Problem with Graphics and Screen Flicker when setting size of jpanel within jframe

[Johnny Stuart]

Hello,

I have jframe and am invoking a jpanel within it.  I am using setSize and setBounds.  When I invoke the jpanel (caseNewPanel), the screen and graphics flicker.  It is not a smooth transition between the smaller size of the jframe and the larger size of the jpanel.  Here is a snippet of my code:

private void jMenuItem_caseOpenActionPerformed(java.awt.event.ActionEvent evt) {                                                  
       caseNewPanel = new CaseNewPanel();
       this.setContentPane(caseNewPanel);
       this.setTitle("Case Menu");
       this.setSize(1183, 908);
       this.setBounds(5, 5, 1183, 908);
       this.invalidate(); this.validate();
       this.repaint();

I am new to this, so any help would be much appreciated.  Thank you.

[Carey Brown]

Johnny Stuart wrote:

private void jMenuItem_caseOpenActionPerformed(java.awt.event.ActionEvent evt) {                                                   
        caseNewPanel = new CaseNewPanel();
        this.setContentPane(caseNewPanel);
        this.setTitle("Case Menu");
        this.setSize(1183, 908);
        this.setBounds(5, 5, 1183, 908);
        this.invalidate(); this.validate();
        this.repaint();

A few comments:

Call setSize() or setBounds(), not both.

Calling setSize() or setBounds() already invalidates the container.

I don't think you need validate() but I might be wrong.

Don't use the keyword "this" in this instance.

When this ActionPerformed() medthod is called, are you really changing the size?

[Paul Clapham]

I'm not surprised you get flickering, since you're actually creating a new component and inserting it (I think) into the GUI. I can see how this would lead to major redrawing. Couldn't you just use the existing component?

[Paul Clapham]

And, welcome to the Ranch!

[Johnny Stuart]

Basically, I have several .java JPanel forms and I want to invoke them through a custom menu bar I made on the main JFrame.  I thought I had to invoke a new instance of them because I tried cardlayout method and it would not show the JPanels in the JFrame.  I am not sure why.  I want to ensure I maintain the menu bar at the top of the JFrame in each JPanel I invoke.  How do I invoke them without creating a new instance.  Here is some additional code from the main frame:

public class MainMenuFrame extends javax.swing.JFrame {
   
    private CaseNewPanel caseNewPanel;
    private CaseViewFrame caseViewFrame;
    private ClientNewPanel clientNewPanel;
    private ClientViewFrame clientViewFrame;
    private TimeNewPanel timeNewPanel;
    
    private FormPanel forms;
    private FilePanel files;
    private VendorNewPanel vendorNewPanel;
    private InvoiceNewPanel invoiceNewPanel;
    private ContractNewPanel contractNewPanel;
    
    private Font myClockFont;
    private final long hours;
    private final long minutes;
    private final long seconds;
    private final String oldTimeStamp;
    private long newHours;
    private long newMinutes;
    private long newSeconds;
    private String newTimeStamp;
    private long elapsedHours;
    private long elapsedMinutes;
    private long elapsedSeconds;
    private String ttlTime;
 
    /**
     * Creates new form NewJFrame
     */
    public MainMenuFrame() {
       
        initComponents();
       
        jmenuBar_mainMenu.setVisible(false);
       
        DateFormat dateFormat = new SimpleDateFormat("yyyy/MM/dd HH.mm.ss");
        Date date = new Date();
        jTextField_timeStamp.setText(dateFormat.format(date));
        oldTimeStamp = jTextField_timeStamp.getText();
        String delims = "[ /.]+";
        String tokens []= oldTimeStamp.split(delims);
        hours = Long.valueOf(tokens[3]);
        minutes = Long.valueOf(tokens[4]);
        seconds = Long.valueOf(tokens[5]);          
    }
    
    public static class Printer implements Printable {
    final Component comp;

    public Printer(Component comp){
        this.comp = comp;
    }

    @Override
    public int print(Graphics g, PageFormat format, int page_index) 
            throws PrinterException {
        if (page_index > 0) {
            return Printable.NO_SUCH_PAGE;
        }

        // get the bounds of the component
        Dimension dim = comp.getSize();
        double cHeight = dim.getHeight();
        double cWidth = dim.getWidth();

