I've hit the infinite loop problem in Swing. Done some research and come across SwingWorker threads but not really sure how to implement them. I've knocked together a simple program that shows the problem. One button starts the infinite loop and I want the other button to stop it but of course due to the Swing single thread problem the other button has frozen. Code below and help appreciated:-
public class Model
{
private int counter;
private boolean go = true;
public void go()
{
counter = 0;
while(go)
{
counter++;
System.out.println(counter);
}
}
public int getCounter()
{
return counter;
}
public void setGo(boolean value)
{
this.go = value;
}
}
public class View extends JFrame
{
private JPanel topPanel, bottomPanel;
private JTextArea messageArea;
private JButton startButton, cancelButton;
private JLabel messageLabel;
private JScrollPane scrollPane;
public View()
{
setSize(250, 220);
setTitle("View");
setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
topPanel = new JPanel();
bottomPanel = new JPanel();
messageArea = new JTextArea(8, 20);
messageArea.setEditable(false);
scrollPane = new JScrollPane(messageArea);
messageLabel = new JLabel("Message Area");
topPanel.setLayout(new BorderLayout());
topPanel.add(messageLabel, "North");
topPanel.add(scrollPane, "South");
startButton = new JButton("START");
cancelButton = new JButton("CANCEL");
bottomPanel.setLayout(new GridLayout(1, 2));
bottomPanel.add(startButton);
bottomPanel.add(cancelButton);
Container cp = getContentPane();
cp.add(topPanel, BorderLayout.NORTH);
cp.add(bottomPanel, BorderLayout.SOUTH);
}
public JButton getStartButton()
{
return startButton;
}
public JButton getCancelButton()
{
return cancelButton;
}
public void setMessageArea(String message)
{
messageArea.append(message + "\n");
}
}
public class Controller implements ActionListener
{
private Model theModel;
private View theView;
public Controller(Model model, View view)
{
this.theModel = model;
this.theView = view;
view.getStartButton().addActionListener(this);
view.getCancelButton().addActionListener(this);
}
public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent ae)
{
Object buttonClicked = ae.getSource();
if(buttonClicked.equals(theView.getStartButton()))
{
theModel.go();
}
else if(buttonClicked.equals(theView.getCancelButton()))
{
theModel.setGo(false);
}
}
}
public class Main
{
public static void main(String[] args)
{
Model model = new Model();
View view = new View();
Controller controller = new Controller(model, view);
view.setVisible(true);
}
}
You can do it easily without implementing any timer, you just need to add two lines to your actionPerformed method:
public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent ae)
{
Object buttonClicked = ae.getSource();
if(buttonClicked.equals(theView.getStartButton()))
{
theModel.setGo(true); //make it continue if it's just stopped
Thread t = new Thread(new Runnable() { public void run() {theModel.go();}}); //This separate thread will start the new go...
t.start(); //...when you start the thread! go!
}
else if(buttonClicked.equals(theView.getCancelButton()))
{
theModel.setGo(false);
}
}
As your Model.go() is running in a separate thread, the Event Dispatch Thread is free to do its stuff, like drawing the button released again, instead of hanging with the button down.
There's a catch! however, because the thread running Model.go() will run wildly!, it's virtually called as many times per second as your system can.
If you plan to implement some animation or the like, then you will need to:
use a Timer,
or
add some sleep time to the new thread.
Example if you go with threads:
public void go()
{
counter = 0;
while(go)
{
counter++;
System.out.println(counter);
try {
Thread.sleep(1500); //Sleep for 1.5 seconds
} catch (InterruptedException e) {
e.printStackTrace();
}
}
}
As you can see I added Thread.sleep(1500) being 1500 the time in milliseconds (1.5 seconds). Thread.sleep can be interrupted for some reasons, so you must catch the InterruptedException.
It's not necessary to go deeper on handling correctly the InterruptedException in this particular case, but if you feel curious about it you can read this nice article.
