Question

I am trying to create an array of buttons as a simulation of a seatingChart, but the buttons wont show up on the screen only the frame shows up. what am I doing wrong?

import java.awt.*;
import java.awt.event.*;
import javax.swing.*;

public class guiCreator extends JFrame
{
    public guiCreator()
    {
        setTitle("Seats");
        setSize(500, 600);
        addWindowListener(new WindowAdapter()
             {  public void windowClosing(WindowEvent e)
                {  System.exit(0);
                }
             } );

          Container contentPane = getContentPane();
          contentPane.add(new seatingPanel());
        setVisible(true);  
    }

}

class seatingPanel extends JPanel implements ActionListener
{
    public seatingPanel()
    {
        setLayout(new BorderLayout());

        JPanel panel4seating = new JPanel();//creating a grid panel
        panel4seating.setLayout(new GridLayout(4, 10));//setting the layout of the grid panel

        JButton [] seats = new JButton [40]; //creating a pointer to the buttonsArray
        for (int i = 0; i < 40; i++)
        {
            seats[i] = new JButton();//creating the buttons
            seats[i].addActionListener(this);
            panel4seating.add(seats[i]);
        }
    }

    @Override
    public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent evt) 
    {


    }
    //main
    guiCreator flightSeats = new guiCreator();

Answer 1

You’re creating a new JPanel in seatingPanel‘s constructor, but you’re not adding it to the seatingPanel itself, so it won’t show up at all.

Try adding it to the seatingPanel’s layout.

(Or do away with that sub-panel entirely – set the grid layout and and the buttons directly to your seatingPanel.)