Dynamically create jCheckBox and add to a jScrollPane - java

EDIT: Using the solutions presented below, I have changed the code to have a JPanel inside a JScrollPane. Using a JButton i add JCheckBoxes to the JPanel inside the JScrollPane. This was one problem solved, as the a JScrollPanecan only take one JComponent. The rest of the issues were solved setting a gridlayout to the JPanel inside JScrollPane. I have kept my original question here for the sake of posterity:
ORIGINAL QUESTION: I'm trying to dynamically create JCheckBox and add them to a JScrollPane, but alas i am achieving little success. I have reduced this to a single proof-of-concept implementation.
I have a JScrollPaneon a JPanel inside a JFrame. Also on the JPanel, i have added a button that is supposed to add a JCheckBox to the JScrollPane when clicked. Should be simple enough. The code inside the button is as follows:
private void addCheckBoxActionPerformed(java.awt.event.ActionEvent evt) {
JCheckBox cb = new JCheckBox("New CheckBox");
jScrollPaneCheckBoxes.add(cb);
jScrollPaneCheckBoxes.revalidate();
}
The code runs seemingly without error. I have no exceptions and using the debugger shows that the JCheckBox is in fact added to the JScrollPane . Unfortunately, nothing is displayed in the application. I need direction as to where to look for the problem.
Here is a quick piece of code that you can just run. Unfortunately i threw this together using Netbeans and it's GUI designer and as such it's a bit longer than it needs to be, especially the generated code. Focus on the method jButton1ActionPerformed, that's where the above code is taken from.
EDIT: This code now does what i need it to. :-)
package dynamiccheckboxsscce;
import javax.swing.JCheckBox;
public class Main extends javax.swing.JFrame {
/**
* Creates new form Main
*/
public Main() {
initComponents();
}
#SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
private void initComponents() {
jScrollPane1 = new javax.swing.JScrollPane();
jPanel1 = new javax.swing.JPanel();
jButton1 = new javax.swing.JButton();
setDefaultCloseOperation(javax.swing.WindowConstants.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
jScrollPane1.setHorizontalScrollBarPolicy(javax.swing.ScrollPaneConstants.HORIZONTAL_SCROLLBAR_NEVER);
jScrollPane1.setPreferredSize(new java.awt.Dimension(250, 250));
jPanel1.setPreferredSize(new java.awt.Dimension(300, 250));
jPanel1.setLayout(new java.awt.GridLayout(0, 2, 10, 10));
jScrollPane1.setViewportView(jPanel1);
jButton1.setText("Add Checkbox");
jButton1.addActionListener(new java.awt.event.ActionListener() {
public void actionPerformed(java.awt.event.ActionEvent evt) {
jButton1ActionPerformed(evt);
}
});
javax.swing.GroupLayout layout = new javax.swing.GroupLayout(getContentPane());
getContentPane().setLayout(layout);
layout.setHorizontalGroup(
layout.createParallelGroup(javax.swing.GroupLayout.Alignment.LEADING)
.addGroup(layout.createSequentialGroup()
.addContainerGap()
.addGroup(layout.createParallelGroup(javax.swing.GroupLayout.Alignment.LEADING)
.addGroup(layout.createSequentialGroup()
.addComponent(jScrollPane1, javax.swing.GroupLayout.DEFAULT_SIZE, 309, Short.MAX_VALUE)
.addContainerGap())
.addGroup(javax.swing.GroupLayout.Alignment.TRAILING, layout.createSequentialGroup()
.addGap(0, 0, Short.MAX_VALUE)
.addComponent(jButton1)
.addGap(112, 112, 112)))));
layout.setVerticalGroup(
layout.createParallelGroup(javax.swing.GroupLayout.Alignment.LEADING)
.addGroup(javax.swing.GroupLayout.Alignment.TRAILING, layout.createSequentialGroup()
.addContainerGap()
.addComponent(jScrollPane1, javax.swing.GroupLayout.DEFAULT_SIZE, javax.swing.GroupLayout.DEFAULT_SIZE, Short.MAX_VALUE)
.addPreferredGap(javax.swing.LayoutStyle.ComponentPlacement.RELATED, 11, Short.MAX_VALUE)
.addComponent(jButton1)
.addContainerGap()));
pack();
}
private void jButton1ActionPerformed(java.awt.event.ActionEvent evt) {
JCheckBox cb = new JCheckBox("New CheckBox");
jPanel1.add(cb);
jPanel1.revalidate();
jPanel1.repaint();
}
/**
* #param args the command line arguments
*/
public static void main(String args[]) {
/*
* Set the Nimbus look and feel
*/
try {
for (javax.swing.UIManager.LookAndFeelInfo info : javax.swing.UIManager.getInstalledLookAndFeels()) {
if ("Nimbus".equals(info.getName())) {
javax.swing.UIManager.setLookAndFeel(info.getClassName());
break;
}
}
} catch (ClassNotFoundException ex) {
java.util.logging.Logger.getLogger(Main.class.getName()).log(java.util.logging.Level.SEVERE, null, ex);
} catch (InstantiationException ex) {
java.util.logging.Logger.getLogger(Main.class.getName()).log(java.util.logging.Level.SEVERE, null, ex);
} catch (IllegalAccessException ex) {
java.util.logging.Logger.getLogger(Main.class.getName()).log(java.util.logging.Level.SEVERE, null, ex);
} catch (javax.swing.UnsupportedLookAndFeelException ex) {
java.util.logging.Logger.getLogger(Main.class.getName()).log(java.util.logging.Level.SEVERE, null, ex);
}
/*
* Create and display the form
*/
java.awt.EventQueue.invokeLater(new Runnable() {
public void run() {
new Main().setVisible(true);
}
});
}
private javax.swing.JButton jButton1;
private javax.swing.JPanel jPanel1;
private javax.swing.JScrollPane jScrollPane1;
}
Thanks in advance.


without posting a SSCCE you have to accepting that JScrollPane is designated to nest only one JComponent,
if you want to add more that one JComponent to the JScrollPane, the put there JPanel and then add a new JComponent to the JPanel instead of JScrollPane
to check how dynamically add / remove JComponents
EDIT
you have to set proper LayoutManager to the JPanel
you ahve to add JPanel to the JScrollPane
for example (without using built_in designer, even safe time for ..., required best knowledge about used SwingFramework and Swing too, I'm satisfied with plain Swing)
code
import java.awt.BorderLayout;
import java.awt.GridLayout;
import javax.swing.JButton;
import javax.swing.JCheckBox;
import javax.swing.JFrame;
import javax.swing.JPanel;
import javax.swing.JScrollPane;
public class AddJCheckBoxToJScrollPane {
private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
private JFrame frame = new JFrame();
private JButton jButton1;
private JPanel jPanel1;
private JScrollPane jScrollPane1;
public AddJCheckBoxToJScrollPane() {
jPanel1 = new JPanel();
jPanel1.setLayout(new GridLayout(0, 2, 10, 10));
jScrollPane1 = new JScrollPane(jPanel1);
jButton1 = new JButton("Add Checkbox");
jButton1.addActionListener(new java.awt.event.ActionListener() {
public void actionPerformed(java.awt.event.ActionEvent evt) {
JCheckBox cb = new JCheckBox("New CheckBox");
jPanel1.add(cb);
jPanel1.revalidate();
jPanel1.repaint();
}
});
frame.add(jScrollPane1);
frame.add(jButton1, BorderLayout.SOUTH);
frame.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
frame.setSize(300, 200);
//frame.pack();
frame.setLocationRelativeTo(null);
frame.setVisible(true);
}
public static void main(String args[]) {
try {
for (javax.swing.UIManager.LookAndFeelInfo info : javax.swing.UIManager.getInstalledLookAndFeels()) {
if ("Nimbus".equals(info.getName())) {
javax.swing.UIManager.setLookAndFeel(info.getClassName());
break;
}
}
} catch (ClassNotFoundException ex) {
} catch (InstantiationException ex) {
} catch (IllegalAccessException ex) {
} catch (javax.swing.UnsupportedLookAndFeelException ex) {
}
java.awt.EventQueue.invokeLater(new Runnable() {
public void run() {
new AddJCheckBoxToJScrollPane();
}
});
}
}


You should be calling repaint() instead of revalidate().
See Revalidate vs. Repaint

