Develop Reference

Can't resize JLabels in BoxLayout

I'm trying to set up a few JLabels to use as buttons inside a BoxLayout, stacked on top of each other. The layout is fine, but I'm finding that I can't resize the labels to the dimensions I want. I'm using the following code to size them:
JLabel fileAddBtn = new JLabel("Add File", SwingConstants.CENTER);
fileAddBtn.setBorder(BorderFactory.createLineBorder(Color.black));
fileAddBtn.setMaximumSize(new Dimension(Integer.MAX_VALUE, fileAddBtn.getMinimumSize().height));
and
JLabel fileRemBtn = new JLabel("Remove File", SwingConstants.CENTER);
fileRemBtn.setBorder(BorderFactory.createLineBorder(Color.black));
fileRemBtn.setMaximumSize(new Dimension(Integer.MAX_VALUE, fileRemBtn.getMinimumSize().height));
As of now I have two labels, with one being longer than the other. They are both taking the width of the longer label, which is good, but the labels are hugging the edges of the text right to the nearest pixel. Is there any way to make the labels a little bigger so that there is a bit of a border around the labels? I've tried using setSize() but it doesn't take. I've also added straight values into the above code, but it doesn't change them either. I tried adding an EmptyBorder() around them, which worked for sizing, but it hid my line border which surrounds them. Any thoughts?

Is there any way to make the labels a little bigger so that there is a bit of a border around the labels?
Sure. Add an EmptyBorder.
But since the code is already adding a border to the labels, to retain that line border, make a CompoundBorder consisting of the empty border and the line border, and set the compound border to the label.
See also Should I avoid the use of set(Preferred|Maximum|Minimum)Size methods in Java Swing? (Yes.)

Adding Second Border to JButton

Here's the issue: When I try to add a border to a JButton via setBorder(), the normal background styling of the button:
disappears, to be replaced by what is essentially a clickable JLabel:
Basically, what I'd like to do is add a colored border around the current default border. If there's another process other than using setBorder() that would work, I would be interested in hearing about it.
Also, I should add that I cannot subclass or override methods of the graphics elements, as this needs to be inserted as a standalone tool in a far larger code repository.
Edit: Specifying question better

You should create a compound border. You can do this:
JButton myButton = new JButton("BUTTON TEXT");
myButton.setBorder(BorderFactory.createCompoundBorder(myButton.getBorder(), BorderFactory.createLineBorder(Color.RED));
This will preserve the look/feel of the button and will add a red border.

How to decide the order of components added to JPanel

I have a JPanel of null layout called MainPanel. Onclick of a button I am adding JTextpane on mainPanel. On first click I am creating a textpane of background color white. On second click I am creating another textpane of color blue. What I want is to place the blue textpane upon the white textpane, but the blue textpane is going behind the white textpane. How can I place it on white pane?
Code is very simple here. Onclick I am creating a new JTextpane, setting dimensions to it and placing it on the mainPanel.
Placing a sample screenshot which describes the issue better. Here the blue textpane has gone behind white textpane. I want it above white texpane. How do I do that?

If you want to stick with your current Components, (I think you should use kellax's solution, but I don't know if there's an extra requirement that's forcing you to use your current approach) you can look into Container.setComponentZOrder(Component comp, int index) to directly determine the order in which Components are displayed.

You will have to replace your JPanel "MainPanel" with a LayeredPanel.
Then you can say:
JLayeredPane mainPanel = new JLayeredPane();
JTextPane whitePane = new JTextPane("White text pane on top");
JTextPane bluePane = new JTextPane("Blue text pane behind");
mainPanel.add(whitePane, 2, 0);
mainPanel.add(bluePane, 1, 0);
Edit:
You can read more about the LayeredPane here: LayeredPane

Make a JPanel border with title like in Firefox

I would like to make an option dialog in my application. In this dialog I want to make kind of Areas surrounded with a border and with a title.
An example of what I want is in Firefox:
How can I do something like that in Java?

Here you can find all informations you need.
Basically you can use border factory to create a Border using types available in Swing:
Border lineBorder = BorderFactory.createLineBorder(Color.black);
JPanel panel = new JPanel();
panel.setBorder(lineBorder);
You can also define your custom borders implementing Border interface.

java border gui

I am not good with GUIs or User Interfaces in Java.
Would a Border or JPanel be good for something like the image below?
So, what would be the best option for me? Thank you.

Read the section from the Swing tutorial on Using Layout Managers. You can easily nest panels to get the desired effect.
Maybe start with a BorderLayout. Then you can add a panel that uses a GridLayout, which contains all your image tiles, to the CENTER of the BorderLayout. Then you can add the scrollpane containing the text area to the SOUTH. Then you can create another panel to add to the EAST.
Be creative and experiment.

You can make 4 seperate panels for a border, using BorderLayout.NORTH,BorderLayout.EAST,BorderLayout.SOUTH,and BorderLayout.WEST, This is the easiest way in my opinion.
By the way, in the top right of your picture, where you wanted the information panel, you should put an information LABEL (JLabel) instead, because they hold text. JLabel topRight = new JLabel(); then set the text, position, etc.
p.s. to erase the borders around every tile (if you want to do so), use setBorderPainted(false).