Can't figure out which layout to use

[Tom Trelty]

Edited to add: I am using the card layout to switch between different panels, so I am trying to nest a certain layout within this card layout.

Hello,

I am trying to make a GUI that looks something like this:



I basically want a bar along the top that is invariant in size, and then components below that bar that may vary in size and be positioned in a a symmetric manner. In this picture, I have username and password text boxes in the center, and then below those there are buttons for login and registration.

I tried using the GridBagLayout and my issue was that because of the weighty component, the panels of my GUI would get stretched relative to the size of other components and look ridiculous. I tried nesting gridbaglayout pieces and I managed to break it even further.

I tried using a borderlayout panel with gridlayout panels nested inside, and I experienced the stretching behavior again.

I've since deleted my gridbaglayout code(it made me pull my hair out), but I will include my current code and a picture of what it produces (notice how the text boxes stretch).

/*
This is the main driver class where different
views are instantiated.
*/

import java.awt.*;
import java.awt.event.*;
import javax.swing.*;
import javax.swing.UIManager.LookAndFeelInfo;
import javax.swing.plaf.metal.DefaultMetalTheme;
import javax.swing.plaf.metal.MetalLookAndFeel;
import javax.swing.plaf.metal.OceanTheme;

public class Main{
    public static void main(String[] args) throws ClassNotFoundException, InstantiationException, IllegalAccessException, UnsupportedLookAndFeelException {
        
        //Establishes the look and feel
        try {
    for (LookAndFeelInfo info : UIManager.getInstalledLookAndFeels()) {
        if ("Nimbus".equals(info.getName())) {
            UIManager.setLookAndFeel(info.getClassName());
            break;
        }
    }
} catch (Exception e) {
    // If Nimbus is not available, you can set the GUI to another look and feel.
}
       
        //Launches the GUI
        javax.swing.SwingUtilities.invokeLater(new Runnable() {
            public void run() {
                createAndShowGUI();
            }
        });
        
    }
    
     private static void createAndShowGUI() {
        //Create and set up the window.
        JFrame frame = new JFrame("Joe's Garage");
        frame.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
        //Create and set up the content pane.
        Frame pane = new Frame();
        pane.addComponentToPane(frame.getContentPane());
        
        //Set the size of the frame
        frame.setPreferredSize(new Dimension(800,600));
        frame.setResizable(false);
         
        //Display the window.
        frame.pack();
        frame.setLocationRelativeTo(null);
        frame.setVisible(true);
    }
     
}

Lines 60-122 are the important ones

import java.awt.BorderLayout;
import java.awt.CardLayout;
import java.awt.Container;
import java.awt.Dimension;
import java.awt.Font;
import java.awt.GridBagConstraints;
import java.awt.GridBagLayout;
import java.awt.GridLayout;
import java.awt.Insets;
import java.awt.event.ActionEvent;
import java.awt.event.ActionListener;
import java.awt.event.ItemEvent;
import java.awt.event.ItemListener;
import java.text.DateFormat; 
import java.text.SimpleDateFormat;
import java.util.Date;
import javax.swing.BorderFactory;
import javax.swing.JButton;
import javax.swing.JLabel;
import javax.swing.JPanel;
import javax.swing.JPasswordField;
import javax.swing.JScrollBar;
import javax.swing.JScrollPane;
import javax.swing.JTextArea;
import javax.swing.JTextField;
import javax.swing.border.CompoundBorder;



public class Frame implements ItemListener {

    JPanel cards; //a panel that uses CardLayout
    final static String TEXTPANEL = "Card with JTextField";
    final static String LOGIN = "Log In";
    final static String REGISTER = "Register";
    final static String MAIN = "Log Out";
    final static String THIRD = "Third";
    final static String BUTTONPANEL = "Buttonpanel";
    Font font;
    JButton logout;

    public void addComponentToPane(Container pane) {
        logout = new JButton(MAIN);
        logout.addActionListener(new LogOutListener());
        
      //#########FONT/BORDER/##########
        javax.swing.border.Border raisedbevel = BorderFactory.createRaisedBevelBorder();
        javax.swing.border.Border loweredbevel = BorderFactory.createLoweredBevelBorder();
        CompoundBorder comp = BorderFactory.createCompoundBorder(
                raisedbevel, loweredbevel);
        
        //######FIRST CARD########
        //MAIN PAGE
        JPanel card1 = new JPanel(new BorderLayout());