Related

Accessing JComboBox data from separate JForm

I've spent a bit of time browsing Stack Overflow and the internet looking for the answer to my question, but I found all the answers hard to understand and I was quite unsure if any of them related to my problem, so I decided I needed help in the right context.
I am creating a program that will give a series of solutions based on a particular type of graph inputted. I am sincerely struggling with taking the data from my JComboBox in the first JFrame, and displaying it in the second.
I have two classes, GraphEquationSolverGUI and DefineEquation. I am using the Netbeans IDE and GraphEquationSolverGUI is my "project."
GraphEquationSolverGUI:
private void graphSelectionActionPerformed(java.awt.event.ActionEvent evt) {
String graphSelectionGUI = (String)graphSelection.getSelectedItem();
//graphSelectedTextField.setText(graphSelectionGUI);
DefineEquation graphSelectedObj = new DefineEquation(graphSelectionGUI);
graphSelectedObj.addItem(graphSelectionGUI);
This is the JComboBox in which I want the selection to send data to another class. The JComboBox is called graphSelection. You will notice the the commented text is me setting a JTextField to the value of the JComboBox, this is inside of this JForm and was used by myself to test to make sure the data was being input right, it works and I can display the data in this same JFrame. The other code following is my attempt to create an object and pass the data through it, I'm a bit rusty with objects as I haven't worked with them for a while, sorry if I make you cry.
DefineEquation:
public DefineEquation(String graphSelected) {
this.graphSelected = graphSelected;
} //If anyone cares here is my constructor for the object
public void addItem(String graphSelectedString1){
DefineEquation graphSelectedObj = new DefineEquation(graphSelected);
String graphSelectedStringMAIN = graphSelectedString1.toString();
selectedGraph.setText(graphSelectedStringMAIN);
}
The above is the method I created to add the data to a JTextField called selectedGraph. You will notice I have graphSelectedString1 and graphSelectedStringMAIN in which I convert a String to a String which is obviously redundant. I did this just in case, it is redundant, sorry for making you cringe.
I understand that this may be hard to follow, and you may find it hard to understand what I am asking. So simply put, how would I pass data from one JFrame JComboBox to a JTextField in a separate JFrame? Would I use Objects? Please try to walk me through it if you can, I am very confused. I will paste all my code below if you wish to read through everything.
GraphEquationSolverGUI:
/*
* To change this license header, choose License Headers in Project Properties.
* To change this template file, choose Tools | Templates
* and open the template in the editor.
*/
package GUI;
/**
*
* #author MatthewAlanTroutman
*/
public class GraphEquationSolverGUI extends javax.swing.JFrame {
/**
* Creates new form GraphEquationSolverGUI
*/
public GraphEquationSolverGUI() {
initComponents();
}
/**
* This method is called from within the constructor to initialize the form.
* WARNING: Do NOT modify this code. The content of this method is always
* regenerated by the Form Editor.
*/
#SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
// <editor-fold defaultstate="collapsed" desc="Generated Code">
private void initComponents() {
jSpinner1 = new javax.swing.JSpinner();
welcome = new javax.swing.JLabel();
programDescription = new javax.swing.JLabel();
graphsOffered = new javax.swing.JLabel();
linear = new javax.swing.JLabel();
bilinear = new javax.swing.JLabel();
quadratic = new javax.swing.JLabel();
cubic = new javax.swing.JLabel();
exponential = new javax.swing.JLabel();
graphSelectionText = new javax.swing.JLabel();
graphSelection = new javax.swing.JComboBox();
help = new javax.swing.JButton();
close = new javax.swing.JButton();
next = new javax.swing.JButton();
graphSelectedTextField = new javax.swing.JTextField();
graphSelectedLabel = new javax.swing.JLabel();
setDefaultCloseOperation(javax.swing.WindowConstants.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
setTitle("GraphEquationSolver");
setBackground(new java.awt.Color(255, 255, 255));
welcome.setFont(new java.awt.Font("Lucida Grande", 0, 48)); // NOI18N
welcome.setHorizontalAlignment(javax.swing.SwingConstants.CENTER);
welcome.setText("Welcome");
welcome.setPreferredSize(new java.awt.Dimension(800, 100));
programDescription.setFont(new java.awt.Font("Lucida Grande", 0, 14)); // NOI18N
programDescription.setText("You can use this program to find a variety of solutions for different types of graphs, please select a graph to begin");
programDescription.setPreferredSize(new java.awt.Dimension(800, 75));
graphsOffered.setFont(new java.awt.Font("Lucida Grande", 0, 18)); // NOI18N
graphsOffered.setText("Graphs we offer:");
linear.setFont(new java.awt.Font("Lucida Grande", 0, 14)); // NOI18N
linear.setText("- Linear");
bilinear.setFont(new java.awt.Font("Lucida Grande", 0, 14)); // NOI18N
bilinear.setText("- Bilinear");
quadratic.setFont(new java.awt.Font("Lucida Grande", 0, 14)); // NOI18N
quadratic.setText("- Quadratic");
cubic.setFont(new java.awt.Font("Lucida Grande", 0, 14)); // NOI18N
cubic.setText("- Cubic");
exponential.setFont(new java.awt.Font("Lucida Grande", 0, 14)); // NOI18N
exponential.setText("- Exponential");
graphSelectionText.setFont(new java.awt.Font("Lucida Grande", 0, 18)); // NOI18N
graphSelectionText.setText("Please select your graph");
graphSelection.setModel(new javax.swing.DefaultComboBoxModel(new String[] { "Linear", "Bilinear", "Quadratic", "Cubic", "Exponential" }));
graphSelection.setToolTipText("");
graphSelection.addActionListener(new java.awt.event.ActionListener() {
public void actionPerformed(java.awt.event.ActionEvent evt) {
graphSelectionActionPerformed(evt);
}
});
help.setFont(new java.awt.Font("Lucida Grande", 0, 48)); // NOI18N
help.setText("Help");
close.setFont(new java.awt.Font("Lucida Grande", 0, 48)); // NOI18N
close.setText("Close");
close.addActionListener(new java.awt.event.ActionListener() {
public void actionPerformed(java.awt.event.ActionEvent evt) {
closeActionPerformed(evt);
}
});
next.setFont(new java.awt.Font("Lucida Grande", 0, 48)); // NOI18N
next.setText("Next");
next.addActionListener(new java.awt.event.ActionListener() {
public void actionPerformed(java.awt.event.ActionEvent evt) {
nextActionPerformed(evt);
}
});
graphSelectedTextField.setEditable(false);
graphSelectedLabel.setFont(new java.awt.Font("Lucida Grande", 0, 18)); // NOI18N
graphSelectedLabel.setText("Graph Selected");
javax.swing.GroupLayout layout = new javax.swing.GroupLayout(getContentPane());
getContentPane().setLayout(layout);
layout.setHorizontalGroup(
layout.createParallelGroup(javax.swing.GroupLayout.Alignment.LEADING)
.addGroup(javax.swing.GroupLayout.Alignment.TRAILING, layout.createSequentialGroup()
.addContainerGap(javax.swing.GroupLayout.DEFAULT_SIZE, Short.MAX_VALUE)
.addComponent(welcome, javax.swing.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE, javax.swing.GroupLayout.DEFAULT_SIZE, javax.swing.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE)
.addGap(240, 240, 240))
.addGroup(layout.createSequentialGroup()
.addGroup(layout.createParallelGroup(javax.swing.GroupLayout.Alignment.LEADING)
.addGroup(layout.createSequentialGroup()
.addGap(240, 240, 240)
.addComponent(programDescription, javax.swing.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE, javax.swing.GroupLayout.DEFAULT_SIZE, javax.swing.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE))
.addGroup(layout.createSequentialGroup()
.addGap(184, 184, 184)
.addGroup(layout.createParallelGroup(javax.swing.GroupLayout.Alignment.LEADING)
.addComponent(exponential)
.addGroup(layout.createSequentialGroup()
.addGroup(layout.createParallelGroup(javax.swing.GroupLayout.Alignment.LEADING)
.addComponent(graphsOffered)
.addComponent(linear)
.addComponent(bilinear)
.addComponent(quadratic)
.addComponent(cubic))
.addGap(311, 311, 311)
.addGroup(layout.createParallelGroup(javax.swing.GroupLayout.Alignment.LEADING, false)
.addComponent(graphSelectionText, javax.swing.GroupLayout.DEFAULT_SIZE, javax.swing.GroupLayout.DEFAULT_SIZE, Short.MAX_VALUE)
.addComponent(graphSelection, 0, javax.swing.GroupLayout.DEFAULT_SIZE, Short.MAX_VALUE)
.addComponent(graphSelectedTextField)
.addComponent(graphSelectedLabel, javax.swing.GroupLayout.DEFAULT_SIZE, javax.swing.GroupLayout.DEFAULT_SIZE, Short.MAX_VALUE)))))
.addGroup(layout.createSequentialGroup()
.addGap(231, 231, 231)
.addComponent(help, javax.swing.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE, 255, javax.swing.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE)
.addGap(18, 18, 18)
.addComponent(close, javax.swing.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE, 255, javax.swing.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE)
.addGap(18, 18, 18)
.addComponent(next, javax.swing.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE, 255, javax.swing.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE)))
.addContainerGap(240, Short.MAX_VALUE))
);
layout.setVerticalGroup(
layout.createParallelGroup(javax.swing.GroupLayout.Alignment.LEADING)
.addGroup(layout.createSequentialGroup()
.addGap(34, 34, 34)
.addComponent(welcome, javax.swing.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE, 50, javax.swing.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE)
.addPreferredGap(javax.swing.LayoutStyle.ComponentPlacement.RELATED)
.addComponent(programDescription, javax.swing.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE, 27, javax.swing.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE)
.addGap(73, 73, 73)
.addGroup(layout.createParallelGroup(javax.swing.GroupLayout.Alignment.BASELINE)
.addComponent(graphsOffered)
.addComponent(graphSelectionText))
.addPreferredGap(javax.swing.LayoutStyle.ComponentPlacement.RELATED)
.addComponent(graphSelection, javax.swing.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE, javax.swing.GroupLayout.DEFAULT_SIZE, javax.swing.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE)
.addPreferredGap(javax.swing.LayoutStyle.ComponentPlacement.UNRELATED)
.addGroup(layout.createParallelGroup(javax.swing.GroupLayout.Alignment.BASELINE)
.addComponent(linear)
.addComponent(graphSelectedLabel))
.addPreferredGap(javax.swing.LayoutStyle.ComponentPlacement.RELATED)
