieceCount = 42;
public EmptyFrame1()
{
JFrame game = new JFrame("Connect 4");
//mainFrame panel to hold all components
JPanel mainFrame = new JPanel();
pnlBoard = new JPanel();
pnlBoard.setLayout(new GridLayout(7,6));
//Change mainFrame layout to vertical BoxLayout
mainFrame.setLayout(new BoxLayout(mainFrame, BoxLayout.Y_AXIS));
//For every single button
//Set the button text to its index value, add an action listener and add it to the pnlButtons
for (int i = 0; i < btnArray.length; i++)
{
btnArray[i] = new JButton("place");
btnArray[i].addActionListener(this);
pnlBoard.add(btnArray[i]);
}//end for
for (int r = 0; r < board.length; r++)
{
for (int c = 0; c < board[r].length; c++)
{
board[r][c] = new JLabel(emptyGrid);
board[r][c].setPreferredSize(new Dimension(69, 69));
pnlBoard.add(board[r][c]);
}//end for
}//end for
//Add all the panels to the mainFrame panel
mainFrame.add(pnlBoard);
//add mainFrame to the JFrame
game.add(mainFrame);
game.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE); // Added this for security
game.pack();
game.setVisible(true);
game.setResizable(false);
}
//*Action listener for all buttons*
public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e)
{
for (int i = 0; i < btnArray.length; i++)
{
//if the current button was triggered, set the choice to the button index
if (btnArray[i] == e.getSource())
{
choice = i;
colCheck(choice, 1);
//System.out.println("User turn used");
pieceCount--;
for (int j = 0; j < btnArray.length; j++)
{
if (numBoard[0][j] == 0) btnArray[j].setEnabled(true);
}
if (pieceCount > 0)
{
validTurn = false;
while(!validTurn)
{
computerTurn = (int) (Math.random() * 7);
System.out.print(computerTurn + " ");
validTurn = colCheck(computerTurn, 2);
//System.out.println("CPU tried to move");
}
}
System.out.println();
setGrid();
pieceCount--;
System.out.println(pieceCount);
validTurn = false;
}//end if
}//end for
pnlBoard.repaint();
}//end actionPerformed
public static boolean colCheck(int choice, int currentTurn)
{
int row = -1;
for (int r = 5; r >= 0; r--)
{
if (numBoard[r][choice] == 0)
{
row = r;
break;
}
}
//System.out.println("Row That CPU Chooses: " + row);
if (row > -1)
{
numBoard[row][choice] = currentTurn;
if (row == 0)
{
btnArray[choice].setEnabled(false);
return false;
}
return true;
}
return false;
}
public static void setGrid()
{
for (int r = 0; r < numBoard.length; r++)
{
for (int c = 0; c < numBoard[r].length; c++)
{
if (numBoard [r][c] == 0)
{
board[r][c].setIcon(emptyGrid);
}
else if (numBoard [r][c] == 1)
{
board[r][c].setIcon(redGrid);
}
else if (numBoard [r][c] == 2)
{
board[r][c].setIcon(yellowGrid);
}
}
}
}
/**
* Inner helper class that defines the graphics
*/
public static void main(String[] args)
{
new EmptyFrame1();
}
//end constructor

