Develop Reference

GridLayout is misbehaving

I am trying to write Swing by hand (yeah crazy, I know) and for some reason this part panel I create here:
private JPanel createColorSliderPanel() {
JPanel colorSliderPanel = new JPanel(new GridLayout(3, 1, 0, 5));
JPanel redSliderPanel = new JPanel(new BorderLayout());
JPanel greenSliderPanel = new JPanel(new BorderLayout());
JPanel blueSliderPanel = new JPanel(new BorderLayout());
GridLayout grid = (GridLayout) colorSliderPanel.getLayout();
redSlider = new JSlider();
greenSlider = new JSlider();
blueSlider = new JSlider();
redField = new JTextField();
greenField = new JTextField();
blueField = new JTextField();
redField.setEditable(false);
greenField.setEditable(false);
blueField.setEditable(false);
JLabel redLabel = new JLabel("Red");
JLabel greenLabel = new JLabel("Green");
JLabel blueLabel = new JLabel("Blue");
redLabel.setPreferredSize(new Dimension(64, 16));
redField.setPreferredSize(new Dimension(32, 16));
redSliderPanel.add(redLabel, BorderLayout.WEST);
redSliderPanel.add(redSlider, BorderLayout.CENTER);
redSliderPanel.add(redField, BorderLayout.EAST);
greenLabel.setPreferredSize(new Dimension(64, 16));
greenField.setPreferredSize(new Dimension(32, 16));
greenSliderPanel.add(redLabel, BorderLayout.WEST);
greenSliderPanel.add(redSlider, BorderLayout.CENTER);
greenSliderPanel.add(redField, BorderLayout.EAST);
blueLabel.setPreferredSize(new Dimension(64, 16));
blueField.setPreferredSize(new Dimension(32, 16));
blueSliderPanel.add(redLabel, BorderLayout.WEST);
blueSliderPanel.add(redSlider, BorderLayout.CENTER);
blueSliderPanel.add(redField, BorderLayout.EAST);
colorSliderPanel.add(redSliderPanel);
colorSliderPanel.add(greenSliderPanel);
colorSliderPanel.add(blueSliderPanel);
return colorSliderPanel;
}
doesn't work as intended:
It's supposed to stack the three panels I make on top of each other. I add it to my JFrame like this:
JPanel sliderPanel = createColorSliderPanel();
...
contentPane.add(sliderPanel, BorderLayout.SOUTH);
Any clue why it doesn't display properly?

The problem is, you only adding the redSlider/Field/Label to all of the other panels
redSliderPanel.add(redLabel, BorderLayout.WEST);
redSliderPanel.add(redSlider, BorderLayout.CENTER);
redSliderPanel.add(redField, BorderLayout.EAST);
greenSliderPanel.add(redLabel, BorderLayout.WEST);
greenSliderPanel.add(redSlider, BorderLayout.CENTER);
greenSliderPanel.add(redField, BorderLayout.EAST);
blueSliderPanel.add(redLabel, BorderLayout.WEST);
blueSliderPanel.add(redSlider, BorderLayout.CENTER);
blueSliderPanel.add(redField, BorderLayout.EAST);
Doing this, will remove the redSlider, redField and redLabel from the container it was previous added to meaning that it will only appear on the blueSliderPanel.
Don't use setPreferred/Minimum/MaximumSize, you don't control the metrics by which a component measures it's required sizes. Provide sizing hints to the components so that they can make better decisions.
redField = new JTextField(4);
greenField = new JTextField(4);
blueField = new JTextField(4);
Then don't add the fields to sub panels first
Then don't add your fields to separate panels first, but, you might find that something like GridBagLayout makes a better choice...
JPanel colorSliderPanel = new JPanel(new GridBagLayout());
redSlider = new JSlider();
greenSlider = new JSlider();
blueSlider = new JSlider();
redField = new JTextField(4);
greenField = new JTextField(4);
blueField = new JTextField(4);
redField.setEditable(false);
greenField.setEditable(false);
blueField.setEditable(false);
JLabel redLabel = new JLabel("Red");
JLabel greenLabel = new JLabel("Green");
JLabel blueLabel = new JLabel("Blue");
addTo(colorSliderPanel, redLabel, redSlider, redField, 0);
addTo(colorSliderPanel, greenLabel, greenSlider, greenField, 1);
addTo(colorSliderPanel, blueLabel, blueSlider, blueField, 2);
And the addTo method...
protected void addTo(JPanel parent, JLabel label, JSlider slider, JTextField field, int gridY) {
GridBagConstraints gbc = new GridBagConstraints();
gbc.anchor = GridBagConstraints.WEST;
gbc.gridx = 0;
gbc.gridy = gridY;
parent.add(label, gbc);
gbc.fill = GridBagConstraints.HORIZONTAL;
gbc.gridx++;
gbc.weightx = 1;
parent.add(slider, gbc);
gbc.gridx++;
gbc.weightx = 0;
parent.add(field, gbc);
}

