Develop Reference

How to create multiple frames or windows in GUI?

I am new to creating GUI. I want to know how to create multiple windows. I want to show another frame if a button is to be clicked. I have searched how and i saw that some people are making another GUI form and just calling the other form i a button was clicked, but i dont understand how.

There are numerous ways to do this. One of the main ways is to create a new Java Class with its own properties. Here is a nexample:
JButton button = new JButton("Button_Leads_To_This_Window");
button.addActionListener( new ActionActionListener()
{
public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e)
{
NewFrame();
}
});
This will allow the button to call a new window, similar as the way you called the "My Empire" window. For example NewFrame() class will look like this:
public static void newFrame()
{
EventQueue.invokeLater(new Runnable()
{
#Override
public void run()
{
JFrame frame = new JFrame("Test");
frame.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.DISPOSE_ON_CLOSE);
try
{
UIManager.setLookAndFeel(UIManager.getSystemLookAndFeelClassName());
} catch (Exception e) {
e.printStackTrace();
}
JPanel panel = new JPanel();
panel.setLayout(new BoxLayout(panel, BoxLayout.Y_AXIS));
panel.setOpaque(true);
JTextArea textArea = new JTextArea(15, 50);
textArea.setWrapStyleWord(true);
textArea.setEditable(false);
textArea.setFont(Font.getFont(Font.SANS_SERIF));
JScrollPane scroller = new JScrollPane(textArea);
scroller.setVerticalScrollBarPolicy(ScrollPaneConstants.VERTICAL_SCROLLBAR_ALWAYS);
scroller.setHorizontalScrollBarPolicy(ScrollPaneConstants.HORIZONTAL_SCROLLBAR_NEVER);
JPanel inputpanel = new JPanel();
inputpanel.setLayout(new FlowLayout());
JTextField input = new JTextField(20);
JButton button = new JButton("Enter");
DefaultCaret caret = (DefaultCaret) textArea.getCaret();
caret.setUpdatePolicy(DefaultCaret.ALWAYS_UPDATE);
panel.add(scroller);
inputpanel.add(input);
inputpanel.add(button);
panel.add(inputpanel);
frame.getContentPane().add(BorderLayout.CENTER, panel);
frame.pack();
frame.setLocationByPlatform(true);
frame.setVisible(true);
frame.setResizable(false);
input.requestFocus();
}
});
}
Here is more information to the matter:
https://www.thoughtco.com/create-a-simple-window-using-jframe-2034069
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMz9LYY2g4A
Good luck.

How to retrieve a swing form values

I have two swing Frames. Frame one will contain a button.when we click the button we will get another frame which will have the five lables(which are the varibles of a class.) with the textfields beside, and a submit button. user will enter the values and clicks submit butoon.
My question is how can retrieve the values from that Frame two when user clicks submit button .i have the code like blelow.
public class Form extends JFrame implements ActionListener {
JPanel panel = new JPanel();
JFrame frame = new JFrame("New frame");
JPanel panel2 = new JPanel();
JButton button = new JButton("add");
JButton button2 = new JButton("Submit");
JLabel label;
JTextField textfield;
public Form() {
setLayout(new BorderLayout());
panel.setLayout(new BoxLayout(panel, BoxLayout.PAGE_AXIS));
panel.setPreferredSize(new Dimension(300, 200));
button.addActionListener(this);
add(panel, BorderLayout.CENTER);
add(button, BorderLayout.SOUTH);
}
public static void main(String[] a) {
Form s = new Form();
s.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.DISPOSE_ON_CLOSE);
s.pack();
s.setVisible(true);
}
#Override
public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent arg0) {
dispose();
panel2.setLayout(new FlowLayout());
panel2.setPreferredSize(new Dimension(1000, 1000));
final Field[] fields = Employee.class.getFields();
for (Field temp : fields) {
label = new JLabel(temp.getName());
label.setBounds(20, 50, 100, 20);
textfield = new JTextField(20);
textfield.setBounds(140, 50, 100, 20);
panel2.add(label);
panel2.add(textfield);
}
frame.add(panel2);
frame.setSize(290, 300);
frame.setVisible(true);
button2.setSize(20, 30);
frame.add(button2, BorderLayout.SOUTH);
repaint();
revalidate();
button2.addActionListener(new ActionListener() {
#Override
public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent arg0) {
}
});
}
}