        // get the bounds of the printable area
        double pHeight = format.getImageableHeight();
        double pWidth = format.getImageableWidth();

        double pXStart = format.getImageableX();
        double pYStart = format.getImageableY();

        double xRatio = pWidth / cWidth;
        double yRatio = pHeight / cHeight;


        Graphics2D g2 = (Graphics2D) g;
        g2.translate(pXStart, pYStart);
        g2.scale(xRatio, yRatio);
        comp.paint(g2);

        return Printable.PAGE_EXISTS;
    }
}
     /**
     * This method is called from within the constructor to initialize the form.
     * WARNING: Do NOT modify this code. The content of this method is always
     * regenerated by the Form Editor.
     */
    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
    // <editor-fold defaultstate="collapsed" desc="Generated Code">                          
    private void initComponents() {

        jFileChooser_caseFile = new javax.swing.JFileChooser();
        jPanel_mainMenu = new javax.swing.JPanel();
        jLabel_logo = new javax.swing.JLabel();
        jPasswordField_passwordField = new javax.swing.JPasswordField();
        jButton_okPassword = new javax.swing.JButton();
        jTextField_timeStamp = new javax.swing.JTextField();
        jButton_stopTime = new javax.swing.JButton();
        jTextField_timeElapsed = new javax.swing.JTextField();
        jButton_reset = new javax.swing.JButton();
        jButton_exit = new javax.swing.JButton();
        jLabel_timeStamp = new javax.swing.JLabel();
        jmenuBar_mainMenu = new javax.swing.JMenuBar();
        jMenu_caseMenu = new javax.swing.JMenu();
        jMenuItem_caseOpen = new javax.swing.JMenuItem();
        jMenuItem_caseClose = new javax.swing.JMenuItem();
        jMenuItem_caseView = new javax.swing.JMenuItem();
        jMenuItem_casePrint = new javax.swing.JMenuItem();
        jMenu_clientMenu = new javax.swing.JMenu();
        jMenuItem_clientOpen = new javax.swing.JMenuItem();
        jMenuItem_clientClose = new javax.swing.JMenuItem();
        jMenuItem_clientView = new javax.swing.JMenuItem();
        jMenu_contractMenu = new javax.swing.JMenu();
        jMenuItem_contractOpen = new javax.swing.JMenuItem();
        jMenuItem_contractClose = new javax.swing.JMenuItem();
        jMenuItem_contractView = new javax.swing.JMenuItem();
        jMenu_taskMenu = new javax.swing.JMenu();
        jMenuItem_taskOpen = new javax.swing.JMenuItem();
        jMenuItem_taskClose = new javax.swing.JMenuItem();
        jMenuItem_taskView = new javax.swing.JMenuItem();
        jMenu_assetMenu = new javax.swing.JMenu();
        jMenuItem_assetOpen = new javax.swing.JMenuItem();
        jMenuItem_assetClose = new javax.swing.JMenuItem();
        jMenuItem_assetView = new javax.swing.JMenuItem();
        jMenu_inventoryMenu = new javax.swing.JMenu();
        jMenuItem_inventoryOpen = new javax.swing.JMenuItem();
        jMenuItem_inventoryClose = new javax.swing.JMenuItem();
        jMenuItem_inventoryView = new javax.swing.JMenuItem();
        jMenu_invoiceMenu = new javax.swing.JMenu();
        jMenuItem_invoiceOpen = new javax.swing.JMenuItem();
        jMenuItem_invoiceClose = new javax.swing.JMenuItem();
        jMenuItem_invoiceView = new javax.swing.JMenuItem();
        jMenu_financeMenu = new javax.swing.JMenu();
        jMenu_revenue = new javax.swing.JMenu();
        jMenuItem_saleOpen = new javax.swing.JMenuItem();
        jMenuItem_saleClose = new javax.swing.JMenuItem();
        jMenuItem_saleView = new javax.swing.JMenuItem();
        jMenu_expenseMenu = new javax.swing.JMenu();
        jMenuItem_expenseOpen = new javax.swing.JMenuItem();
        jMenuItem_expenseClose = new javax.swing.JMenuItem();
        jMenuItem_expenseView = new javax.swing.JMenuItem();
        jMenu_taxMenu = new javax.swing.JMenu();
        jMenuItem_federalTax = new javax.swing.JMenuItem();
        jMenuItem_stateTax = new javax.swing.JMenuItem();
        jMenuItem_salesTax = new javax.swing.JMenuItem();
        jMenu_vendorMenu = new javax.swing.JMenu();
        jMenuItem_vendorOpen = new javax.swing.JMenuItem();
        jMenuItem_vendorClose = new javax.swing.JMenuItem();
        jMenuItem_vendorView = new javax.swing.JMenuItem();
        jMenu_fileMenu = new javax.swing.JMenu();
        jMenuItem_fileOpen = new javax.swing.JMenuItem();
        jMenu_formMenu = new javax.swing.JMenu();
        jMenuItem_formOpen = new javax.swing.JMenuItem();
        jMenu_timeMenu = new javax.swing.JMenu();
        jMenuItem_timeOpen = new javax.swing.JMenuItem();
        jMenuItem_timeClose = new javax.swing.JMenuItem();
        jMenuItem_timeView = new javax.swing.JMenuItem();

