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.

How to add vertical space between JButton in BoxLayout?

I have panel with 2 buttons in BoxLayout. What i want is to add vertical space between the buttons.
Here is my code:
frame = new JFrame("FreshPos baza podataka");
frame.setExtendedState(JFrame.MAXIMIZED_BOTH);
JPanel panel = new JPanel();
panel.setBounds(new Rectangle(0, 5, 0, 0));
panel.setAlignmentY(Component.BOTTOM_ALIGNMENT);
frame.getContentPane().add(panel, BorderLayout.WEST);
panel.setLayout(new BoxLayout(panel, BoxLayout.Y_AXIS));
panel.setBorder( BorderFactory.createEmptyBorder(10,10,10,10) );
JButton btnNewButton_1 = new JButton("New button");
panel.add(btnNewButton_1);
JButton btnNewButton_2 = new JButton("New button");
panel.add(btnNewButton_2);

Add an invisible vertical component to the panel in between the two buttons:
JButton btnNewButton_1 = new JButton("New button");
panel.add(btnNewButton_1);
panel.add(Box.createVerticalStrut(50));
JButton btnNewButton_2 = new JButton("New button");
panel.add(btnNewButton_2);

Adding Jpanel containing JButton disturbs the structure of frame

class Frame extends JFrame{
public Frame()
{
JFrame jf= new JFrame("Student Admission");
jf.setLayout(new GridLayout(5,1));
JPanel jpn= new JPanel();
JPanel enr= new JPanel();
enr.setLayout(new FlowLayout(FlowLayout.LEFT));
JLabel enrno= new JLabel("Enrollment Number",JLabel.LEFT);
JTextField enrnoinput=new JTextField(3);
enr.add(enrno);
enr.add(enrnoinput);
jf.add(enr);
JLabel name= new JLabel("Student's Name",JLabel.LEFT);
JTextField nameinput=new JTextField(60);
jpn.add(name);
jpn.add(nameinput);
jf.add(jpn);
JPanel jpfn= new JPanel();
JLabel fname= new JLabel("Fathers's Name",JLabel.LEFT);
JTextField fnameinput=new JTextField(60);
jpfn.add(fname);
jpfn.add(fnameinput);
jf.add(jpfn);
JPanel hscp= new JPanel();
hscp.setLayout(new FlowLayout(FlowLayout.LEFT));
JLabel hscper= new JLabel("Hsc Percentage",JLabel.LEFT);
JTextField hscperinput=new JTextField(3);
hscp.add(hscper);
hscp.add(hscperinput);
jf.add(hscp);
JPanel sscp= new JPanel();
sscp.setLayout(new FlowLayout(FlowLayout.LEFT));
JLabel sscper= new JLabel("Ssc Percentage",JLabel.LEFT);
JTextField sscperinput=new JTextField(3);
sscp.add(sscper);
sscp.add(sscperinput);
jf.add(sscp);
//After Adding this panel the frame's structure get disturbed
JPanel buttonPanel= new JPanel();
JButton save= new JButton("Save");
JButton cancel= new JButton("Cancel");
buttonPanel.add(save);
buttonPanel.add(cancel);
jf.add(buttonPanel);
jf.setResizable(false);
jf.pack();
jf.setVisible(true);
jf.setDefaultCloseOperation(EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
}
}
Before Adding buttonPanel
After adding buttonPanel
I want to add button panel in the Middle-Bottom of the frame how can I do that?

Your grid layout only accounts for 5 components, so it's screwing up everything when you use 6. Add the buttonPanel to the sscp panel and then add the sscp panel to the overall Frame.
JPanel sscp= new JPanel();
sscp.setLayout(new FlowLayout(FlowLayout.LEFT));
JLabel sscper= new JLabel("Ssc Percentage",JLabel.LEFT);
JTextField sscperinput=new JTextField(3);
sscp.add(sscper);
sscp.add(sscperinput);
JPanel buttonPanel= new JPanel();
JButton save= new JButton("Save");
JButton cancel= new JButton("Cancel");
buttonPanel.add(save);
buttonPanel.add(cancel);
//change here
sscp.add(buttonPanel);
jf.add(sscp);

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.