Some problems and suggestions:
Your colCheck method and the while (!validTurn) { loop in the actionPerformed method is where the problem is located.
This method should not set numBoard value or disable buttons. In other words, it should not have any "side effects".
Instead it should only check for validity and then return a boolean value, nothing more or less
You should have another method that is called first, one that checks if no valid columns are available, if the game is effectively over. This should be called before the while loop above and should prevent the while loop from entering. This will end your endless loop problem because it's looping because no valid columns can be found for the computer turn.
You should have another method for setting the numBoard state and for enabling and disabling JButtons.
Change your colCheck to this to see where the loop is coming from:
public static boolean colCheck(int choice, int currentTurn) {
int row = -1;
for (int r = 5; r >= 0; r--) {
if (numBoard[r][choice] == 0) {
row = r;
break;
}
}
// System.out.println("Row That CPU Chooses: " + row);
if (row > -1) {
numBoard[row][choice] = currentTurn;
if (row == 0) {
btnArray[choice].setEnabled(false);
System.out.printf("debug 1 row %d %n", row);
return false;
}
System.out.printf("debug 2 row %d %n", row);
return true;
}
System.out.printf("debug 3 row %d %n", row);
return false;
}
Other issues not directly related to your problem at hand, but which should be addressed
You're grossly over-using the static modifier, and in fact none of your fields should be static. All should be private instance fields.
You've got your program logic code, the model, mixed in the same class as the GUI, the view, making it hard to debug problems and enhance the program. Much better if you could make your model a completely separate class, one that is "view-agnostic" meaning that it is testable on its own and can work with any view, be it a command line or Swing or Android UI.
Your question depends on images, EmptyGrid.png, YellowGrid.png.... that we have no access to, preventing us from testing it.
You're using magic numbers, such as 0, 1, 2 for position values, and need to avoid doing this.
Instead use an enum for empty, user and computer
This is Java not Javascript. You'll want to be clear on the difference because they're two completely different languages.

Hide a JLabel tooltip text

I am adding JLabel objects to a JPanel. Each label has a different tool tip text that I use to identify each label afterwards, the problem is that the tool tip is always showing on hover and I need it to always be hidden.
Each label has a different image icon that's why I can't use the label text.
I can't find any documentation on the label API for some function like .hidetooltip.
Edit
Each of many JLabel objects on a GridLayout holds an Image. I need to know the line and column of each image.

To hide the tool tip text to null
myComponent.setToolTipText(null);
This is described in the API for this method: "param - the string to display; if the text is null, the tool tip is turned off for this component"
EDIT: In response to your actual issue that you describe in one of your comments, there are a variety of ways association information with a JLabel. You could a) extend the class and keep instance variables defining the grid values b) use a Map key'd with the JLabel and value'd with the row/col c) use the Name of the JLabel