.addGroup(layout.createParallelGroup(javax.swing.GroupLayout.Alignment.TRAILING)
.addGroup(layout.createSequentialGroup()
.addComponent(bilinear)
.addPreferredGap(javax.swing.LayoutStyle.ComponentPlacement.RELATED)
.addComponent(quadratic))
.addComponent(graphSelectedTextField, javax.swing.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE, 28, javax.swing.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE))
.addGroup(layout.createParallelGroup(javax.swing.GroupLayout.Alignment.LEADING)
.addGroup(layout.createSequentialGroup()
.addPreferredGap(javax.swing.LayoutStyle.ComponentPlacement.RELATED)
.addComponent(cubic)
.addPreferredGap(javax.swing.LayoutStyle.ComponentPlacement.RELATED)
.addComponent(exponential)
.addContainerGap(javax.swing.GroupLayout.DEFAULT_SIZE, Short.MAX_VALUE))
.addGroup(layout.createSequentialGroup()
.addPreferredGap(javax.swing.LayoutStyle.ComponentPlacement.RELATED, 219, Short.MAX_VALUE)
.addGroup(layout.createParallelGroup(javax.swing.GroupLayout.Alignment.BASELINE)
.addComponent(help, javax.swing.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE, 87, javax.swing.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE)
.addComponent(close, javax.swing.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE, 87, javax.swing.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE)
.addComponent(next, javax.swing.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE, 87, javax.swing.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE))
.addGap(169, 169, 169))))
);
graphSelection.getAccessibleContext().setAccessibleName("");
help.getAccessibleContext().setAccessibleName("help");
close.getAccessibleContext().setAccessibleName("close");
pack();
}// </editor-fold>
private void graphSelectionActionPerformed(java.awt.event.ActionEvent evt) {
String graphSelectionGUI = (String)graphSelection.getSelectedItem();
graphSelectedTextField.setText(graphSelectionGUI);
//DefineEquation graphSelectedObj = new DefineEquation(graphSelectionGUI);
//graphSelectedObj.addItem(graphSelectionGUI);
}
private void closeActionPerformed(java.awt.event.ActionEvent evt) {
System.exit(0);
}
private void nextActionPerformed(java.awt.event.ActionEvent evt) {
this.setVisible(false);
new DefineEquation().setVisible(true);
}
/**
* #param args the command line arguments
*/
public static void main(String args[]) {
/* Set the Nimbus look and feel */
//<editor-fold defaultstate="collapsed" desc=" Look and feel setting code (optional) ">
/* If Nimbus (introduced in Java SE 6) is not available, stay with the default look and feel.
* For details see http://download.oracle.com/javase/tutorial/uiswing/lookandfeel/plaf.html
*/
try {
for (javax.swing.UIManager.LookAndFeelInfo info : javax.swing.UIManager.getInstalledLookAndFeels()) {
if ("Nimbus".equals(info.getName())) {
javax.swing.UIManager.setLookAndFeel(info.getClassName());
break;
}
}
} catch (ClassNotFoundException ex) {
java.util.logging.Logger.getLogger(GraphEquationSolverGUI.class.getName()).log(java.util.logging.Level.SEVERE, null, ex);
} catch (InstantiationException ex) {
java.util.logging.Logger.getLogger(GraphEquationSolverGUI.class.getName()).log(java.util.logging.Level.SEVERE, null, ex);
} catch (IllegalAccessException ex) {
java.util.logging.Logger.getLogger(GraphEquationSolverGUI.class.getName()).log(java.util.logging.Level.SEVERE, null, ex);
} catch (javax.swing.UnsupportedLookAndFeelException ex) {
java.util.logging.Logger.getLogger(GraphEquationSolverGUI.class.getName()).log(java.util.logging.Level.SEVERE, null, ex);
}
//</editor-fold>
/* Create and display the form */
java.awt.EventQueue.invokeLater(new Runnable() {
public void run() {
new GraphEquationSolverGUI().setVisible(true);
}
});
}
// Variables declaration - do not modify
private javax.swing.JLabel bilinear;
private javax.swing.JButton close;
private javax.swing.JLabel cubic;
private javax.swing.JLabel exponential;
private javax.swing.JLabel graphSelectedLabel;
private javax.swing.JTextField graphSelectedTextField;
private javax.swing.JComboBox graphSelection;
private javax.swing.JLabel graphSelectionText;
private javax.swing.JLabel graphsOffered;
private javax.swing.JButton help;
private javax.swing.JSpinner jSpinner1;
private javax.swing.JLabel linear;
private javax.swing.JButton next;
private javax.swing.JLabel programDescription;
private javax.swing.JLabel quadratic;
private javax.swing.JLabel welcome;
// End of variables declaration
}
DefineEquation:
/*
* To change this license header, choose License Headers in Project Properties.
* To change this template file, choose Tools | Templates
* and open the template in the editor.
*/
package GUI;
/**
*
* #author MatthewAlanTroutman
*/
public class DefineEquation extends javax.swing.JFrame {
//public class DefineEquation extends GraphEquationSolverGUI {
public String graphSelected;
/**
* Creates new form DefineEquation
*/
public DefineEquation() {
initComponents();
}
public DefineEquation(String graphSelected) {
this.graphSelected = graphSelected;
}
/**
* This method is called from within the constructor to initialize the form.
* WARNING: Do NOT modify this code. The content of this method is always
* regenerated by the Form Editor.
*/
#SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
// <editor-fold defaultstate="collapsed" desc="Generated Code">
private void initComponents() {
selectedGraph = new javax.swing.JTextField();
setDefaultCloseOperation(javax.swing.WindowConstants.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
selectedGraph.setEditable(false);
selectedGraph.addActionListener(new java.awt.event.ActionListener() {
public void actionPerformed(java.awt.event.ActionEvent evt) {
selectedGraphActionPerformed(evt);
}
});
javax.swing.GroupLayout layout = new javax.swing.GroupLayout(getContentPane());
getContentPane().setLayout(layout);
layout.setHorizontalGroup(
layout.createParallelGroup(javax.swing.GroupLayout.Alignment.LEADING)
.addGroup(layout.createSequentialGroup()
.addGap(435, 435, 435)
.addComponent(selectedGraph, javax.swing.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE, 249, javax.swing.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE)
.addContainerGap(596, Short.MAX_VALUE))
);
layout.setVerticalGroup(
layout.createParallelGroup(javax.swing.GroupLayout.Alignment.LEADING)
.addGroup(layout.createSequentialGroup()
.addGap(126, 126, 126)
.addComponent(selectedGraph, javax.swing.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE, javax.swing.GroupLayout.DEFAULT_SIZE, javax.swing.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE)
.addContainerGap(646, Short.MAX_VALUE))
);
pack();
}// </editor-fold>
private void selectedGraphActionPerformed(java.awt.event.ActionEvent evt) {
}
public void addItem(String graphSelectedString1){
DefineEquation graphSelectedObj = new DefineEquation(graphSelected);
String graphSelectedStringMAIN = graphSelectedString1.toString();
selectedGraph.setText(graphSelectedStringMAIN);
}
/**
* #param args the command line arguments
*/
public static void main(String args[]) {
/* Set the Nimbus look and feel */
//<editor-fold defaultstate="collapsed" desc=" Look and feel setting code (optional) ">
/* If Nimbus (introduced in Java SE 6) is not available, stay with the default look and feel.
* For details see http://download.oracle.com/javase/tutorial/uiswing/lookandfeel/plaf.html
*/
try {
for (javax.swing.UIManager.LookAndFeelInfo info : javax.swing.UIManager.getInstalledLookAndFeels()) {
if ("Nimbus".equals(info.getName())) {
javax.swing.UIManager.setLookAndFeel(info.getClassName());
break;
}
}
} catch (ClassNotFoundException ex) {
java.util.logging.Logger.getLogger(DefineEquation.class.getName()).log(java.util.logging.Level.SEVERE, null, ex);
} catch (InstantiationException ex) {
java.util.logging.Logger.getLogger(DefineEquation.class.getName()).log(java.util.logging.Level.SEVERE, null, ex);
} catch (IllegalAccessException ex) {
java.util.logging.Logger.getLogger(DefineEquation.class.getName()).log(java.util.logging.Level.SEVERE, null, ex);
} catch (javax.swing.UnsupportedLookAndFeelException ex) {
java.util.logging.Logger.getLogger(DefineEquation.class.getName()).log(java.util.logging.Level.SEVERE, null, ex);
}
//</editor-fold>
/* Create and display the form */
java.awt.EventQueue.invokeLater(new Runnable() {
public void run() {
new DefineEquation().setVisible(true);
}
});
}
// Variables declaration - do not modify
private javax.swing.JTextField selectedGraph;
// End of variables declaration
}
You will notice I tried to "extend" my first JFrame, but this resulted in the second JFrame "window" somehow combining with the first JFrame "window."
Conceptual images:
Edit 1: Is this the best way to go through with it? If so, how would I go about moving the data around? Objects are currently confusing me along with some non static and static problems which don't seem valid as I don't have anything static. If this is not the best way of doing it, what should I do? I'm going to bed, please comment with your suggestions and help, not only am I desperate, but I feel lost.
Edit 2: I am trying to work with what m.cekiera's answer was, refer to his answer before answering as it might be helpful.
Edit 3: Still stuck and talk in need of detailed help, sorry to be so demanding but I can't wrap my head around this.
Edit 4: I think I've found a significant breakthrough. I've figured out how to work around the issue, but I really think I need to understand this. Anyway, I've got a new class and a new text field for a different class. I still have the problem, I can't display a value of of the textfield, but for some reason I can output the same value. I guess it's easier shown
So this is the class SelectSolutionsQuadratic:
public void displayText(String textToSet) {
displayQuadraticEquation.setText(textToSet);
System.out.println(textToSet);
}
And this is DefineEquationQuadratic:
private void nextActionPerformed(java.awt.event.ActionEvent evt) {
this.setVisible(false);
new SelectSolutionsQuadratic().setVisible(true);
SelectSolutionsQuadratic transferMe = new SelectSolutionsQuadratic();
transferData = aQuadraticSpinner.getValue().toString() + " " + addSubQuadraticComboBox.getSelectedItem();
transferMe.displayText(transferData);
}
So basically I'm just confused why I can send a value from DefineEquationQuadratic to SelectSolutionsQuadratic, output it with System.out.println(); but NOT set the textfield to be that value

