JFC Swing Tutorial, The: A Guide to Constructing GUIs

http://java.sun.com/docs/books/tutorial/uiswing/components/index.html Each of the following sections describes how to use a particular Swing component. These sections are organized alphabetically for quick reference. For an easy-to-use visual...

This section covers JApplet,[1] a class that enables applets to use Swing components. JApplet is a subclass of java.applet.Applet, which is covered in the "Writing...

To create a button, you can instantiate one of the many classes that descend from the AbstractButton[6] class. Table 2 shows the Swing-defined AbstractButton subclasses...

The JCheckBox[11] class provides support for check box buttons. You can also put check boxes in menus using the JCheckBoxMenuItem[12] class. Because JCheckBox and JCheckBoxMenuItem...

Use the JColorChooser[16] class to provide users with a palette of colors to select from. A color chooser is a component that you can place...

A JComboBox,[20] which lets the user choose one of several choices, can have two very different forms. The default form is the uneditable combo box,...

Several classes support dialogs—windows that are more limited than frames. To create simple, standard dialogs, you use the JOptionPane class.[31] The ProgressMonitor class can put...

Two Swing classes support styled text: JEditorPane and its subclass JTextPane. JEditorPane is the foundation for Swing's styled text components and provides the mechanism through...

File choosers provide a GUI for navigating the file system and then either choosing a file or directory from a list or entering the name...

Release introduced a subclass of JTextField called JFormattedTextField.[55] Formatted text fields provide a way for developers to specify the legal set of characters that can...

A frame, implemented as an instance of the JFrame class,[62] is a window that typically has decorations such as a border, a title, and buttons...

With the JInternalFrame[73] class, you can display a JFrame-like window within another window. Usually, you add internal frames to a desktop pane, which in turn...

With the JLabel[77] class, you can display unselectable text and images. If you need to create a component that displays a string or an image...

A layered pane is a Swing container that provides a third dimension for positioning components: depth, also known as Z order. When adding a component...

A JList[82] presents the user with a group of items, displayed in one or more columns, to choose from. Lists can have many items, so...

A menu provides a space-saving way to let the user choose one of several options. Other components with which the user can make a one-of-many...

The JPanel[103] class provides general-purpose containers for lightweight components. By default, panels don't paint anything except their background; however, you can easily add borders to...

The JPasswordField[104] class, a subclass of JTextField, provides text fields specialized for password entry. (See Figure 40.) For security reasons, a password field doesn't show...

Sometimes a task running within a program might take a while to complete. A user-friendly program provides some indication to the user that the task...

Radio buttons are groups of buttons in which, by convention, only one button at a time can be selected. The Swing release supports radio buttons...

In general, you don't directly create a JRootPane[115] object. Instead, you get a JRootPane (whether you want it or not!) when you instantiate JInternalFrame[116] or...

A JScrollPane[121] provides a scrollable view of a component. When screen real estate is limited, use a scroll pane to display a component that is...

The JSeparator[128] class provides a horizontal or vertical dividing line or empty space. It's most commonly used in menus and tool bars. In fact, you...

Use a JSlider[133] to let the user easily enter a numeric value bounded by a minimum and maximum value. If the ability to specify precise...

Release introduced a new component called JSpinner.[137] Spinners are similar to combo boxes and lists in that they let the user choose from a range...

A JSplitPane[150] displays two components, either side by side or one on top of the other. (See Figure 65.) By dragging the divider that appears...

With the JTabbedPane[155] class, you can have several components (usually panels) share the same space. The user chooses which component to view by selecting the...

With the JTable[157] class you can display tables of data, optionally allowing the user to edit the data. JTable doesn't contain or cache data; it's...

The JTextArea[190] class provides a component that displays multiple lines of text, optionally allowing the user to edit the text. If you need to obtain...

A text field is a basic text control that lets the user enter a small amount of text. When the user indicates that text entry...

A JToolBar[195] is a container that groups several components—usually buttons with icons—into a row or column. Often, tool bars provide easy access to functionality that...

Creating a tool tip for any JComponent is easy. You just use the setToolTipText method to set up a tool tip for the component. For...

With the JTree[201] class, you can display hierarchical data. A JTree object doesn't actually contain your data; it simply provides a view of the data....