I know I'm bound to take flak for it, but I'm attempting to set up a JFrame that uses a null layout in its content pane so that I can use absolute positioning for my components.
The problem I'm having is that there is always this gap in between the bottom and right sides of my components and the edge of the window. I thought maybe I was just positioning/sizing things wrong, so I tested using a single JPanel and giving it the same bounds as the content pane, but there was still the gap.
It's equal on both sides and looks like it's the twice width of the window's border. Here's the code:
public static void main(String[] args) {
JFrame mainWindow = new JFrame("test");
mainWindow.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
JPanel root = new JPanel();
root.setSize(1280, 720);
root.setPreferredSize(new Dimension(1280, 720));
root.setBackground(Color.GREEN);
root.setLayout(null);
mainWindow.setContentPane(root);
JPanel p1 = new JPanel();
p1.setBounds(root.getBounds());
p1.setBackground(Color.RED);
root.add(p1);
mainWindow.pack();
mainWindow.setVisible(true);
mainWindow.setResizable(false);
}
I thought that maybe not using a layout manager was the problem, so I tried leaving the root JPanel with its default flow layout and giving p1 a preferred size (of 1280x720). But, that had no effect other than centering p1 in the window. I've also tried not changing the content pane but rather adding root to it and then adding p1 to root (exactly like in the above code, except calling mainWindow.getContentPane().add(root); instead of mainWindow.setContentPane(root);) but there was no change.
The only thing I can think of at this point is that something is going on when the JFrame tries to size itself. Any ideas?
The problem I'm having is that there is always this gap in between the bottom and right sides of my components and the edge of the window
mainWindow.setResizable(false);
The above statement should be executed BEFORE the frame is packed.
I know I'm bound to take flak for it, but I'm attempting to set up a JFrame that uses a null layout in its content pane so that I can use absolute positioning for my components
Don't use a null layout unless your application supports dragging of components to random position. In this case the layout manager can't predict the location of the component. Otherwise use a layout manager.
Not quite sure if this is what you are looking for but it works with a BorderLayout:
public static void main(String[] args) {
JFrame mainWindow = new JFrame("test");
mainWindow.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
JPanel root = new JPanel(new BorderLayout());
root.setSize(1280, 720);
root.setPreferredSize(new Dimension(1280, 720));
root.setBackground(Color.GREEN);
JPanel p1 = new JPanel(null);
p1.setBounds(root.getBounds());
p1.setBackground(Color.RED);
root.add(p1);
mainWindow.setContentPane(root);
mainWindow.pack();
mainWindow.setVisible(true);
mainWindow.setResizable(false);
}
Related
I have a JPanel. Inside Panel I have kept one JLabel and three JCheckBox.
I want to keep all the checkBox in one line after JLabel. Here is the sample code and some screenshots.
Output 1
Output 2
When i change to X_AXIS it is coming everything in one line and when i switch to Y_AXIS then it is coming new line means vertically.
But my requirement is all the checkbox should come next line means after JLabel.
JLabel should come in line and all the checkBox should come in one line.
public class CheckBoxWithJLabel {
public static void main(String[] args) {
JFrame f= new JFrame("CheckBox Example");
JPanel panel = new JPanel();
panel.setBounds(40,80,600,200);
JCheckBox chk_Embrodary=new JCheckBox("Embrodary");
JCheckBox chk_Cutting=new JCheckBox("Cutting");
JCheckBox cb_Sewing=new JCheckBox("Sewing");
panel.setLayout(new javax.swing.BoxLayout(panel, javax.swing.BoxLayout.X_AXIS));
JLabel lblHeader=new JLabel("Job Work Process Selection");
panel.add(lblHeader);
panel.add(chk_Embrodary);
panel.add(chk_Cutting);
panel.add(cb_Sewing);
f.add(panel);
f.setSize(600,400);
f.setLayout(null);
f.setVisible(true);
}
}
I want this output like
this
How to solve this problem?
I would highly suggest you to have a look through the Java Swing Tutorial, especially the Laying Out Components Within a Container section, since it seems you lack some basic understanding of how Swing and its Layout Managers are supposed to be used.