You are blocking the Event Dispatch Thread (EDT). The thread is responsible to process painting and other UI related requests. Once EDT is blocked the UI will become frozen since it cannot process any events. For more details see The Event Dispatch Thread tutorial.
Consider using timers (How to Use Swing Timers), SwingWorker or an auxiliary background thread. Background thread can communicate with EDT using SwingUtilities.invokeLater(). This mechanism is already implemented in SwingWorker, so it may be easier to go with it. It depends on functionality that is required.
Use a javax.swing.Timer to do the go() work once, (with some optional delay), using start() and stop() in the event handling.
I decided to use a SwingWorker thread and below is the updated Controller class. It does what I need it to do but my question is, is it the correct way and is it clean code? Also, I've tried getting the output of the model.go() method into the view's textarea as per the commented out lines but not been succesful, anyone know how?
public class Controller implements ActionListener
{
private Model theModel;
private View theView;
private SwingWorker<Void, Void> worker;
public Controller(Model model, View view)
{
this.theModel = model;
this.theView = view;
view.getStartButton().addActionListener(this);
view.getCancelButton().addActionListener(this);
}
public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent ae)
{
Object buttonClicked = ae.getSource();
if(buttonClicked.equals(theView.getStartButton()))
{
theModel.setGo(true);
worker = new SwingWorker<Void, Void>()
{
#Override
protected Void doInBackground()
{
// theView.setMessageArea(theModel.getCounterToString());
return theModel.go();
}
#Override
protected void done()
{
// theView.setMessageArea(theModel.getCounterToString());
}
};
worker.execute();
}
else if(buttonClicked.equals(theView.getCancelButton()))
{
theModel.setGo(false);
}
}
}
public class Model
{
public Void go()
{
counter = 0;
while(go)
{
counter++;
System.out.println(counter);
}
return null;
}
Related
I have a JProgressBar that I need to set a new minimum, maximum and progress value each time a task of a queue is done, using the code below:
this.progressBar.setMinimum(minimum);
this.progressBar.setMaximum(maximum);
this.progressBar.setValue(progress);
But, I noticed that sometimes, the setMaximum(int) method doesn't seems to work, because the progress bar still working with the old maximum value.
Then I wrote some test code and ran it:
progressBar.setMaximum(10);
System.out.println(progressBar.getMaximum());
Sometimes it prints 10 as expected, and sometimes prints the old value: anything different from 10.
I spent hours on Google and javadocs, tried to call revalidate() and repaint() on JProgressBar's parent, and nothing. I also tried to call Thread.sleep(10) to wait AWT threads to run another tasks and didn't work.
Any ideas?
EDIT: Provided some more code:
/* Applet that construct the view and init a Thread. */
public class FastApplet extends Applet {
private JProgressBar progressBar;
private JPanel panel;
private Runnable runnable;
#Override
public void init() {
try {
java.awt.EventQueue.invokeAndWait(new Runnable() {
#Override
public void run() {
createAndShowGUI();
initThreads();
}
}
} catch (Exception e) {
e.printStackTrace();
}
}
private void createAndShowGUI() {
panel = new JPanel();
progressBar = new JProgressBar();
progressBar.setStringPainted(true);
panel.add(progressBar);
}
private void initThreads() {
runnable = new MyRunnable(progressBar);
Thread thread = new Thread(runnable);
thread.start();
}
}
/* Runnable that update progress and call setMaximum(int) on JProgressBar */
public class MyRunnable {
private int progress;
private final JProgressBar progressBar;
MyRunnable(JProgressBar progressBar) {
this.progressBar = progressBar;
}
#Override
public void run() {
// do the tasks and update the progressBar using progressBar.setValue(progress)
// when done, reset the progress bar with the a new maximum:
defineNewProgressBar(0, 0, newMaximum);
}
public void defineNewProgressBar(int progress, int minimum, int maximum) {
this.progress = progress;
Component component = progressBar.getParent();
JPanel panel = (JPanel) component;
this.progressBar.setMinimum(minimum);
this.progressBar.setMaximum(maximum);
this.progressBar.setValue(progress);
panel.revalidate();
panel.repaint();
}
}
You wrote in your comments that you call setMaximum() not from the EDT. You should call it from the EDT like this:
SwingUtilities.invokeLater(new Runnable() {
#Override
public void run() {
progressBar.setMaximum(10);
}
});
If you use Java8, you can do this with using a lambda expression:
SwingUtilities.invokeLater(()->progressBar.setMaximum(10));
You can use SafeProgressBarUpdaterThread :
progressBarUpdater = new SafeProgressBarUpdaterThread(progressBar);
//...