Start by taking a look at The Use of Multiple JFrames, Good/Bad Practice?
Instead of using a second frame, you should use a modal dialog, which, when made visible, will halt your programs execution at that point until it's disposed, at which time it will return and you can extract the values you want from it.
See How to Make Dialogs for more details

BorderLayout not working JFrame

For some reason I can't get the BorderLayout to set the way it's supposed to. Just would like to know where I'm going wrong.
import java.awt.*;
import java.awt.event.*;
import javax.swing.*;
public class ColorFactory extends JFrame
{
final int width = 500;
final int height = 300;
private JPanel buttonPanel;
private JPanel radioButtonPanel;
private JLabel msgChangeColor;
public ColorFactory()
{
setTitle("Color Factory");
setSize(width, height);
setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
setLayout(new BorderLayout());
createTopPanel();
add(buttonPanel, BorderLayout.NORTH);
createBottomPanel();
add(radioButtonPanel, BorderLayout.SOUTH);
msgChangeColor = new JLabel("Top buttons change the panel color and bottom radio buttons change the text color.");
add(msgChangeColor, BorderLayout.CENTER);
pack();
}
private void createTopPanel()
{
buttonPanel = new JPanel();
setLayout(new FlowLayout());
JButton redButton = new JButton("Red");
redButton.setBackground(Color.RED);
redButton.addActionListener(new ButtonListener());
redButton.setActionCommand("R");
JButton orangeButton = new JButton("Orange");
orangeButton.setBackground(Color.ORANGE);
orangeButton.addActionListener(new ButtonListener());
orangeButton.setActionCommand("O");
JButton yellowButton = new JButton("Yellow");
yellowButton.setBackground(Color.YELLOW);
yellowButton.addActionListener(new ButtonListener());
yellowButton.setActionCommand("Y");
buttonPanel.add(redButton);
buttonPanel.add(orangeButton);
buttonPanel.add(yellowButton);
}
private void createBottomPanel()
{
radioButtonPanel = new JPanel();
setLayout(new FlowLayout());
JRadioButton greenRadioButton = new JRadioButton("Green");
greenRadioButton.setBackground(Color.GREEN);
greenRadioButton.addActionListener(new RadioButtonListener());
greenRadioButton.setActionCommand("G");
JButton blueRadioButton = new JButton("Blue");
blueRadioButton.setBackground(Color.BLUE);
blueRadioButton.addActionListener(new RadioButtonListener());
blueRadioButton.setActionCommand("B");
JButton cyanRadioButton = new JButton("Cyan");
cyanRadioButton.setBackground(Color.CYAN);
cyanRadioButton.addActionListener(new RadioButtonListener());
cyanRadioButton.setActionCommand("C");
radioButtonPanel.add(greenRadioButton);
radioButtonPanel.add(blueRadioButton);
radioButtonPanel.add(cyanRadioButton);
}
private class ButtonListener implements ActionListener
{
public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e)
{
String actionColor = e.getActionCommand();
if(actionColor.equals("R"))
{
buttonPanel.setBackground(Color.RED);
radioButtonPanel.setBackground(Color.RED);
}
if(actionColor.equals("O"))
{
buttonPanel.setBackground(Color.ORANGE);
radioButtonPanel.setBackground(Color.ORANGE);
}
if(actionColor.equals("Y"))
{
buttonPanel.setBackground(Color.YELLOW);
radioButtonPanel.setBackground(Color.YELLOW);
}
}
}
private class RadioButtonListener implements ActionListener
{
public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e)
{
String actionTextColor = e.getActionCommand();
if(actionTextColor.equals("G"))
{
msgChangeColor.setForeground(Color.GREEN);
}
if(actionTextColor.equals("B"))
{
msgChangeColor.setForeground(Color.BLUE);
}
if(actionTextColor.equals("C"))
{
msgChangeColor.setForeground(Color.CYAN);
}
}
}
public static void main(String[] args)
{
ColorFactory run = new ColorFactory();
run.setVisible(true);
}
}

The problem is you are changing the layout manager for the frame when you create your top and bottom panels...
private void createTopPanel() {
buttonPanel = new JPanel();
setLayout(new FlowLayout()); // <--- This is call setLayout on the frame
This is why it's dangerous to...
Extend from something like JFrame directly...
Dynamically build components
It's all to easy to lose context and start effecting components you didn't actually want to...

