Display image in a BorderLayout

[achana chan]

Hi all.
I was setting up a template to make it easier for layout designs, I was having fun until it turn very nasty when I tried to display a .jpg image inside a BorderLayout using JFrame.
Compiles okay, but won't display the image. Can some gurus have a look please. Here is the code, I've highlighted the problematic bit:

import java.awt.*;
import java.awt.event.*;
import javax.swing.*;
import java.applet.*;
public class LayoutTest5 extends Applet implements AdjustmentListener
{
  Label filler1, filler2, filler3, filler4, filler5, filler6;
  chkBoxPanel panel1, panel2, panel3;
  Scrollbar hScroll1, hScroll2, vScroll1, vScroll2;
  textPanel scribblePanel;
  DrawImage picture; 
 
  public void init()
  {
    setBackground(Color.lightGray);
    
    Panel px = new Panel();
    px.setLayout(new GridLayout(5,2));
      
    // first row of cells, unless all the buttons are same, pretty much useless
    Panel p1 =new Panel();
    p1 = new sampleBorderLayout();
    px.add(p1);
    
    Panel p2 = new Panel();
    p2.setLayout(new BorderLayout());
    p2.add(new Button("North"), BorderLayout.NORTH);
    p2.add(new Button("South"), BorderLayout.SOUTH);
    p2.add(new Button("East"), BorderLayout.EAST);
    p2.add(new Button("West"), BorderLayout.WEST);
    p2.add("Center", picture = new DrawImage());
    px.add(p2);
    // second row of cells, this may be better code for individualising each panel     
    
    Panel p3 = new Panel();
    p3.setLayout(new BorderLayout());
      hScroll1 = new Scrollbar(Scrollbar.HORIZONTAL,1,1,1,26);
      hScroll1.addAdjustmentListener(this);
    p3.add("North", hScroll1);
    p3.add(new Button("South"), BorderLayout.SOUTH);
    p3.add(new Button("East"), BorderLayout.EAST);
      vScroll1 = new Scrollbar(Scrollbar.VERTICAL,1,1,1,4);
      vScroll1.addAdjustmentListener(this);
    p3.add("West", vScroll1);
    p3.add("Center", scribblePanel = new textPanel());
    px.add(p3);
    Panel p4 = new Panel();
    p4.setLayout(new BorderLayout());
    p4.add(new Button("rolls and columns"), BorderLayout.NORTH);
    p4.add(new Button("South"), BorderLayout.SOUTH);
    p4.add(new Button("East"), BorderLayout.EAST);
    p4.add(new Button("West"), BorderLayout.WEST);
       Panel pCcy = new Panel();
       pCcy.setLayout(new GridLayout(3,3));
       Button r1c1 = new Button("r1c1");
       pCcy.add(r1c1);
       Button r1c2 = new Button("r1c2");
       pCcy.add(r1c2);
       Button r1c3 = new Button("r1c3");
       pCcy.add(r1c3); 
       Button r2c1 = new Button("r2c1");
       pCcy.add(r2c1); 
       Button r2c2 = new Button("r2c2");
       pCcy.add(r2c2); 
       Button r2c3 = new Button("r2c3");
       pCcy.add(r2c3); 
       Button r3c1 = new Button("r3c1");
       pCcy.add(r3c1); 
       Button r3c2 = new Button("r3c2");
       pCcy.add(r3c2); 
       Button r3c3 = new Button("r3c3");
       pCcy.add(r3c3); 
    p4.add(pCcy, BorderLayout.CENTER);
    px.add(p4);
    //
    Panel p5 = new Panel();
    p5.setLayout(new GridLayout(3,1)); 
      panel1 = new chkBoxPanel();
      p5.add(panel1);
    px.add(p5);
    Panel p6 = new Panel();
    p6.setLayout(new GridLayout(1,3)); 
      panel2 = new chkBoxPanel();
      p6.add(panel2);
    px.add(p6);
    // ==============================
    // this is the mother of them all
    add(px);
    // ==============================
  }//end of method init()
  // ==============================
[B]
  public class LoadImage extends JFrame
  {
    Image image;
    Insets insets;
    public LoadImage()
    {
      image = getToolkit().getImage("forestfire.jpg");
    }
    public void paint(Graphics g)
    {
      if (insets == null) { insets = getInsets(); }
      g.drawImage(image, insets.left, insets.top, this);
      Frame f = new LoadImage();
      f.setSize(50,27);
      f.show();
      super.paint(g);
    }
  }[/B]  
  // ==============================    
  public class sampleBorderLayout extends Panel
  {  
    sampleBorderLayout()
    { 
      setLayout(new BorderLayout());      
      add(new Button("North"), BorderLayout.NORTH);
      add(new Button("South"), BorderLayout.SOUTH);
      add(new Button("East"), BorderLayout.EAST);
      add(new Button("West"), BorderLayout.WEST);
      add(new Button("Center"), BorderLayout.CENTER);
    }//end of method sampleBorderLayout
  }//end of class sampleBorderLayout
  // ==============================
  public class textPanel extends Panel
  { 
    TextArea scribbleField;
    textPanel() {add(scribbleField = new TextArea("scribble area",4,25,1));}
  }//end of class textPanel
  // ==============================
  public class chkBoxPanel extends Panel
  {
    Checkbox chk1, chk2, chk3;
    chkBoxPanel()
    { 
      CheckboxGroup CGrp = new CheckboxGroup();
      add(chk1 = new Checkbox("Sandwich 1", CGrp, false));
      add(chk2 = new Checkbox("Sandwich 2", CGrp, false));
      add(chk3 = new Checkbox("Sandwich 3", CGrp, false));
   
