2013 Marty Hall

Basic Swing
Better GUI Controls
Originals of Slides and Source Code for Examples: http://courses.coreservlets.com/Course-Materials/java.html
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2013 Marty Hall

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Taught by the author of Core Servlets and JSP, More Servlets and JSP, and this tutorial. Available at public venues, or customized versions can be held on-site at your organization.
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Developed and taught by well-known author and developer. At public venues or onsite at your location. Contact hall@coreservlets.com for details

Topics in This Section

New features
Vs. AWT

Basic approach Summary of Swing components

Starting points
JApplet, JFrame

Swing equivalent of AWT components

JLabel, JButton, JPanel, JSlider

Swing components that have no AWT equivalent

JColorChooser, JInternalFrame, JOptionPane, JToolBar, JEditorPane

Other simple components

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JCheckBox, JRadioButton, JTextField, JTextArea, JFileChooser

2013 Marty Hall

Overview
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New Features vs AWT

Many more built-in controls
Image buttons, tabbed panes, sliders, toolbars, color choosers, HTML text areas, lists, trees, and tables.

Increased customization of components

Border styles, text alignments, and basic drawing features. Images can be added to almost any control.

A pluggable look and feel

Not limited to native look.

Many miscellaneous small features

Built-in double buffering, tool-tips, dockable toolbars, keyboard accelerators, custom cursors, etc.

Model-view-controller architecture
Can change internal representation of trees, lists, tables.
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Swing vs. AWT Programming

Naming convention
All Swing component names begin with a capital J and follow the format JXxx. E.g., JFrame, JPanel, JApplet, JDialog, JButton. Many are just AWT names with a J.

Lightweight components
Most Swing components are lightweight: formed by drawing in the underlying window.

Use of paintComponent for drawing

Custom drawing code is in paintComponent, not paint. Double buffering turned on by default.

New Look and Feel as default

With Swing, you have to explicitly set the native look.
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Don't mix Swing and AWT in same window

Classic Java Look and Feel (Metal)

http://download.java.net/javadesktop/swingset3/SwingSet3.jnlp

New Java Look and Feel (Nimbus JDK 1.6.0_10)

Windows Look and Feel

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CDE/Motif Look and Feel

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Setting Native Look and Feel

Idea
Many apps use native look, not default Java look Changing is tedious, so use static method
public class WindowUtilities { public static void setNativeLookAndFeel() { try { UIManager.setLookAndFeel( UIManager.getSystemLookAndFeelClassName()); } catch(Exception e) { System.out.println("Error setting native LAF: " + e); } } ...
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Nimbus Look and Feel

New
Introduced in JDK 1.6.0_10

Motivations
Original Java LAF a bit dull compared to modern interfaces Windows LAF not updated to be consistent with Vista and Aero Other LAFs did not scale well
Nimbus based on vector graphics

Be portable
Stick with original Java LAF if Nimbus is unavailable

More info
http://developers.sun.com/learning/javaoneonline/ 2008/pdf/TS-6096.pdf
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Setting Nimbus Look and Feel

public static void setNimbusLookAndFeel() { try { LookAndFeelInfo[] lafs = UIManager.getInstalledLookAndFeels(); for (LookAndFeelInfo laf: lafs) { if ("Nimbus".equals(laf.getName())) { UIManager.setLookAndFeel(laf.getClassName()); } } } catch(Exception e) { System.out.println("Error setting Nimbus LAF: " + e); } }

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Whirlwind Tour of Basic Components

Starting points
JApplet, JFrame

Swing equivalent of AWT components

JLabel, JButton, JPanel, JSlider

New Swing components

JColorChooser, JInternalFrame, JOptionPane, JToolBar, JEditorPane

Other simple components

JCheckBox, JRadioButton, JTextField, JTextArea, JFileChooser

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 2013 Marty Hall

Starting Windows: JApplet and JFrame

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Starting Point 1: JApplet

Content pane
A JApplet contains a content pane in which to add components. Changing other properties like the layout manager, background color, etc., also applies to the content pane. Access the content pane through getContentPane.