        jFileChooser_caseFile.setDialogTitle("This Opens up a Case");

        setDefaultCloseOperation(javax.swing.WindowConstants.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
        setBounds(new java.awt.Rectangle(300, 300, 560, 300));
        setCursor(new java.awt.Cursor(java.awt.Cursor.DEFAULT_CURSOR));
        setName("MainMenuFrame"); // NOI18N

        jPanel_mainMenu.setBackground(new java.awt.Color(255, 255, 255));

        jLabel_logo.setBackground(new java.awt.Color(255, 255, 255));
        jLabel_logo.setIcon(new javax.swing.ImageIcon(getClass().getResource("/Images/CTF_Logo2.svg.png"))); // NOI18N
        jLabel_logo.setBorder(new javax.swing.border.SoftBevelBorder(javax.swing.border.BevelBorder.RAISED));

        jPasswordField_passwordField.setText("jPassw1>>>>>>>>>");

        jButton_okPassword.setText("ENTER");
        jButton_okPassword.addActionListener(new java.awt.event.ActionListener() {
            public void actionPerformed(java.awt.event.ActionEvent evt) {
                jButton_okPasswordActionPerformed(evt);
            }
        });

        jButton_stopTime.setText("Time Elapsed");
        jButton_stopTime.addActionListener(new java.awt.event.ActionListener() {
            public void actionPerformed(java.awt.event.ActionEvent evt) {
                jButton_stopTimeActionPerformed(evt);
            }
        });

        jButton_reset.setText("Reset Time");
        jButton_reset.addActionListener(new java.awt.event.ActionListener() {
            public void actionPerformed(java.awt.event.ActionEvent evt) {
                jButton_resetActionPerformed(evt);
            }
        });

        jButton_exit.setText("EXIT");
        jButton_exit.addMouseListener(new java.awt.event.MouseAdapter() {
            public void mouseClicked(java.awt.event.MouseEvent evt) {
                jButton_exitMouseClicked(evt);
            }
        });

        jLabel_timeStamp.setText("Time Stamp");

