How to adjust sizes and positions in a JPanel/JFrame

[Denise Advincula]

I'm not a good Swing programmer so I'm having frustrations on to what to do with this:



I couldn't fix the positions and the sizes... Can you help me convert this frame into something normal (normal sizes for text fields and buttons).

Here's my code:

    
import java.awt.GridLayout;
import java.util.*;
 
import javax.swing.*;
 
import static java.lang.System.out;
 
 
public class GUI {

Vector<Vector<String>> rowdata = new Utils().readCSV("ONE.CSV");


public static void main(String[] args) {
//ArrayList<ArrayList<String>> table = new Utils().readCSV("DAILY.CSV");

//for (ArrayList<String> v : table) out.println(v);

new GUI();
}

public GUI() {
/*try {
UIManager.setLookAndFeel("javax.swing.plaf.metal.MetalLookAndFeel");
} catch (Exception e) {

}*/

JFrame frame = new JFrame("Inquiry");
frame.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
JPanel pnlAll = new JPanel(new GridLayout(2,1));


JPanel pnlTop = new JPanel(new GridLayout(2,1));

JPanel pnlFile = new JPanel(new GridLayout(1,1));
JLabel label1 = new JLabel("CSV File");
JTextField txtBrowse = new JTextField();
txtBrowse.setColumns(20);
JButton btnBrowse = new JButton("Browse");

pnlFile.add(label1);
pnlFile.add(txtBrowse);
pnlFile.add(btnBrowse);


JPanel pnlInquire = new JPanel(new GridLayout(1,1));
JLabel label2 = new JLabel("Search");
JTextField txtSearch = new JTextField();
txtSearch.setColumns(20);
JButton btnSearch = new JButton("Search");

pnlInquire.add(label2);
pnlInquire.add(txtSearch);
pnlInquire.add(btnSearch);

pnlTop.add(pnlFile);
pnlTop.add(pnlInquire);



JPanel pnlTable = new JPanel(new GridLayout());

rowdata = new Utils().readCSV("ONE.CSV");
Vector<String> columns = new Vector<String>();
columns.addElement("A");columns.addElement("B");columns.addElement("C");
columns.addElement("D");columns.addElement("E");columns.addElement("F");
columns.addElement("G");columns.addElement("H");columns.addElement("I");
columns.addElement("J");columns.addElement("K");

JTable table = new JTable(rowdata, columns);
JScrollPane scroll = new JScrollPane(table);
pnlTable.add(scroll);

pnlAll.add(pnlTop);
//pnlAll.add(pnlTable);

frame.add(pnlAll);
frame.setSize(1000, 600);
frame.setVisible(true);

}
 
}
 

Thank you very much in advance!
[ October 16, 2008: Message edited by: Denise Saulon ]

[Rob Spoor]

A GridLayout will size all of its components equally, and you can't change that. Since in the end all your panels have the same number of components, they end up all the same size.

I'd suggest forgetting about GridLayout for this, and use a combination of other layout managers. I think that with BorderLayout and GroupLayout you should be able to get quite far.

[Pavan Kumar Srinivasan]

There are 3 ways to make the gui layout look better .

1)GridBagLayout(Part of the standard jdk) --> GridBag Tutorial

2)MigLayout --> (Great Layout Manager ...even better than GridBagLayout but outside the jdk package)

3)Netbans Mattise GUI Builder --> Download from netbeans.org (this is the easiest way using Drag N Drop to create quick protottypes)

[ October 16, 2008: Message edited by: Pavan Kumar Srinivasan ]
[ October 16, 2008: Message edited by: Pavan Kumar Srinivasan ]

[Rob Spoor]

Originally posted by Pavan Kumar Srinivasan:
1)GridBagLayout(Part of the standard jdk) --> GridBag Tutorial

Totally Gridbag.

I'd rather shoot myself in the foot than ever use GridBagLayout.

MigLayout and JGoodies Forms' FormsLayout are also quite good but not part of the core API.

[Pavan Kumar Srinivasan]

I perfectly understand that gridbaglayout is very hard to learn ....but once you get a hang of it...you can achieve alomost any layout.

[pete stein]

Originally posted by Pavan Kumar Srinivasan:
There are 3 ways to make the gui layout look better .

1)GridBagLayout(Part of the standard jdk) --> GridBag Tutorial...

Go ahead and create a GridBagLayout example here and I'll at least match you with standard but non-GridBag layout code.

[Suraj Chandran]

I'd rather shoot myself in the foot than ever use GridBagLayout.

I agree with Rob. Though GBL is flexible, its a real pain in the back. MigLayout is cool. MigLayout seems cool.