Layout manager
The default layout manager is BorderLayout (as with Frame and JFrame), not FlowLayout (as with Applet). BorderLayout is really layout manager of content pane.

Look and feel

The default look and feel is Java, so you have to explicitly switch if you want the native look and feel.
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JApplet: Example Code

import java.awt.*; import javax.swing.*; public class JAppletExample extends JApplet { public void init() { WindowUtilities.setNativeLookAndFeel(); Container content = getContentPane(); content.setBackground(Color.WHITE); content.setLayout(new FlowLayout()); content.add(new JButton("Button 1")); content.add(new JButton("Button 2")); content.add(new JButton("Button 3")); } }

WindowUtilities is a class I wrote: download it from the Web site. The code for setNativeLookAndFeel was shown on an earlier slide. 18

Starting Point 2: JFrame

Content pane
JFrame uses content pane in same way as does JApplet.

Auto-close behavior
JFrames close automatically when you click on the Close button (unlike AWT Frames).
However, closing the last JFrame does not result in your program exiting the Java application. To get this behavior, call setDefaultCloseOperation(EXIT_ON_CLOSE).
This permits the JFrame to close; however, you wont be able to complete any house cleaning as you might in the WindowListener. So, you can still use an explicit exit listener as we did with Frame.

Look and feel

The default look and feel is Java (Metal)
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JFrame: Example Code

public class JFrameExample extends JFrame { public static void main(String[] args) { JFrame frame = new JFrameExample("This is a test"); frame.setVisible(true); } public JFrameExample(String title) { super(title); WindowUtilities.setNativeLookAndFeel(); setSize(300, 100); Container content = getContentPane(); content.setBackground(Color.WHITE); content.setLayout(new FlowLayout()); content.add(new JButton("Button 1")); content.add(new JButton("Button 2")); content.add(new JButton("Button 3")); setDefaultCloseOperation(EXIT_ON_CLOSE); }
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2013 Marty Hall

New Features of Swing Components (vs. AWT)

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Swing Equivalents of AWT Components

JLabel
New features: HTML content images, borders

JButton
New features: icons, alignment, mnemonics

JPanel
New feature: borders

JSlider
New features: tick marks and labels

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JLabel
Main new feature: HTML content
If text is "<html>...</html>", it gets rendered as HTML HTML labels only work in JDK 1.2.2 or later, or in Swing 1.1.1 or later. In JDK 1.2 the label string must begin with <html>, not <HTML>. It is case-insensitive in JDK 1.3 and 1.4. JLabel fonts are ignored if HTML is used. If you use HTML, all font control must be performed by HTML. You must use <P>, not <BR>, to force a line break. Other HTML support is spotty.
Be sure to test each HTML construct you use. Permitting the user to enter HTML text at runtime is asking for trouble.
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Other new features: images, borders

JLabel: Example Code

String labelText = "<html><FONT COLOR=WHITE>WHITE</FONT> and " + "<FONT COLOR=GRAY>GRAY</FONT> Text</html>"; JLabel coloredLabel = new JLabel(labelText, JLabel.CENTER); ... labelText = "<html><B>Bold</B> and <I>Italic</I> Text</html>"; JLabel boldLabel = new JLabel(labelText, JLabel.CENTER); labelText = "<html>The Applied Physics Laboratory is..." + "of the Johns Hopkins University." + "<P>" + ... "...</html>";
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JLabel: Example Output

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JButton
Main new feature: icons
1. Create an ImageIcon by passing the ImageIcon constructor a String representing a GIF or JPG file (animated GIFs are supported!).
From an applet, call getImage(getCodeBase()) normally, then pass resultant Image to ImageIcon. Alternatively, call setIcon. In fact, there are 7 possible images (rollover images, images for when button is depressed, etc.)

2. Pass the ImageIcon to the JButton constructor.

Other features
HTML content as with JLabel Alignment: location of image with respect to text Mnemonics: keyboard accelerators that let you use AltsomeChar to trigger the button.