Regarding your problem:
Currently, you are using a single BoxLayout, which " puts components in a single row or column". You only want that behavior for your JCheckBoxes though, and not for your JLabel. Keeping this in mind, the solution is to split up your components and to not put all of them in a single JPanel. Doing this will grant you more flexibility in how you design your GUI, since you can use multiple layouts in different nested panels.
You could do something like this (explanation in the code comments):
public static void main(String[] args) {
JFrame f = new JFrame("CheckBox Example");
// add a Y_AXIS boxlayout to the JFrames contentpane
f.getContentPane().setLayout(new BoxLayout(f.getContentPane(), BoxLayout.Y_AXIS));
JCheckBox cbEmbrodary = new JCheckBox("Embrodary");
JCheckBox cbCutting = new JCheckBox("Cutting");
JCheckBox cbSewing = new JCheckBox("Sewing");
// no need to set the bounds, since the layoutmanagers will determine the size
JPanel labelPanel = new JPanel(); // default layout for JPanel is the FlowLayout
JLabel lblHeader = new JLabel("Job Work Process Selection");
labelPanel.add(lblHeader); // JPanel for the label done
// JPanel for the comboboxes with BoxLayout
JPanel cbPanel = new JPanel();
cbPanel.setLayout(new BoxLayout(cbPanel, BoxLayout.X_AXIS));
cbPanel.add(cbEmbrodary);
cbPanel.add(cbCutting);
cbPanel.add(cbSewing);
f.add(labelPanel);
f.add(cbPanel);
// No need to set the size of the JFrame, since the layoutmanagers will
// determine the size after pack()
f.pack();
f.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
f.setVisible(true);
}
Output:
Sidenotes:
Don't set fixed sizes via setSize() or setBounds() to your components. Swing is designed to be used with appropariate LayoutManagers, and if you do that, calling pack() on the JFrame before setting it visible will layout the components and determine their appropriate size. (Also, don't use null-layout for the same reasons)
If you need the JLabel to not be centered but left aligned, like in your screenshot, then use the following:
FlowLayout layout = (FlowLayout) labelPanel.getLayout();
layout.setAlignment(FlowLayout.LEFT);
I have a JPanel subclass on which I add buttons, labels, tables, etc. To show on screen it I use JFrame:
MainPanel mainPanel = new MainPanel(); //JPanel subclass
JFrame mainFrame = new JFrame();
mainFrame.setTitle("main window title");
mainFrame.getContentPane().add(mainPanel);
mainFrame.setLocation(100, 100);
mainFrame.pack();
mainFrame.setVisible(true);
mainFrame.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
But when I size the window, size of panel don't change. How to make size of panel to be the same as the size of window even if it was resized?
You can set a layout manager like BorderLayout and then define more specifically, where your panel should go:
MainPanel mainPanel = new MainPanel();
JFrame mainFrame = new JFrame();
mainFrame.setLayout(new BorderLayout());
mainFrame.add(mainPanel, BorderLayout.CENTER);
mainFrame.pack();
mainFrame.setVisible(true);
This puts the panel into the center area of the frame and lets it grow automatically when resizing the frame.
You need to set a layout manager for the JFrame to use - This deals with how components are positioned. A useful one is the BorderLayout manager.
Simply adding the following line of code should fix your problems:
mainFrame.setLayout(new BorderLayout());
(Do this before adding components to the JFrame)
If the BorderLayout option provided by our friends doesnot work, try adding ComponentListerner to the JFrame and implement the componentResized(event) method. When the JFrame object will be resized, this method will be called. So if you write the the code to set the size of the JPanel in this method, you will achieve the intended result.
Ya, I know this 'solution' is not good but use it as a safety net.
;)
From my experience, I used GridLayout.
thePanel.setLayout(new GridLayout(a,b,c,d));
a = row number, b = column number, c = horizontal gap, d = vertical gap.
For example, if I want to create panel with:
unlimited row (set a = 0)
1 column (set b = 1)
vertical gap= 3 (set d = 3)
The code is below:
thePanel.setLayout(new GridLayout(0,1,0,3));
This method is useful when you want to add JScrollPane to your JPanel. Size of the JPanel inside JScrollPane will automatically changes when you add some components on it, so the JScrollPane will automatically reset the scroll bar.