What I'm suggesting is that you create two JPanel classes, one that holds your JComboBox, and the other that displays or otherwise needs the results. Assuming you've done that and called the first class, HoldsComboBoxPanel, and your second class is called ShowSelectionPanel, then you would give the HoldsComboBoxPanel two methods, one to get the current selection, a "getter" method, and another to allow outside classes to add an ActionListener to the combobox. For instance in brief, something like so:
public class HoldsComboBoxPanel extends JPanel {
public static final String NAME = "holds combobox panel";
// sample data
private static final String[] DATA = { "Monday", "Tuesday", "Wednesday",
"Thursday", "Friday" };
private JComboBox<String> comboBox = new JComboBox<>(DATA);
public HoldsComboBoxPanel() {
// add the comboBox into our class here
}
// method to add a listener
public void addComboBoxListener(ActionListener listener) {
comboBox.addActionListener(listener);
}
// getter method
public String getComboSelection() {
return (String) comboBox.getSelectedItem();
}
}
Your second class, the one that needs the data would have a setter method to allow outside classes the ability to push the combo selection into it. Assuming it had a JTextField called displayField that showed the selection, its code could look like so:
public class ShowSelectionPanel extends JPanel {
public static final String NAME = "show selection panel";
private JTextField displayField = new JTextField(10);
public ShowSelectionPanel() {
// add the displayField to the JPanel here
}
// setter method
public void setDisplayText(String text) {
displayField.setText(text);
// or do whatever else you want to do with the selection
}
}
Then you'd have another class that used CardLayout and that allowed swapping between the view JPanels above, say called MainPanel. It could use the CardLayout to allow you to swap JPanels, have a public method to allow outside classes to swap "card" JPanels, and it would hold both a HoldsComboBoxPanel field and a ShowSelectionPanel field, and could link them by adding the ActionListener to the combobox like so:
public class MainPanel extends JPanel {
private CardLayout cardLayout = new CardLayout();
private MenuPanel menuPanel = new MenuPanel();
private HoldsComboBoxPanel holdsComboBoxPanel = new HoldsComboBoxPanel();
private ShowSelectionPanel showSelectionPanel = new ShowSelectionPanel();
public MainPanel() {
// add an ActionListener to the JComboBox
holdsComboBoxPanel.addComboBoxListener(new ActionListener() {
#Override
public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e) {
// get the combo's selected String
String selection = holdsComboBoxPanel.getComboSelection();
if (selection != null) {
// push it into showSelection
showSelectionPanel.setDisplayText(selection);
}
}
});
setLayout(cardLayout);
add(menuPanel, MenuPanel.NAME);
add(holdsComboBoxPanel, HoldsComboBoxPanel.NAME);
add(showSelectionPanel, ShowSelectionPanel.NAME);
}
// method that allows outside classes to swap views
public void showCard(String key) {
cardLayout.show(this, key);
}
}
The whole thing with some additional code to allow movement through the "cards" could look something like this:
import java.awt.BorderLayout;
import java.awt.CardLayout;
import java.awt.Component;
import java.awt.Container;
import java.awt.Dimension;
import java.awt.GridBagLayout;
import java.awt.GridLayout;
import java.awt.Window;
import java.awt.event.ActionEvent;
import java.awt.event.ActionListener;
import java.awt.event.KeyEvent;
import javax.swing.AbstractAction;
import javax.swing.AbstractButton;
import javax.swing.Action;
import javax.swing.BorderFactory;
import javax.swing.JButton;
import javax.swing.JComboBox;
import javax.swing.JFrame;
import javax.swing.JPanel;
import javax.swing.JPopupMenu;
import javax.swing.JTextField;
import javax.swing.SwingUtilities;
public class SimpleMultPanels {
private static void createAndShowGui() {
// create JFrame
JFrame frame = new JFrame("SimpleMultPanels");
frame.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.DISPOSE_ON_CLOSE);
// add our MainPanel to the JFrame
frame.getContentPane().add(new MainPanel());
frame.pack(); // pack it
frame.setLocationByPlatform(true);
frame.setVisible(true); // show it
}
public static void main(String[] args) {
// this is for starting our Swing app on the event thread
SwingUtilities.invokeLater(new Runnable() {
public void run() {
createAndShowGui();
}
});
}
}
#SuppressWarnings("serial")
class MainPanel extends JPanel {
private CardLayout cardLayout = new CardLayout();
// the three "card" JPanels that this JPanel displays:
private MenuPanel menuPanel = new MenuPanel();
private HoldsComboBoxPanel holdsComboBoxPanel = new HoldsComboBoxPanel();
private ShowSelectionPanel showSelectionPanel = new ShowSelectionPanel();
// Actions for our JButtons
private ExitAction exitAction = new ExitAction();
private ShowAction backToMenuAction = new ShowAction(this, "Back to Menu",
MenuPanel.NAME, KeyEvent.VK_B);
private ShowAction toHoldsComboAction = new ShowAction(this, "Combo Panel",
HoldsComboBoxPanel.NAME, KeyEvent.VK_C);
private ShowAction toShowSelectionAction = new ShowAction(this,
"Show Selection", ShowSelectionPanel.NAME, KeyEvent.VK_S);
public MainPanel() {
// add an ActionListener to the JComboBox
holdsComboBoxPanel.addComboBoxListener(new ActionListener() {
#Override
public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e) {
// get the combo's selected String
String selection = holdsComboBoxPanel.getComboSelection();
if (selection != null) {
// push it into showSelection
showSelectionPanel.setDisplayText(selection);
}
}
});
// add Actions to class to allow swapping of cards and
holdsComboBoxPanel.addButtonAction(backToMenuAction);
holdsComboBoxPanel.addButtonAction(toShowSelectionAction);
holdsComboBoxPanel.addButtonAction(exitAction); // and to exit gui
showSelectionPanel.addButtonAction(backToMenuAction);
showSelectionPanel.addButtonAction(toHoldsComboAction);
showSelectionPanel.addButtonAction(exitAction);
menuPanel.addButtonAction(toHoldsComboAction);
menuPanel.addButtonAction(toShowSelectionAction);
menuPanel.addButtonAction(exitAction);
setBorder(BorderFactory.createEmptyBorder(5, 5, 5, 5));
// set our layout
setLayout(cardLayout);
// and add our "card" JPanels
add(menuPanel, MenuPanel.NAME);
add(holdsComboBoxPanel, HoldsComboBoxPanel.NAME);
add(showSelectionPanel, ShowSelectionPanel.NAME);
}
// method that allows outside classes to swap views
public void showCard(String key) {
cardLayout.show(this, key);
}
}
#SuppressWarnings("serial")
class HoldsComboBoxPanel extends JPanel {
// constant String that will be used by the CardLayout
public static final String NAME = "holds combobox panel";
// sample data
private static final String[] DATA = { "Monday", "Tuesday", "Wednesday",
"Thursday", "Friday" };
private JComboBox<String> comboBox = new JComboBox<>(DATA);
// JPanel to hold buttons to allow moving between cards
private JPanel buttonPanel = new JPanel(new GridLayout(1, 0, 5, 0));
public HoldsComboBoxPanel() {
comboBox.setSelectedIndex(-1);
JPanel centerPanel = new JPanel();
centerPanel.add(comboBox);
setLayout(new BorderLayout());
add(centerPanel, BorderLayout.CENTER);
add(buttonPanel, BorderLayout.SOUTH);
}
// method to add a listener
public void addComboBoxListener(ActionListener listener) {
comboBox.addActionListener(listener);
}
// getter method
public String getComboSelection() {
return (String) comboBox.getSelectedItem();
}
// create a new JButton with an Action and add to buttonPanel
public void addButtonAction(Action action) {
buttonPanel.add(new JButton(action));
}
}
#SuppressWarnings("serial")
class ShowSelectionPanel extends JPanel {
public static final String NAME = "show selection panel";
private static final int PREF_W = 300;
private static final int PREF_H = PREF_W;
private JTextField displayField = new JTextField(10);
private JPanel buttonPanel = new JPanel(new GridLayout(1, 0, 5, 0));
public ShowSelectionPanel() {
displayField.setFocusable(false);
JPanel centerPanel = new JPanel();
centerPanel.add(displayField);
setLayout(new BorderLayout());
add(centerPanel, BorderLayout.CENTER);
add(buttonPanel, BorderLayout.SOUTH);
}
// code to make our GUI a little larger
#Override
public Dimension getPreferredSize() {
Dimension superSz = super.getPreferredSize();
if (isPreferredSizeSet()) {
return superSz;
}
int prefW = Math.max(superSz.width, PREF_W);
int prefH = Math.max(superSz.height, PREF_H);
return new Dimension(prefW, prefH);
}
// setter method
public void setDisplayText(String text) {
displayField.setText(text);
// or do whatever else you want to do with the selection
}
public void addButtonAction(Action action) {
buttonPanel.add(new JButton(action));
}
}
#SuppressWarnings("serial")
class MenuPanel extends JPanel {
public static final String NAME = "menu panel";
private JPanel buttonPanel = new JPanel(new GridLayout(0, 1, 0, 5));
public MenuPanel() {
setLayout(new GridBagLayout());
add(buttonPanel);
}
public void addButtonAction(Action action) {
buttonPanel.add(new JButton(action));
}
}
#SuppressWarnings("serial")
class ShowAction extends AbstractAction {
private MainPanel mainPanel;
private String key;
/**
* Abstract Action used by JButtons
* #param mainPanel: the JPanel that uses the CardLayout
* #param name: The name displayed by the button
* #param key: The key used in the CardLayout#show(String key) mehtod
* #param mnemonic: the JButton's mnemonic char
*/
public ShowAction(MainPanel mainPanel, String name, String key, int mnemonic) {
super(name);
putValue(MNEMONIC_KEY, mnemonic);
this.mainPanel = mainPanel;
this.key = key;
}
#Override
public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e) {
// tell the mainPanel to show the card associated with the key
mainPanel.showCard(key);
}
}
// class of mine to allow disposing of a window
// It's a little complex to allow it to work with either a JButton
// or a JMenuItem
#SuppressWarnings("serial")
class ExitAction extends AbstractAction {
public ExitAction() {
super("Exit");
putValue(MNEMONIC_KEY, KeyEvent.VK_X);
}
#Override
public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e) {
// get the button that caused this action
Object source = e.getSource();
if (source instanceof AbstractButton) {
AbstractButton exitButton = (AbstractButton) source;
// get the parent top level window
Window topWindow = SwingUtilities.getWindowAncestor(exitButton);
if (topWindow == null) { // if null, then likely in a JMenuItem
// so we have to get its jpopupmenu parent
Container parent = exitButton.getParent();
if (parent instanceof JPopupMenu) {
JPopupMenu popupMenu = (JPopupMenu) parent;
// get the invoker for the pop up menu
Component invoker = popupMenu.getInvoker();
if (invoker != null) {
// and get *its* top level window
topWindow = SwingUtilities.getWindowAncestor(invoker);
}
}
}
if (topWindow != null) {
// dispose of the top-level window
topWindow.dispose();
}
}
}
}

