JTextArea & Cursor

[Davy Kelly]

Hey everyone,

I would like to have some JTextAreas have the cursor sit out to the right of the edge of that area, for all rows of the JTextArea.

is this possible?

if so what should I be looking for in the API?

davy

[marc weber]

Center and right justification in JTextAreas was requested in Bug 4201966. The evaluation states, "You can do it via Document in case document is instanceof StyledDocument."

I'm not familiar with these interfaces (Document and StyledDocument), but that's where I would start looking.

[Davy Kelly]

thanks marc,

I am not familiar with these either...oh well I think this will need to wait a while

davy

[Michael Dunn]

do you want the typed text to appear from the right?

if so, this may do what you want
textArea.setComponentOrientation(ComponentOrientation.RIGHT_TO_LEFT);

for the cursor to initially appear on the right (when program opens), add
these 2 lines prior to setting the frame's visibility to true

textArea.setText(" ");//1 space
textArea.setText("");//0 spaces

(this is needed in java 1.4.0_01)

[Davy Kelly]

ok, My JTextAreas have 2 lines,

How can I make both lines start like that?

davy
[ March 07, 2007: Message edited by: Davy Kelly ]

[Michael Dunn]

I don't follow...

    
JTextArea ta = new JTextArea(5,10);
ta.setComponentOrientation(ComponentOrientation.RIGHT_TO_LEFT);
ta.setText("hello\nworld");

will have both lines/words at the right.

can you post an example of the problem?

[Davy Kelly]

here is the program, and I put text on the first JTextArea

davy

[Michael Dunn]

I meant code example, like this

    
import javax.swing.*;
import java.awt.*;
import java.awt.event.*;
class Testing
{
  public void buildGUI()
  {
    JTextArea ta = new JTextArea();
    ta.setComponentOrientation(ComponentOrientation.RIGHT_TO_LEFT);
    ta.setText("hello\nworld");
    JScrollPane sp = new JScrollPane(ta);
    sp.setPreferredSize(new Dimension(200,150));
    JFrame f = new JFrame();
    f.getContentPane().add(sp);
    f.pack();
    f.setLocationRelativeTo(null);
    f.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
    f.setVisible(true);
  }
  public static void main(String[] args)
  {
    SwingUtilities.invokeLater(new Runnable(){
      public void run(){
        new Testing().buildGUI();
      }
    });
  }
}

[Davy Kelly]

here is the Booking Sheet in its entirety, without the date picker ok, the code could be cleaner, remember this is my very first program, that I am building from scratch.

/*
<--- Imports --->
*/
import java.awt.*;
import java.text.*;
import javax.swing.*;
import javax.swing.border.*;
import java.io.*;
import java.util.*;
import java.awt.event.*;
import javax.swing.event.*;
import javax.swing.text.*;
 
/*
<--- Class --->
*/
public class BookingSheet
{
JTextArea blank, dateHeading, title;// Texta Areas for the headings of each of the columns
JLabel dateLabel;// label for the current or booking date
JFrame theFrame = new JFrame("Club Max Booking Sheet");// assign the frame and call it Booking Sheet

// <----- To get todays Date -----> 
Calendar calendar = new GregorianCalendar();
// arrays to hold month names and day names
String[] monthName = {"January","February","March","April","May","June","July","August","September","October","November","December"};
String[] dayName = {"Sunday","Monday","Tuesday","Wednesday","Thursday","Friday","Saturday"};
String today = todaysDate();
// <----- end of todays date -----> 
 
String labelDate =  today; // string for the label of todays date to be bold
 
Font font = new Font("Ariel", Font.BOLD, 12);// make fonts Ariel Bold 12pt
Font fontSmall = new Font("Ariel", Font.PLAIN, 10); // make fonts ariel Bold 8pt
Font labelFont = new Font("Palatino Linotype", Font.BOLD, 16); //make the Date label Bold and 16pt
 
    // <----- To make the Spaces/time/stats areas in a loop ----->
JTextArea[] timeArray = new JTextArea[12];
JTextArea[] appointmentArray = new JTextArea[12];
JCheckBox[] stat = new JCheckBox[5];
String[] statLabel = {"Ind", "1st", "2nd", "NP", "FT"};
String[] statLabelToolTip = {"Induction", "1st Visit", "2nd Visit", "New Program", "Fitness Test"};
 
// <----- Box's to add in the stats Area, to be stacked vertically ----->
Box[] inBox = new Box[24];
 
// <----- RGB for  Font colour ----->
int r = 204;
int g = 53;
int b = 53;
Color rgb = new Color(r,g,b);