Fix the size of a JScrollPane of JPanels in a JFrame

I am a beginner in Java Swing and I am trying to put a multiple JPanels in a JScrollPanel. The matter is, the JSCrollPannel (named jp in the code) should not fill all the JFrame but it does even if I fix a size with setSize() and a maximal size with setMaximalSize(). What is the trouble? How can I make the JSCrollPane smaller than the JFrame?
package GUI;
import java.awt.*;
import javax.swing.*;
public class MultiPanels {
private JScrollPane getContent() {
Dimension d = new Dimension(300,200);
JPanel panel = new JPanel(new GridBagLayout());
GridBagConstraints gbc= new GridBagConstraints();
gbc.weightx = 1.0;
gbc.fill = GridBagConstraints.HORIZONTAL;
gbc.gridwidth = GridBagConstraints.REMAINDER;
panel.add(getPanel(d, 6, Color.red), gbc);
panel.add(getPanel(d, 4, Color.green.darker()), gbc);
panel.add(getPanel(d, 4, Color.orange), gbc);
panel.add(getPanel(d, 12, Color.blue), gbc);
panel.add(getEmptyPanel(d), gbc);
return new JScrollPane(panel);
}
private JScrollPane getPanel(Dimension d, int rows, Color color) {
JPanel panel = new JPanel(new GridBagLayout());
panel.setBackground(color);
GridBagConstraints gbc= new GridBagConstraints();
gbc.insets = new Insets(10,5,10,5);
gbc.weightx = 1.0;
for(int i = 0, j = 1; i < rows; i++) {
gbc.gridwidth = GridBagConstraints.RELATIVE;
panel.add(new JButton(String.valueOf(j++)), gbc);
gbc.gridwidth = GridBagConstraints.REMAINDER;
panel.add(new JButton(String.valueOf(j++)), gbc);
}
JScrollPane scrollPane = new JScrollPane(panel);
scrollPane.setPreferredSize(d);
return scrollPane;
}
private JScrollPane getEmptyPanel(Dimension d) {
JPanel panel = new JPanel() {
protected void paintComponent(Graphics g) {
int w = getWidth();
int h = getHeight();
GradientPaint gp = new GradientPaint(0,0,Color.red,
0,h,Color.cyan);
((Graphics2D)g).setPaint(gp);
g.fillRect(0,0,w,h);
}
};
panel.setPreferredSize(new Dimension(300,400));
JScrollPane scrollPane = new JScrollPane(panel);
scrollPane.setPreferredSize(d);
return scrollPane;
}
public static void main(String[] args) {
JFrame f = new JFrame();
JScrollPane jp = new MultiPanels().getContent();
jp.setSize(new Dimension(200, 200));
jp.setMaximumSize(new Dimension(200,200));
jp.setPreferredSize(new Dimension(200,200));
f.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
f.add(jp);
f.setSize(400,400);
f.setLocation(200,200);
f.setResizable(false);
f.setVisible(true);
}
}

Any time things don't size or arrange correctly, you have to look into Layouts.
Generally, spend more time on:
http://docs.oracle.com/javase/tutorial/uiswing/layout/visual.html
To be specific, the default layout of a JPanel and JFrame is BorderLayout which is a very simple layout manager indeed. When you add to a component managed by BorderLayout without saying where, it is automatically added to the center and fills to use all available space:
http://docs.oracle.com/javase/tutorial/uiswing/layout/visual.html#border
It is possible to use "none" (Absolute Positioning) as the layout, but this is almost always a bad idea and you want to think about what you really want to do with the rest of the space in the JFrame: perhaps by letting new child components, with their own size demands, take up some of the space that the main panel is now swallowing up.

