JavaFX allows styling of UI components via CSS. For seamless integration into an existing Swing application it would be nice to make the FX components look like Swing components with Nimbus look and feel. Are there any existing approaches to this? So far I haven't found anything.
An approach would be to code up some JavaFX CSS to make JavaFX look like nimbus, although it would be some work it would certainly be possible. Nimbus UI properties are published here:
http://docs.oracle.com/javase/tutorial/uiswing/lookandfeel/_nimbusDefaults.html
Setting the variables that are defined in the caspian.css file to those in the link above will get you most except for the gradients, drop shadows and images.
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I'm creating a user interface for a java standalone desktop application but the forms, text fields and tables I built using javax.swing and java.awt packages look quite dull. Are there any methods by which these components can be stylized so that they look more appealing (like those beautiful websites made with css and javascript) ?
You can set the background, border, foreground, etc of these components. Consult the API for useful functions.
Or you can change the look and feel of your entire program. Recommended reading: http://docs.oracle.com/javase/tutorial/uiswing/lookandfeel/plaf.html
You could use Look and Feel, there are libraries that set your all your components with a defined style.
See this link http://docs.oracle.com/javase/tutorial/uiswing/lookandfeel/nimbus.html
I am designing a eclipse plugin, where i use Components of Swing and JavaFx. In this I can apply CSS on JavaFX. But i could not apply CSS for Swing components. I was forced to use Swing component for some features of the plugin. So i would like to apply CSS for Swing components too. Is there any api that supports CSS on Swing component?
//This code applies css for javafx components
SwingJavaFxSample.class.getResource("samples.css").toExternalForm();
Please help me in applying css for Swing components too.
You can not use the JavaFX CSS support on Swing controls so to me the question makes no sense. Let me also say that using 3 UI-Technologies together is not really a good idea you'll run into many threading issues (SWT & FX share the same event thread whereas Swing is on another one), ... .
What is the reason you still need Swing? JavaFX can be embedded directly into SWT.
I'm writing a game using Swing and want to achieve a distinctive "steampunk" inspired look for the GUI. This will require some animated components, chunky metallic borders etc.
I know that I can get nice effects by overriding paintComponent and doing all of my rendering for custom lightweight components in that method.
Is this the way to go, or should I be looking at developing a whole new pluggable Look and Feel?
What are the pros/cons of each?
Personally, I think you should go for a completely new look and feel... you may also be able to build it off of Synth L&F rather than writing everything on your own.
Nimbus is an example of an L&F written on top of Synth.
Creating a new L&F is a longer road, but keeps your code simple. (If you only need a few changes it's not worth the effort.) For example, the animations can be coded in the L&F part, so you don't need to worry about it in your components. I would suggest to edit a L&F that is close to what you need.
Is there a way to write a Java Swing application with a custom chrome? Please take a look* at the frame for Microsoft's Zune 4.0 software.
I realize that colors, the shape of scroll bars, etc. are controlled by skins or looks and feels. Right now I'm trying to tackle the native window which houses the java components--the title bar mainly.
Thanks
(*) http://www.winsupersite.com/zune/zune4_shots.asp
By default the frame of a JFrame is native. This can be removed by calling Frame.setUndecorated. The Sun Window PL&F does not provide a title bar. You could hack aJInternalFrame so that it draws the frame, although that probably isn't going to be as easy as it may seem. Of course, if you are going the full custom route, you can draw whatever you want. From 6u10, Sun's JRE also provides APIs to make windows transparent and non-rectangular.
No part of a Swing component's look and feel is "native" in any way. Swing components are "lightweight", which means they are entirely drawn on the Java side, and not at all on the windowing system side.
To create custom "chrome" you create the UI delegates for one or more components. In yor case, you'd want to muck around with the delegates for JRootPane and JInternalFrame.
The Look and Feel of Swing apps are pluggable..that is it can change on the fly. You can create your own look and feel but its not a simple undertaking. To get started this tutorial explains. This article does a little more.
This project demonstrates what could be done. So its up to your imagination.
Does anybody know a way to "skin" Java desktop applications. (Like Winamp skins, or skins for MirandaIM)?
I don't want to create my own look and feel.
Yes, there are a few ways this can be done, but I don't know anyone that is really simple. Have a look at Nimbus: The New Face of Swing, it contains a few examples. You can often override the look of components or just change the colors.
Some links:
Nimbus Colors
Skinning a Slider with Nimbus
Nimbus UIManager UIDefaults
And you can always change to another LaF, in example Substance.
We've successfully used the NimROD Look and Feel to 'skin' the Swing look & feel. It works well, has several 'themes' already written for it, and can be added in a few lines of code.
Swing has built-in dynamic look and feel support. If you are talking about desktop apps, you might want to start with Lesson: Modifying the Look and Feel.
Edit: If you are talking about a webapp, then absolutely use different .css to acheive a skinnable interface. CSS Zen Garden is a great example/tutorial on how the same page can look entirely different with a different .css file.
For a project that's still actively maintained in 2022 and allows skinning of Swing applications try FlatLaf
FlatLaf is a modern open-source cross-platform Look and Feel for Java
Swing desktop applications.
It looks almost flat (no shadows or gradients), clean, simple and
elegant. FlatLaf comes with Light, Dark, IntelliJ and Darcula themes,
scales on HiDPI displays and runs on Java 8 or newer.
The look is heavily inspired by Darcula and IntelliJ themes from
IntelliJ IDEA 2019.2+ and uses almost the same colors and icons.
Another modern look and feel active maintained in 2022 is https://github.com/vincenzopalazzo/material-ui-swing
It include also a way to develop a custom theme in an external jar, like this one https://github.com/material-ui-swing/DarkStackOverflowTheme