Question

I have a JPanel with a vertical BoxLayout on top of a JPanel with a null layout.

I would like the JPanel with the BoxLayout to grow as the components are being added.

See this code:

public static void main (String[] args) {
    JFrame f = new JFrame();
    f.setSize(500,500);
    f.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
    JPanel total = new JPanel();
    total.setLayout(null);
    total.setSize(f.getWidth(),f.getHeight());
    total.setBackground(Color.green);
    JPanel box = new JPanel();
    box.setLocation(100,200);
    box.setLayout(new BoxLayout(box, BoxLayout.Y_AXIS));
    box.add(new JButton("test"));
    box.add(new JLabel("hey"));
    total.add(box);
    f.add(total);
    f.setVisible(true);
}

You will notice that no components show up.

How can I make the JPanel “box” such that the size dynamically increases as I add more components (which are added vertically).

IN ADVANCE: I need the position of “box” to be at exactly 100,200 so please do not suggest that I do not use null layout. I must use null layout. The null layout of “total” should not effect the answer to my question, which focuses on the “box” panel.

Answer 1

By throwing away the layout manager, you suddenly become responsible for it’s job. A job I might add, which isn’t easy …

Basically, given you example, you’ve failed to set the size of the child component…

JFrame f = new JFrame();
f.setSize(500, 500);
f.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);

JPanel total = new JPanel();
total.setLayout(null);
total.setSize(f.getWidth(), f.getHeight());
total.setBackground(Color.green);

JPanel box = new JPanel();
box.setLocation(100, 200);
box.setLayout(new BoxLayout(box, BoxLayout.Y_AXIS));
box.add(new JButton("test"));
box.add(new JLabel("hey"));
box.setSize(100, 100);  // <-- Don't forget this..

total.add(box);
f.add(total);
f.setVisible(true);

Personally, I think your asking for trouble, but what would I know…

A better idea might be to use something like an EmptyBorder to providing padding…

JFrame f = new JFrame();
f.setSize(500, 500);
f.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);

JPanel total = new JPanel(new BorderLayout());
total.setSize(f.getWidth(), f.getHeight());
total.setBackground(Color.green);
total.setBorder(new EmptyBorder(100, 200, 100, 200));

JPanel box = new JPanel();
box.setLayout(new BoxLayout(box, BoxLayout.Y_AXIS));
box.add(new JButton("test"));
box.add(new JLabel("hey"));

total.add(box);
f.add(total);
f.setVisible(true);

Updated with Layout Manager example

Now, if all the layout managers are failing you, you could try writing your own. This has the benefits you need from the null layout manager and the benefits of intergrating into Swing’s component changing process, without the need to resort to ComponentListeners and ContainerListeners

JPanel total = new JPanel();
total.setLayout(new SuperAwesomeBetterThenYoursLayout());

Custom Layout Manager

public static class SuperAwesomeBetterThenYoursLayout implements LayoutManager {

    @Override
    public void addLayoutComponent(String name, Component comp) {
    }

    @Override
    public void removeLayoutComponent(Component comp) {
    }

    @Override
    public Dimension preferredLayoutSize(Container parent) {
        return new Dimension(100, 300);
    }

    @Override
    public Dimension minimumLayoutSize(Container parent) {
        return new Dimension(100, 300);
    }

    @Override
    public void layoutContainer(Container parent) {
        boolean laidOut = false;
        for (Component child : parent.getComponents()) {
            if (child.isVisible() && !laidOut) {
                child.setLocation(200, 100);
                child.setSize(child.getPreferredSize());
            } else {
                child.setSize(0, 0);
            }
        }
    }
    
}

This basically represents the work you are going have to do anyway, but does it in a way that works with how Swing was designed…