Showing a string and then an icon at the same time in a JComboBox.

[wayne morton]

I am attempting to have a JcomboBox with a list of ranks to choose but i would like to have a small picture of that rank alongside the text.

I can get the text as an option, i can also get a picture as an option but not both at the same time.

I guess the obvious question is, is it possible in the first place as all the examples i have found appear to have the picture output as effectively a separate window attached to the JComboBox?

The basic idea i have been trying is

String rookieString = new String("Rookie");

ImageIcon rookieImage = new ImageIcon("Rookie.gif");

JComboBox rank = new JComboBox();
rank.addItem(rookieString + rookieImage);

The result is
RookieRookie.gif
appears in the JComboBox.i.e. the string and then the file reference rather than the picture itself.

Any pointers on how this could be achieved would be appreciated.

Thank You.

[K. Tsang]

Hello there

You are adding an "object" to your JComboBox. Yet your image and string are 2 different objects. When you do this, the image object is implicitly converting to string hence the filename rather than the image itself.

I suggest 1) use a model when creating your combo box, or 2) use a Javabean embedding the image and description, or 3) use an array.

This link should help you.

[Ranganathan Kaliyur Mannar]

You need 2 things:
1) You need to have a separate class that will hold the image and string value. You can then add this object to the addItem() method.
2) Then, you need to write a Renderer - A renderer controls how the items are 'displayed' - you can tweak the display as per your needs.

To know more about renderers, check out the tutorial

[wayne morton]

That's great information. The tutorial is particularly useful.

Thank you both for your help.