Arranging items in a panel

I'm coding a small project for my high school class but I have run into a bit of an issue now that I'm working with frames. I'm trying to find the easiest and most efficient way to arrange the contents of a panel in java 7 (Note: this means SpringUtilities is not an option)
For the arrangement of each item I wanted it to have the option to type in your name at the top and then have 3 buttons in the same row below the name box
and the code I have so far is
private static void userInterface(){
//Declare and assign variables
final String[] options = {"Lvl 1", "Lvl 2", "Lvl 3"};
int optionsAmt = options.length;
//Create the panel used to make the user interface
JPanel panel = new JPanel(new SpringLayout());
//Create the name box
JTextField tf = new JTextField(10);
JLabel l = new JLabel("Name: ");
l.setLabelFor(tf);
panel.add(l);
panel.add(tf);
//Create 3 buttons with corresponding values of String options
for(int a = 0; a < optionsAmt; a++){
JButton b = new JButton(options[a]);
panel.add(new JLabel());
panel.add(b);
}
//Layout the panel
}
public static void main(String[] args) {
JFrame f = new JFrame();
f.pack();
f.setTitle("Number Game");
f.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
f.setVisible(true);
}
}

"Easy" is a relative term, for example, you could do something like...
public class TestPane extends JPanel {
public TestPane() {
setLayout(new GridLayout(2, 1));
JPanel fieldPane = new JPanel();
fieldPane.add(new JTextField(10));
add(fieldPane);
JPanel buttonPane = new JPanel();
buttonPane.add(new JButton("1"));
buttonPane.add(new JButton("2"));
buttonPane.add(new JButton("3"));
add(buttonPane);
}
}
or something like...
public class TestPane extends JPanel {
public TestPane() {
setLayout(new GridBagLayout());
GridBagConstraints gbc = new GridBagConstraints();
gbc.gridwidth = 3;
gbc.gridx = 0;
gbc.gridy = 0;
add(new JTextField(10), gbc);
gbc.gridwidth = 1;
gbc.gridy = 1;
add(new JButton("1"), gbc);
gbc.gridx++;
add(new JButton("2"), gbc);
gbc.gridx++;
add(new JButton("3"), gbc);
}
}
Both are easy, both do the job, but which you would use would depend greatly on what you want to achieve...
Take a look at Laying Out Components Within a Container for more details

How to place components in GridBaglayout from top left and then vertically?

I want to place my buttons like the ones in PIC 2, but they end up being placed like the ones in PIC 1 .(PIC 2 is edited in paint). Does anyone know what I am doing wrong? How do I place then from top left and then the next one under that one and so on?
PICS:
http://imgur.com/GojL6of
Here is my code:
public class TestTwo extends JFrame implements ActionListener {
JPanel p1 = new JPanel();
JButton b1 = new JButton("1");
JButton b2 = new JButton("2");
JButton b3 = new JButton("3");
JButton b4 = new JButton("4");
JButton b5 = new JButton("5");
JButton b6 = new JButton("6");
JButton b7 = new JButton("7");
JButton b8 = new JButton("8");
JButton b9 = new JButton("9");
public static void main(String[] args){
new TestTwo();
}
public TestTwo(){
GridBagLayout gbl = new GridBagLayout();
GridBagConstraints gbc = new GridBagConstraints();
p1.setLayout(gbl);
add(p1, BorderLayout.WEST);
gbc.gridx = 0;
gbc.gridy = 0;
gbc.weightx = 0;
gbc.weighty = 0;
gbc.fill = GridBagConstraints.HORIZONTAL;
gbc.anchor = GridBagConstraints.NORTHWEST;
p1.add(b1, gbc);
gbc.gridheight = 1;
gbc.gridwidth = 1;
gbc.gridx = 0;
gbc.gridy = 1;
p1.add(b2, gbc);
setLocationRelativeTo(null);
setResizable(true);
setSize(200, 200);
setVisible(true);
setDefaultCloseOperation(EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
}
#Override
public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e) {
// do nothing
}
}