        javax.swing.GroupLayout jPanel_mainMenuLayout = new javax.swing.GroupLayout(jPanel_mainMenu);
        jPanel_mainMenu.setLayout(jPanel_mainMenuLayout);
        jPanel_mainMenuLayout.setHorizontalGroup(
            jPanel_mainMenuLayout.createParallelGroup(javax.swing.GroupLayout.Alignment.LEADING)
            .addGroup(jPanel_mainMenuLayout.createSequentialGroup()
                .addContainerGap()
                .addGroup(jPanel_mainMenuLayout.createParallelGroup(javax.swing.GroupLayout.Alignment.LEADING)
                    .addComponent(jLabel_logo, javax.swing.GroupLayout.DEFAULT_SIZE, 536, Short.MAX_VALUE)
                    .addGroup(jPanel_mainMenuLayout.createSequentialGroup()
                        .addGroup(jPanel_mainMenuLayout.createParallelGroup(javax.swing.GroupLayout.Alignment.LEADING)
                            .addGroup(jPanel_mainMenuLayout.createSequentialGroup()
                                .addComponent(jButton_exit, javax.swing.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE, 78, javax.swing.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE)
                                .addPreferredGap(javax.swing.LayoutStyle.ComponentPlacement.RELATED, javax.swing.GroupLayout.DEFAULT_SIZE, Short.MAX_VALUE)
                                .addComponent(jButton_stopTime)
                                .addPreferredGap(javax.swing.LayoutStyle.ComponentPlacement.UNRELATED)
                                .addComponent(jTextField_timeElapsed, javax.swing.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE, 77, javax.swing.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE)
                                .addPreferredGap(javax.swing.LayoutStyle.ComponentPlacement.UNRELATED)
                                .addComponent(jButton_reset, javax.swing.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE, 95, javax.swing.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE))
                            .addGroup(javax.swing.GroupLayout.Alignment.TRAILING, jPanel_mainMenuLayout.createSequentialGroup()
                                .addComponent(jPasswordField_passwordField, javax.swing.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE, 1, Short.MAX_VALUE)
                                .addPreferredGap(javax.swing.LayoutStyle.ComponentPlacement.UNRELATED)
                                .addComponent(jButton_okPassword)
                                .addGap(120, 120, 120)
                                .addComponent(jLabel_timeStamp, javax.swing.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE, 69, javax.swing.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE)
                                .addPreferredGap(javax.swing.LayoutStyle.ComponentPlacement.RELATED)
                                .addComponent(jTextField_timeStamp, javax.swing.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE, 150, javax.swing.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE)))
                        .addContainerGap())))
        );
        jPanel_mainMenuLayout.setVerticalGroup(
            jPanel_mainMenuLayout.createParallelGroup(javax.swing.GroupLayout.Alignment.LEADING)
            .addGroup(javax.swing.GroupLayout.Alignment.TRAILING, jPanel_mainMenuLayout.createSequentialGroup()
                .addComponent(jLabel_logo, javax.swing.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE, 205, javax.swing.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE)
                .addGap(18, 18, 18)
                .addGroup(jPanel_mainMenuLayout.createParallelGroup(javax.swing.GroupLayout.Alignment.BASELINE)
                    .addComponent(jButton_okPassword)
                    .addComponent(jPasswordField_passwordField, javax.swing.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE, javax.swing.GroupLayout.DEFAULT_SIZE, javax.swing.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE)
                    .addComponent(jLabel_timeStamp)
                    .addComponent(jTextField_timeStamp, javax.swing.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE, javax.swing.GroupLayout.DEFAULT_SIZE, javax.swing.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE))
                .addPreferredGap(javax.swing.LayoutStyle.ComponentPlacement.UNRELATED)
                .addGroup(jPanel_mainMenuLayout.createParallelGroup(javax.swing.GroupLayout.Alignment.BASELINE)
                    .addComponent(jButton_reset)
                    .addComponent(jTextField_timeElapsed, javax.swing.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE, javax.swing.GroupLayout.DEFAULT_SIZE, javax.swing.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE)
                    .addComponent(jButton_stopTime)
                    .addComponent(jButton_exit))
                .addContainerGap(javax.swing.GroupLayout.DEFAULT_SIZE, Short.MAX_VALUE))
        );

        jmenuBar_mainMenu.setBorder(javax.swing.BorderFactory.createBevelBorder(javax.swing.border.BevelBorder.RAISED));
        jmenuBar_mainMenu.setToolTipText("");

        jMenu_caseMenu.setText("Case");
        jMenu_caseMenu.addActionListener(new java.awt.event.ActionListener() {
            public void actionPerformed(java.awt.event.ActionEvent evt) {
                jMenu_caseMenuActionPerformed(evt);
            }
        });

        jMenuItem_caseOpen.setText("Open");
        jMenuItem_caseOpen.addActionListener(new java.awt.event.ActionListener() {
            public void actionPerformed(java.awt.event.ActionEvent evt) {
                jMenuItem_caseOpenActionPerformed(evt);
            }
        });
        jMenu_caseMenu.add(jMenuItem_caseOpen);

        jMenuItem_caseClose.setText("Close");
        jMenuItem_caseClose.addActionListener(new java.awt.event.ActionListener() {
            public void actionPerformed(java.awt.event.ActionEvent evt) {
                jMenuItem_caseCloseActionPerformed(evt);
            }
        });
        jMenu_caseMenu.add(jMenuItem_caseClose);

        jMenuItem_caseView.setText("View All");
        jMenuItem_caseView.addActionListener(new java.awt.event.ActionListener() {
            public void actionPerformed(java.awt.event.ActionEvent evt) {
                jMenuItem_caseViewActionPerformed(evt);
            }
        });
        jMenu_caseMenu.add(jMenuItem_caseView);

