• Post Reply Bookmark Topic Watch Topic
  • New Topic
programming forums Java Mobile Certification Databases Caching Books Engineering Micro Controllers OS Languages Paradigms IDEs Build Tools Frameworks Application Servers Open Source This Site Careers Other Pie Elite all forums
this forum made possible by our volunteer staff, including ...
Marshals:
  • Campbell Ritchie
  • Jeanne Boyarsky
  • Ron McLeod
  • Paul Clapham
  • Liutauras Vilda
Sheriffs:
  • paul wheaton
  • Rob Spoor
  • Devaka Cooray
Saloon Keepers:
  • Stephan van Hulst
  • Tim Holloway
  • Carey Brown
  • Frits Walraven
  • Tim Moores
Bartenders:
  • Mikalai Zaikin

GUI Designer/Builder

 
Greenhorn
Posts: 12
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
Hello,
I'm trying to implement a Swing GUI designer, been checking the NetBeans source for ideas, but i really got lost in the source without reaching the basic concept.
I have a few basic questions about the principles behind such a program, i would apprecite if someone could provide some insight on this.
The designer initial JFrame, that shows on the screen when starting development.. how would i go about implementing that? Should i use a an actual JFrame? should i extend JFrame? should i extend JLabel an override painting code, to draw a custom control that looks like a JFrame? is there another solution? what about the other controls that should be added to the Frame?
I guess i'm trying to ask, is that initial JFrame and other controls that shows in the designer of NetBeans, JBuilder or any other GUI designer, the VB designer for example, How did they implement that functionality?
any ideas?
 
Ranch Hand
Posts: 15304
6
Mac OS X IntelliJ IDE Chrome
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
I am going to take a stab at this and see what happens.
I don't know for sure, but I would think that component they use is something closer to a JInternalFrame. However, I would imagine that they don't extend JInternalFrame when creating it. I would imagine that they created their own custom component that acts as a container for any other component that can be added to a JFrame, JInternalFrame, JPanel, etc.
I wouldn't be surprised if they started out by overriding something like JComponent and built it from there.
I might be way off, but that seems logical.
Just out oc curiosity, are you looking into this for pure enjoyment? Or are you trying to build one yourself? Because I wouldn't want to. Too much work for something that already exists.
 
Melanie Parker
Greenhorn
Posts: 12
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
thanx for the thoughts Gregg...
actually i'm trying to do something for SWT.. thats why i'm interested in this
i checked more NetBeans code.. seems they'r using JLayeredPane as a starting block.. but code is still pretty messy
thanx again Gregg..
[ June 24, 2003: Message edited by: Melanie Parker ]
 
Gregg Bolinger
Ranch Hand
Posts: 15304
6
Mac OS X IntelliJ IDE Chrome
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
I know what you mean about digging through huge projects like that. I have asked similar questions on here for things like code completion and syntax highlighting and the best responses I ever get are "Check how some open source project does it, like Netbeans or JEdit."
And that is a pain...
If you have any luck with it, let me know. I would be interested in hearing what you find out.
 
Don't get me started about those stupid light bulbs.
reply
    Bookmark Topic Watch Topic
  • New Topic