progressBarUpdater.setMaximum(maximum);
progressBarUpdater.setValue(value);
java.awt.EventQueue.invokeLater(progressBarUpdater);
I use Swing Application Framework in my program. And I have some long-time work. I use org.jdesktop.application.Task for it. Another programmer wrote two Tasks before I took this project (I can not ask him about the programm). When Tasks are executing user sees progress bar without showing percent complete, but what shows "Wait" message and user can not click to a main window while Task does not ended. It is fine! But I could not find place where ProgressBars was created. May be it is described in some xml-file or property-file?
Also I wrote another Tasks and when they run, progress bar which I created is not displayed or displayed incorrectly. I read about ProgressBar and ProgressMonitor, but it does not help me.
Programm continue to run after someTask.execute(), but I want to it displays ProgressBar, ProgressMonitor or something else and user can not click the main window and window will display correctly. Now window has black "blocks" when user change it.
May be I need use org.jdesktop.application.TaskMonitor. I try to use it as here https://kenai.com/projects/bsaf/sources/main/content/other/bsaf_nb/src/examples/StatusBar.java?rev=235 , but my main window is displayed incorrectly and my ProgressBar is not displayed.
I need to when Task is running program waits it, but user can see ProgressBar, can cancel the operation and can not click to the main window. How can I do it?
Here my code:
public class A{
#Action(name = "ActionName", block = Task.BlockingScope.APPLICATION)
public RequestInfoTask requestInfo() {
RequestInfoTask task = new RequestInfoTask(Application.getInstance());
isSuccessedGetInfo=false;
task.addTaskListener(new TaskListener.Adapter<List<InfoDTO>, Void>() {
#Override
public void succeeded(TaskEvent<List<InfoDTO>> listTaskEvent) {
isSuccessedGetResources=true;
}
});
//Here I want to the program shows ProgressMonitor and user can not click to the main window.
//But small window with message "Progress..." is displayed for several seconds and disappear.
ProgressMonitor monitor = new ProgressMonitor(getMainView(), "Wait! Wait!", "I am working!", 0, 100);
int progress = 0;
monitor.setProgress(progress);
while(!task.isDone()){
monitor.setProgress(progress+=5);
try {
Thread.sleep(1000);
} catch (InterruptedException e) {
}
}
monitor.setProgress(100);
//This code must run after "task" finishes.
if(isSuccessedGetInfo){
MyTask2 task2 = new MyTask2(Application.getInstance());
isSuccessedTask2=false;
task2.addTaskListener(new TaskListener.Adapter<Map<?,?>, Void>(){
#Override
public void succeeded(TaskEvent<Map<String, ICredential>> arg0) {
isSuccessedTask2=true;
}
});
//Do something with results of task2.
}
return task;
}
}
public class RequestInfoTask extends Task<List<InfoDTO>, Void> {
public RequestInfoTask(Application application) {
super(application);
}
#Override
protected List<InfoDTO> doInBackground() throws Exception {
List<InfoDTO> result = someLongerLastingMethod();
return result;
}
}
Part of your problem sounds like it comes from not using the EDT correctly. Any long running task needs to be started in it's own thread to keep the GUI responsive and repainting.
Ideally you'd be following a MVC pattern. In that case you place your Progress Bar in the view, your flag (that indicates whether the task should be running still) in the control, and your long running task in in the Model.