        jMenuItem_casePrint.setText("Print ");
        jMenuItem_casePrint.addActionListener(new java.awt.event.ActionListener() {
            public void actionPerformed(java.awt.event.ActionEvent evt) {
                jMenuItem_casePrintActionPerformed(evt);
            }
        });
        jMenu_caseMenu.add(jMenuItem_casePrint);

        jmenuBar_mainMenu.add(jMenu_caseMenu);

        jMenu_clientMenu.setText("Client");

        jMenuItem_clientOpen.setText("Open");
        jMenuItem_clientOpen.addActionListener(new java.awt.event.ActionListener() {
            public void actionPerformed(java.awt.event.ActionEvent evt) {
                jMenuItem_clientOpenActionPerformed(evt);
            }
        });
        jMenu_clientMenu.add(jMenuItem_clientOpen);

        jMenuItem_clientClose.setText("Close");
        jMenuItem_clientClose.addActionListener(new java.awt.event.ActionListener() {
            public void actionPerformed(java.awt.event.ActionEvent evt) {
                jMenuItem_clientCloseActionPerformed(evt);
            }
        });
        jMenu_clientMenu.add(jMenuItem_clientClose);

        jMenuItem_clientView.setText("View All");
        jMenuItem_clientView.addActionListener(new java.awt.event.ActionListener() {
            public void actionPerformed(java.awt.event.ActionEvent evt) {
                jMenuItem_clientViewActionPerformed(evt);
            }
        });
        jMenu_clientMenu.add(jMenuItem_clientView);

        jmenuBar_mainMenu.add(jMenu_clientMenu);

        jMenu_contractMenu.setText("Contract");

        jMenuItem_contractOpen.setText("Open");
        jMenuItem_contractOpen.addActionListener(new java.awt.event.ActionListener() {
            public void actionPerformed(java.awt.event.ActionEvent evt) {
                jMenuItem_contractOpenActionPerformed(evt);
            }
        });
        jMenu_contractMenu.add(jMenuItem_contractOpen);

        jMenuItem_contractClose.setText("Close");
        jMenuItem_contractClose.addActionListener(new java.awt.event.ActionListener() {
            public void actionPerformed(java.awt.event.ActionEvent evt) {
                jMenuItem_contractCloseActionPerformed(evt);
            }
        });
        jMenu_contractMenu.add(jMenuItem_contractClose);

        jMenuItem_contractView.setText("View All");
        jMenu_contractMenu.add(jMenuItem_contractView);

        jmenuBar_mainMenu.add(jMenu_contractMenu);

        jMenu_taskMenu.setText("Task");

        jMenuItem_taskOpen.setText("Open");
        jMenu_taskMenu.add(jMenuItem_taskOpen);

        jMenuItem_taskClose.setText("Close");
        jMenu_taskMenu.add(jMenuItem_taskClose);

        jMenuItem_taskView.setText("View All");
        jMenu_taskMenu.add(jMenuItem_taskView);

        jmenuBar_mainMenu.add(jMenu_taskMenu);

        jMenu_assetMenu.setText("Asset");

        jMenuItem_assetOpen.setText("Open");
        jMenu_assetMenu.add(jMenuItem_assetOpen);

        jMenuItem_assetClose.setText("Close");
        jMenu_assetMenu.add(jMenuItem_assetClose);

        jMenuItem_assetView.setText("View All");
        jMenu_assetMenu.add(jMenuItem_assetView);

        jmenuBar_mainMenu.add(jMenu_assetMenu);

        jMenu_inventoryMenu.setText("Inventory");

        jMenuItem_inventoryOpen.setText("Open");
        jMenu_inventoryMenu.add(jMenuItem_inventoryOpen);

        jMenuItem_inventoryClose.setText("Close");
        jMenuItem_inventoryClose.addActionListener(new java.awt.event.ActionListener() {
            public void actionPerformed(java.awt.event.ActionEvent evt) {
                jMenuItem_inventoryCloseActionPerformed(evt);
            }
        });
        jMenu_inventoryMenu.add(jMenuItem_inventoryClose);

        jMenuItem_inventoryView.setText("View All");
        jMenu_inventoryMenu.add(jMenuItem_inventoryView);

        jmenuBar_mainMenu.add(jMenu_inventoryMenu);

        jMenu_invoiceMenu.setText("Invoice");