Each of many JLabel objects on a GridLayout holds an Image. I need to know the line and column of each image.
One way to achieve this is to store a BufferedImage[][] to check images against. E.G.
import java.awt.*;
import java.awt.image.BufferedImage;
import javax.swing.*;
import javax.swing.border.EmptyBorder;
import java.net.URL;
import java.util.Random;
import javax.imageio.ImageIO;
public final class ImageArray {
int r = 8;
int c = 8;
// The images in the chess board, used to check which
// image was chosen for this place on the board.
final private BufferedImage[][] chessBoardImages = new BufferedImage[r][c];
private final int rowSprite = 2;
private final int colSprite = 6;
// Holds the tile sheet images
private final BufferedImage[] chessPieceImages =
new BufferedImage[colSprite * rowSprite];
private JComponent ui = null;
private final BufferedImage chessSpriteSheet;
ImageArray(BufferedImage chessSpriteSheet) {
this.chessSpriteSheet = chessSpriteSheet;
initUI();
}
private int getImageIndex(Image img) {
for (int i = 0; i < chessPieceImages.length; i++) {
if (chessPieceImages[i].equals(img)) {
return i;
}
}
return -1;
}
public void initUI() {
if (ui != null) {
return;
}
ui = new JPanel(new BorderLayout(4, 4));
ui.setBorder(new EmptyBorder(4, 4, 4, 4));
int w = chessSpriteSheet.getWidth();
int h = chessSpriteSheet.getHeight() / rowSprite;
int wStep = chessSpriteSheet.getWidth() / colSprite;
int hStep = chessSpriteSheet.getHeight() / rowSprite;
for (int x = 0; x < colSprite; x++) {
for (int y = 0; y < rowSprite; y++) {
chessPieceImages[x + (y * colSprite)]
= chessSpriteSheet.getSubimage(
x * wStep, y * hStep, wStep, h);
}
}
JPanel grid = new JPanel(new GridLayout(r, c));
ui.add(grid, BorderLayout.CENTER);
Random rand = new Random();
for (int x = 0; x < r; x++) {
boolean oddRow = x % 2 == 0;
for (int y = 0; y < c; y++) {
boolean oddCol = y % 2 == 0;
BufferedImage img = chessPieceImages[
rand.nextInt(colSprite * rowSprite)];
JLabel l = new JLabel(new ImageIcon(img));
chessBoardImages[x][y] = img;
l.setOpaque(true);
if ((oddRow && oddCol) || (!oddRow && !oddCol)) {
l.setBackground(Color.WHITE);
} else {
l.setBackground(Color.LIGHT_GRAY);
}
grid.add(l);
}
}
JLabel htmlLabel = new JLabel(getHtml());
htmlLabel.setHorizontalTextPosition(SwingConstants.CENTER);
htmlLabel.setVerticalTextPosition(SwingConstants.BOTTOM);
ui.add(htmlLabel,
BorderLayout.LINE_END);
}
private String getHtml() {
String style = "<style type='text/css'>"
+ "body {"
+ "font-size: 36px;"
+ "}"
+ ".white {"
+ "background-color: #FFFFFF;"
+ "}"
+ ".black {"
+ "background-color: #BBBBBB;"
+ "}"
+ "</style>";
String pre = "<html><head>%1s</head><body><table border=1 cellspacing=0>";
StringBuilder sb = new StringBuilder(String.format(pre, style));
for (int y = 0; y < r; y++) {
sb.append("<tr>");
for (int x = 0; x < c; x++) {
Image img = chessBoardImages[y][x];
final int index = getImageIndex(img);
// hack to convert index to unicode codepoint..
int unicodeOffset = ((index/colSprite)*colSprite)==0 ? colSprite : -colSprite;
int unicodeIndexOffset;
switch (index) {
case 3:
unicodeIndexOffset = 4;
break;
case 4:
unicodeIndexOffset = 3;
break;
case 9:
unicodeIndexOffset = 10;
break;
case 10:
unicodeIndexOffset = 9;
break;
default:
unicodeIndexOffset = index;
}
int unicode = 9812 + unicodeIndexOffset + unicodeOffset;
// end: hack to convert index to unicode index..
String cssClass;
boolean oddCol = x%2==1;
boolean oddRow = y%2==1;
if ((oddRow && oddCol) || (!oddRow && !oddCol)) {
cssClass = "white";
} else {
cssClass = "black";
}
sb.append(String.format(
"<td class='%1s'>&#%2s;</td>", cssClass, unicode));
}
sb.append("</tr>");
}
sb.append("</table></body></html>");
return sb.toString();
}
public JComponent getUI() {
return ui;
}
public static void main(String[] args) throws Exception {
String urlString = "http://i.stack.imgur.com/memI0.png";
final BufferedImage img = ImageIO.read(new URL(urlString));
Runnable r = new Runnable() {
#Override
public void run() {
try {
UIManager.setLookAndFeel(UIManager.getSystemLookAndFeelClassName());
} catch (Exception useDefault) {
}
ImageArray o = new ImageArray(img);
JFrame f = new JFrame("Image Array");
f.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.DISPOSE_ON_CLOSE);
f.setLocationByPlatform(true);
f.setContentPane(o.getUI());
f.pack();
f.setMinimumSize(f.getSize());
f.setVisible(true);
}
};
SwingUtilities.invokeLater(r);
}
}

You should consider storing the information elsewhere. One way would be to make a class deriving from JLabel with the purpose of storing the line and column information. Then use instances of this subclass rather than use JLabel instances. They will render as a regular JLabel would, but you can retrieve the line and column information in a way that does not pop up that information in a tooltip.

How to fill JComboBox after user fills necessary text fields?