See this page for more instructions, examples, etc., on how to use GBL. This works for me, hope it helps!
public TestTwo() {
GridBagLayout gbl = new GridBagLayout();
GridBagConstraints gbc = new GridBagConstraints();
setLayout(gbl);
p1.setLayout(gbl);
gbc = new GridBagConstraints(0, 0, 1, 1, 1.0, 1.0,
GridBagConstraints.NORTHWEST, GridBagConstraints.NONE, new Insets(
0, 0, 0, 0), 0, 0);
add(p1, gbc); //add p1 in a GBL too, so it ends up in the northwest corner
p1.add(b1, gbc);
gbc.gridy = 1;
p1.add(b2, gbc);
setLocationRelativeTo(null);
setResizable(true);
setSize(200, 200);
setVisible(true);
setDefaultCloseOperation(EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
}

Which Layout Manager to use? [closed]

It's difficult to tell what is being asked here. This question is ambiguous, vague, incomplete, overly broad, or rhetorical and cannot be reasonably answered in its current form. For help clarifying this question so that it can be reopened, visit the help center.
Closed 10 years ago.
So basically I want to create this sort of a GUI, but because of my inexperience with Java GUIs, I cannot figure out which Layout Manager to use. I've tried Flow, Border, Grid, but none of them allow me to create this sort of a GUI without messing up the alignments somewhere.
Any suggestions? How should I decide on a layout manager in the future, or is it something which will come with experience?
I'd prefer to use a simple to use layout, as this is a very basic GUI and I don't think something like MiGLayout should be necessary.