If you just wont to send data to DefineEquation class, you should use your constructor with String argument in nextActionPerformed:
new DefineEquation((String)graphSelection.getSelectedItem()).setVisible(true);
instead of:
new DefineEquation().setVisible(true);
Also you need to chenge you constructor to:
public DefineEquation(String graphSelected) {
this.graphSelected = graphSelected;
initComponents();
}
Because right now without initComponents() it will display empty frame.
At last, you need to setText() to JTextField in DefineEquation class, for example by:
selectedGraph = new javax.swing.JTextField(graphSelected);
Do not use addItem()method, or rewrite it, becouse it creates new DefineEquation object which is unnecessary an even harmful. This way in new frame it display JTextField with chosen text. It worked for me, at least if I understood your problem correctly.
However, I would rather use enums instead of plain String, as they are more reliable. Your function set is constant, so you can create for example:
public enum Functions {NONE,LINEAR,BILINEAR,QUADRIATIC,CUBIC,EXPONENTIAL;}
This will required change of constructor, and JComboBox content, but you would be able to use it in whole application. Tou can call toString() or name() where you need String to display, but use enums in event handling, etc.
I think you should also reconsider your approach to multiple JFrames, as suggested in comments. I also would not recommend that, but it is up to you.
Good luck!
EDIT
If you dont't want to change initComponents() in DefineEquation, you can still modify addItem() like this:
public void addItem(){
selectedGraph.setText(graphSelected);
}
but then you call call addItem() in constructor, to fill your JTextField with chosen text.
Or you can pass graphSelected as argument of method, if so it don't have to be a class field.

So I was really dumb and had two instances created, one of which I was not viewing and the other of which I was but was not changing. Basically what I did was in graphSelectionActionPerformed I did:
this.graphSelectionGUI = (String)graphSelection.getSelectedItem();
Then in nextActionPerformed I did:
new DefineEquation_1(graphSelectionGUI).setVisible(true);
Following this, in the other class (DefineEquation), I took my constructor and did this:
public DefineEquation(String graphSelected) {
this.graphSelected = graphSelected;
initComponents();
selectedGraph.setText(graphSelected);
}
And lastly I cried with tears realising how much trouble I gave you guys and how dumb I was, praise the lord!
Sorry for troubling everyone, my bad.

How to add a JInternalFrame to JFrame?

I have my JFrame, and I want to attach to a button an ActionListener that triggers the JInternalFrame.
I do:
private void aboutMenuItemActionPerformed(java.awt.event.ActionEvent evt) {
AboutFrame about = new AboutFrame(); //jInternalFrame
this.add(about);
}
But it doesn't bring it to front. What did I miss?