        jMenuItem_invoiceOpen.setText("Open");
        jMenuItem_invoiceOpen.addActionListener(new java.awt.event.ActionListener() {
            public void actionPerformed(java.awt.event.ActionEvent evt) {
                jMenuItem_invoiceOpenActionPerformed(evt);
            }
        });
        jMenu_invoiceMenu.add(jMenuItem_invoiceOpen);

        jMenuItem_invoiceClose.setText("Close");
        jMenuItem_invoiceClose.addActionListener(new java.awt.event.ActionListener() {
            public void actionPerformed(java.awt.event.ActionEvent evt) {
                jMenuItem_invoiceCloseActionPerformed(evt);
            }
        });
        jMenu_invoiceMenu.add(jMenuItem_invoiceClose);

        jMenuItem_invoiceView.setText("View All");
        jMenu_invoiceMenu.add(jMenuItem_invoiceView);

        jmenuBar_mainMenu.add(jMenu_invoiceMenu);

        jMenu_financeMenu.setText("Finance");

        jMenu_revenue.setText("Revenue");

        jMenuItem_saleOpen.setText("Open");
        jMenu_revenue.add(jMenuItem_saleOpen);

        jMenuItem_saleClose.setText("Close");
        jMenu_revenue.add(jMenuItem_saleClose);

        jMenuItem_saleView.setText("View");
        jMenu_revenue.add(jMenuItem_saleView);

        jMenu_financeMenu.add(jMenu_revenue);

        jMenu_expenseMenu.setText("Expense");

        jMenuItem_expenseOpen.setText("Open");
        jMenu_expenseMenu.add(jMenuItem_expenseOpen);

        jMenuItem_expenseClose.setText("Close");
        jMenu_expenseMenu.add(jMenuItem_expenseClose);

        jMenuItem_expenseView.setText("View");
        jMenu_expenseMenu.add(jMenuItem_expenseView);

        jMenu_financeMenu.add(jMenu_expenseMenu);

        jmenuBar_mainMenu.add(jMenu_financeMenu);

        jMenu_taxMenu.setText("Tax");

        jMenuItem_federalTax.setText("Federal");
        jMenu_taxMenu.add(jMenuItem_federalTax);

        jMenuItem_stateTax.setText("State");
        jMenu_taxMenu.add(jMenuItem_stateTax);

        jMenuItem_salesTax.setText("Sales");
        jMenu_taxMenu.add(jMenuItem_salesTax);

        jmenuBar_mainMenu.add(jMenu_taxMenu);

        jMenu_vendorMenu.setText("Vendor");

        jMenuItem_vendorOpen.setText("Open");
        jMenuItem_vendorOpen.addActionListener(new java.awt.event.ActionListener() {
            public void actionPerformed(java.awt.event.ActionEvent evt) {
                jMenuItem_vendorOpenActionPerformed(evt);
            }
        });
        jMenu_vendorMenu.add(jMenuItem_vendorOpen);

        jMenuItem_vendorClose.setText("Close");
        jMenu_vendorMenu.add(jMenuItem_vendorClose);

        jMenuItem_vendorView.setText("View All");
        jMenu_vendorMenu.add(jMenuItem_vendorView);

        jmenuBar_mainMenu.add(jMenu_vendorMenu);

        jMenu_fileMenu.setText("Files");

        jMenuItem_fileOpen.setText("Open");
        jMenuItem_fileOpen.addActionListener(new java.awt.event.ActionListener() {
            public void actionPerformed(java.awt.event.ActionEvent evt) {
                jMenuItem_fileOpenActionPerformed(evt);
            }
        });
        jMenu_fileMenu.add(jMenuItem_fileOpen);

        jmenuBar_mainMenu.add(jMenu_fileMenu);

        jMenu_formMenu.setText("Forms");

        jMenuItem_formOpen.setText("Open");
        jMenuItem_formOpen.addActionListener(new java.awt.event.ActionListener() {
            public void actionPerformed(java.awt.event.ActionEvent evt) {
                jMenuItem_formOpenActionPerformed(evt);
            }
        });
        jMenu_formMenu.add(jMenuItem_formOpen);

        jmenuBar_mainMenu.add(jMenu_formMenu);

        jMenu_timeMenu.setText("Time");

        jMenuItem_timeOpen.setText("Open");
        jMenuItem_timeOpen.addActionListener(new java.awt.event.ActionListener() {
            public void actionPerformed(java.awt.event.ActionEvent evt) {
                jMenuItem_timeOpenActionPerformed(evt);
            }
        });
        jMenu_timeMenu.add(jMenuItem_timeOpen);