From that point, if your model checks periodically if it should stop (Probably at good stopping points), you can reset everything.
Here's an example with MVC:
import java.awt.BorderLayout;
import java.awt.event.*;
import javax.swing.*;
public class ProgressBarDemo{
public static class View extends JPanel{
Controller control;
public JProgressBar progressBar = new JProgressBar(0, 100);
JButton button = new JButton("Start Long Running Task");
public View(Controller controlIn){
super();
this.control = controlIn;
setLayout(new BorderLayout());
button.addActionListener(new ActionListener(){
#Override
public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e) {
//Toggle between running or not
if(control.isRunning){
control.isRunning = false;
button.setText("Canceling...");
button.setEnabled(false);
} else{
control.isRunning = true;
button.setText("Cancel Long Running Task");
control.startTask();
}
}});
progressBar.setStringPainted(true);
add(progressBar);
add(button, BorderLayout.SOUTH);
}
}
//Communications gateway
public static class Controller{
View view = new View(this);
boolean isRunning = false;
public void updateProgress(final int progress){
SwingUtilities.invokeLater(new Runnable(){
#Override
public void run() {
view.progressBar.setValue(progress);
}});
}
public void reset(){
SwingUtilities.invokeLater(new Runnable(){
#Override
public void run() {
isRunning = false;
view.button.setText("Start Long Running Task");
view.progressBar.setValue(0);
view.button.setEnabled(true);
}});
}
public void startTask(){
LongRunningClass task = new LongRunningClass(this);
new Thread(task).start();
}
}
public static class LongRunningClass implements Runnable{
Controller control;
public LongRunningClass(Controller reference){
this.control = reference;
}
#Override
public void run() {
try {
for(int i = 0; i < 11; i++){
//Monitor the is running flag to see if it should still run
if(control.isRunning == false){
control.reset();
break;
}
control.updateProgress(i * 10);
Thread.sleep(3000);
}
control.reset();
} catch (InterruptedException e) {
e.printStackTrace();
}
}
}
public static void main(String[] args) throws InterruptedException {
// Create and set up the window.
JFrame frame = new JFrame("LabelDemo");
frame.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
// Add content to the window.
frame.add(new Controller().view);
// Display the window.
frame.pack();
frame.setVisible(true);
}
}
I need to run a background thread in my Java GUI that only runs when I click a button and pauses when I click that button again. I am not exactly sure how to set this up, but I have placed a thread in my constructor and the while loop within is set to go through when I set a specific boolean to TRUE. One button switches from setting this boolean TRUE or FALSE.
Everything else I have in this GUI works fine. When I tried debugging the thread, it actually works as I step through the thread but nothing when I try running the GUI completely. The GUI is rather large so I'm gonna put up a portion of the constructor and the action listener of the button. The rest of the code is unnecessary since it works just fine. I need to know what I am doing wrong here:
public BasketballGUI() {
// certain labels and buttons
Thread runningSim = new Thread() {
public void run() {
while(simRun) {
// do stuff here
}
}
};
runningSim.start();
}
// other GUI stuff
// actionListener that should run the thread.
class SimButtonListener implements ActionListener {
public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent arg0) {
if(!simRun) {
simRun = true;
sim.setText("Pause Simulator");
}
else if(simRun) {
simRun = false;
sim.setText("Run Simulator");
}
// other stuff in this actionListener
}
}
Establish a Swing based Timer with an ActionListener that will be called repeatedly.
In the actionPerformed(ActionEvent) method call repaint().
Start the timer (Timer.start()) when the user clicks Start
Stop the timer (Timer.stop()) when the user clicks Stop
If you cannot get it working from that description, I suggest you post an SSCCE of your best attempt.
I thought I had one 'lying around'.. Try this working SSCCE which uses images created in this SSCCE.
I could see this background thread useful for a Java GUI when handling button events to affect something like a text area or progress bar.