Java GUI (SWING/AWT) - Empty Frame - Components not showing

I'm trying to create (hand-coded) a GUI similair to the GUI shown below, however, only an empty frame shows.
Mock GUI:
I've used various layouts and SWING/AWT components to create the GUI and 4 JPanels which contain:
mainPanel: Contains all the panels in it.
listPanel: Contains the JTables, JLabels and the two JButtons
infoPanel: Contains the JLabels, JCheckBox and JTextBoxes.
addPanel: Contains the JLists and JButton
This is what I coded so far:
import java.awt.*;
import javax.swing.*;
import javax.swing.JTable;
public class GUI extends JFrame {
public void buildGui() {
JFrame frame = new JFrame("Hotel TV Scheduler");
JPanel mainPanel = new JPanel();
mainPanel.setLayout(new BorderLayout());
JPanel listPanel = new JPanel();
listPanel.setLayout(new GridLayout(3,3));
JPanel infoPanel = new JPanel();
infoPanel.setLayout(new GridLayout(2,2));
JPanel addPanel = new JPanel();
addPanel.setLayout(new FlowLayout());
mainPanel.add(listPanel, BorderLayout.LINE_START);
mainPanel.add(infoPanel, BorderLayout.LINE_END);
mainPanel.add(addPanel, BorderLayout.PAGE_END);
JTable chOneTable = new JTable();
JTable chTwoTable = new JTable();
JTable listTable = new JTable();
JLabel ch1Label = new JLabel("Channel 1");
JLabel ch2Label = new JLabel("Channel 2");
JLabel listLabel = new JLabel("List");
JButton rmvChOneButton = new JButton("Remove Channel");
JButton rmvChTwoButton = new JButton("Remove Channel");
listPanel.add(ch1Label);
listPanel.add(ch2Label);
listPanel.add(listLabel);
listPanel.add(chOneTable);
listPanel.add(chTwoTable);
listPanel.add(listTable);
listPanel.add(rmvChOneButton);
listPanel.add(rmvChTwoButton);
JLabel titleLabel = new JLabel("Title");
JLabel genreLabel = new JLabel("Genre");
JLabel durationLabel = new JLabel("Duration");
JLabel actorLabel = new JLabel("Actor");
JLabel directorLabel = new JLabel("Director");
JLabel rentableLabel = new JLabel("Rentable");
JLabel synLabel = new JLabel("Synopsis");
JTextField txtTitle = new JTextField();
JTextField txtGenre = new JTextField();
JTextField txtDuration = new JTextField();
JTextField txtActor = new JTextField();
JTextField txtDirector = new JTextField();
JTextField txtSynopsis = new JTextField();
JCheckBox rentCB = new JCheckBox();
infoPanel.add(titleLabel);
infoPanel.add(txtTitle);
infoPanel.add(genreLabel);
infoPanel.add(txtGenre);
infoPanel.add(durationLabel);
infoPanel.add(txtDuration);
infoPanel.add(actorLabel);
infoPanel.add(txtActor);
infoPanel.add(directorLabel);
infoPanel.add(txtDirector);
infoPanel.add(rentableLabel);
infoPanel.add(rentCB);
infoPanel.add(synLabel);
infoPanel.add(txtSynopsis);
JButton btnAddProg = new JButton("Add Program");
JList channelList = new JList();
JList timeList = new JList();
addPanel.add(btnAddProg);
addPanel.add(channelList);
addPanel.add(timeList);
frame.setVisible(true);
}
}
Anyone can tell me why only an empty frame is showing up ?
Thanks and Regards,
Brian

Yep just checked, you'll see something if you actually add the mainPanel to the frame, (looks nothing like the mock though!)
frame.setContentPane(mainPanel);
frame.pack();

You've not added mainPanel to the frame