Getting started with GUI Swing?

[alexe john]

Hi all I'm an intermediate programmer java I want to ask what I should learn to start programming swing ??

[Vasyl Lyashkevych]

If you want to be able to do something like that, I think yes. It's reasonable because you will learn the working with different types of layouts and so on.

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package gui_forms;
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public class ContactEditor extends javax.swing.JFrame {
    
    /**
     * Creates new form ContactEditor
     */
    public ContactEditor() {
        initComponents();
    }
    
    /** 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.
     */
    // <editor-fold defaultstate="collapsed" desc=" Generated Code ">//GEN-BEGIN:initComponents
    private void initComponents() {
        buttonGroup1 = new javax.swing.ButtonGroup();
        jPanel1 = new javax.swing.JPanel();
        jLabel1 = new javax.swing.JLabel();
        jLabel2 = new javax.swing.JLabel();
        jTextField1 = new javax.swing.JTextField();
        jTextField2 = new javax.swing.JTextField();
        jLabel3 = new javax.swing.JLabel();
        jTextField3 = new javax.swing.JTextField();
        jLabel4 = new javax.swing.JLabel();
        jTextField4 = new javax.swing.JTextField();
        jLabel5 = new javax.swing.JLabel();
        jComboBox1 = new javax.swing.JComboBox();
        jPanel2 = new javax.swing.JPanel();
        jLabel6 = new javax.swing.JLabel();
        jTextField5 = new javax.swing.JTextField();
        jScrollPane1 = new javax.swing.JScrollPane();
        jList1 = new javax.swing.JList();
        jButton1 = new javax.swing.JButton();
        jButton2 = new javax.swing.JButton();
        jButton3 = new javax.swing.JButton();
        jButton4 = new javax.swing.JButton();
        jLabel7 = new javax.swing.JLabel();
        jRadioButton1 = new javax.swing.JRadioButton();
        jRadioButton2 = new javax.swing.JRadioButton();
        jRadioButton3 = new javax.swing.JRadioButton();
        jButton5 = new javax.swing.JButton();
        jButton6 = new javax.swing.JButton();

        setDefaultCloseOperation(javax.swing.WindowConstants.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
        setTitle("E-mail Contacts");
        jPanel1.setBorder(javax.swing.BorderFactory.createTitledBorder(" Name "));
        jLabel1.setText("First Name:");

        jLabel2.setText("Last Name:");

        jTextField1.setText("John");

        jTextField2.setText("Guy");

        jLabel3.setText("Title:");

        jTextField3.setText("Prof, DrSC");

        jLabel4.setText("Nickname:");

        jTextField4.setText("gui-master");

        jLabel5.setText("Display Format:");

        jComboBox1.setModel(new javax.swing.DefaultComboBoxModel(new String[] { "[Nickname]  First_Name + Last_Name" }));

