Can't get Java Layouts to look properly [closed] - layout-manager

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I am trying to make a GUI but I can't get the layout setup properly

Answer 1

This can be done using a compound or nested layout consisting of a BorderLayout, with a FlowLayout in the PAGE_START constraint, and a GridLayoutfor the two text areas in the CENTER constraint.
Something like this:
OTOH, you might swap out the FlowLayout for a JToolBar (looks nicer), and the GridLayout for a JSplitPane (more usable, since the panes can be set to whatever size the user needs at that moment).
Given the example picture (..paints a thousand words) now in the question, it seems clear the top area consisting of 4 rows of label, text field, button, button would be best done in a GroupLayout. Either that or 3 GridLayout instances (one each for the labels, fields & buttons), in the LINE_START, CENTER and LINE_END of another BorderLayout.
Here is an example of the latter:
import java.awt.*;
import javax.swing.*;
import javax.swing.border.TitledBorder;
public class ToolBarAnd2AreasLayout {
public static void main(String[] args) {
Runnable r = new Runnable() {
#Override
public void run() {
// the GUI as seen by the user (without frame)
JPanel gui = new JPanel(new BorderLayout());
gui.setBorder(new TitledBorder("BorderLayout()"));
JPanel controls = new JPanel(new BorderLayout(4,4));
controls.setBorder(new TitledBorder("BorderLayout(4,4)"));
JPanel labels = new JPanel(new GridLayout(0,1));
labels.setBorder(new TitledBorder("GridLayout(0,1)"));
controls.add(labels, BorderLayout.LINE_START);
JPanel fields = new JPanel(new GridLayout(0,1));
fields.setBorder(new TitledBorder("GridLayout(0,1)"));
controls.add(fields, BorderLayout.CENTER);
JPanel buttons = new JPanel(new GridLayout(0,2,2,2));
buttons.setBorder(new TitledBorder("GridLayout(0,2,2,2)"));
controls.add(buttons, BorderLayout.LINE_END);
for (int ii=0; ii<4; ii++) {
labels.add(new JLabel("Label " + (ii+1)));
fields.add(new JTextField(5));
buttons.add(new JButton("Button " + ((ii*2) + 1)));
buttons.add(new JButton("Button " + ((ii*2) + 2)));
}
gui.add(controls, BorderLayout.PAGE_START);
JPanel input = new JPanel(new GridLayout(0,1,2,2));
input.setBorder(new TitledBorder(
"GridLayout(0,1,2,2)"));
for (int ii=0; ii<2; ii++) {
input.add(new JScrollPane(new JTextArea(5,35)));
}
gui.add(input, BorderLayout.CENTER);
JFrame f = new JFrame("Demo");
f.add(gui);
// Ensures JVM closes after frame(s) closed and
// all non-daemon threads are finished
f.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.DISPOSE_ON_CLOSE);
// See http://stackoverflow.com/a/7143398/418556 for demo.
f.setLocationByPlatform(true);
// ensures the frame is the minimum size it needs to be
// in order display the components within it
f.pack();
// should be done last, to avoid flickering, moving,
// resizing artifacts.
f.setVisible(true);
}
};
// Swing GUIs should be created and updated on the EDT
// http://docs.oracle.com/javase/tutorial/uiswing/concurrency
SwingUtilities.invokeLater(r);
}
}

Answer 2

first of all you need to define the layout for the main frame.
try adding this line at the top of your Vigenere constructor
public Vigenere() {
setLayout(new GridLayout(2, 1));
JPanel topPanel = new JPanel(new GridLayout(1, 2));
JPanel p1 = new JPanel(new GridLayout(5, 9));
p1.add(new JLabel("Source File"));
p1.add(jtfSourceFile);
p1.add(new JLabel("Results File"));
p1.add(jtfResultsFile);
p1.add(new JLabel("Key Code"));
p1.add(jtfKeyCode);
p1.add(new JLabel("Compare"));
p1.add(jtfCompare);
JPanel p2 = new JPanel(new FlowLayout(FlowLayout.RIGHT));
p2.add(jbtOpen);
p2.add(jbtSave);
p2.add(jbtKey);
p2.add(jbtCompare);
p2.add(jbtEncrypt);
p2.add(jbtDecrypt);
p2.add(jbtClear);
p2.add(jbtQuit);
topPanel.add(p1);
topPanel.add(p2);
JPanel p3 = new JPanel(new GridLayout(2, 1));
jtfSource.setBorder(BorderFactory.createLineBorder(Color.black));
jtfResults.setBorder(BorderFactory.createLineBorder(Color.black));
p3.add(jtfSource);
p3.add(jtfResults);
add(topPanel);
//add(p2);
add(p3);
pack();
}
and continue from there ;)

Answer 3

Try using GridBagLayout with GridBagConstraints. When you know to use it, is the only you need:
http://www-mips.unice.fr/Doc/Java/Tutorial/uiswing/layout/gridbagExample.html