I want to add a JComboBox to my main panel and fill it with an ArrayList I made in a different method named rectSizeList (which right now prints the ArrayList to the console), this method gets its parameters from another static method named actionPerformed. I cant figure a way to take the filled array after user input to fill my ComboBox. Any help will be appreciated.
All comment is this format are to aid question:
/*
* Like so
*
*/
All other comments are to help whomever my want to compile and run, so that they might understand what is going on.
Main class
import javax.swing.*;
public class ductulatorApp
{
public static void main(String[] args)
{
JFrame frame = new DuctulatorFrame();
frame.setVisible(true);
}
}
Frame class
import javax.swing.*;
import java.awt.*;
public class DuctulatorFrame extends JFrame
{
private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
public DuctulatorFrame()
{
setTitle("Test Scores");
setSize(267, 200);
centerWindow(this);
setResizable(false);
setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
JPanel panel = new DuctulatorPanel();
this.add(panel);
}
private void centerWindow(Window w)
{
Toolkit tk = Toolkit.getDefaultToolkit();
Dimension d = tk.getScreenSize();
setLocation((d.width-w.getWidth())/2, (d.height-w.getHeight())/2);
}
}
Panel class
import javax.swing.*;
import java.awt.*;
import java.awt.event.*;
import java.text.*;
import java.util.ArrayList;
import java.awt.event.MouseAdapter;
import java.awt.event.MouseEvent;
public class DuctulatorPanel extends JPanel implements ActionListener
{
private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
private JTextField staticTextField,
cfmTextField,
rductTextField,
sqductTextField;
private JLabel staticLabel,
cfmLabel,
rductLabel,
sqductLabel;
private JButton calculateButton,
exitButton,
clearButton;
private JComboBox ductSizes; //JComboBox instance
private String[] ductList; //Array to fill JComboBox
double staticP; //static pressure entered by user
double cfm; //cfm entered by user
double deSQ;
double de; //round duct diameter
double pi = 3.14;
double ca; //round duct surface area
double radious;
double sqrA; //rectangular duct area
//two sides of rectangular duct
double a = 4;
double b = 4;
String squareduct;
public DuctulatorPanel()
{
// Creates main panel for labels and text fields
JPanel displayPanel = new JPanel();
displayPanel.setLayout(new FlowLayout(FlowLayout.RIGHT));
staticLabel = new JLabel("Static pressure:");
displayPanel.add(staticLabel);
staticTextField = new JTextField(10);
displayPanel.add(staticTextField);
cfmLabel = new JLabel(" CFM:");
displayPanel.add(cfmLabel);
cfmTextField = new JTextField(10);
displayPanel.add(cfmTextField);
rductLabel = new JLabel("Round Duct:");
displayPanel.add(rductLabel);
rductTextField = new JTextField(15);
rductTextField.setEditable(false);
rductTextField.setFocusable(false);
displayPanel.add(rductTextField);
sqductLabel = new JLabel("Square Duct:");
displayPanel.add(sqductLabel);
/*
* This is where I want to add my JComboBox problem is I want to populate ductList arr
* with the array inside rectSizeList(int number) BELOW
* right now this method only prints my array to the console
* this method takes its parameters from the value assigned to
* actionperformed(ActionEvent e)
* below is comboBox commented out
*/
//ductList = new String[list.size]; THIS IS ASSUMING I COULD SOME HOW TRANSFER
//ductList = list.toArray(ductList); ARRAYLIST UP HERE AND NAME IT LIST AND USE IT
//ductSizes = new JComboBox(ductList);
//ductSizes.setSelectedIndex(1);
//displayPanel.add(ductSizes);
sqductTextField = new JTextField(10);
sqductTextField.setEditable(false);
sqductTextField.setFocusable(false);
displayPanel.add(sqductTextField);
JPanel buttonPanel = new JPanel();
buttonPanel.setLayout(new FlowLayout(FlowLayout.RIGHT));
calculateButton = new JButton("Calculate");
calculateButton.addActionListener(this);
buttonPanel.add(calculateButton);
clearButton = new JButton("Clear");
clearButton.addActionListener(this);
buttonPanel.add(clearButton);
exitButton = new JButton("Exit");
exitButton.addActionListener(this);
buttonPanel.add(exitButton);
this.setLayout(new BorderLayout());
this.add(displayPanel, BorderLayout.CENTER);
this.add(buttonPanel, BorderLayout.SOUTH);
}
public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e)
{
NumberFormat number = NumberFormat.getNumberInstance();
number.setMaximumFractionDigits(1);
Object source = e.getSource();
if(source == exitButton)System.exit(0);
else if(source == clearButton)
{
staticTextField.setText("");
cfmTextField.setText("");
rductTextField.setText("");
sqductTextField.setText("");
staticP = 0;
cfm = 0;
deSQ = 0;
}
else if(source == calculateButton)
{
try
{
staticP = Double.parseDouble(staticTextField.getText());
cfm = Double.parseDouble(cfmTextField.getText());
}
catch(NumberFormatException nfe)
{
staticTextField.setText("Invalid input");
staticP = 0;
cfm = 0;
deSQ = 0;
de = 0;
}
deSQ = staticP * (0.109136 * Math.pow(cfm, 1.9)); //Calculate round duct
de = Math.pow(deSQ, 0.199) * 2.5; //diameter
// Calculate round duct surface area
radious = de/2;
ca = (radious * radious) * pi;
ca = (int)ca;
rectSizeList((int)ca);
double i = 0;
for(i=0; i<ca; i++)
{
a = a + 0.5;
b = b + 0.5;
i = a * b; // convert round duct to rectangular duct
}
sqrA = i;
a = (int)a;
b = (int)b;
rductTextField.setText(number.format(de));
squareduct = (a + " x " + b);
sqductTextField.setText(squareduct);
}
}
public ArrayList<String> rectSizeList(int number)
{
if (number <= 0) throw new IllegalArgumentException("The number should be greater than 0.");
int i = 0;
int j = 0;
/*
* This is the array list I am hoping to use in order to fill array for
* comboBox
*/
ArrayList<String> rectangularDucts = new ArrayList<String>(); //Create array for rectangular duct
// Fill array for rectangular duct using nested for loop
/*
* If statement will ensure the result is with in range of surface
* area of duct
*/
for(i=4; i<=50; i++)
{
for(j=4; j<=50; j++)
{
if(number == i*j || (i*j)+1 == number || (i*j)-2 == number)
{
rectangularDucts.add(i + " x " + j);
}
}
if(number == i*j || (i*j)+1 == number || (i*j)-2 == number)
{
rectangularDucts.add(i + " x " + j);
}
}
System.out.println(rectangularDucts);
return rectangularDucts;
}
}