I'd use a combination of compound panels and layouts. Apart from making easier to get the layout to work, you could also isolate areas of responsibility within their own class.
public class TestLayout13 {
public static void main(String[] args) {
new TestLayout13();
}
public TestLayout13() {
EventQueue.invokeLater(new Runnable() {
#Override
public void run() {
try {
UIManager.setLookAndFeel(UIManager.getSystemLookAndFeelClassName());
} catch (ClassNotFoundException ex) {
} catch (InstantiationException ex) {
} catch (IllegalAccessException ex) {
} catch (UnsupportedLookAndFeelException ex) {
}
JFrame frame = new JFrame("Test");
frame.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
frame.setLayout(new BorderLayout());
frame.add(new FormPane());
frame.pack();
frame.setLocationRelativeTo(null);
frame.setVisible(true);
}
});
}
public class FormPane extends JPanel {
public FormPane() {
setBorder(new EmptyBorder(8, 8, 8, 8));
setLayout(new GridBagLayout());
GridBagConstraints gbc = new GridBagConstraints();
gbc.gridx = 0;
gbc.gridy = 0;
gbc.fill = GridBagConstraints.BOTH;
gbc.weightx = 1;
NamePane namePane = new NamePane();
namePane.setBorder(new CompoundBorder(new TitledBorder("Name"), new EmptyBorder(4, 4, 4, 4)));
add(namePane, gbc);
gbc.gridy++;
EMailPane emailPane = new EMailPane();
emailPane.setBorder(new CompoundBorder(new TitledBorder("E-Mail"), new EmptyBorder(4, 4, 4, 4)));
add(emailPane, gbc);
}
}
public class NamePane extends JPanel {
public NamePane() {
setLayout(new GridBagLayout());
GridBagConstraints gbc = new GridBagConstraints();
gbc.gridx = 0;
gbc.gridy = 0;
gbc.anchor = GridBagConstraints.EAST;
add(new JLabel("First Name:"), gbc);
gbc.gridx += 2;
add(new JLabel("Last Name:"), gbc);
gbc.gridy++;
gbc.gridx = 0;
add(new JLabel("Title:"), gbc);
gbc.gridx += 2;
add(new JLabel("Nickname:"), gbc);
gbc.gridx = 1;
gbc.gridy = 0;
gbc.fill = GridBagConstraints.HORIZONTAL;
gbc.anchor = GridBagConstraints.WEST;
gbc.weightx = 0.5;
add(new JTextField(10), gbc);
gbc.gridx += 2;
add(new JTextField(10), gbc);
gbc.gridy++;
gbc.gridx = 1;
add(new JTextField(10), gbc);
gbc.gridx += 2;
add(new JTextField(10), gbc);
gbc.gridx = 0;
gbc.gridy++;
gbc.anchor = GridBagConstraints.EAST;
gbc.weightx = 0;
gbc.fill = GridBagConstraints.NONE;
add(new JLabel("Format:"), gbc);
gbc.anchor = GridBagConstraints.WEST;
gbc.gridx++;
gbc.weightx = 1;
gbc.fill = GridBagConstraints.HORIZONTAL;
gbc.gridwidth = GridBagConstraints.REMAINDER;
add(new JComboBox(), gbc);
}
}
protected class EMailPane extends JPanel {
public EMailPane() {
JPanel detailsPane = new JPanel(new GridBagLayout());
GridBagConstraints gbc = new GridBagConstraints();
gbc.gridx = 0;
gbc.gridy = 0;
gbc.anchor = GridBagConstraints.EAST;
detailsPane.add(new JLabel("E-Mail Address:"), gbc);
gbc.gridx++;
gbc.anchor = GridBagConstraints.WEST;
gbc.weightx = 1;
gbc.fill = GridBagConstraints.HORIZONTAL;
detailsPane.add(new JTextField(10), gbc);
gbc.gridy++;
gbc.gridx = 0;
gbc.fill = GridBagConstraints.BOTH;
gbc.weighty = 1;
gbc.gridwidth = GridBagConstraints.REMAINDER;
detailsPane.add(new JScrollPane(new JList()), gbc);
JPanel buttonsPane = new JPanel(new GridBagLayout());
gbc = new GridBagConstraints();
gbc.gridx = 0;
gbc.gridy = 0;
gbc.weightx = 1;
gbc.fill = GridBagConstraints.HORIZONTAL;
buttonsPane.add(new JButton("Add"), gbc);
gbc.gridy++;
buttonsPane.add(new JButton("Edit"), gbc);
gbc.gridy++;
buttonsPane.add(new JButton("Delete"), gbc);
gbc.gridy++;
gbc.weighty = 1;
gbc.anchor = GridBagConstraints.NORTH;
buttonsPane.add(new JButton("As Default"), gbc);
JPanel formatPane = new JPanel(new FlowLayout(FlowLayout.LEFT));
formatPane.setBorder(new TitledBorder(new EmptyBorder(1, 1, 1, 1), "Mail Format:"));
formatPane.add(new JRadioButton("HTML"));
formatPane.add(new JRadioButton("Plain"));
formatPane.add(new JRadioButton("Custom"));
setLayout(new BorderLayout());
add(detailsPane);
add(buttonsPane, BorderLayout.LINE_END);
add(formatPane, BorderLayout.PAGE_END);
}
}
}