/*
<----- to get todays date ----->
*/
public String todaysDate()
{
int day = calendar.get(Calendar.DAY_OF_WEEK)-1; // to get the day of the week
int month = calendar.get(Calendar.MONTH);// to get the month of the year
int year = calendar.get(Calendar.YEAR);// to get the year
int date = calendar.get(Calendar.DATE);// to get the date e.g. 18th
String dateToday = Integer.toString(date);// convert the date to a String to display
String yearToday = Integer.toString(year);// convert year to string to display
String today = "  " + dayName[day] + " " + dateToday + " " + monthName[month] + " " + yearToday + "  "; // the full date as a string to display
return today;// returning todays date
} // end of todaysDate method

public void buildGUI()
{
/*
< ----- All the Buttons ----->
*/
theFrame.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);// close the program and stop it running in the background when closed from GUI
BorderLayout layout = new BorderLayout();// make a new layout for the gui
JPanel background = new JPanel(layout);// make a new panel for the background and give it thte borderlayout
background.setBorder(BorderFactory.createEmptyBorder(10, 10, 10, 10)); // set the background to have no border
 
// <----- top set of buttons ----->
JPanel buttonBox = new JPanel(new FlowLayout());// make a new box for all the buttons & chat areas have it going up and down

JButton todayBut = new JButton("Today");// make a new button for today
todayBut.setToolTipText("Sets the booking sheet to todays date");// makes a tool tip for this button
todayBut.addActionListener(new MyTodayListener());// add an actionListener to action upon a click
buttonBox.add(todayBut);// add the button to the button box panel

JButton calBut = new JButton("Calander");// make a new button to get calander
calBut.setToolTipText("Opens the date picker");// makes a tool tip for this button
calBut.addActionListener(new MyCalListener());// add an actionListener to action upon a click
buttonBox.add(calBut);// add the button to the button box panel
 
JButton statsBut = new JButton("Stats");// make a new button to get Statistics
statsBut.setToolTipText("Gets statistics");// makes a tool tip for this button
// statsBut.addActionListener(new MyCalListener());// add an actionListener to action upon a click
buttonBox.add(statsBut);// add the button to the button box panel
 
JButton saveBut = new JButton("Save");// make a new button to save everything
saveBut.setToolTipText("Saves what has been input to the booking sheet");// makes a tool tip for this button
// saveBut.addActionListener(new MySaveListener());// add an actionListener to action upon a click
buttonBox.add(saveBut);// add the button to the button box panel
 
JButton quitBut = new JButton("Quit");// make a new button to quit the update
quitBut.setToolTipText("Saves everything and closes the booking sheet");// makes a tool tip for this button
quitBut.addActionListener(new MyQuitListener());// add an actionListener to action upon a click
buttonBox.add(quitBut);// add the button to the button box panel
 
// <----- Bottom set of buttons ----->
JPanel nameBox = new JPanel(new FlowLayout());// make a new box to hold the main area
 
JButton back = new JButton("<<  Back");// make a new button to go back a day in the booking sheet
back.setToolTipText("Makes the booking sheet go back one day at a time");// makes a tool tip for this button
// back.addActionListener(new MyBackADayListener());// add an actionListener to action upon a click
nameBox.add(back);// add the button to the button box panel
 
dateLabel = new JLabel(labelDate);// Make a new JLabel and centre it
dateLabel.setToolTipText("Today");// makes a tool tip for this label
dateLabel.setOpaque(true);// make the label opaque so that you can set different coloor attributes
dateLabel.setBackground(Color.yellow);// make the background colour yellow
dateLabel.setFont(labelFont);// make this font Ariel Bold 26pt
dateLabel.setHorizontalTextPosition(SwingConstants.CENTER); // make the text position in the centre
nameBox.add(dateLabel);// add the label to the box in the center
 
JButton forward = new JButton("Forward  >>");// make a new button to go forward in the booking sheet
forward.setToolTipText("Makes the booking sheet go forward one day at a time");// makes a tool tip for this button
// forward.addActionListener(new MyForwardADayListener());// add an actionListener to action upon a click
nameBox.add(forward);// add the button to the button box panel

/* 
<----- To make the Times for the Booking Sheet (Left Column) ----->
*/
// the part for just the space Time
Box timeBox = new Box(BoxLayout.Y_AXIS);// a box to hold all the times stacked vertically
blank = new JTextArea();// a new text area (cell) to hold the times heading
        blank.setFont(font);// set the font to Bold 12pt Ariel
blank.setColumns(5);// set the number of columns of this cell
blank.setRows(1);// set the number of rows of this cell
blank.setBorder(LineBorder.createBlackLineBorder()); // create a black line for this cell
blank.setBackground(Color.lightGray);// setting the background of the cell 
blank.setText("   Time");// setting the text of the cell
blank.setEditable(false);// making the area non editable
timeBox.add(blank);// adding the cell to the box
// the part to make the loop for all times 9:00 - 8:00
int i = 9;
for (int x = 0; x <=11 ; x++)
{
if (i > 12)// if greater than 12
{
i = 1;// make the time go back to 1 then iterate
}
timeArray[x] = new JTextArea();// a new Text Area at position x (from an array)
timeArray[x].setFont(font);// setting the font of this cell
timeArray[x].setColumns(5);// set the columns of this cell
timeArray[x].setRows(2);// set the rows of this cell
timeArray[x].setBorder(LineBorder.createBlackLineBorder()); // create a black line for this cell
timeArray[x].setBackground(Color.lightGray); // set the background colour of this cell
String b = Integer.toString(i);// change integer i to a string for output
String a = "   " + b + ":00";// add in the time part of :00
i++;// add 1 to the value of i
timeArray[x].setText(a);// set the text of this cell
timeArray[x].setEditable(false);// set all these cells non editable
timeBox.add(timeArray[x]);// add the cells to the box
}
 