I think that your problem is easily solved with just a DefaultComboBoxModel object, or in your situation (I guess), a DefaultComboBoxModel<String> object. Give your class this field, create your JComboBox with this as its model, by passing it into the constructor, and then fill this model object as the need arises.
For example:
import java.awt.event.ActionEvent;
import java.awt.event.KeyEvent;
import javax.swing.*;
public class ComboModelEg extends JPanel {
private DefaultComboBoxModel<String> comboModel = new DefaultComboBoxModel<>();
private JComboBox<String> comboBox = new JComboBox<>(comboModel);
private JTextField textField = new JTextField(5);
public ComboModelEg() {
// so combo box is wide enough
comboBox.setPrototypeDisplayValue(" ");
add(comboBox);
add(textField);
add(new JButton(new AddToComboAction("Add Text", KeyEvent.VK_A)));
}
// AbstractAction is like a *super* ActionListener
private class AddToComboAction extends AbstractAction {
public AddToComboAction(String name, int mnemonic) {
super(name); // button's text
putValue(MNEMONIC_KEY, mnemonic); // button's mnemonic key
}
#Override
public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e) {
String text = textField.getText(); //get text from text field
comboModel.addElement(text); // and put it into combo box's model
}
}
private static void createAndShowGui() {
ComboModelEg mainPanel = new ComboModelEg();
JFrame frame = new JFrame("ComboModelEg");
frame.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.DISPOSE_ON_CLOSE);
frame.getContentPane().add(mainPanel);
frame.pack();
frame.setLocationByPlatform(true);
frame.setVisible(true);
}
public static void main(String[] args) {
SwingUtilities.invokeLater(new Runnable() {
public void run() {
createAndShowGui();
}
});
}
}
Translated to your code, it could look something like:
for (i = 4; i <= 50; i++) {
for (j = 4; j <= 50; j++) {
if (number == i * j || (i * j) + 1 == number
|| (i * j) - 2 == number) {
// rectangularDucts.add(i + " x " + j); //!!
comboModel.addElement(i + " x " + j); //!!
}
}
if (number == i * j || (i * j) + 1 == number || (i * j) - 2 == number) {
// rectangularDucts.add(i + " x " + j);
comboModel.addElement(i + " x " + j); //!!
}
}