        org.jdesktop.layout.GroupLayout jPanel1Layout = new org.jdesktop.layout.GroupLayout(jPanel1);
        jPanel1.setLayout(jPanel1Layout);
        jPanel1Layout.setHorizontalGroup(
            jPanel1Layout.createParallelGroup(org.jdesktop.layout.GroupLayout.LEADING)
            .add(org.jdesktop.layout.GroupLayout.LEADING, jPanel1Layout.createSequentialGroup()
                .addContainerGap()
                .add(jPanel1Layout.createParallelGroup(org.jdesktop.layout.GroupLayout.TRAILING)
                    .add(jLabel5)
                    .add(jLabel3)
                    .add(jLabel1))
                .addPreferredGap(org.jdesktop.layout.LayoutStyle.RELATED)
                .add(jPanel1Layout.createParallelGroup(org.jdesktop.layout.GroupLayout.LEADING)
                    .add(org.jdesktop.layout.GroupLayout.LEADING, jPanel1Layout.createSequentialGroup()
                        .add(jPanel1Layout.createParallelGroup(org.jdesktop.layout.GroupLayout.LEADING)
                            .add(jTextField3, org.jdesktop.layout.GroupLayout.DEFAULT_SIZE, 157, Short.MAX_VALUE)
                            .add(org.jdesktop.layout.GroupLayout.TRAILING, jTextField1, org.jdesktop.layout.GroupLayout.DEFAULT_SIZE, 157, Short.MAX_VALUE))
                        .addPreferredGap(org.jdesktop.layout.LayoutStyle.RELATED)
                        .add(jPanel1Layout.createParallelGroup(org.jdesktop.layout.GroupLayout.TRAILING)
                            .add(jLabel2)
                            .add(jLabel4))
                        .addPreferredGap(org.jdesktop.layout.LayoutStyle.RELATED)
                        .add(jPanel1Layout.createParallelGroup(org.jdesktop.layout.GroupLayout.LEADING)
                            .add(jTextField2, org.jdesktop.layout.GroupLayout.DEFAULT_SIZE, 157, Short.MAX_VALUE)
                            .add(jTextField4, org.jdesktop.layout.GroupLayout.DEFAULT_SIZE, 157, Short.MAX_VALUE)))
                    .add(jComboBox1, org.jdesktop.layout.GroupLayout.DEFAULT_SIZE, 376, Short.MAX_VALUE))
                .addContainerGap())
        );
        jPanel1Layout.setVerticalGroup(
            jPanel1Layout.createParallelGroup(org.jdesktop.layout.GroupLayout.LEADING)
            .add(org.jdesktop.layout.GroupLayout.LEADING, jPanel1Layout.createSequentialGroup()
                .add(jPanel1Layout.createParallelGroup(org.jdesktop.layout.GroupLayout.BASELINE)
                    .add(jLabel1)
                    .add(jTextField2, org.jdesktop.layout.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE, org.jdesktop.layout.GroupLayout.DEFAULT_SIZE, org.jdesktop.layout.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE)
                    .add(jTextField1, org.jdesktop.layout.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE, org.jdesktop.layout.GroupLayout.DEFAULT_SIZE, org.jdesktop.layout.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE)
                    .add(jLabel2))
                .addPreferredGap(org.jdesktop.layout.LayoutStyle.RELATED)
                .add(jPanel1Layout.createParallelGroup(org.jdesktop.layout.GroupLayout.BASELINE)
                    .add(jLabel3)
                    .add(jTextField4, org.jdesktop.layout.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE, org.jdesktop.layout.GroupLayout.DEFAULT_SIZE, org.jdesktop.layout.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE)
                    .add(jLabel4)
                    .add(jTextField3, org.jdesktop.layout.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE, org.jdesktop.layout.GroupLayout.DEFAULT_SIZE, org.jdesktop.layout.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE))
                .addPreferredGap(org.jdesktop.layout.LayoutStyle.RELATED)
                .add(jPanel1Layout.createParallelGroup(org.jdesktop.layout.GroupLayout.BASELINE)
                    .add(jLabel5)
                    .add(jComboBox1, org.jdesktop.layout.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE, org.jdesktop.layout.GroupLayout.DEFAULT_SIZE, org.jdesktop.layout.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE))
                .addContainerGap(org.jdesktop.layout.GroupLayout.DEFAULT_SIZE, Short.MAX_VALUE))
        );

        jPanel2.setBorder(javax.swing.BorderFactory.createTitledBorder(" E-mail "));
        jLabel6.setText("E-mail Address:");

        jList1.setModel(new javax.swing.AbstractListModel() {
            String[] strings = { "[e-mail]", "[e-mail]" };
            public int getSize() { return strings.length; }
            public Object getElementAt(int i) { return strings[i]; }
        });
        jScrollPane1.setViewportView(jList1);

        jButton1.setText("Add");

        jButton2.setText("Edit");

        jButton3.setText("Remove");

        jButton4.setText("Default");

        jLabel7.setText("Mail Format:");