/* 
<----- To make the Spaces for the Booking Sheet (Centre Column) ----->
*/
// the part for telling the Date for the Sheet
Box sheetBox = new Box(BoxLayout.Y_AXIS);// a box to hold all the appointments stacked vertically
dateHeading = new JTextArea();// a new text area (cell) to hold the date heading
dateHeading.setFont(font);// set the font to Bold 12pt Ariel
dateHeading.setColumns(53);// set the number of columns of this cell
dateHeading.setRows(1);// set the number of rows of this cell
dateHeading.setBorder(LineBorder.createBlackLineBorder()); // create a black line for this cell
dateHeading.setBackground(Color.lightGray); // set the background colour of this cell
dateHeading.setEditable(false);// set all these cells non editable
dateHeading.setText("\t\t" + labelDate);// set the text of this cell
sheetBox.add(dateHeading);// add the cells to the box
// the part to make the loop for all times spaces on the sheet
for (int x = 0; x <=11 ; x++)
{
appointmentArray[x] = new JTextArea();// a new text area (cell) to hold the appointment areas
appointmentArray[x].setLineWrap(true);
appointmentArray[x].setWrapStyleWord(true);
appointmentArray[x].setFont(font);// set the font to Bold 12pt Ariel
appointmentArray[x].setForeground(rgb); // set the text colour of this cell
appointmentArray[x].setColumns(50);// set the number of columns of this cell
appointmentArray[x].setRows(2);// set the number of rows of this cell
appointmentArray[x].setBorder(LineBorder.createBlackLineBorder()); // create a black line for this cell
appointmentArray[x].setEditable(true);// set all these cells to be editable
appointmentArray[x].setText(" ");//1 space
if (x == 3)// if at 12pm
{
appointmentArray[x].setFont(font);// set the font to Bold 12pt Ariel
appointmentArray[x].setBorder(LineBorder.createBlackLineBorder()); // create a black line for this cell
appointmentArray[x].setForeground(Color.black); // set the text colour of this cell
appointmentArray[x].setText("\t\tLive Active Club\n\t\tLunch"); // set the text of this cell
appointmentArray[x].setBackground(Color.lightGray); // set the background colour of this cell
appointmentArray[x].setEditable(false); // set all these cells non editable
appointmentArray[x].setToolTipText("Non-editable space");// makes a tool tip for this area
}
else if (x == 9)// if at 6pm
{
appointmentArray[x].setFont(font);// set the font to Bold 12pt Ariel
appointmentArray[x].setBorder(LineBorder.createBlackLineBorder()); // create a black line for this cell
appointmentArray[x].setForeground(Color.black); // set the text colour of this cell
appointmentArray[x].setText("\t\tDinner"); // set the text of this cell
appointmentArray[x].setBackground(Color.lightGray); // set the background colour of this cell
appointmentArray[x].setEditable(false); // set all these cells non editable
appointmentArray[x].setToolTipText("Non-editable space");// makes a tool tip for this area
}
sheetBox.add(appointmentArray[x]);// add the cells to the box
}
 
/* 
<----- To make the Spaces for the Stats Area (Right Column) ----->
*/
// the part for teh title of the Stats area
Box statsBox = new Box(BoxLayout.Y_AXIS);// a box to hold all the check box's stacked vertically
title = new JTextArea();// a new text area (cell) to hold the Stats heading
title.setFont(font);// set the font to Bold 12pt Ariel
title.setColumns(15);// set the number of columns of this cell
title.setRows(1);// set the number of rows of this cell
title.setBorder(LineBorder.createBlackLineBorder()); // create a black line for this cell
title.setBackground(Color.lightGray);// set the background colour of this cell
title.setText("       Statistics Counter Area"); // set the text of this cell
title.setEditable(false);// set all these cells non editable
    statsBox.add(title);// add the cells to the box
// the part to make all the check boxes
Box outBox = new Box(BoxLayout.Y_AXIS);// a box to hold all the check box's stacked vertically
for (int x = 0; x <= 23; x++)
{
inBox[x] = new Box(BoxLayout.X_AXIS);// a new box to hold the stats box's
for (int j = 0; j <= 4; j++)
{
stat[j] = new JCheckBox(statLabel[j]); // set the text of this check box
stat[j].setToolTipText(statLabelToolTip[j]); // makes a tool tip for this label
stat[j].setFont(fontSmall);// set the font to Bold 8pt Ariel
inBox[x].add(stat[j]);// add the check box's lables
}
outBox.add(inBox[x]);// add the check box's to a box
}
statsBox.add(outBox);// add the box's to the main box
 