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JButton: Example Code

import java.awt.*; import javax.swing.*; public class JButtons extends JFrame { public static void main(String[] args) { JFrame frame = new JButtons(); frame.setVisible(true); } public JButtons() { super("Using JButton"); WindowUtilities.setNativeLookAndFeel(); setDefaultCloseOperation(EXIT_ON_CLOSE); Container content = getContentPane(); content.setBackground(Color.WHITE); content.setLayout(new FlowLayout());
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JButton: Example Code (Continued)

JButton button1 = new JButton("Java"); content.add(button1); ImageIcon cup = new ImageIcon("images/cup.gif"); JButton button2 = new JButton(cup); content.add(button2); JButton button3 = new JButton("Java", cup); content.add(button3); JButton button4 = new JButton("Java", cup); button4.setHorizontalTextPosition (SwingConstants.LEFT); content.add(button4); pack(); } }

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JPanel
Main new feature: borders
Create a Border object by calling BorderFactory.createXxxBorder. Supply the Border object to the JPanel by means of setBorder.
JPanel p = new JPanel(); p.setBorder(BorderFactory.createTitledBorder("Java"));

Other features:
Layout manager settings
Can pass the layout manager to the JPanel constructor

Setting preferred size

There is no JCanvas. If you want JPanel to act like Canvas, call setPreferredSize.
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Standard Borders
Static methods in BorderFactory
createEmptyBorder(int top, int left, int bottom, int right)
Creates an EmptyBorder object that simply adds space (margins) around the component.

createLineBorder(Color color) createLineBorder(Color color, int thickness)

Creates a solid-color border

createTitledBorder(String title) createTitledBorder(Border border, String title)

The border is an etched line unless you explicitly provide a border style in second constructor.

createEtchedBorder() createEtchedBorder(Color highlight, Color shadow)

Creates a etched line without the label
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JPanel: Example Code

public class SixChoicePanel extends JPanel { public SixChoicePanel(String title, String[] buttonLabels) { super(new GridLayout(3, 2)); setBackground(Color.LIGHT_GRAY); setBorder(BorderFactory.createTitledBorder(title)); ButtonGroup group = new ButtonGroup(); JRadioButton option; int halfLength = buttonLabels.length/2; for(int i=0; i<halfLength; i++) { option = new JRadioButton(buttonLabels[i]); group.add(option); add(option); option = new JRadioButton(buttonLabels[i+halfLength]); group.add(option); add(option); } } }

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JPanel: Example Output

Left window uses createLineBorder Right window has three SixChoicePanels

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JSlider
Basic use
public JSlider() public JSlider(int orientation) public JSlider(int min, int max) public JSlider(int min, int max, int initialValue) public JSlider(int orientation, int min, int max, int initialValue) setMajorTickSpacing setMinorTickSpacing setPaintTicks setPaintLabels (icons allowed as labels)

New features: tick marks and labels

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JSlider: Example Code

JSlider slider1 = new JSlider(); slider1.setBorder(...); content.add(slider1, BorderLayout.NORTH); JSlider slider2 = new JSlider(); slider2.setBorder(...); slider2.setMajorTickSpacing(20); slider2.setMinorTickSpacing(5); slider2.setPaintTicks(true); content.add(slider2, BorderLayout.CENTER); JSlider slider3 = new JSlider(); slider3.setBorder(...); slider3.setMajorTickSpacing(20); slider3.setMinorTickSpacing(5); slider3.setPaintTicks(true); slider3.setPaintLabels(true); content.add(slider3, BorderLayout.SOUTH);
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2013 Marty Hall

Swing Components that Were Not in AWT

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JColorChooser
Open
Call JColorChooser.showDialog
First argument: parent component Second argument: title string Third argument: initially-selected Color

Return value
Selected Color if OK chosen null if Cancel chosen

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JColorChooser: Example Code

Button that lets you change color of window
public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e) { Color bgColor = JColorChooser.showDialog (this, "Choose Background Color", getContentPane().getBackground()); if (bgColor != null) getContentPane().setBackground(bgColor); }

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JColorChooser: Example Output

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Internal Frames
MDI: Multiple Document Interface
Program has one large desktop pane that holds all other windows. The other windows can be iconified (minimized) and moved around within this desktop pane, but not moved outside the pane. Furthermore, minimizing the desktop pane hides all the contained windows as well. Examples: Microsoft PowerPoint, Corel Draw, Borland JBuilder, and Allaire HomeSite

Swing Support for MDI

JDesktopPane
Serves as a holder for the other windows.