        buttonGroup1.add(jRadioButton1);
        jRadioButton1.setSelected(true);
        jRadioButton1.setText("HTML");
        jRadioButton1.setBorder(javax.swing.BorderFactory.createEmptyBorder(0, 0, 0, 0));
        jRadioButton1.setMargin(new java.awt.Insets(0, 0, 0, 0));

        buttonGroup1.add(jRadioButton2);
        jRadioButton2.setText("Plain Text");
        jRadioButton2.setBorder(javax.swing.BorderFactory.createEmptyBorder(0, 0, 0, 0));
        jRadioButton2.setMargin(new java.awt.Insets(0, 0, 0, 0));

        buttonGroup1.add(jRadioButton3);
        jRadioButton3.setText("Custom");
        jRadioButton3.setBorder(javax.swing.BorderFactory.createEmptyBorder(0, 0, 0, 0));
        jRadioButton3.setMargin(new java.awt.Insets(0, 0, 0, 0));

        org.jdesktop.layout.GroupLayout jPanel2Layout = new org.jdesktop.layout.GroupLayout(jPanel2);
        jPanel2.setLayout(jPanel2Layout);
        jPanel2Layout.setHorizontalGroup(
            jPanel2Layout.createParallelGroup(org.jdesktop.layout.GroupLayout.LEADING)
            .add(org.jdesktop.layout.GroupLayout.LEADING, jPanel2Layout.createSequentialGroup()
                .addContainerGap()
                .add(jPanel2Layout.createParallelGroup(org.jdesktop.layout.GroupLayout.LEADING)
                    .add(org.jdesktop.layout.GroupLayout.LEADING, jPanel2Layout.createSequentialGroup()
                        .add(12, 12, 12)
                        .add(jRadioButton1)
                        .addPreferredGap(org.jdesktop.layout.LayoutStyle.RELATED)
                        .add(jRadioButton2)
                        .addPreferredGap(org.jdesktop.layout.LayoutStyle.RELATED)
                        .add(jRadioButton3))
                    .add(org.jdesktop.layout.GroupLayout.LEADING, jPanel2Layout.createSequentialGroup()
                        .add(jPanel2Layout.createParallelGroup(org.jdesktop.layout.GroupLayout.LEADING)
                            .add(org.jdesktop.layout.GroupLayout.LEADING, jPanel2Layout.createSequentialGroup()
                                .add(jLabel6)
                                .addPreferredGap(org.jdesktop.layout.LayoutStyle.RELATED)
                                .add(jTextField5, org.jdesktop.layout.GroupLayout.DEFAULT_SIZE, 298, Short.MAX_VALUE))
                            .add(jScrollPane1, org.jdesktop.layout.GroupLayout.DEFAULT_SIZE, 376, Short.MAX_VALUE))
                        .addPreferredGap(org.jdesktop.layout.LayoutStyle.RELATED)
                        .add(jPanel2Layout.createParallelGroup(org.jdesktop.layout.GroupLayout.LEADING)
                            .add(jButton2)
                            .add(jButton1)
                            .add(jButton3)
                            .add(jButton4)))
                    .add(jLabel7))
                .addContainerGap())
        );

        jPanel2Layout.linkSize(new java.awt.Component[] {jButton1, jButton2, jButton3, jButton4}, org.jdesktop.layout.GroupLayout.HORIZONTAL);