        jMenuItem_timeClose.setText("Close");
        jMenuItem_timeClose.addActionListener(new java.awt.event.ActionListener() {
            public void actionPerformed(java.awt.event.ActionEvent evt) {
                jMenuItem_timeCloseActionPerformed(evt);
            }
        });
        jMenu_timeMenu.add(jMenuItem_timeClose);

        jMenuItem_timeView.setText("View All");
        jMenuItem_timeView.addActionListener(new java.awt.event.ActionListener() {
            public void actionPerformed(java.awt.event.ActionEvent evt) {
                jMenuItem_timeViewActionPerformed(evt);
            }
        });
        jMenu_timeMenu.add(jMenuItem_timeView);

        jmenuBar_mainMenu.add(jMenu_timeMenu);

        setJMenuBar(jmenuBar_mainMenu);

        javax.swing.GroupLayout layout = new javax.swing.GroupLayout(getContentPane());
        getContentPane().setLayout(layout);
        layout.setHorizontalGroup(
            layout.createParallelGroup(javax.swing.GroupLayout.Alignment.LEADING)
            .addComponent(jPanel_mainMenu, javax.swing.GroupLayout.Alignment.TRAILING, javax.swing.GroupLayout.DEFAULT_SIZE, javax.swing.GroupLayout.DEFAULT_SIZE, Short.MAX_VALUE)
        );
        layout.setVerticalGroup(
            layout.createParallelGroup(javax.swing.GroupLayout.Alignment.LEADING)
            .addComponent(jPanel_mainMenu, javax.swing.GroupLayout.DEFAULT_SIZE, javax.swing.GroupLayout.DEFAULT_SIZE, Short.MAX_VALUE)
        );

        pack();
    }// </editor-fold>                        

    private void jMenuItem_caseOpenActionPerformed(java.awt.event.ActionEvent evt) {                                                   
        caseNewPanel = new CaseNewPanel();
        this.setContentPane(caseNewPanel);
        this.setTitle("Case Menu");
        this.setSize(1183, 908);
        this.setBounds(5, 5, 1183, 908);
        this.invalidate(); this.validate();
        this.repaint();
        
      
       
    }                                                  

    private void jButton_exitMouseClicked(java.awt.event.MouseEvent evt) {                                          
        System.exit(0);   
    }                                         

    private void jMenuItem_caseCloseActionPerformed(java.awt.event.ActionEvent evt) {                                                    
        this.caseNewPanel.setVisible(false);
        this.setContentPane(jPanel_mainMenu);
        this.jPanel_mainMenu.setVisible(true);
        this.setSize(567,358);
        this.setBounds(300, 300, 567,358);
        this.invalidate(); this.validate();
        this.repaint();    
    }                                                   

    private void jMenuItem_inventoryCloseActionPerformed(java.awt.event.ActionEvent evt) {                                                         
        // TODO add your handling code here:
    }                                                        

    private void jMenuItem_timeOpenActionPerformed(java.awt.event.ActionEvent evt) {                                                   
        timeNewPanel = new TimeNewPanel();
        this.setContentPane(timeNewPanel);
        timeNewPanel.setVisible(true);
        this.setTitle("Time Menu");
        this.setSize(625, 820);
        this.setBounds(5, 5, 625, 820);
        this.invalidate(); this.validate();
        this.repaint();      
    }                                                  

[Johnny Stuart]

Oh, and I will call setbounds instead of calling both setsize and setbounds......when I rewrite.

[Paul Clapham]

Johnny Stuart wrote:I tried cardlayout method and it would not show the JPanels in the JFrame.  I am not sure why.

It sounds to me like CardLayout would be the right thing to use. So I would suggest experimenting with CardLayout a bit more until you get it working. Here's a link to the CardLayout tutorial: How to Use CardLayout.

But don't try to use your existing code for that experimenting. There's way too much irrelevant stuff in it, and it's just going to get in the way. So put that code aside and start afresh with a small program. You'll only need two JPanel objects to make sure you know how to alternate between displaying the two of them. Once you get the idea of how to work with CardLayout, then go back to your existing code and modify it to use a CardLayout.

[Johnny Stuart]

Ok, thank you for the suggestion.