Another problem (besides the one posted by MadProgrammer) is that you add your components to the JFrame itself.
You should add content to the content pane of the frame which you can get by calling JFrame.getContentPane().
Example:
JFrame f = new JFrame("Test");
Container c = f.getContentPane();
c.add(new JButton("In Center"), BorderLayout.CENTER);
c.add(new JButton("At the Bottom"), BorderLayout.SOUTH);
c.add(new JButton("At the Top"), BorderLayout.NORTH);
c.add(new JButton("On the Left"), BorderLayout.WEST);
c.add(new JButton("On the Right"), BorderLayout.EAST);
You can set/change the content panel by calling JFrame.setContentPane(). The default content panel already has BorderLayout so you don't even need to change it nor to set a new panel.

How to open a new window by clicking a button

As a part of my program, I need to have a button that when the user click on it, it opens a new window.
Well I guess I should have a class that make the frame and call it by the button. but I don't have any idea to start. I just got my button in the program, but it does not work. So can some tell me how to do it? or code it.

Here is a simplified version of what you want to do:
JButton button = new JButton("New Frame");
button.addActionListener( new ActionActionListener()
{
public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e)
{
// Create a method named "createFrame()", and set up an new frame there
// Call createFrame()
}
});
You would probably want to call some method in the ActionListener rather than make the frame on actionPerformed. Maybe something like this:
public static void createFrame()
{
EventQueue.invokeLater(new Runnable()
{
#Override
public void run()
{
JFrame frame = new JFrame("Test");
frame.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.DISPOSE_ON_CLOSE);
try
{
UIManager.setLookAndFeel(UIManager.getSystemLookAndFeelClassName());
} catch (Exception e) {
e.printStackTrace();
}
JPanel panel = new JPanel();
panel.setLayout(new BoxLayout(panel, BoxLayout.Y_AXIS));
panel.setOpaque(true);
JTextArea textArea = new JTextArea(15, 50);
textArea.setWrapStyleWord(true);
textArea.setEditable(false);
textArea.setFont(Font.getFont(Font.SANS_SERIF));
JScrollPane scroller = new JScrollPane(textArea);
scroller.setVerticalScrollBarPolicy(ScrollPaneConstants.VERTICAL_SCROLLBAR_ALWAYS);
scroller.setHorizontalScrollBarPolicy(ScrollPaneConstants.HORIZONTAL_SCROLLBAR_NEVER);
JPanel inputpanel = new JPanel();
inputpanel.setLayout(new FlowLayout());
JTextField input = new JTextField(20);
JButton button = new JButton("Enter");
DefaultCaret caret = (DefaultCaret) textArea.getCaret();
caret.setUpdatePolicy(DefaultCaret.ALWAYS_UPDATE);
panel.add(scroller);
inputpanel.add(input);
inputpanel.add(button);
panel.add(inputpanel);
frame.getContentPane().add(BorderLayout.CENTER, panel);
frame.pack();
frame.setLocationByPlatform(true);
frame.setVisible(true);
frame.setResizable(false);
input.requestFocus();
}
});
}
What that frame should look like:

new CLASS_NAME().setVisible(true);
eg. new NewJFrame().setVisible(true);