this is how i do it
ArrayList<String> myList = new ArrayList<>();
//some code to populate the list
jComboBox.removeAllItems();
for(int i=0;i<myList.size();i++){
jComboBox.addItem(myList.get(i));
}

Character Array needs to display in certain order and place

Trying to get the final part of this game to work. Its a hangman game, I just need it to display correct guesses where they are in the word.
This is the snippet of code of when a correct guess is given
else
{
int alreadyGuessed = guesses.indexOf(guess);
if (alreadyGuessed == -1)
{
guesses = guesses + guess + "";
jlbWord.setText("Word: " + charWord[currentGuess]);
}
else{}
}
Right now it simply shows each letter. I can also set it, so it shows each one as they are typed in but its not in the right order, which makes it much more difficult for the user to guess what the word is.
import javax.swing.*;
import java.awt.*;
import java.awt.event.*;
import java.util.*;
import java.awt.Dimension;
public class RightPanel extends JPanel implements KeyListener
{
JLabel jlbMissed, jlbWord, jlbTimer;
Color btnColor;
JComboBox jcbDifficulty;
JButton jbtStart, jbtQuit;
String[] difficulties = {"Easy", "Medium", "Hard"};
String[] words = {"First", "Next", "Hello", "World"};
char guess;
String word, guesses = "";
char[] charWord;
public static int incorrectGuesses = 0;
boolean clockIsRunning = false;
boolean gameInPlay = false;
int sec = 0;
int min = 0;
public RightPanel()
{
this.setLayout(new GridBagLayout());
GridBagConstraints c = new GridBagConstraints();
Random ran = new Random(); //
int rand = ran.nextInt(4); // Generates random number then selects word from words array
word = words[rand]; //
charWord = word.toCharArray();
ActionHandler actionHandler = new ActionHandler();
jlbMissed = new JLabel("Missed: ");
jlbWord = new JLabel("Word: ");
jlbTimer = new JLabel("Time: " + "0:00");
jbtStart = new JButton("Start");
jbtQuit = new JButton("Quit");
jcbDifficulty = new JComboBox();
jbtStart.addActionListener(actionHandler);
jbtQuit.addActionListener(actionHandler);
jcbDifficulty.addKeyListener(this);
jbtStart.addKeyListener(this);
for (int i = 0; i < 3; i++)
{
jcbDifficulty.addItem(difficulties[i]); // Creates Difficutly ComboBox
}
this.add(jcbDifficulty, getConstraints(0,0,1,1, GridBagConstraints.WEST));
this.add(jlbMissed, getConstraints(0,1,1,1, GridBagConstraints.WEST));
this.add(jlbWord, getConstraints(0,2,1,1, GridBagConstraints.WEST));
this.add(jlbTimer, getConstraints(0,4,1,1, GridBagConstraints.WEST));
this.add(jbtStart, getConstraints(0,6,1,1, GridBagConstraints.WEST));
this.add(jbtQuit, getConstraints(0,7,1,1, GridBagConstraints.WEST));
}
public void keyPressed(KeyEvent e){}
public void keyReleased(KeyEvent e){}
public void keyTyped(KeyEvent e)
{
guess = e.getKeyChar();
if (gameInPlay == false)
{
JOptionPane.showMessageDialog(this, "You have not started the game yet!", "Game has not Started", JOptionPane.ERROR_MESSAGE);
System.out.println("Game Not in Play");
}
else
{
if (Character.isLetter(guess))
{
if (incorrectGuesses > 11)
{
clockIsRunning = false;
gameInPlay = false;
JOptionPane.showMessageDialog(this, "You Killed Him! \nThe word was " + word, "He Ceases to Exist", JOptionPane.ERROR_MESSAGE);