For the sake of argument, I will build you a tiny GUI that affects a Text Area. I hope this helps you.
import java.awt.*;
import java.awt.event.ActionEvent;
import java.awt.event.ActionListener;
import java.util.concurrent.atomic.AtomicBoolean;
import javax.swing.*;
public class TestClass extends JPanel {
super("TestClass - Title");
private AtomicBoolean paused;
private JTextArea jta;
private JButton btn;
private Thread thread;
public TestClass() {
paused = new AtomicBoolean(false);
jta = new JTextArea(100, 100);
btn = new JButton();
initialize();
}
public void initialize() {
jta.setLineWrap(true);
jta.setWrapStyleWord(true);
add(new JScrollPane(jta));
btn.setPreferredSize(new Dimension(100, 100));
btn.setText("Pause");
btn.addActionListener(new ButtonListener());
add(btn);
Runnable runnable = new Runnable() {
#Override
public void run() {
while(true) {
for(int i = 0; i < Integer.MAX_VALUE; i++) {
if(paused.get()) {
synchronized(thread) {
try {
thread.wait();
} catch(InterruptedException e) {
}
}
}
}
jta.append(Integer.toString(i) + ", ");
try {
Thread.sleep(500);
} catch (InterruptedException e) {
}
}
}
};
thread = new Thread(runnable);
thread.start();
}
#Override
public Dimension getPreferredSize() {
return new Dimension(100, 30);
}
class ButtonListener implements ActionListener {
#Override
public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent event) {
if(!paused.get()) {
btn.setText("Start");
paused.set(true);
} else {
btn.setText("Pause");
paused.set(false);
synchronized(thread) {
thread.notify();
}
}
}
}
}
Main class to call everything.
import javax.swing.JFrame;
import javax.swing.SwingUtilities;
public class MainClass {
public static void main(final String[] arg) {
SwingUtilities.invokeLater(new Runnable() {
public void run() {
JFrame frame = new JFrame();
frame.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
frame.add(new TestClass());
frame.pack();
frame.setVisible(true);
frame.setLocationRelativeTo(null);
}
});
}
}
I did not test this code to see if it works exactly, Its main goal is to break you through your coders block and use my components to fix your issue. Hope this helped. Need anything else Email me at DesignatedSoftware#gmail.com
I have problem with handling threads in my application. It creates JFrame and starts a new Thread. Last one will execute external application and update GUI. Then
I have problem to make Main class to wait for second thread to finish, but also to update GUI simultaneously.
Here's my example (shortened):
class Main {
public int status;
public Main() {
// Creating GUI etc.
SwingUtilities.invokeLater(new Runnable() {
public void run() {
JDialog id = new JDialog();
id.button.addMouseListener(new MouseListener()); // Calls generate() method
}
});
}
public void generate() {
SwingUtilities.invokeLater(new Runnable() {
public void run() {
// Make changes to GUI
}
});
GeneratorThread genTest = new GeneratorThread(this, 1, 1, 1);
genTest.start();
//while (status == 0);
System.out.println("Next step.");
}
}
And Thread class:
public class GeneratorThread extends Thread {
protected Main main;
protected int setSize, minValue, maxValue;
public GeneratorThread(Main main, int setSize, int minValue, int maxValue) {
this.main = main;
this.setSize = setSize;
this.minValue = minValue;
this.maxValue = maxValue;
}
public void run() {
// Execute program etc.
// Change GUI from main in the same time
// About 3 seconds
main.status = 1;
}
}
I'm in progress and I wanted to check how it works so far. While worked nice, but it locks Swing somehow and any changes are visible only when GeneratorThread finishes. I would like to update GUI in the real time.
I've tried join(), effects are the same. I also tried wait() (on Main), but then I got IllegalStateMonitorException.
Any hints?
Swing is a single threaded environment. That is, there is a single thread responsible for managing all the interactions and updates to the Swing UI - the Event Dispatching Thread.
Among the golden rules of Swing are...