You probable want to use a JDesktopPane, then set the content pane of your frame to the desktop pane
JDesktopPane desktop = new JDesktopPane(); //a specialized layered pane
createFrame(); //create first "window"
setContentPane(desktop);
Then you can do something like this
private void aboutMenuItemActionPerformed(java.awt.event.ActionEvent evt)
{
AboutFrame about = new AboutFrame(); <--- JInternalFrame
about.setVisible(true); //necessary as of 1.3 <--- set it visible
desktop.add(about); <--- add to desktop
try {
about.setSelected(true); <--- set it selected
} catch (java.beans.PropertyVetoException e) {}
}
See How to Us Internal Frames
UDATE
Run this example, I made on NetBeans GUI Builder also. It works fine, without the behavior yout're talking about.
public class NewJFrame extends javax.swing.JFrame {
public NewJFrame() {
initComponents();
}
#SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
// <editor-fold defaultstate="collapsed" desc="Generated Code">
private void initComponents() {
jDesktopPane1 = new javax.swing.JDesktopPane();
jMenuBar1 = new javax.swing.JMenuBar();
jMenu1 = new javax.swing.JMenu();
jMenu2 = new javax.swing.JMenu();
jMenuItem1 = new javax.swing.JMenuItem();
setDefaultCloseOperation(javax.swing.WindowConstants.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
javax.swing.GroupLayout jDesktopPane1Layout = new javax.swing.GroupLayout(jDesktopPane1);
jDesktopPane1.setLayout(jDesktopPane1Layout);
jDesktopPane1Layout.setHorizontalGroup(
jDesktopPane1Layout.createParallelGroup(javax.swing.GroupLayout.Alignment.LEADING)
.addGap(0, 376, Short.MAX_VALUE)
);
jDesktopPane1Layout.setVerticalGroup(
jDesktopPane1Layout.createParallelGroup(javax.swing.GroupLayout.Alignment.LEADING)
.addGap(0, 302, Short.MAX_VALUE)
);
jMenu1.setText("File");
jMenuBar1.add(jMenu1);
jMenu2.setText("About");
jMenuItem1.setText("About");
jMenuItem1.addActionListener(new java.awt.event.ActionListener() {
public void actionPerformed(java.awt.event.ActionEvent evt) {
jMenuItem1ActionPerformed(evt);
}
});
jMenu2.add(jMenuItem1);
jMenuBar1.add(jMenu2);
setJMenuBar(jMenuBar1);
javax.swing.GroupLayout layout = new javax.swing.GroupLayout(getContentPane());
getContentPane().setLayout(layout);
layout.setHorizontalGroup(
layout.createParallelGroup(javax.swing.GroupLayout.Alignment.LEADING)
.addGroup(javax.swing.GroupLayout.Alignment.TRAILING, layout.createSequentialGroup()
.addContainerGap()
.addComponent(jDesktopPane1)
.addContainerGap())
);
layout.setVerticalGroup(
layout.createParallelGroup(javax.swing.GroupLayout.Alignment.LEADING)
.addGroup(javax.swing.GroupLayout.Alignment.TRAILING, layout.createSequentialGroup()
.addContainerGap(javax.swing.GroupLayout.DEFAULT_SIZE, Short.MAX_VALUE)
.addComponent(jDesktopPane1, javax.swing.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE, javax.swing.GroupLayout.DEFAULT_SIZE, javax.swing.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE)
.addContainerGap())
);
pack();
}// </editor-fold>
private void jMenuItem1ActionPerformed(java.awt.event.ActionEvent evt) {
AboutFrame about = new AboutFrame();
about.setVisible(true);
jDesktopPane1.add(about);
try {
about.setSelected(true);
} catch (java.beans.PropertyVetoException e) {
}
}
public static void main(String args[]) {
try {
for (javax.swing.UIManager.LookAndFeelInfo info : javax.swing.UIManager.getInstalledLookAndFeels()) {
if ("Nimbus".equals(info.getName())) {
javax.swing.UIManager.setLookAndFeel(info.getClassName());
break;
}
}
} catch (ClassNotFoundException ex) {
java.util.logging.Logger.getLogger(NewJFrame.class.getName()).log(java.util.logging.Level.SEVERE, null, ex);
} catch (InstantiationException ex) {
java.util.logging.Logger.getLogger(NewJFrame.class.getName()).log(java.util.logging.Level.SEVERE, null, ex);
} catch (IllegalAccessException ex) {
java.util.logging.Logger.getLogger(NewJFrame.class.getName()).log(java.util.logging.Level.SEVERE, null, ex);
} catch (javax.swing.UnsupportedLookAndFeelException ex) {
java.util.logging.Logger.getLogger(NewJFrame.class.getName()).log(java.util.logging.Level.SEVERE, null, ex);
}
java.awt.EventQueue.invokeLater(new Runnable() {
public void run() {
new NewJFrame().setVisible(true);
}
});
}
// Variables declaration - do not modify
private javax.swing.JDesktopPane jDesktopPane1;
private javax.swing.JMenu jMenu1;
private javax.swing.JMenu jMenu2;
private javax.swing.JMenuBar jMenuBar1;
private javax.swing.JMenuItem jMenuItem1;
// End of variables declaration
}
AboutFrame.java
import java.awt.Dimension;
import java.awt.Graphics;
import javax.swing.JInternalFrame;
import javax.swing.JPanel;
public class AboutFrame extends JInternalFrame{
public AboutFrame() {
add(new Panel());
pack();
}
private class Panel extends JPanel {
protected void paintComponent(Graphics g) {
super.paintComponent(g);
g.drawString("About Screen", 100, 100);
}
public Dimension getPreferredSize(){
return new Dimension(300, 300);
}
}
}
Steps I took
Opened a new JFrame form
Dragged a JDesktopPane to the main frame and expanded it the size of the frame
Dragged a JMenuBar to the top of the frame
Dragged a JMenuItem to the JMenuBar
Added an event listener to the JMenuItem
Added the action code that i provided for you earlier. That's all I did, and it works fine.
EDIT
A different apprach would be instead of using an JInternalFrame for this. Use a modal JDialog. You can create it the same way you did the JInternalFrame , and show it the same way. This will guarantee you don't get this result. :)

Buttons and JLabels in Java

I am trying to write a Java program which, when you click a button, hides the button and displays an image. I have made it so that the button disappears but the label does not appear. Here is my code:
final JLabel label = new JLabel(image, JLabel.CENTER);
label.setAlignmentX(0);
label.setAlignmentY(0);
label.setVisible(false);
label.setIcon(image);
final JButton button = new JButton("CLICK");
button.addActionListener(new ActionListener(){
#Override
public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e) {
button.setVisible(false);
label.setVisible(true);
}
});

The solution is to place both the button and the label on the same panel. Initially hide the label. Then, when button is clicked, hide button and unhide the label.
Here is an example:
public class MagicButton {
public static void main(String[] args) {
// Components
final JFrame frame = new JFrame("Magic Button");
final JButton btn = new JButton("Now, you see me!");
final JLabel label = new JLabel("Now, you don't!");
// Arrangement
frame.setLayout(new FlowLayout(FlowLayout.CENTER, 10, 10));
frame.add(label);
frame.add(btn);
// Make Label invisible
label.setVisible(false);
// When button clicked: hide button, show label, repack frame
btn.addActionListener(new ActionListener() {
public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e) {
btn.setVisible(false);
label.setVisible(true);
frame.pack();
}
});
// pack and display
frame.pack();
frame.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
frame.setVisible(true);
}
}

Place all items on a JFrame and do a revalidate() on the JFrame to get the changes displayed.

Try this one...
public class NewJFrame extends javax.swing.JFrame {
/**
* Creates new form NewJFrame
*/
public NewJFrame() {
initComponents();
}
/**
* This method is called from within the constructor to initialize the form.
* WARNING: Do NOT modify this code. The content of this method is always
* regenerated by the Form Editor.
*/
#SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
// <editor-fold defaultstate="collapsed" desc="Generated Code">
private void initComponents() {
jButton1 = new javax.swing.JButton();
jLabel1 = new javax.swing.JLabel();
setDefaultCloseOperation(javax.swing.WindowConstants.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
jButton1.setText("jButton1");
jButton1.addMouseListener(new java.awt.event.MouseAdapter() {
public void mouseClicked(java.awt.event.MouseEvent evt) {
jButton1MouseClicked(evt);
}
});
jLabel1.setIcon(new javax.swing.ImageIcon(getClass().getResource("/images/1371634490.png"))); // NOI18N
jLabel1.setText("jLabel1");
jLabel1.setVisible(false);
javax.swing.GroupLayout layout = new javax.swing.GroupLayout(getContentPane());
getContentPane().setLayout(layout);
layout.setHorizontalGroup(
layout.createParallelGroup(javax.swing.GroupLayout.Alignment.LEADING)
.addGroup(javax.swing.GroupLayout.Alignment.TRAILING, layout.createSequentialGroup()
.addContainerGap(javax.swing.GroupLayout.DEFAULT_SIZE, Short.MAX_VALUE)
.addComponent(jButton1)
.addGap(159, 159, 159))
.addGroup(layout.createSequentialGroup()
.addGap(148, 148, 148)
.addComponent(jLabel1, javax.swing.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE, 132, javax.swing.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE)
.addContainerGap(120, Short.MAX_VALUE))
);
layout.setVerticalGroup(
layout.createParallelGroup(javax.swing.GroupLayout.Alignment.LEADING)
.addGroup(javax.swing.GroupLayout.Alignment.TRAILING, layout.createSequentialGroup()
.addGap(48, 48, 48)
.addComponent(jLabel1, javax.swing.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE, 104, javax.swing.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE)
.addPreferredGap(javax.swing.LayoutStyle.ComponentPlacement.RELATED, 34, Short.MAX_VALUE)
.addComponent(jButton1)
.addGap(91, 91, 91))
);
pack();
}// </editor-fold>
private void jButton1MouseClicked(java.awt.event.MouseEvent evt) {
// TODO add your handling code here:
jLabel1.setVisible(true);
jButton1.setVisible(false);
}
/**
* #param args the command line arguments
*/
public static void main(String args[]) {
/*
* Set the Nimbus look and feel
*/
//<editor-fold defaultstate="collapsed" desc=" Look and feel setting code (optional) ">
/*
* If Nimbus (introduced in Java SE 6) is not available, stay with the
* default look and feel. For details see
* http://download.oracle.com/javase/tutorial/uiswing/lookandfeel/plaf.html
*/
try {
for (javax.swing.UIManager.LookAndFeelInfo info : javax.swing.UIManager.getInstalledLookAndFeels()) {
if ("Nimbus".equals(info.getName())) {
javax.swing.UIManager.setLookAndFeel(info.getClassName());
break;
}
}
} catch (ClassNotFoundException ex) {
java.util.logging.Logger.getLogger(NewJFrame.class.getName()).log(java.util.logging.Level.SEVERE, null, ex);
} catch (InstantiationException ex) {
java.util.logging.Logger.getLogger(NewJFrame.class.getName()).log(java.util.logging.Level.SEVERE, null, ex);
} catch (IllegalAccessException ex) {
java.util.logging.Logger.getLogger(NewJFrame.class.getName()).log(java.util.logging.Level.SEVERE, null, ex);
} catch (javax.swing.UnsupportedLookAndFeelException ex) {
java.util.logging.Logger.getLogger(NewJFrame.class.getName()).log(java.util.logging.Level.SEVERE, null, ex);
}
//</editor-fold>
/*
* Create and display the form
*/
java.awt.EventQueue.invokeLater(new Runnable() {
public void run() {
new NewJFrame().setVisible(true);
}
});
}
// Variables declaration - do not modify
private javax.swing.JButton jButton1;
private javax.swing.JLabel jLabel1;
// End of variables declaration
}