        jPanel2Layout.setVerticalGroup(
            jPanel2Layout.createParallelGroup(org.jdesktop.layout.GroupLayout.LEADING)
            .add(org.jdesktop.layout.GroupLayout.LEADING, jPanel2Layout.createSequentialGroup()
                .add(jPanel2Layout.createParallelGroup(org.jdesktop.layout.GroupLayout.BASELINE)
                    .add(jLabel6)
                    .add(jTextField5, org.jdesktop.layout.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE, org.jdesktop.layout.GroupLayout.DEFAULT_SIZE, org.jdesktop.layout.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE)
                    .add(jButton1))
                .addPreferredGap(org.jdesktop.layout.LayoutStyle.RELATED)
                .add(jPanel2Layout.createParallelGroup(org.jdesktop.layout.GroupLayout.LEADING)
                    .add(org.jdesktop.layout.GroupLayout.LEADING, jPanel2Layout.createSequentialGroup()
                        .add(jButton2)
                        .addPreferredGap(org.jdesktop.layout.LayoutStyle.RELATED)
                        .add(jButton3)
                        .addPreferredGap(org.jdesktop.layout.LayoutStyle.RELATED)
                        .add(jButton4))
                    .add(jScrollPane1, 0, 81, Short.MAX_VALUE))
                .addPreferredGap(org.jdesktop.layout.LayoutStyle.RELATED)
                .add(jLabel7)
                .addPreferredGap(org.jdesktop.layout.LayoutStyle.RELATED)
                .add(jPanel2Layout.createParallelGroup(org.jdesktop.layout.GroupLayout.BASELINE)
                    .add(jRadioButton1)
                    .add(jRadioButton2)
                    .add(jRadioButton3))
                .addContainerGap())
        );

        jButton5.setText("Cancel");

        jButton6.setText("OK");

        org.jdesktop.layout.GroupLayout layout = new org.jdesktop.layout.GroupLayout(getContentPane());
        getContentPane().setLayout(layout);
        layout.setHorizontalGroup(
            layout.createParallelGroup(org.jdesktop.layout.GroupLayout.LEADING)
            .add(org.jdesktop.layout.GroupLayout.LEADING, layout.createSequentialGroup()
                .addContainerGap()
                .add(layout.createParallelGroup(org.jdesktop.layout.GroupLayout.LEADING)
                    .add(org.jdesktop.layout.GroupLayout.TRAILING, layout.createSequentialGroup()
                        .add(jButton6)
                        .addPreferredGap(org.jdesktop.layout.LayoutStyle.RELATED)
                        .add(jButton5))
                    .add(jPanel1, 0, org.jdesktop.layout.GroupLayout.DEFAULT_SIZE, Short.MAX_VALUE)
                    .add(org.jdesktop.layout.GroupLayout.TRAILING, jPanel2))
                .addContainerGap())
        );

        layout.linkSize(new java.awt.Component[] {jButton5, jButton6}, org.jdesktop.layout.GroupLayout.HORIZONTAL);

        layout.setVerticalGroup(
            layout.createParallelGroup(org.jdesktop.layout.GroupLayout.LEADING)
            .add(org.jdesktop.layout.GroupLayout.LEADING, layout.createSequentialGroup()
                .addContainerGap()
                .add(jPanel1, org.jdesktop.layout.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE, org.jdesktop.layout.GroupLayout.DEFAULT_SIZE, org.jdesktop.layout.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE)
                .addPreferredGap(org.jdesktop.layout.LayoutStyle.RELATED)
                .add(jPanel2)
                .addPreferredGap(org.jdesktop.layout.LayoutStyle.RELATED)
                .add(layout.createParallelGroup(org.jdesktop.layout.GroupLayout.BASELINE)
                    .add(jButton5)
                    .add(jButton6))
                .addContainerGap())
        );
        pack();
    }// </editor-fold>//GEN-END:initComponents
    