jbtStart.setText("Retry?");
jbtStart.setBackground(Color.RED);
}
else
{
int currentGuess = word.indexOf(guess);
if (currentGuess == -1)
{
int alreadyGuessed = guesses.indexOf(guess);
if (alreadyGuessed == -1)
{
guesses = guesses + guess + "";
System.out.println(alreadyGuessed);
System.out.println(guesses);
String temp = jlbMissed.getText();
jlbMissed.setText(temp + guess + ", ");
incorrectGuesses++;
leftPanel.hangmanPic.setIcon(leftPanel.image[RightPanel.incorrectGuesses]);
}
else {}
}
else
{
int alreadyGuessed = guesses.indexOf(guess);
if (alreadyGuessed == -1)
{
guesses = guesses + guess + "";
jlbWord.setText("Word: " + charWord[currentGuess]);
}
else{}
}
}
}
else
JOptionPane.showMessageDialog(this, "That is not a valid guess!\n Please enter a character from A-Z", "Invalid Guess", JOptionPane.ERROR_MESSAGE);
}
}
private GridBagConstraints getConstraints(int gridx, int gridy, int gridwidth, int gridheight, int anchor)
{
GridBagConstraints c = new GridBagConstraints();
c.insets = new Insets(5,5,5,5);
c.ipadx = 0;
c.ipady = 0;
c.gridx = gridx;
c.gridy = gridy;
c.gridwidth = gridwidth;
c.gridheight = gridheight;
c.anchor = anchor;
return c;
}
class ActionHandler implements ActionListener
{
public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e)
{
Object source = e.getSource();
if (source == jbtStart)
{
if (clockIsRunning == true){}
else
{
if (jbtStart.getText() == "Start")
{
btnColor = jbtStart.getBackground();
clockIsRunning = true;
MyTimer timer = new MyTimer();
timer.start();
gameInPlay = true;
}
else if (jbtStart.getText() == "Retry?")
{
jbtStart.setText("Start");
jbtStart.setBackground(btnColor);
jlbTimer.setText("Time: " + "0:00");
sec = 0;
min = 0;
MyTimer timer = new MyTimer();
timer.start();
clockIsRunning = true;
gameInPlay = true;
incorrectGuesses = 0;
guesses = "";
jlbMissed.setText("Missed: ");
jlbWord.setText("Word: ");
leftPanel.hangmanPic.setIcon(leftPanel.image[RightPanel.incorrectGuesses]);
Random ran = new Random();
int rand = ran.nextInt(4);
word = words[rand];
}
}
}
else if (source == jbtQuit)
{
System.exit(0);
}
}
}
class MyTimer extends Thread
{
public void run()
{
while(true)
{
if(!clockIsRunning)
break;
try
{
Thread.sleep(1000);
}
catch (InterruptedException ecp)
{
}
if (sec == 59)
{
min++;
sec = 0;
}
else
sec++;
if(sec < 10)
jlbTimer.setText("Time:" + min+":0"+sec);
else
jlbTimer.setText("Time:" + min+":"+sec);
}
}
}
}

Yikes.
You should refactor your code and keep the guesses in a TreeSet<Character> data structure. It assures, that each character is stored only once and that an iterator returns all stored chars in ascending order.
Snippet:
Set<Character> guesses = new HashSet<Character>();
// add a guess
guesses.add('e');
guesses.add('r');
guesses.add('a');
guesses.add('e'); // will not be added, already in the set
// test
if (guesses.contains('e')) { ... }
// test if a word is "guessed"
boolean foundIt = true;
for (char c:word.toCharArray()) {
if (!guesses.contains(c)) {
foundIt = false;
break;
}
}
// foundIt is true if all chars of word have been guessed
// print
for (char c:guesses)
System.out.print(c); // prints: aer