My preference is MigLayout because it is the most complete and well documented layout manager for Swing. In addition to Swing, it also supports SWT and JavaFX, so the time you spend learning it may pay back more than once. It supports maven, refer to http://www.miglayout.com for details, which is a big plus. Also it has a very useful debug feature. You can add "debug 1" in the constructor, and you will se how the layout was created. Example:
emailButtonPanel.setLayout(new MigLayout("wrap, fill, insets 20 10 0 10, debug 1"));
Another feature that I find very useful from time to time, is the hidemode, which allows you that a component does not take part in the layout if not visible (or several other strategies).
Here is one possible approach for the image you posted, using MigLayout:
import java.awt.*;
import javax.swing.*;
import javax.swing.border.Border;
import javax.swing.border.TitledBorder;
import net.miginfocom.layout.CC;
import net.miginfocom.swing.MigLayout;
/**
*/
public class LayoutApproach {
public static void main(String[] args) {
SwingUtilities.invokeLater(new Runnable() {
#Override
public void run() {
JFrame frame = new JFrame("Contact information");
frame.getContentPane().add(new ContactPanel());
frame.setDefaultCloseOperation(WindowConstants.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
frame.setMinimumSize(new Dimension(800, 450));
frame.setLocationRelativeTo(null); // Center
frame.pack();
frame.setVisible(true);
}
});
}
static class ContactPanel extends JPanel {
private JPanel namePanel;
private TitledBorder nameTitledBorder;
private JLabel firstNameLabel;
private JTextField firstNameTextField;
private JLabel lastNameLabel;
private JTextField lastNameTextField;
private JLabel titleLabel;
private JTextField titleTextField;
private JLabel nicknameLabel;
private JTextField nickNameTextField;
private JLabel formatLabel;
private JComboBox<String> formatComboBox;
private JPanel emailPanel;
private TitledBorder emailTitledBorder;
private JLabel emailLabel;
private JTextField emailTextField;
private JList<String> emailItemsList;
private JLabel mailFormatLabel;
private JPanel emailButtonPanel;
private JButton addButton;
private JButton editButton;
private JButton removeButton;
private JButton asDefaultButton;
private JRadioButton htmlRadioButton;
private JRadioButton plainTextRadioButton;
private JRadioButton customTextRadioButton;
private JPanel buttonPanel;
private JButton okButton;
private JButton cancelButton;
public ContactPanel() {
createComponents();
makeLayout();
createHandlers();
registerHandlers();
initComponent();
i18n();
}
/**
* Create GUI components, but contains no layout.
*/
public void createComponents() {
namePanel = new JPanel();
nameTitledBorder = new TitledBorder("");
firstNameLabel = new JLabel();
firstNameTextField = new JTextField();
lastNameLabel = new JLabel();
lastNameTextField = new JTextField();
titleLabel = new JLabel();
titleTextField = new JTextField();
nicknameLabel = new JLabel();
nickNameTextField = new JTextField();
formatLabel = new JLabel();
formatComboBox = new JComboBox<>();
emailPanel = new JPanel();
emailTitledBorder = new TitledBorder("");
emailLabel = new JLabel();
emailTextField = new JTextField();
emailItemsList = new JList<>();
mailFormatLabel = new JLabel();
emailButtonPanel = new JPanel();
addButton = new JButton();
editButton = new JButton();
removeButton = new JButton();
asDefaultButton = new JButton();
htmlRadioButton = new JRadioButton();
plainTextRadioButton = new JRadioButton();
customTextRadioButton = new JRadioButton();
buttonPanel = new JPanel();
okButton = new JButton();
cancelButton = new JButton("Cancel");
}
/**
* Create listeners/handlers
*/
public void createHandlers() {
}
/**
* Registers/adds listeners/handlers.
*/
public void registerHandlers() {
}
public void makeLayout() {
layoutNamePanel();
layoutEmailPanel();
layoutButtonPanel();
MigLayout migLayout = new MigLayout("fill, insets 20");
setLayout(migLayout);
add(namePanel, "dock north");
add(emailPanel, "dock north");
add(buttonPanel, "dock south");
}
private void layoutButtonPanel() {
buttonPanel.setLayout(new MigLayout("alignX right"));
buttonPanel.add(okButton, "tag ok");
buttonPanel.add(cancelButton, "tag cancel");
}
private void layoutNamePanel() {
MigLayout nameLayout = new MigLayout("fill, wrap 4", // Layout Constraints
"15[]15[grow]15[]15[grow]", // Column constraints
""); // Row constraints
// -- Layout all components with name
namePanel.setLayout(nameLayout);
// Create this border here since I use it for layout
Border nameBorder = BorderFactory.createCompoundBorder(BorderFactory.createEmptyBorder(10, 6, 10, 6), nameTitledBorder);
namePanel.setBorder(nameBorder);