DON'T block the EDT (Thread.sleep, Thread#join, Object#wait, block IO and/or time consuming tasks (among others) should never be called from within the EDT), doing so will stop the EDT from dispatching events and paint updates (amongst other things)
ONLY create/update Swing UI elements from within the EDT.
This raises a question...how do you "wait" for a thread?
The best way is use an Observer pattern. Basically, you provide the Thread with some kind of reference that it will call to provide notification of events, such as errors and completion...
This will require you to think very carefully about the design of your applications, as you can not rely on a simple A to B execution of your code.
For example...
public class TestThreadCallBack {
public static void main(String[] args) {
new TestThreadCallBack();
}
public TestThreadCallBack() {
EventQueue.invokeLater(new Runnable() {
#Override
public void run() {
try {
UIManager.setLookAndFeel(UIManager.getSystemLookAndFeelClassName());
} catch (Exception ex) {
}
JFrame frame = new JFrame("Testing");
frame.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
frame.setLayout(new BorderLayout());
frame.add(new TestPane());
frame.pack();
frame.setLocationRelativeTo(null);
frame.setVisible(true);
}
});
}
public interface ThreadCallBack {
public void threadCompleted(Runnable source);
public void threadFailed(Runnable source);
}
public class TestPane extends JPanel implements ThreadCallBack {
private JLabel message;
private JLabel dots;
private int count;
private Timer timer;
public TestPane() {
setLayout(new GridBagLayout());
message = new JLabel("Running background task, please wait");
dots = new JLabel(" ");
add(message);
add(dots);
timer = new Timer(250, new ActionListener() {
#Override
public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e) {
count++;
if (count > 3) {
count = 0;
}
StringBuilder sb = new StringBuilder(3);
for (int index = 0; index < count; index++) {
sb.append(".");
}
for (int index = count; index < 3; index++) {
sb.append(" ");
}
dots.setText(sb.toString());
}
});
timer.setRepeats(true);
timer.setCoalesce(true);
timer.start();
Thread thread = new Thread(new BackgroundTask(this));
thread.start();
}
#Override
public void threadCompleted(Runnable source) {
timer.stop();
message.setText("Task completed successfully");
}
#Override
public void threadFailed(Runnable source) {
timer.stop();
message.setText("Task failed");
}
}
public class BackgroundTask implements Runnable {
private ThreadCallBack callBack;
public BackgroundTask(ThreadCallBack callBack) {
this.callBack = callBack;
}
#Override
public void run() {
System.out.println("Background task underway...");
try {
Thread.sleep(2000);
} catch (InterruptedException interruptedException) {
}
int result = (int) Math.round((Math.random() * 1));
if (result == 0) {
callBack.threadCompleted(this);
} else {
callBack.threadFailed(this);
}
}
}
}
Updating the UI from within a Thread other then the EDT is, well, messy. An easier solution would actually be to use a SwingWorker. This has publish/process methods that make easy to update the UI and progress methods that can be used to provide feedback about the progress of the current task.
You can use it's done method to notify interested parties when the worker has completed.
Update your GUI from within the thread using SwingUtilitied.invokeLater or, alternatively, synchronise the main variable!
http://www.vogella.com/articles/JavaConcurrency/article.html#concurrencyjava
Maybe it already suffices to make "status" volatile?
I have a class (called Class_GUI) which has a panel with lots of buttons on it. Class_GUI has some methods that change the text and colour of the buttons.
I have also have a program with the actionPerformed method. When this is called it creates an instance of Class_GUI and repeatedly calls Class_GUI methods, changing the buttons etc.
The issue I'm having is that the buttons only display properly once the actionPerformed method has finished entirely whereas I want it to change after each Class_GUI method is called.
My attempt so far is in each Class_GUI method I do this at the end of the method:
SwingUtilities.invokeLater(Refresh_GUI);
Where Refresh_GUI is defined:
Runnable Refresh_GUI = new Runnable(){
public void run(){
frame.revalidate();
frame.repaint();
}
};
Assuming that your actionPerformed method is being called within the context of the Event Dispatching Thread, no UI updates will occur until AFTER the actionPerformed method has competed, even using SwingUtilities#invokeLater won't change that, because until the actionPerformed method exits, the EDT won't be able to continue processing (amongst other things) repaint requests.