// add all the box's to the panle and give them a place on the border
background.add(buttonBox, BorderLayout.NORTH);// add the button box to the background panel and set it to the north side of the panel
background.add(sheetBox, BorderLayout.CENTER);// add the sheet box to the background panel and set it to the centre side of the panel
background.add(nameBox, BorderLayout.SOUTH);// add the name box to the background panel and set it to the south side of the panel
background.add(timeBox, BorderLayout.WEST);// add the time box to the background panel and set it to the west side of the panel
background.add(statsBox, BorderLayout.EAST);// add the name box to the background panel and set it to the east side of the panel
theFrame.getContentPane().add(background);// add the background panel to the content pane of the main Frame
 
theFrame.setBounds(50, 50, 300, 300);// set the size of the frame
theFrame.pack();// pack the frame up to get built
theFrame.setVisible(true);// make the frame visible
} // end buildGUI method
public static void main(String[] args) 
{
System.out.println("Opening Booking Sheet!");// show this on the Command Prompt
new BookingSheet().buildGUI();// make a new object of the buildGUI method
} // end of main method
 
/*
 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
<--- Inner classes to handle events / the GUI listeners --->
*/
public class MyTodayListener implements ActionListener
{
public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent a)
{
dateHeading.setText("\t\t" + today);
System.out.println(today);
} //end ActionPerformed method
} // end MyStartListener inner class
 
public class MyCalListener implements ActionListener
{
public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent a)
{
new DatePickingCalendar().buildGUI3();
} //end ActionPerformed method
} // end MyStartListener inner class
 
public class MyQuitListener implements ActionListener
{
public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent a)
{
System.out.println("Quiting The Booking Sheet"); //display on the Command Prompt
//call to save everything before quiting
System.exit(0);;// close the program and stop it running in the background when closed from GUI
} //end ActionPerformed method
} // end MyQuitListener inner class
} // END OF PROGRAM

davy

[Michael Dunn]

works OK for me, java 1.5.0_05

[Davy Kelly]

I know it works,

problem is in JTextArea for say 9:00 am, the first line starts one space in, but line two of 9:00am does not...

davy

[Michael Dunn]

all through this it seemed you wanted your text right-justified.
now it seems you just want the text indented a bit.

if so, add this line
textArea.setMargin(new Insets(0,5,0,0));//5 from left, modify to suit

[Davy Kelly]

thanks,

well I am sorry if it seems as if I wanted right justification, but thats not really what I want.

I like the insets idea, but if you have a look at the image above in this thread, it has one text area, that text areas have 2 rows, those 2 rows do not get the same inset, it only deals with the first row.

I think I am either going to have to leave this as is, or try and figure out DOcument...

but thanks anyway

davy

[Michael Dunn]

setMargin() works for all rows.

perhaps the current problem is the 'space' you're adding to the first row (?)

[Davy Kelly]

I got rid of that " " but the set margin is not working....

it compiles fine, but just not working.

I have tried the API, changed the ints for setMargin

davy

[Michael Dunn]

> I got rid of that " " but the set margin is not working....

what changes did you make to your previously posted code?

[Davy Kelly]

appointmentArray[x].setMargin(new Insets(0,5,0,0)); // making a margin of 5 pixels from the left
//appointmentArray[x].setText(" ");//1 space

I commented out the setText() and added the line you gave me, and played with the values,

checked the API, said something about the borders insets.... not sure, need to check the border class now

davy

[Michael Dunn]

well, I learned something out of this - setMargin doesn't work when a border is set
(not in 1.4.0_01, anyway)

there seems to be a workaround:

comment out the 3 lines where you set the border
1) at the beginning of the for()
2) in the if(x == 3)
3) in the if(x == 9)

then, at the bottom of the for(), where you add appointmentArray[x] to sheetBox

    
      JPanel p = new JPanel(new BorderLayout());
      p.setBorder(LineBorder.createBlackLineBorder());
      p.add(appointmentArray[x]);
      //sheetBox.add(appointmentArray[x]);    // add the cells to the box
      sheetBox.add(p);

basically, puts the border around a panel, instead of the textArea

[Davy Kelly]

Thank you very much michael,

you have been extremely helpful.
I am grateful.

it worked wonderfully.

davy