JFileChooser inside JPanel; how to get users choice

The default JFileChooser works, but what I don't like is the fact that it pops up. I'd rather have one GUI in which all the action takes place.
Now, I did manage to do that. The code below places the FileChooser menu nicely inside the GUI, instead of popping up above it.
What I am having a hard time with is how to get my hands on the selected file. I do know the code that works when JFileChooser is not embedded in a Panel, but I cant get this to work.
Anybody??
ps. I did try and look it up, but though Oracle does mention the possibility to place it in a container, it doesnt supply an example. http://download.oracle.com/javase/tutorial/uiswing/components/filechooser.html
import java.awt.*;
import javax.swing.*;
class SplitPane extends JFrame {
/**
*
*/
private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
private JSplitPane splitPaneV;
private JSplitPane splitPaneH;
private JPanel panel1;
private JPanel panel2;
private JPanel panel3;
public SplitPane() {
setTitle("Split Pane Application");
setBackground(Color.gray);
JPanel topPanel = new JPanel();
topPanel.setLayout(new BorderLayout());
topPanel.setPreferredSize(new Dimension(700, 500));
getContentPane().add(topPanel);
// Create the panels
createPanel1();
createPanel2();
createPanel3();
// Create a splitter pane
splitPaneV = new JSplitPane(JSplitPane.VERTICAL_SPLIT);
topPanel.add(splitPaneV, BorderLayout.CENTER);
splitPaneH = new JSplitPane(JSplitPane.HORIZONTAL_SPLIT);
splitPaneH.setLeftComponent(panel1);
splitPaneH.setRightComponent(panel2);
splitPaneV.setLeftComponent(splitPaneH);
splitPaneV.setRightComponent(panel3);
}
public void createPanel1() {
panel1 = new JPanel();
panel1.setLayout(new BorderLayout());
// Add some buttons
panel1.add(new JButton("North"), BorderLayout.NORTH);
panel1.add(new JButton("South"), BorderLayout.SOUTH);
panel1.add(new JButton("East"), BorderLayout.EAST);
panel1.add(new JButton("West"), BorderLayout.WEST);
panel1.add(new JButton("Center"), BorderLayout.CENTER);
}
public void createPanel2() {
panel2 = new JPanel();
panel2.setLayout(new FlowLayout());
panel2.add(new JButton("Button 1"));
panel2.add(new JButton("Button 2"));
panel2.add(new JButton("Button 3"));
}
public void createPanel3() {
panel3 = new JPanel();
panel3.setLayout(new BorderLayout());
panel3.setPreferredSize(new Dimension(400, 100));
panel3.setMinimumSize(new Dimension(100, 50));
JFileChooser fileChooser = new JFileChooser();
fileChooser.setFileSelectionMode(JFileChooser.DIRECTORIES_ONLY);
fileChooser
.setDialogTitle("Browse naar de locatie waar je de gesorteerde bestanden wil zetten en klik op \"OPEN\"");
panel3.add(fileChooser, BorderLayout.NORTH);
}
// this is where my quest starts. Now, I would like to work with the file
// chosen...
// for my ordinary 'popup' fileChoosers the code below works, so I tried the
// code below
// int returnVal = fileChooser.showOpenDialog(panel3);
// if (returnVal == JFileChooser.APPROVE_OPTION)
// fileName = fileChooser.getSelectedFile().getPath();
// System.out.println(fileName);
// but in this case it messes everything up..., after uncommenting I lose
// the frames, and get a popup again...
// anybody a suggestion how to actually get the users chosen file?
public static void main(String args[]) {
// Create an instance of the test application
SplitPane mainFrame = new SplitPane();
mainFrame.pack();
mainFrame.setVisible(true);
}
}

Note that you can add an ActionListener to a JFileChooser that will respond to button press, and the ActionEvent's getActionCommand will tell you which button was pressed. E.G.,
public void createPanel3() {
panel3 = new JPanel();
panel3.setLayout(new BorderLayout());
panel3.setPreferredSize(new Dimension(400, 100));
panel3.setMinimumSize(new Dimension(100, 50));
final JFileChooser fileChooser = new JFileChooser();
fileChooser.setFileSelectionMode(JFileChooser.DIRECTORIES_ONLY);
fileChooser
.setDialogTitle("Browse naar de locatie waar je de gesorteerde bestanden wil zetten en klik op \"OPEN\"");
panel3.add(fileChooser, BorderLayout.NORTH);
fileChooser.addActionListener(new ActionListener() {
public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e) {
if (e.getActionCommand().equals(JFileChooser.APPROVE_SELECTION)) {
System.out.println("File selected: " + fileChooser.getSelectedFile());
}
}
});
}