JPanel dynamically generate outside from its original location

I'm dynamically generating some text boxes and labels inside a JPanel but when I place that panel inside a JTabbedPane it's not generate inside its original location. it always go to somewhere else.
Code inside JFrame class constructor:
panel = jPanel1;
panel.setLayout(new FlowLayout());
add(panel, BorderLayout.LINE_START);
setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
setVisible(true);
Code inside a JButton:
JLabel lbl = new JLabel();
lbl.setText("Label");
panel.add(lbl);
JTextField txt = new JTextField(12);
txt.setText("Text field");
panel.add(txt);
panel.revalidate();
validate();
The button is use to generate text boxes and labels dynamically. jPanel1 is a panel placed inside a frame. its works perfectly with directly placed inside a frame but after it is placed inside a tabbed pane it's messing around.
Is there a method to refresh panel and remove components inside it after generating components inside it?
here is the complete Jframe class:
import java.awt.BorderLayout;
import java.awt.FlowLayout;
import java.awt.GridLayout;
import java.awt.LayoutManager;
import javax.swing.JFrame;
import javax.swing.JLabel;
import javax.swing.JPanel;
import javax.swing.JTextField;
/*
* To change this template, choose Tools | Templates
* and open the template in the editor.
*/
/**
*
* #author sajithru
*/
public class DynamicTextboxes extends javax.swing.JFrame {
/**
* Creates new form DynamicTextboxes
*/
private JPanel panel;
public DynamicTextboxes() {
initComponents();
panel = jPanel1;
panel.setLayout(new FlowLayout());
add(panel, BorderLayout.LINE_START);
setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
setVisible(true);
}
/**
* This method is called from within the constructor to initialize the form.
* WARNING: Do NOT modify this code. The content of this method is always
* regenerated by the Form Editor.
*/
#SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
// <editor-fold defaultstate="collapsed" desc="Generated Code">
private void initComponents() {
jButton1 = new javax.swing.JButton();
jTabbedPane1 = new javax.swing.JTabbedPane();
jPanel1 = new javax.swing.JPanel();
setDefaultCloseOperation(javax.swing.WindowConstants.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
jButton1.setText("jButton1");
jButton1.addActionListener(new java.awt.event.ActionListener() {
public void actionPerformed(java.awt.event.ActionEvent evt) {
jButton1ActionPerformed(evt);
}
});
javax.swing.GroupLayout jPanel1Layout = new javax.swing.GroupLayout(jPanel1);
jPanel1.setLayout(jPanel1Layout);
jPanel1Layout.setHorizontalGroup(
jPanel1Layout.createParallelGroup(javax.swing.GroupLayout.Alignment.LEADING)
.addGap(0, 206, Short.MAX_VALUE)
);
jPanel1Layout.setVerticalGroup(
jPanel1Layout.createParallelGroup(javax.swing.GroupLayout.Alignment.LEADING)
.addGap(0, 258, Short.MAX_VALUE)
);
jTabbedPane1.addTab("tab1", jPanel1);
javax.swing.GroupLayout layout = new javax.swing.GroupLayout(getContentPane());
getContentPane().setLayout(layout);
layout.setHorizontalGroup(
layout.createParallelGroup(javax.swing.GroupLayout.Alignment.LEADING)
.addGroup(layout.createSequentialGroup()
.addGap(190, 190, 190)
.addComponent(jButton1)
.addContainerGap(216, Short.MAX_VALUE))
.addGroup(javax.swing.GroupLayout.Alignment.TRAILING, layout.createSequentialGroup()
.addContainerGap(javax.swing.GroupLayout.DEFAULT_SIZE, Short.MAX_VALUE)
.addComponent(jTabbedPane1, javax.swing.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE, 211, javax.swing.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE)
.addGap(18, 18, 18))
);
layout.setVerticalGroup(
layout.createParallelGroup(javax.swing.GroupLayout.Alignment.LEADING)
.addGroup(layout.createSequentialGroup()
.addGap(16, 16, 16)
.addComponent(jTabbedPane1, javax.swing.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE, 286, javax.swing.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE)
.addPreferredGap(javax.swing.LayoutStyle.ComponentPlacement.RELATED)
.addComponent(jButton1)
.addContainerGap(40, Short.MAX_VALUE))
);
pack();
}// </editor-fold>
private void jButton1ActionPerformed(java.awt.event.ActionEvent evt) {
// TODO add your handling code here:
JLabel lbl = new JLabel();
lbl.setText("Label");
panel.add(lbl);
JTextField txt = new JTextField(12);
txt.setText("Text field");
panel.add(txt);
panel.revalidate();
validate();
}
/**
* #param args the command line arguments
*/
public static void main(String args[]) {
/* Set the Nimbus look and feel */
//<editor-fold defaultstate="collapsed" desc=" Look and feel setting code (optional) ">
/* If Nimbus (introduced in Java SE 6) is not available, stay with the default look and feel.
* For details see http://download.oracle.com/javase/tutorial/uiswing/lookandfeel/plaf.html
*/
try {
for (javax.swing.UIManager.LookAndFeelInfo info : javax.swing.UIManager.getInstalledLookAndFeels()) {
if ("Nimbus".equals(info.getName())) {
javax.swing.UIManager.setLookAndFeel(info.getClassName());
break;
}
}
} catch (ClassNotFoundException ex) {
java.util.logging.Logger.getLogger(DynamicTextboxes.class.getName()).log(java.util.logging.Level.SEVERE, null, ex);
} catch (InstantiationException ex) {
java.util.logging.Logger.getLogger(DynamicTextboxes.class.getName()).log(java.util.logging.Level.SEVERE, null, ex);
} catch (IllegalAccessException ex) {
java.util.logging.Logger.getLogger(DynamicTextboxes.class.getName()).log(java.util.logging.Level.SEVERE, null, ex);
} catch (javax.swing.UnsupportedLookAndFeelException ex) {
java.util.logging.Logger.getLogger(DynamicTextboxes.class.getName()).log(java.util.logging.Level.SEVERE, null, ex);
}
//</editor-fold>
/* Create and display the form */
java.awt.EventQueue.invokeLater(new Runnable() {
public void run() {
new DynamicTextboxes().setVisible(true);
}
});
}
// Variables declaration - do not modify
private javax.swing.JButton jButton1;
private javax.swing.JPanel jPanel1;
private javax.swing.JTabbedPane jTabbedPane1;
// End of variables declaration
}