As other posters have said, you need to change the LayoutManager being used. I always preferred using a GridLayout so your code would become:
MainPanel mainPanel = new MainPanel();
JFrame mainFrame = new JFrame();
mainFrame.setLayout(new GridLayout());
mainFrame.pack();
mainFrame.setVisible(true);
GridLayout seems more conceptually correct to me when you want your panel to take up the entire screen.
I'm trying to create a program using BorderLayout() that I want to look like this (but with even left right height and such)
although I am having trouble resizing the two JPanels (two boxes within the large box). At the moment my GUI looks like this,
I believe it is due to the CENTER still being there, I looked up on how to remove it but could not get it to work,
Question
Can can I edit this so that it will look like the top image.
package fuelstation;
import java.awt.*;
import java.util.*;
import javax.swing.*;
public class Fuelstation extends JFrame {
JButton btn1 = new JButton("Random Button");
public Fuelstation() {
JFrame frame = new JFrame("Fuel Station");
frame.setLayout(new BorderLayout());
frame.setResizable(false);
frame.setPreferredSize(new Dimension(500,350));
frame.setMaximumSize(new Dimension(500,350));
// Left Hand Side
JPanel lhs = new JPanel();
JTextArea tf_list = new JTextArea();
tf_list.setEditable(false);
tf_list.setWrapStyleWord(true);
tf_list.setText("This is a list of items");
lhs.add(tf_list);
tf_list.setSize(245, 325);
lhs.setBorder(BorderFactory.createTitledBorder("Left"));
// Left Hand Side End
// Right Hand Side
JPanel rhs = new JPanel();
rhs.setAlignmentX(Component.CENTER_ALIGNMENT);
rhs.setBorder(BorderFactory.createTitledBorder("Right"));
rhs.add(btn1);
tf_list.setSize(245, 325);
JPanel center = new JPanel();
center.setSize(0, 0);
// Right Hand Side End
frame.add(lhs, BorderLayout.WEST);
frame.add(center, BorderLayout.CENTER);
frame.add(rhs, BorderLayout.EAST);
frame.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
frame.pack();
frame.setVisible(true);
}
public static void main(String[] args) {
Fuelstation gui = new Fuelstation();
}
}
You need to drop the requirement to use a BorderLayout. The resizing policy for components when using a BorderLayout is stated in the class javadoc
The components are laid out according to their preferred sizes and the constraints of the container's size. The NORTH and SOUTH components may be stretched horizontally; the EAST and WEST components may be stretched vertically; the CENTER component may stretch both horizontally and vertically to fill any space left over.
By forcing your JFrame to a certain size
frame.setResizable(false);
frame.setPreferredSize(new Dimension(500,350));
frame.setMaximumSize(new Dimension(500,350));
your center component will take the extra width, as the EAST and WEST component will only stretch vertically.
So you need to use another LayoutManager. You can use the Visual guide to layout managers to get a grasp of the available LayoutManagers and their capabilities. That document states that a GridLayout would be a good candidate:
GridLayout simply makes a bunch of components equal in size and displays them in the requested number of rows and columns
I am in the process of making my own java socket game. My game is painting alright to the full screen (where it says "paint graphics here", but im painting to the whole jframe at the moment). I want to add a textbox with a scroll bar for displaying only text, not taking any input and another textbox to take text inputs from the user and then a button to send the text, for chat purposes. But onto my question, how do I even start to lay this out? I understand I need a layout, but can someone help me on this? Here is my code at the moment (this code only sets up painting to the whole screen at the moment, need to divide the screen up now like I have in the picture above):
public class Setup extends JFrame implements Runnable{
JPanel panel;
JFrame window;
public Setup(Starter start, JFrame window){
window.setSize(600,500);
window.setLocationRelativeTo(null);
window.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
window.setResizable(false);
panel = new Display(start);
this.window = window;
}
public void run(){
window.getContentPane().add(panel);
window.setBackground(Color.BLACK);
window.setVisible(true);
}
}
"new Display(start)" - this extends jpanel, its basically where I paint everything graphics wise.
In addition, I've seen people add in different panels but I cant have them be the same size. Like in the picture, the "paint graphics here" panel is the biggest one, and so on.