    }//end of method chkBoxPanel
  } // end of class chkBoxPanel
  // ==============================
  public void adjustmentValueChanged(AdjustmentEvent evt)
  {
    if(evt.getAdjustable() == hScroll1)
    { 
      hScroll1.setValue(hScroll1.getValue());
      scribblePanel.scribbleField.setText("Horizontal location: " + hScroll1.getValue());
    }
    if(evt.getAdjustable() == vScroll1)
    { 
      vScroll1.setValue(vScroll1.getValue());
      scribblePanel.scribbleField.setText("\nVertical location: " + vScroll1.getValue());
    }
  }//end of method adjustmentValueChanged()
}//end of class BorderLayoutTest

[Joe Ess]

  public class LoadImage extends JFrame
  {
    Image image;
    Insets insets;
    public LoadImage()
    {
      image = getToolkit().getImage("forestfire.jpg");
    }
    public void paint(Graphics g)
    {
      if (insets == null) { insets = getInsets(); }
      g.drawImage(image, insets.left, insets.top, this);
      Frame f = new LoadImage();
      f.setSize(50,27);
      f.show();
      super.paint(g);
    }
  }  

There's a couple of strange things here. First, JFrame is a top-level container, which means it is suited for containing an application itself. It is probably not the best choice for inserting into another container. Next, the call to getToolkit().getImage returns immediately. You need to use a MediaTracker instance to watch the loading of the image and let you know when it is 100% and ready for display. Finally, why are you creating a new frame in paint()? paint() can be called hundreds of times if a frame is moved or something is dragged on it.
I think you should check out the
Swing Tutorial. It has a section on graphics which will explain the details of working with images.

[achana chan]

Thanks, I'm actually working through it hoping to find the relevant bits and not covering the same ground over and again.
Just when I thought I had it well under control, I learn that displaying images in JAVA is perhaps one of the most difficult thing.
My productivity will drop down to zero as I come to grips with it.
I think JAVA so complicated, it is too clever by half.

[Ernest Friedman-Hill]

Dude, displaying an image in a JFrame is subtrivial. You're just doing crazy stuff here. I can't even imagine where you're getting your coding ideas.

import javax.swing.*;
import java.awt.BorderLayout;
public class ShowImage {
    public static void main(String[] argv) {
        JFrame frame = new JFrame("Image display");
        ImageIcon icon = new ImageIcon("ranch.jpg");
        frame.setSize(300, 300);
        frame.getContentPane().add(new JLabel(icon), BorderLayout.CENTER);
        frame.setVisible(true);
    }
}

Now, don't you come 'round here dissin' Java, just because you tried to write a few hundred lines of code to do what can easily be done in five lines.

[achana chan]

I'm not "dissin" JAVA, I think the idea is great, best thing since sliced, whole-meal, multi-grain bread.
Thanks for the JFrame thing, but I am trying to embed an image in a container. My research suggests JTextArea.
Joe Ess pointed out correctly that JFrame is a top level container and I cannot embed JFrame in a BorderLayout.
Thanks for the input.

