Question

I am using the following:

java.awt.Container.add(Component comp, Object constraints)

How do I specificy the constraints object? I need to be able to place a component within the container.

Oh and my class extends JInternalFrame if this helps…

I need to specify coordinates to place the component within the container

Answer 1

The constraints objects depends on which layout manager you are using.

For example, with a BorderLayout you will have just some constants: container.add(element, BorderLayout.CENTER)

While if the layout manager of the container is a GridBagLayout you will have a GridBagConstraints object with the specified parameters.

Some layout managers (like FlowLayout or GridLayout) don’t need any kind of constraint since they actually decide how to place things by themselves.

As a side note, if you need absolute positioning you will not have any layout manager:

container.setLayout(null);
container.add(element1);

Insets insets = pane.getInsets();
element1.setBounds(..); //here you set absolute position