I’m working on a GUI, and I’m trying to format to look more appealing for the user, however; I’ve run into a few roadblocks, one being I can’t figure out how I would properly center JButtons in an existing JPanel, I’ve managed to arrange them into rows, I would like to know some more about how I can really format these.(If you’re interested in helping me in my other problem look here, How to set output stream to TextArea)
This is what I have currently.
If you click the link it will show you what I currently have in one of my tabs, I would like for the JButtons in the picture to be centered on the X-Axis instead of to the left as they are as a default setting I suppose.
So here’s my code, it arranges vertically, I need all of the rows to be centered though.
package guipanel;
import javax.swing.*;
import java.awt.*;
import java.io.*;
import java.net.*;
import java.util.logging.Level;
import java.util.logging.Logger;
/**
*
* @author Dan
*/
public class GUIPanel extends JFrame {
/**
* Creates new form GUIPanel
*/
public GUIPanel() {
initComponents();
}
private void setOutputStream(boolean catchErrors) throws IOException {
System.setOut(new PrintStream(new FilterOutputStream(new ByteArrayOutputStream()))); // catches System.out messages
setVisible(true);
requestFocus();
if (catchErrors) {
System.setErr(new PrintStream(new FilterOutputStream(new ByteArrayOutputStream())));
}
}
private void setPosition(JPanel jPanel) {
GridBagLayout layout = new GridBagLayout();
GridBagConstraints gbc = new GridBagConstraints();
gbc.fill = gbc.CENTER;
layout.setConstraints(jPanel, gbc);
jPanel.setLayout(layout);
}
private void addTabs(JTabbedPane jTabbedPane1) throws IOException {
jTabbedPane1.add("Main", jPanel);
jPanel.add(textArea1);
jTabbedPane1.add("Commands", jPanel1);
jTabbedPane1.add("Rules", jPanel2);
jTabbedPane1.add("Links", jPanel3);
jPanel3.add(website);
jPanel3.add(jSeparator1);
jPanel3.add(youtube);
jPanel3.add(jSeparator2);
jPanel3.add(webclient);
jPanel3.add(jSeparator4);
jPanel3.add(forums);
jTabbedPane1.add("Information", jPanel4);
jTabbedPane1.add("Shutdown", jPanel5);
jPanel5.add(Shutdown);
jPanel3.setLayout(new BoxLayout(jPanel3, BoxLayout.PAGE_AXIS));
setPosition(jPanel5);
setOutputStream(true);
}
/**
* 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() {
textArea1 = new java.awt.TextArea();
jLabel1 = new javax.swing.JLabel();
website = new javax.swing.JButton();
youtube = new javax.swing.JButton();
forums = new javax.swing.JButton();
jSeparator1 = new javax.swing.JSeparator();
jSeparator2 = new javax.swing.JSeparator();
jSeparator3 = new javax.swing.JSeparator();
jSeparator4 = new javax.swing.JSeparator();
webclient = new javax.swing.JButton();
Shutdown = new javax.swing.JButton();
jTabbedPane1 = new javax.swing.JTabbedPane();
jMenuBar1 = new javax.swing.JMenuBar();
jMenu1 = new javax.swing.JMenu();
jMenuItem2 = new javax.swing.JMenuItem();
textArea1.setPreferredSize(new java.awt.Dimension(432, 300));
textArea1.getAccessibleContext().setAccessibleParent(jTabbedPane1);
jLabel1.setText("Evolution-X™ Programmed by Musicmasta.");
jLabel1.setVerticalAlignment(javax.swing.SwingConstants.TOP);
jLabel1.setVerticalTextPosition(javax.swing.SwingConstants.TOP);
website.setText("Website");
website.setMaximumSize(new java.awt.Dimension(133, 37));
website.setPreferredSize(new java.awt.Dimension(133, 37));
website.setVerticalAlignment(javax.swing.SwingConstants.TOP);
website.addActionListener(new java.awt.event.ActionListener() {
public void actionPerformed(java.awt.event.ActionEvent evt) {
websiteActionPerformed(evt);
}
});
youtube.setText("Youtube");