        //####TOP FOR FRONT PAGE######
        JPanel top = new JPanel(new GridLayout(0,3));
        top.setPreferredSize(new Dimension(800,150));
        font = new Font("Arial", Font.BOLD, 18);
        JLabel topLeft = new JLabel("<html>123 Sycamore Street, Greensboro NC<br> 336-555-5555<br>"
                + "Open Monday-Friday, 9AM-5PM");
        topLeft.setFont(font);
        topLeft.setBorder(comp);
        top.add(topLeft);
        
        JLabel topCenter = new JLabel("Joe's Garage");
        font = new Font("Arial", Font.BOLD, 40);
        topCenter.setFont(font);
        topCenter.setBorder(comp);
        top.add(topCenter);
        
        font = new Font("Arial", Font.BOLD, 18);
        JLabel topRight = new JLabel(getTime());
        topRight.setFont(font);
        topRight.setBorder(comp);
        top.add(topRight);
      
        card1.add(top, BorderLayout.PAGE_START);
        
        //Username/password text boxes
        
        JPanel center = new JPanel(new GridLayout(2,2));
        JLabel loginLabel = new JLabel("Username");
        loginLabel.setFont(font);
        center.add(loginLabel);
        
        JTextArea loginText = new JTextArea(1,25);
        loginText.setMaximumSize(loginText.getPreferredSize() );
        center.add(loginText);
        
        JLabel passLabel = new JLabel("Password");
        passLabel.setFont(font);
        center.add(passLabel);
       
        JTextField passText = new JPasswordField(25);
        center.add(passText);
        
        card1.add(center, BorderLayout.CENTER);
        //Button Creation
      
        JPanel bottButtons = new JPanel(new GridLayout(0,2));
        
        JButton login = new JButton(LOGIN);
        login.setPreferredSize(new Dimension(100, 50));
        login.addActionListener(new LogInListener());
        bottButtons.add(login);
        
        JButton register = new JButton(REGISTER);
        register.setPreferredSize(new Dimension(100, 50));
        register.addActionListener(new RegisterListener());
        bottButtons.add(register);
        
        card1.add(bottButtons, BorderLayout.SOUTH);
        
        //######SECOND CARD############
        JPanel card2 = new JPanel();
        card2.add(new JLabel("Registration"));
        JTextArea nameArea = new JTextArea(2,20);
        JScrollPane namePane = new JScrollPane(nameArea);
        JScrollBar bar1 = namePane.getHorizontalScrollBar();
        bar1.setPreferredSize(new Dimension(0, 20));
        card2.add(namePane);
       

        //#########THIRD CARD##########
        JPanel card3 = new JPanel();
        card3.add(logout);

        //############FOURTH CARD#############
        //Create the panel that contains the "cards".
        cards = new JPanel(new CardLayout());
        cards.add(card1, MAIN);
        cards.add(card2, REGISTER);
        cards.add(card3, LOGIN);


        pane.add(cards, BorderLayout.CENTER);
    }

    
    @Override
    public void itemStateChanged(ItemEvent evt) {
        //CardLayout cl = (CardLayout) (cards.getLayout());
        //cl.show(cards, (String) evt.getItem());
    }

    private class LogInListener implements ActionListener {
        @Override
        public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e) {
            CardLayout cl = (CardLayout) (cards.getLayout());
            cl.show(cards, (String) e.getActionCommand());
        }
    }

    private class RegisterListener implements ActionListener {
        @Override
        public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e) {
            CardLayout cl = (CardLayout) (cards.getLayout());
            cl.show(cards, (String) e.getActionCommand());
        }
    }
    
    private class LogOutListener implements ActionListener {
        @Override
        public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e) {
            CardLayout cl = (CardLayout) (cards.getLayout());
            cl.show(cards, (String) e.getActionCommand());
        }
    }
   
    private String getTime() {
	   DateFormat dateFormat = new SimpleDateFormat("EEE, d MMM yyyy, h:mm a");
	   //get current date time with Date()
	   Date date = new Date();
	   String dateText = dateFormat.format(date);
	  
	   //get current date time with Calendar()
	   //Calendar cal = Calendar.getInstance();
	   //System.out.println(dateFormat.format(cal.getTime()));
           return dateText;
  }
}

I really don't want to use a "third party" layout, since I'm sure what I want is possible to achieve but I can't figure out how!
Any help would be greatly appreciated in achieving independently sized panels!

[Rob Camick]

I basically want a bar along the top that is invariant in size, and then components below that bar that may vary in size and be positioned in a a symmetric manner.

So you use the default BorderLayout of the JFrame.

Then to the BordLayout.PAGE_START, you add a panel containing the fixed size components.

Then to the BorderLayout.CENTER you add the panel using the CardLayout. Then each card you add to this panel you use the relevant layout manager or use nested panels with different layout managers.

You are never restricted to use a single layout manager for the frame.