The JPanel is actually only a container where you can put different elements in it (even other JPanels). So in your case I would suggest one big JPanel as some sort of main container for your window. That main panel you assign a Layout that suits your needs ( here is an introduction to the layouts).
After you set the layout to your main panel you can add the paint panel and the other JPanels you want (like those with the text in it..).
JPanel mainPanel = new JPanel();
mainPanel.setLayout(new BoxLayout(mainPanel, BoxLayout.Y_AXIS));
JPanel paintPanel = new JPanel();
JPanel textPanel = new JPanel();
mainPanel.add(paintPanel);
mainPanel.add(textPanel);
This is just an example that sorts all sub panels vertically (Y-Axis). So if you want some other stuff at the bottom of your mainPanel (maybe some icons or buttons) that should be organized with another layout (like a horizontal layout), just create again a new JPanel as a container for all the other stuff and set setLayout(new BoxLayout(mainPanel, BoxLayout.X_AXIS).
As you will find out, the layouts are quite rigid and it may be difficult to find the best layout for your panels. So don't give up, read the introduction (the link above) and look at the pictures – this is how I do it :)
Or you can just use NetBeans to write your program. There you have a pretty easy visual editor (drag and drop) to create all sorts of Windows and Frames. (only understanding the code afterwards is ... tricky sometimes.)
EDIT
Since there are some many people interested in this question, I wanted to provide a complete example of how to layout a JFrame to make it look like OP wants it to.
The class is called MyFrame and extends swings JFrame
public class MyFrame extends javax.swing.JFrame{
// these are the components we need.
private final JSplitPane splitPane; // split the window in top and bottom
private final JPanel topPanel; // container panel for the top
private final JPanel bottomPanel; // container panel for the bottom
private final JScrollPane scrollPane; // makes the text scrollable
private final JTextArea textArea; // the text
private final JPanel inputPanel; // under the text a container for all the input elements
private final JTextField textField; // a textField for the text the user inputs
private final JButton button; // and a "send" button
public MyFrame(){
// first, lets create the containers:
// the splitPane devides the window in two components (here: top and bottom)
// users can then move the devider and decide how much of the top component
// and how much of the bottom component they want to see.
splitPane = new JSplitPane();
topPanel = new JPanel(); // our top component
bottomPanel = new JPanel(); // our bottom component
// in our bottom panel we want the text area and the input components
scrollPane = new JScrollPane(); // this scrollPane is used to make the text area scrollable
textArea = new JTextArea(); // this text area will be put inside the scrollPane
// the input components will be put in a separate panel
inputPanel = new JPanel();
textField = new JTextField(); // first the input field where the user can type his text
button = new JButton("send"); // and a button at the right, to send the text
// now lets define the default size of our window and its layout:
setPreferredSize(new Dimension(400, 400)); // let's open the window with a default size of 400x400 pixels
// the contentPane is the container that holds all our components
getContentPane().setLayout(new GridLayout()); // the default GridLayout is like a grid with 1 column and 1 row,
// we only add one element to the window itself
getContentPane().add(splitPane); // due to the GridLayout, our splitPane will now fill the whole window
// let's configure our splitPane:
splitPane.setOrientation(JSplitPane.VERTICAL_SPLIT); // we want it to split the window verticaly
splitPane.setDividerLocation(200); // the initial position of the divider is 200 (our window is 400 pixels high)
splitPane.setTopComponent(topPanel); // at the top we want our "topPanel"
splitPane.setBottomComponent(bottomPanel); // and at the bottom we want our "bottomPanel"
// our topPanel doesn't need anymore for this example. Whatever you want it to contain, you can add it here
bottomPanel.setLayout(new BoxLayout(bottomPanel, BoxLayout.Y_AXIS)); // BoxLayout.Y_AXIS will arrange the content vertically
bottomPanel.add(scrollPane); // first we add the scrollPane to the bottomPanel, so it is at the top
scrollPane.setViewportView(textArea); // the scrollPane should make the textArea scrollable, so we define the viewport
bottomPanel.add(inputPanel); // then we add the inputPanel to the bottomPanel, so it under the scrollPane / textArea
// let's set the maximum size of the inputPanel, so it doesn't get too big when the user resizes the window
inputPanel.setMaximumSize(new Dimension(Integer.MAX_VALUE, 75)); // we set the max height to 75 and the max width to (almost) unlimited
inputPanel.setLayout(new BoxLayout(inputPanel, BoxLayout.X_AXIS)); // X_Axis will arrange the content horizontally
inputPanel.add(textField); // left will be the textField
inputPanel.add(button); // and right the "send" button
pack(); // calling pack() at the end, will ensure that every layout and size we just defined gets applied before the stuff becomes visible
}
public static void main(String args[]){
EventQueue.invokeLater(new Runnable(){
#Override
public void run(){
new MyFrame().setVisible(true);
}
});
}
}
Please be aware that this is only an example and there are multiple approaches to layout a window. It all depends on your needs and if you want the content to be resizable / responsive. Another really good approach would be the GridBagLayout which can handle quite complex layouting, but which is also quite complex to learn.