namePanel.add(firstNameLabel, "alignX right");
namePanel.add(firstNameTextField, "grow");
namePanel.add(lastNameLabel, "alignX right");
namePanel.add(lastNameTextField, "grow");
namePanel.add(titleLabel, "alignX right");
namePanel.add(titleTextField, "grow");
namePanel.add(nicknameLabel, "alignX right");
namePanel.add(nickNameTextField, "grow");
namePanel.add(formatLabel, "alignX right");
namePanel.add(formatComboBox, new CC().grow().span(3)); // Alternative to using plain text'
}
private void layoutEmailPanel() {
MigLayout emailLayout = new MigLayout("fill",// Layout Constraints
"", // Column constraints
""); // Row constraints
// -- Layout all components with name
emailPanel.setLayout(emailLayout);
// Create this border here since I use it for layout
Border emailBorder = BorderFactory.createCompoundBorder(BorderFactory.createEmptyBorder(10, 6, 10, 6), emailTitledBorder);
emailPanel.setBorder(emailBorder);
emailButtonPanel.setLayout(new MigLayout("wrap, fill, insets 20 10 0 10"));
emailButtonPanel.add(addButton, "growx");
emailButtonPanel.add(editButton, "growx");
emailButtonPanel.add(removeButton, "growx");
emailButtonPanel.add(asDefaultButton, "growx");
JPanel emailAndItems = new JPanel(new MigLayout("fill"));
emailAndItems.add(emailLabel, "split 2");
emailAndItems.add(emailTextField, "span, growx, wrap");
emailAndItems.add(emailItemsList, "span, grow");
JPanel radioButtons = new JPanel(new MigLayout());
radioButtons.add(htmlRadioButton);
radioButtons.add(plainTextRadioButton);
radioButtons.add(customTextRadioButton);
emailPanel.add(radioButtons, "dock south");
emailPanel.add(mailFormatLabel, "dock south, gapleft 15");
emailPanel.add(emailAndItems, "dock west, growx, push");
emailPanel.add(emailButtonPanel, "dock east, shrink");
ButtonGroup buttonGroup = new ButtonGroup();
buttonGroup.add(htmlRadioButton);
buttonGroup.add(plainTextRadioButton);
buttonGroup.add(customTextRadioButton);
}
/**
* Sets initial values for component.
*/
public void initComponent() {
formatComboBox.addItem("Item 1");
formatComboBox.addItem("Item 2");
formatComboBox.addItem("Item 3");
formatComboBox.addItem("Item 4");
DefaultListModel<String> model = new DefaultListModel<>();
emailItemsList.setModel(model);
model.insertElementAt("Item 1", 0);
model.insertElementAt("Item 2", 1);
model.insertElementAt("Item 3", 2);
model.insertElementAt("Item 4", 3);
customTextRadioButton.setSelected(true);
}
public void i18n() {
nameTitledBorder.setTitle("Name:");
firstNameLabel.setText("First Name:");
lastNameLabel.setText("Last Name:");
titleLabel.setText("Title:");
nicknameLabel.setText("Nickname:");
formatLabel.setText("Format:");
emailTitledBorder.setTitle("E-mail");
emailLabel.setText("E-mail address:");
mailFormatLabel.setText("Mail Format:");
addButton.setText("Add");
editButton.setText("Edit");
removeButton.setText("Remove");
asDefaultButton.setText("As Default");
htmlRadioButton.setText("HTML");
plainTextRadioButton.setText("Plain Text");
customTextRadioButton.setText("Custom");
okButton.setText("OK");
cancelButton.setText("Cancel");
}
}
}
The code was written in Java 7. A maven pom.xml file to go with it could be something like this:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<project xmlns="http://maven.apache.org/POM/4.0.0"
xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance"
xsi:schemaLocation="http://maven.apache.org/POM/4.0.0 http://maven.apache.org/xsd/maven-4.0.0.xsd">
<modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
<groupId>stackoverflow</groupId>
<artifactId>stackoverflow</artifactId>
<version>1.0</version>
<dependencies>
<dependency>
<groupId>com.miglayout</groupId>
<artifactId>miglayout-core</artifactId>
<version>4.2</version>
</dependency>
<dependency>
<groupId>com.miglayout</groupId>
<artifactId>miglayout-swing</artifactId>
<version>4.2</version>
</dependency>
</dependencies>
<build>
<plugins>
<plugin>
<groupId>org.apache.maven.plugins</groupId>
<artifactId>maven-compiler-plugin</artifactId>
<configuration>
<source>1.7</source>
<target>1.7</target>
</configuration>
</plugin>
</plugins>
</build>
</project>

I'd say border layout will work alright for you if you are looking for Java library layout managers. A more advanced one would be MiG Layout. You can google it for the info.
You do know that you can nest layout managers right? As in, one JPanel has one layoutmanager and another has a different one. So one could have border layout and another flow layout.

You can try NetBeans if you want a simple Swing designer, but IMHO Miglayout is the shortest way to get your UI's done as you intended. After the initial learning curve of course...
Try to visualize your screen in grids, and then you can use both gridbag and miglayout.