Toggling 'always on top' on a GUI - java

I was wonder how I would go about making a JMenuItem that would allow a user to toggle the 'always on top' feature of a GUI I'm working on. I know that I can just use setAlwaysOnTop(...) but I'd like to be able to change it mid-program.
I found something before but can't seem to locate it now, it used Ancestors or something like that, any ideas?

Add a JCheckBoxMenuItem titled something like Always On Top to a JMenu.
When it is activated, call window.setAlwaysOnTop(alwaysOnTopCheck.isSelected())

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Trouble with Java GUI

I am creating a GUI for my project. I am completely stuck at one point. I was able to create a GUI which will make some simple queries like the release number, command name, and few other boolean questions.
Now I want the user to press CONTINUE button to move to the next page of the GUI form. I have created the continue button, but now I need to register an event to it. This is where I am stuck. I have no idea what event can I register to it which will move the GUI to next page. (By moving to the next page I mean, the different GUI pages we see when we are installing a software for our computer.)
For instance, if I am installing iTunes, I'd first select the radio button for "I accept the terms and conditions" and then I'd press the CONTINUE or the NEXT button to move ahead. If I need to come back, I'd press the BACK button.
One logical answer would be to create another GUI form and then link it to the one I created first.
EDIT:: this is the first time I am working in Java, so I might have ignored some obvious facts.
Look into using a CardLayout, adding several JPanels to the CardLayout-using container, and then to swap to the next view (the next JPanel), call the layout's next(...) method in the JButton's ActionListener. You could also randomly access components held by the CardLayout using its show(...) method.
To learn more about this including sample code, please have a look at the CardLayout Tutorial, and the API.
Well, register an ActionListener or an Action with the button. To do that wizard style, have a look at the CardLayout layout manager to switch cards or use a tabbed pane, hide the tabs and switch them inside the action or action listener.
if i understood, i think you should use the CardLayout
If you are using Swing, you can using several instances of JPanel over a one instance of JFrame.
You can have something like that structure:
JFrame
+------JPanel:root
|
+---JPanel:current // This panel change by other instance
|
+---JPanel:controlPanel // This panel contains you button
In you button need add a ActionListener with the method addActionListener
The panel control may need changes your elements, may the text of button or remove the listener and change by other.
I hope that can help

Program with split screen, how can I change the content [Java]

I had just a few class of java on college, but I want to do a thing that I don't know how.
Is basically a window with a SplitPane, on Left side I have a menu made with toggle buttons, and on the Right side I need to change the content based on each button.
Theres any way to design the ViewA and ViewB on separated JFrame Form and load then inside my Right Side when I click on menu items?
Another idea is, put the ViewA and ViewB put a JTabbedPane on the Right Side, and hide the Tabs. So there's any way to hide the tabs?
I have none experience developing in java, any problem about this concept (difficult, loading time, memory, maintenance), If you guy know a better way to to this, I just don't want a lot of windows popping up.
A really simply way would be to simply have a set of jPanels in the right side, with only one ever set to Visible.
Basically, for each toggle on the left side, you will have an Event Listener that does this:
private void toggle1ActionPerformed(java.awt.event.ActionEvent evt) {
jPanel1.setVisible(false);
jPanel2.setVisible(false);
jPanel3.setVisible(true);
}
Simply changing the true value depending on the individual toggle.
In Netbeans, if using the GUI editor, you can simply double click the toggle button to generate the listener and appropriate method, then fill in the code for it.

JButton inside JMenuItem

I'm trying to build a particular JMenu.
I want a JMenuItem with JMenu functionality, I.E. when we click it the item should do something (like opening a dialog). But the JMenuItem should also contain a button (or other component) that when we click it, should open a popup with a couple of options.
So, till now I have something like this:
That is what I have before click the arrow.
My problem is that, when I press the button (arrow), the sub-menu is actually opened, but the menu item that contains that button closes because loses focus.
That is the result after clicking in the arrow button.
Is there any way to manage this? Or a better way to have this behavior?
We can guide you if we know exactly what you are trying to implement. If you just want to select an option, you can implement that in better way with the JRadioButtonMenuItem,so you dont really need to implement a button and then select an option.But it depends on what you really want.
That's not what a menu is intended for. Use a ribbon instead, and these things will be easy and natural.
Why not just use simple nested JMenuItem instead?
Something like this (First screen from the top).
On the other hand you can benefit from a similar solution described here.
Couldn't actually find a solution for this particular problem.
As a workaround, I used just a simple button that toggle between the option 1 and option 2, instead of having the button (arrow) that open a new popup.
Thanks a lot for your help.

Rectangular Java Swing Radio buttons?

I'd like to create a set of buttons in a Java Swing application like you get in a typical tool palette in a paint program. That is, a set of small square buttons, each containing an icon, only one of which is pressed down, and when you press another button, the first is deselected. I've thought of a number of solutions and none of them seem very easy/elegant.
This sounds like a job for JRadioButton, but if you add an Icon to that, you still get the small circle, which is fairly space inefficient. I guess an option would be finding an alternative Look and Feel or painting code for JRadioButton.
Another alternative might be to add JButton to a ButtonGroup, maybe setting a JToggleButton.ToggleButtonModel as the model, but that doesn't have the desired effect, as the painting code for a standard JButton does not keep it depressed when selected. Possibly the JButton code could be modified to do this. Like making it painting "selected" the same way as "pressed".
A third alternative would be to use normal JButton's, and add a common mouse listener that keeps them pressed or not, and communicates the changes between the buttons.
Can anyone advise on the best way to achieve the aim please? A simple method I've missed would be best, but advice on which of these three alternatives would be best and pointers on how to get started would be useful too.
What about a plain JToggleButton in a ButtonGroup? It is not abstract, you can instantiate one with an Icon, and it stays depressed while selected.
See the SwingSet2 demo:
http://java.sun.com/products/plugin/1.4/demos/jfc/SwingSet2/SwingSet2.html
Click the second icon on the toolbar (the one twith the check box and radio button) then tab "Radio buttons". Then click on "Paint Border" on the right panel, under "Display Options".
Source code of the demo is under your JDK install dir, so for example on my PC it's under \jdk1.6.0_01\demo\jfc\SwingSet2\src

Java Menu issue

I have a menu with a few JCheckBoxMnuItems. How do I ensure that the Menu stays open until I have done all my selections (i.e. checked the menuitems) and does not close on just clicking one of them?
I'd rather not try to change the normal menu behavior for an application or for a part of the menu tree. A User expects that the menu closes automatically after a menu item is clicked. And, if you kept the menu expanded, what kind of action would you invent to close it manually after you've done your last selection?
If there's a requirement to change more then one setting within one use case, then you should consider to provide a small dialog where the use can apply the changes and confirm them at once. I believe, that's more consistent with typical behaviors of UIs.
And it declutters the menu bar, you'll have just one 'setup' menu item instead of a dozen (?) check box actions :)
I guess menu's aren't supposed to allow multi-selection.
But you may offer keyboard shortcuts to set the menuitems without using the menu at all.
If the set-operation of your flags is a central aspect in your application, I would tend to use a dialog here. These are all suggestions which do not require to change the internal implementation of the existing controls, even though I know, that it would be possible in swing.
I agree that it is better to do this with standard UI. However, if do you want to add checkboxes that do not close the menu it is surprisingly easy:
JCheckBox checkBox = new JCheckBox("Text");
checkBox.setOpaque(false);
checkBox.setRequestFocusEnabled(false);
menu.add(checkBox);
This may not work on every look and feel and the check boxes will not line up with menu items in the same manner as JMenuItems but it seems to be a reasonable place to start.

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