I suspect that you are using setBounds(), or something similar, to position components in a Container that has some (default) layout lying in wait for your call to revalidate(). Instead, invoke pack() on the enclosing Window before calling setVisible().
Addendum: I tried using pack() … but result is still the same.
Your layout is cutting off the new rows. The example below uses pack() to resize the enclosing Window. This related example illustrates revalidate() and repaint(). Also consider using a JScrollPane, seen here.
import java.awt.BorderLayout;
import java.awt.GridLayout;
import javax.swing.JFrame;
import javax.swing.JLabel;
import javax.swing.JPanel;
import javax.swing.JTextField;
/**
* #see https://stackoverflow.com/a/17165034/230513
*/
public class DynamicTextboxes extends javax.swing.JFrame {
/**
* Creates new form DynamicTextboxes
*/
public DynamicTextboxes() {
initComponents();
setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
setVisible(true);
}
private void initComponents() {
jButton1 = new javax.swing.JButton();
jTabbedPane1 = new javax.swing.JTabbedPane();
jPanel1 = new javax.swing.JPanel(new GridLayout(0, 1));
setDefaultCloseOperation(javax.swing.WindowConstants.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
jButton1.setText("jButton1");
jButton1.addActionListener(new java.awt.event.ActionListener() {
#Override
public void actionPerformed(java.awt.event.ActionEvent evt) {
jButton1ActionPerformed(evt);
}
});
jPanel1.add(createPanel());
jTabbedPane1.addTab("tab1", jPanel1);
add(jTabbedPane1);
JPanel p = new JPanel();
p.add(jButton1);
add(p, BorderLayout.SOUTH);
pack();
setLocationByPlatform(true);
}
private void jButton1ActionPerformed(java.awt.event.ActionEvent evt) {
jPanel1.add(createPanel());
pack();
}
private JPanel createPanel() {
JPanel p = new JPanel();
JLabel lbl = new JLabel();
lbl.setText("Label");
p.add(lbl);
JTextField txt = new JTextField(12);
txt.setText("Text field");
p.add(txt);
return p;
}
public static void main(String args[]) {
java.awt.EventQueue.invokeLater(new Runnable() {
#Override
public void run() {
new DynamicTextboxes().setVisible(true);
}
});
}
// Variables declaration - do not modify
private javax.swing.JButton jButton1;
private javax.swing.JPanel jPanel1;
private javax.swing.JTabbedPane jTabbedPane1;
// End of variables declaration
}

Make a textfield visible on itemStatechanged event of a checkbox

How to make a text field visible on itemStatechanged event of a check box in Swing?
I am trying to create a frame with a check box and a text field. I want the text field to be displayed only when the check box is selected. So when I initialize the components, I have set the textfield.setvisible to false and for the check box added a addItemListener and call the itemStateChanged event and there is the check box is selected, I set the setVisible method to true.
My SSCCE looks like:
package ui;
public class Evaluator extends javax.swing.JFrame {
public Evaluator() {
initComponents();
}
private void initComponents() {
jCheckBox1 = new javax.swing.JCheckBox();
jTextField1 = new javax.swing.JTextField();
jTextField1.setVisible(false);
setDefaultCloseOperation(javax.swing.WindowConstants.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
setPreferredSize(new java.awt.Dimension(800, 800));
jCheckBox1.setFont(new java.awt.Font("Tahoma", 0, 14));
jCheckBox1.setText("Properties");
jCheckBox1.addItemListener(new java.awt.event.ItemListener() {
public void itemStateChanged(java.awt.event.ItemEvent evt) {
jCheckBox1ItemStateChanged(evt);
}
});
jTextField1.setFont(new java.awt.Font("Tahoma", 0, 14));
javax.swing.GroupLayout layout = new javax.swing.GroupLayout(getContentPane());
getContentPane().setLayout(layout);
layout.setHorizontalGroup(
layout.createParallelGroup(javax.swing.GroupLayout.Alignment.LEADING)
.addGroup(layout.createSequentialGroup()
.addContainerGap()
.addComponent(jCheckBox1)
.addGap(41, 41, 41)
.addComponent(jTextField1, javax.swing.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE, 109, javax.swing.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE)
.addContainerGap(155, Short.MAX_VALUE))
);
layout.setVerticalGroup(
layout.createParallelGroup(javax.swing.GroupLayout.Alignment.LEADING)
.addGroup(javax.swing.GroupLayout.Alignment.TRAILING, layout.createSequentialGroup()
.addContainerGap(229, Short.MAX_VALUE)
.addGroup(layout.createParallelGroup(javax.swing.GroupLayout.Alignment.BASELINE)
.addComponent(jCheckBox1)
.addComponent(jTextField1, javax.swing.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE, 37, javax.swing.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE))
.addGap(34, 34, 34))
);
pack();
}
private void jCheckBox1ItemStateChanged(java.awt.event.ItemEvent evt) {
// TODO add your handling code here:
if(evt.getStateChange()== java.awt.event.ItemEvent.SELECTED){
jTextField1.setVisible(true);
}
}
public static void main(String args[]) {
try {
for (javax.swing.UIManager.LookAndFeelInfo info : javax.swing.UIManager.getInstalledLookAndFeels()) {
if ("Nimbus".equals(info.getName())) {
javax.swing.UIManager.setLookAndFeel(info.getClassName());
break;
}
}
} catch (ClassNotFoundException ex) {
java.util.logging.Logger.getLogger(Evaluator.class.getName()).log(java.util.logging.Level.SEVERE, null, ex);
} catch (InstantiationException ex) {
java.util.logging.Logger.getLogger(Evaluator.class.getName()).log(java.util.logging.Level.SEVERE, null, ex);
} catch (IllegalAccessException ex) {
java.util.logging.Logger.getLogger(Evaluator.class.getName()).log(java.util.logging.Level.SEVERE, null, ex);
} catch (javax.swing.UnsupportedLookAndFeelException ex) {
java.util.logging.Logger.getLogger(Evaluator.class.getName()).log(java.util.logging.Level.SEVERE, null, ex);
}
java.awt.EventQueue.invokeLater(new Runnable() {
public void run() {
new Evaluator().setVisible(true);
}
});
}
private javax.swing.JCheckBox jCheckBox1;
private javax.swing.JTextField jTextField1;
}

Basically, you need to invalidate the frame (or parent container) to force it be re-layout
private void jCheckBox2ItemStateChanged(java.awt.event.ItemEvent evt) {
jTextField1.setVisible(jCheckBox2.isSelected());
invalidate();
validate();
}
Updated
I'd also suggest that you avoid adding your entire UI onto a top level container, instead use a JPanel as you base component and build you UI's around them. When you're ready, simply add the base panel to what ever top level container you need.

For many components in one space, use a CardLayout as see in this short example.
Here is a more specific example:
import java.awt.*;
import java.awt.event.*;
import javax.swing.*;
class CardLayoutDemo {
public static void main(String[] args) {
Runnable r = new Runnable () {
public void run() {
final JCheckBox show = new JCheckBox("Have Text", false);
JPanel ui = new JPanel(new
FlowLayout(FlowLayout.CENTER, 5, 5));
ui.add( show );
final CardLayout cl = new CardLayout();
final JPanel cards = new JPanel(cl);
ui.add(cards);
cards.add(new JPanel(), "notext");
cards.add(new JTextField(8), "text");
ItemListener al = new ItemListener(){
public void itemStateChanged(ItemEvent ie) {
if (show.isSelected()) {
cl.show(cards, "text");
} else {
cl.show(cards, "notext");
}
}
};
show.addItemListener(al);
JOptionPane.showMessageDialog(null, ui);
}
};
SwingUtilities.invokeLater(r);
}
}

great lesson, how the LayoutManager works, only GridLayout can do that without any issue, but this is its property
last JComponent in the row or column (part of then is about) can't be invisible, then container is shrinked
easiest work_around is to display container, then to call setVisible(false) wrapped into invokeLater
... ....
import java.awt.event.ItemEvent;
import javax.swing.JCheckBox;
import javax.swing.JFrame;
import javax.swing.JPanel;
import javax.swing.JTextField;
public class Evaluator {
private JFrame frame = new JFrame();
private JPanel panel = new JPanel();
private JCheckBox checkBox = new JCheckBox();
private JTextField textField = new JTextField(10);
public Evaluator() {
checkBox.setText("Properties");
checkBox.addItemListener(new java.awt.event.ItemListener() {
#Override
public void itemStateChanged(java.awt.event.ItemEvent evt) {
if (evt.getStateChange() == ItemEvent.SELECTED) {
textField.setVisible(true);
} else {
textField.setVisible(false);
}
}
});
//panel.setLayout(new GridLayout());
//panel.setLayout(new SpringLayout());
//panel.setLayout(new BorderLayout());
//panel.setLayout(new GridBagLayout());
//panel.setLayout(new BoxLayout(panel, BoxLayout.LINE_AXIS));
panel.add(checkBox/*, BorderLayout.NORTH*/);
panel.add(textField/*, BorderLayout.SOUTH*/);
//panel.doLayout();
//textField.setVisible(false);
frame.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
frame.add(panel);
frame.pack();
frame.setVisible(true);
java.awt.EventQueue.invokeLater(new Runnable() {
#Override
public void run() {
textField.setVisible(false);
}
});
}
public static void main(String[] args) {
java.awt.EventQueue.invokeLater(new Runnable() {
#Override
public void run() {
Evaluator evaluator = new Evaluator();
}
});
}
}

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