    /**
     * @param args the command line arguments
     */
    public static void main(String args[]) {
        /* Set the Nimbus look and feel */
        //<editor-fold defaultstate="collapsed" desc=" Look and feel setting code (optional) ">
        /* If Nimbus (introduced in Java SE 6) is not available, stay with the default look and feel.
         * For details see http://download.oracle.com/javase/tutorial/uiswing/lookandfeel/plaf.html 
         */
        try {
            javax.swing.UIManager.LookAndFeelInfo[] installedLookAndFeels=javax.swing.UIManager.getInstalledLookAndFeels();
            for (int idx=0; idx<installedLookAndFeels.length; idx++)
                if ("Nimbus".equals(installedLookAndFeels[idx].getName())) {
                    javax.swing.UIManager.setLookAndFeel(installedLookAndFeels[idx].getClassName());
                    break;
                }
        } catch (ClassNotFoundException ex) {
            java.util.logging.Logger.getLogger(ContactEditor.class.getName()).log(java.util.logging.Level.SEVERE, null, ex);
        } catch (InstantiationException ex) {
            java.util.logging.Logger.getLogger(ContactEditor.class.getName()).log(java.util.logging.Level.SEVERE, null, ex);
        } catch (IllegalAccessException ex) {
            java.util.logging.Logger.getLogger(ContactEditor.class.getName()).log(java.util.logging.Level.SEVERE, null, ex);
        } catch (javax.swing.UnsupportedLookAndFeelException ex) {
            java.util.logging.Logger.getLogger(ContactEditor.class.getName()).log(java.util.logging.Level.SEVERE, null, ex);
        }
        //</editor-fold>

        /* Create and display the form */
        java.awt.EventQueue.invokeLater(new Runnable() {
            public void run() {
                new ContactEditor().setVisible(true);
            }
        });
    }
    
    // Variables declaration - do not modify//GEN-BEGIN:variables
    private javax.swing.ButtonGroup buttonGroup1;
    private javax.swing.JButton jButton1;
    private javax.swing.JButton jButton2;
    private javax.swing.JButton jButton3;
    private javax.swing.JButton jButton4;
    private javax.swing.JButton jButton5;
    private javax.swing.JButton jButton6;
    private javax.swing.JComboBox jComboBox1;
    private javax.swing.JLabel jLabel1;
    private javax.swing.JLabel jLabel2;
    private javax.swing.JLabel jLabel3;
    private javax.swing.JLabel jLabel4;
    private javax.swing.JLabel jLabel5;
    private javax.swing.JLabel jLabel6;
    private javax.swing.JLabel jLabel7;
    private javax.swing.JList jList1;
    private javax.swing.JPanel jPanel1;
    private javax.swing.JPanel jPanel2;
    private javax.swing.JRadioButton jRadioButton1;
    private javax.swing.JRadioButton jRadioButton2;
    private javax.swing.JRadioButton jRadioButton3;
    private javax.swing.JScrollPane jScrollPane1;
    private javax.swing.JTextField jTextField1;
    private javax.swing.JTextField jTextField2;
    private javax.swing.JTextField jTextField3;
    private javax.swing.JTextField jTextField4;
    private javax.swing.JTextField jTextField5;
    // End of variables declaration//GEN-END:variables
    
}

[alexe john]

thank you very much this helping me a lot

[Stephan van Hulst]

Welcome to CodeRanch Alexe!

You can start by reading the Swing tutorials, but skip the NetBeans IDE lesson. It's best to begin coding GUIs by hand so you really understand what happens before you let tools take over for you.

Then create a hobby project that you want to make a GUI for. Try to apply the things you've learned in the Swing lessons, and submit your code on our boards for peer review. There's no better way to learn than to listen to constructive criticism.

[Stephan van Hulst]

I don't think that's particularly great sample code. It's auto-generated by a GUI builder, and comes nowhere near the clean design you can do by hand.

[Campbell Ritchie]

Welcome to the Ranch

You need a general grounding in object‑oriented programming and basic understanding of the syntax of Java®. Then find a basic Swing book or the Java™ Tutorials. And make sure to discuss your learning with somebody helpful; you can find such people here

[Campbell Ritchie]

Stephan van Hulst wrote:I don't think that's particularly great sample code. . . .

Agree. You won't find it at all easy to understand; the field names are also unhelpful.

[alexe john]

Thank you very much my friend Stephan van Hulst I will work with your advice and I will follow the course.

[alexe john]

Thank you very much my friend Campbell Ritchie I have studied the algorithms and java  I think I am ready.