[Gregg Bolinger]

Embed an image in a container? Are you talking about making a "wallpaper" for your application? This is easily done, but you must override the correct component. A search for "background image" in this Forum yeilds 80 results. The best approach I have seen is by Nathan, one of our wonderful bartenders. His approach can be found here. Notice the method paintComponent in his custom class. That method is the key if in fact you are trying to wallpaper your app.
Hope this helps.

[achana chan]

Thanks for taking time to look at my problem.
I'm also reading up John Zukowski's excellent "Java 2 J2SE1.4", Chapter 10 "Animation and Images" goes in detail on loading an image with media traking. However it seems an overkill at this point.
I am just trying to load an icon to display on the screen from the applet I posted earlier.
I think the best way to go is use a JTextArea, but now the Java Console is telling me I've an "access privilege" error.

[Gregg Bolinger]

You can't put an image in a JTextArea. Do what Earnest said to do, or use the approach I suggested by Nathan. There should ne more guessing on how to do this. Just do it.

[achana chan]

Hi Gregg, I'm trying to understand the way its done, some of the codes are very advanced for me.
Here is the code for displaying an image in a JTextArea, unlike my code, it has the benefit of working:

import java.awt.*;
import javax.swing.*;
public class DrawImage extends JApplet
{
  Image image;
  public void init()
  {
    getContentPane().setLayout(new FlowLayout());
    getContentPane().add(new CustomTextField(10,10));
  }
  class CustomTextField extends JTextArea
  {
    public CustomTextField(int rows, int columns)
    {
      super(null,null,rows,columns);
      image = getImage(getDocumentBase(), "forestfire.jpg");
    }
    public void paintComponent(Graphics g)
    {
      super.paintComponent(g);
      g.drawImage(image,0,0,this);
    }
  }  
}

Now here is my tortured code, still trying to put an image into the Borderlayout. It compiles fine, JAVA console displays no error messages but no image, can some see what's wrong with it :

import java.awt.*;
import java.awt.event.*;
import javax.swing.*;
import java.applet.*;
public class LayoutTest5 extends Applet implements AdjustmentListener
{
  Label filler1, filler2, filler3, filler4, filler5, filler6;
  chkBoxPanel panel1, panel2, panel3;
  Scrollbar hScroll1, hScroll2, vScroll1, vScroll2;
  textPanel scribblePanel;
  // private CustomTextField picturePanel;
  [B]private Pictures picture;[/B]
  public void init()
  {
    setBackground(Color.lightGray);
    
    Panel px = new Panel();
    px.setLayout(new GridLayout(5,2));
      
    // first row of cells, unless all the buttons are same, pretty much useless
    Panel p1 =new Panel();
    p1 = new sampleBorderLayout();
    px.add(p1);
    
    Panel p2 = new Panel();
    p2.setLayout(new BorderLayout());
    p2.add(new Button("North"), BorderLayout.NORTH);
    p2.add(new Button("South"), BorderLayout.SOUTH);
    p2.add(new Button("East"), BorderLayout.EAST);
    p2.add(new Button("West"), BorderLayout.WEST);
[B] picture = new Pictures();
    p2.add(picture, BorderLayout.CENTER);[/B]
    px.add(p2);
    // second row of cells, this may be better code for individualising each panel     
    