JInternalFrame
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Acts mostly like a JFrame, except that it is constrained to stay inside the JDesktopPane.

Using JInternalFrame
Main constructor
public JInternalFrame(String title, boolean resizable, boolean closeable, boolean maximizable, boolean iconifiable)

Other useful methods

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moveToFront moveToBack setSize (required!) setLocation (required!)

Internal Frames: Example Code

import java.awt.*; import javax.swing.*; public class JInternalFrames extends JFrame { public static void main(String[] args) { JFrame frame = new JInternalFrames(); frame.setVisible(true); } public JInternalFrames() { super("Multiple Document Interface"); WindowUtilities.setNativeLookAndFeel(); setDefaultCloseOperation(EXIT_ON_CLOSE); Container content = getContentPane();

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Internal Frames: Example Code (Continued)

JDesktopPane desktop = new JDesktopPane(); desktop.setBackground(Color.LIGHT_GRAY); content.add(desktop, BorderLayout.CENTER); setSize(450, 400); for(int i=0; i<5; i++) { JInternalFrame frame = new JInternalFrame(("Internal Frame " + i), true, true, true, true); frame.setLocation(i*50+10, i*50+10); frame.setSize(200, 150); frame.setBackground(Color.WHITE); desktop.add(frame); frame.moveToFront(); frame.setVisible(true); } }
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Internal Frames: Example Output

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JOptionPane
Very rich class with many options for different types of dialog boxes. Five main static methods
JOptionPane.showMessageDialog
Icon, message, OK button

JOptionPane.showConfirmDialog
Icon, message, and buttons: OK, OK/Cancel, Yes/No, or Yes/No/Cancel

JOptionPane.showInputDialog (2 versions)
Icon, message, textfield or combo box, buttons

JOptionPane.showOptionDialog
Icon, message, array of buttons or other components
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JOptionPane Message Dialogs (Windows LAF)

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JOptionPane Confirmation Dialogs (Java LAF)

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JToolBar
Acts mostly like a JPanel for buttons Dockable: can be dragged and dropped

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JEditorPane
Acts somewhat like a text area Can display HTML and, if HyperLinkListener attached, can follow links

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Other Simple Swing Components

JCheckBox
Note uppercase B (vs. Checkbox in AWT)

JRadioButton
Use a ButtonGroup to link radio buttons

JTextField
Just like AWT TextField except that it does not act as a password field (use JPasswordField for that)

JTextArea
Place in JScrollPane if you want scrolling
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JFileChooser

 2013 Marty Hall

Wrap-Up
Customized Java EE Training: http://courses.coreservlets.com/
Java, JSF 2, PrimeFaces, HTML5, JSP, Ajax, jQuery, Spring, Hibernate, RESTful Web Services, Hadoop, Android.
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Developed and taught by well-known author and developer. At public venues or onsite at your location.

More Info
Oracle Java Tutorial: Swing Summary
http://docs.oracle.com/javase/tutorial/ui/features/components.html
Very useful summary of most Swing components Gives code examples Includes graphical table showing each

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Summary
Port simple AWT components to Swing by adding J to front of class name Put custom drawing in paintComponent
Call super.paintComponent at beginning unless you turn off double buffering

Java look and feel is default

But you usually want either new (Nimbus) LAF or native LAF

Frames and applets use content pane

Dont put anything directly in window

Most components support borders & icons Many new components

52

2013 Marty Hall

Questions?
JSF 2, PrimeFaces, Java 7 or 8, HTML5, Ajax, jQuery, Hadoop, RESTful Web Services, Android, Spring, Hibernate, Servlets, JSP, GWT, and other Java EE training.

Customized Java EE Training: http://courses.coreservlets.com/

Java, JSF 2, PrimeFaces, HTML5, JSP, Ajax, jQuery, Spring, Hibernate, RESTful Web Services, Hadoop, Android.
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Developed and taught by well-known author and developer. At public venues or onsite at your location.