You'll want to use a number of layout managers to help you achieve the basic results you want.
Check out A Visual Guide to Layout Managers for a comparision.
You could use a GridBagLayout but that's one of the most complex (and powerful) layout managers available in the JDK.
You could use a series of compound layout managers instead.
I'd place the graphics component and text area on a single JPanel, using a BorderLayout, with the graphics component in the CENTER and the text area in the SOUTH position.
I'd place the text field and button on a separate JPanel using a GridBagLayout (because it's the simplest I can think of to achieve the over result you want)
I'd place these two panels onto a third, master, panel, using a BorderLayout, with the first panel in the CENTER and the second at the SOUTH position.
But that's me
Is it possible to use the size of a JPanel to set the size of components inside the JPanel? When I try to use getHeight() or getWidth() on the JPanel it always returns 0. I know that it gets it's size once the JFrame is packed, but how would one go about using the dimensions of the JPanel and applying it to a component inside it? Something like this
JPanel panel = new JPanel();
JLabel label = new JLabel();
label.setWidth(panel.getWidth());
panel.add(label);
EDIT:
See sample code below. What should I do if I want my Jlabel to be as wide as my JPanel? Is it wrong to use boxlayout in this case?
public class Main extends JFrame{
public Main(){
JPanel panel = new JPanel();
panel.setLayout(new BoxLayout(panel, BoxLayout.PAGE_AXIS));
panel.setBorder(BorderFactory.createLineBorder(Color.blue));
JLabel label = new JLabel();
label.setBorder(BorderFactory.createLineBorder(Color.red));
label.setText("label1");
label.setMinimumSize(panel.getPreferredSize());
label.setPreferredSize(panel.getPreferredSize());
panel.add(label);
add(panel);
setDefaultCloseOperation(EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
pack();
setSize(500,500);
setVisible(true);
}
public static void main(String[] args)
{
new Main();
}
}
Is it possible to use the size of a JPanel to set the size of components inside the JPanel?
This is the job of the layout manager.
When I try to use getHeight() or getWidth() on the JPanel it always returns 0
When the layout manager is invoked the Container will have a valid size so the layout manager can do its job properly.
There is no reason for you to be playing with sizes. Leave it to the layout managers to do their jobs.
Update:
What should I do if I want my Jlabel to be as wide as my JPanel? Is it wrong to use boxlayout in this case?
The BoxLayout attempts to respect the minimum/maximum size of the component. In you case you should be able to do something like:
JLabel label new JLabel("some text");
label.setBorder(....);
Dimension d = label.getPreferredSize();
d.width = 32767;
label.setMaximumSize( d );
Or maybe a simpler approach is to start with a BorderLayout. You can add the label to the NORTH. Then create another panel and add it to the CENTER.
Of course you can, but be careful that the result depends on the layout manager of your JPanel and on the number of its child components.
Setting the width ignores resizing. LayoutManagers typically ask components for their preferred widths and heights, and expand / contract items to maintain a visually appealing position after the frame has been resized. So, your best option is to leverage the layout manager and report a "preferred width".
You can use setPreferredWidth(...); but, if your preferred width is to change over the run of the program (due to window size changes), you will need to listen to the panel in question and update your button's preferred width as the panel's preferred width changes (this assumes it changes, which might not be true).