The best you can do, is start a second thread and from within that thread, update your UI components...but, you area going to be forced to use SwingUtilities#invokeLater as you should NEVER update any UI component outside the EDT.
The advantage though, is that the thread does not need to compete in order for the EDT to start processing the repaint request
UPDATED with Example
public class SwingThreadUpdate {
public static void main(String[] args) {
new SwingThreadUpdate();
}
public SwingThreadUpdate() {
EventQueue.invokeLater(new Runnable() {
#Override
public void run() {
try {
UIManager.setLookAndFeel(UIManager.getSystemLookAndFeelClassName());
} catch (ClassNotFoundException | InstantiationException | IllegalAccessException | UnsupportedLookAndFeelException ex) {
}
JFrame frame = new JFrame();
frame.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
frame.setLayout(new BorderLayout());
frame.add(new BlinkPane());
frame.pack();
frame.setLocationRelativeTo(null);
frame.setVisible(true);
}
});
}
public class BlinkPane extends JPanel {
private JLabel label;
private JButton button;
public BlinkPane() {
setLayout(new GridBagLayout());
GridBagConstraints gbc = new GridBagConstraints();
gbc.gridy = 0;
label = new JLabel("Blinky");
label.setBackground(Color.RED);
button = new JButton("Click me");
add(label, gbc);
gbc.gridy++;
add(button, gbc);
button.addActionListener(new ActionListener() {
#Override
public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e) {
button.setEnabled(false);
new Thread(new BlinkTask(BlinkPane.this)).start();
}
});
}
private void setBlink(boolean blink) {
label.setOpaque(blink);
}
private void reset() {
button.setEnabled(true);
label.setOpaque(false);
}
}
public class BlinkTask implements Runnable {
private BlinkPane blinkPane;
protected BlinkTask(BlinkPane blinkPane) {
this.blinkPane = blinkPane;
}
#Override
public void run() {
Blink blinkOn = new Blink(blinkPane, true);
Blink blinkOff = new Blink(blinkPane, false);
for (int index = 0; index < 10; index++) {
if (index % 2 == 0) {
SwingUtilities.invokeLater(blinkOn);
} else {
SwingUtilities.invokeLater(blinkOff);
}
try {
Thread.sleep(125);
} catch (InterruptedException ex) {
}
}
SwingUtilities.invokeLater(new Runnable() {
#Override
public void run() {
blinkPane.reset();
}
});
}
}
public class Blink implements Runnable {
private BlinkPane blinkPane;
private boolean blink;
public Blink(BlinkPane blinkPane, boolean blink) {
this.blinkPane = blinkPane;
this.blink = blink;
}
#Override
public void run() {
blinkPane.setBlink(blink);
blinkPane.repaint();
}
}
}
You might like to have a read through Painting in AWT and Swing for more information.
Incase your actionPerform method calls code to update buttons in a for loop you could also add the updation code in the invokeLater that way both the updation and painting code will run one by one. Invoke later will execute only after current method completes its execution so only way to ensure painting happens faster is to break your tasks into smaller peices.
First, make sure you are only accessing any GUI components from the Event Dispatch thread (via invokeLater or as part of handling a GUI event).
Second, if you change any properties of a GUI component, it should automatically post an event to repaint itself. If not you can try invoking component.repaint(). But it's critical that the changes to the component properties happen on the EDT.
A simple solution is execute the entire ActionPerformed event less task to clean the screen at the end of the event queue.
So, first it executes the cleanScreen() function because the rest of the event waits for all events finish.
AnyButton.addActionListener(new ActionListener() {
public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e) {
cleanScreen(); //Modify components before action performer event
EventQueue.invokeLater( new Runnable() {
#Override public void run() {
anytask(); //Action performer event
}
});
}
});