    Panel p3 = new Panel();
    p3.setLayout(new BorderLayout());
      hScroll1 = new Scrollbar(Scrollbar.HORIZONTAL,1,1,1,26);
      hScroll1.addAdjustmentListener(this);
    p3.add("North", hScroll1);
    p3.add(new Button("South"), BorderLayout.SOUTH);
    p3.add(new Button("East"), BorderLayout.EAST);
      vScroll1 = new Scrollbar(Scrollbar.VERTICAL,1,1,1,4);
      vScroll1.addAdjustmentListener(this);
    p3.add("West", vScroll1);
    p3.add("Center", scribblePanel = new textPanel());
    px.add(p3);
    Panel p4 = new Panel();
    p4.setLayout(new BorderLayout());
    p4.add(new Button("rolls and columns"), BorderLayout.NORTH);
    p4.add(new Button("South"), BorderLayout.SOUTH);
    p4.add(new Button("East"), BorderLayout.EAST);
    p4.add(new Button("West"), BorderLayout.WEST);
       Panel pCcy = new Panel();
       pCcy.setLayout(new GridLayout(3,3));
       Button r1c1 = new Button("r1c1");
       pCcy.add(r1c1);
       Button r1c2 = new Button("r1c2");
       pCcy.add(r1c2);
       Button r1c3 = new Button("r1c3");
       pCcy.add(r1c3); 
       Button r2c1 = new Button("r2c1");
       pCcy.add(r2c1); 
       Button r2c2 = new Button("r2c2");
       pCcy.add(r2c2); 
       Button r2c3 = new Button("r2c3");
       pCcy.add(r2c3); 
       Button r3c1 = new Button("r3c1");
       pCcy.add(r3c1); 
       Button r3c2 = new Button("r3c2");
       pCcy.add(r3c2); 
       Button r3c3 = new Button("r3c3");
       pCcy.add(r3c3); 
    p4.add(pCcy, BorderLayout.CENTER);
    px.add(p4);
    //
    Panel p5 = new Panel();
    p5.setLayout(new GridLayout(3,1)); 
      panel1 = new chkBoxPanel();
      p5.add(panel1);
    px.add(p5);
    Panel p6 = new Panel();
    p6.setLayout(new GridLayout(1,3)); 
      panel2 = new chkBoxPanel();
      p6.add(panel2);
    px.add(p6);
    // ==============================
    // this is the mother of them all
    add(px);
    // ==============================
  }//end of method init()
  // ==============================
[B]  public class Pictures extends Panel
  {
    Image thispicture=null;
    public Pictures()
    {
      repaint();
      return;
    } 
  } // end of Pictures class   
  // ==============================
  public void paint(Graphics g)
  { 
    picture.thispicture = new ImageIcon(getDocumentBase(),"forestfire.jpg").getImage();
    g.drawImage(picture.thispicture, 10, 10, 140, 170, this);
    repaint();
  }
[/B]  // ==============================    
  public class sampleBorderLayout extends Panel
  {  
    sampleBorderLayout()
    { 
      setLayout(new BorderLayout());      
      add(new Button("North"), BorderLayout.NORTH);
      add(new Button("South"), BorderLayout.SOUTH);
      add(new Button("East"), BorderLayout.EAST);
      add(new Button("West"), BorderLayout.WEST);
      add(new Button("Center"), BorderLayout.CENTER);
    }//end of method sampleBorderLayout
  }//end of class sampleBorderLayout
  // ==============================
  public class textPanel extends Panel
  { 
    TextArea scribbleField;
    textPanel() {add(scribbleField = new TextArea("scribble area",4,25,1));}
  }//end of class textPanel
  // ==============================
  public class chkBoxPanel extends Panel
  {
    Checkbox chk1, chk2, chk3;
    chkBoxPanel()
    { 
      CheckboxGroup CGrp = new CheckboxGroup();
      add(chk1 = new Checkbox("Sandwich 1", CGrp, false));
      add(chk2 = new Checkbox("Sandwich 2", CGrp, false));
      add(chk3 = new Checkbox("Sandwich 3", CGrp, false));
   
    }//end of method chkBoxPanel
  } // end of class chkBoxPanel
  // ==============================
  public void adjustmentValueChanged(AdjustmentEvent evt)
  {
    if(evt.getAdjustable() == hScroll1)
    { 
      hScroll1.setValue(hScroll1.getValue());
      scribblePanel.scribbleField.setText("Horizontal location: " + hScroll1.getValue());
    }
    if(evt.getAdjustable() == vScroll1)
    { 
      vScroll1.setValue(vScroll1.getValue());
      scribblePanel.scribbleField.setText("\nVertical location: " + vScroll1.getValue());
    }
  }//end of method adjustmentValueChanged()
}//end of class BorderLayoutTest

[achana chan]

Can someone please explain to me where I've gone wrong.
I've made, on a trial and error basis, so many modifications and still no image. No compilation errors, java console shows no exceptions, the html displays the borderlayout with some fancy add-ons, but no picture.
If only the java console throws an exception, I can handle that 'cause I'll know where I'm at! But no, not even an exception message.

[achana chan]

Hmmm, it seems I'm too fixated on awt.
I need to read up more on swing.
Can't do it with awt, need swing, I think...