youtube.setMaximumSize(new java.awt.Dimension(133, 37));
youtube.setPreferredSize(new java.awt.Dimension(133, 37));
youtube.addActionListener(new java.awt.event.ActionListener() {
public void actionPerformed(java.awt.event.ActionEvent evt) {
youtubeActionPerformed(evt);
}
});
forums.setText("Forums");
forums.setMaximumSize(new java.awt.Dimension(133, 37));
forums.setPreferredSize(new java.awt.Dimension(133, 37));
forums.setVerticalTextPosition(javax.swing.SwingConstants.TOP);
forums.addActionListener(new java.awt.event.ActionListener() {
public void actionPerformed(java.awt.event.ActionEvent evt) {
forumsActionPerformed(evt);
}
});
forums.getAccessibleContext().setAccessibleName("Forums");
webclient.setText("Webclient");
webclient.setMaximumSize(new java.awt.Dimension(133, 37));
webclient.setName(""); // NOI18N
webclient.setPreferredSize(new java.awt.Dimension(133, 37));
webclient.addActionListener(new java.awt.event.ActionListener() {
public void actionPerformed(java.awt.event.ActionEvent evt) {
webclientActionPerformed(evt);
}
});
webclient.getAccessibleContext().setAccessibleName("");
Shutdown.setText("Shutdown");
Shutdown.setMaximumSize(new java.awt.Dimension(221, 81));
Shutdown.setPreferredSize(new java.awt.Dimension(221, 81));
Shutdown.addActionListener(new java.awt.event.ActionListener() {
public void actionPerformed(java.awt.event.ActionEvent evt) {
ShutdownActionPerformed(evt);
}
});
setDefaultCloseOperation(javax.swing.WindowConstants.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
setTitle("Evolution-X 639");
setBounds(new java.awt.Rectangle(0, 0, 400, 450));
setPreferredSize(new java.awt.Dimension(450, 420));
getContentPane().setLayout(new java.awt.FlowLayout());
try {
addTabs(jTabbedPane1);
} catch (IOException ioe) {
ioe.printStackTrace();
}
jTabbedPane1.setCursor(new java.awt.Cursor(java.awt.Cursor.DEFAULT_CURSOR));
jTabbedPane1.setFocusable(false);
jTabbedPane1.setOpaque(true);
getContentPane().add(jTabbedPane1);
jTabbedPane1.getAccessibleContext().setAccessibleName("");
jMenu1.setText("File");
jMenu1.addActionListener(new java.awt.event.ActionListener() {
public void actionPerformed(java.awt.event.ActionEvent evt) {
jMenu1ActionPerformed(evt);
}
});
jMenuItem2.setText("Exit");
jMenuItem2.addActionListener(new java.awt.event.ActionListener() {
public void actionPerformed(java.awt.event.ActionEvent evt) {
jMenuItem2ActionPerformed(evt);
}
});
jMenu1.add(jMenuItem2);
jMenuBar1.add(jMenu1);
setJMenuBar(jMenuBar1);
pack();
}// </editor-fold>
private void jMenu1ActionPerformed(java.awt.event.ActionEvent evt) {
System.exit(0);
}
private void jMenuItem2ActionPerformed(java.awt.event.ActionEvent evt) {
System.exit(0);
}
private void youtubeActionPerformed(java.awt.event.ActionEvent evt) {
Desktop desktop = Desktop.getDesktop();
try {
youtubelink = new URI("http://youtube.com/user/theevolutionx10");
try {
desktop.browse(youtubelink);
} catch (IOException ex) {
Logger.getLogger(GUIPanel.class.getName()).log(Level.SEVERE, null, ex);
}
} catch (URISyntaxException ex) {
Logger.getLogger(GUIPanel.class.getName()).log(Level.SEVERE, null, ex);
}
}
private void websiteActionPerformed(java.awt.event.ActionEvent evt) {
Desktop desktop = Desktop.getDesktop();
try {
websitelink = new URI("http://evolutionx.x10.mx/");
try {
desktop.browse(websitelink);
} catch (IOException ex) {
Logger.getLogger(GUIPanel.class.getName()).log(Level.SEVERE, null, ex);
}
} catch (URISyntaxException ex) {
Logger.getLogger(GUIPanel.class.getName()).log(Level.SEVERE, null, ex);
}
}
private void forumsActionPerformed(java.awt.event.ActionEvent evt) {
Desktop desktop = Desktop.getDesktop();
try {
forumlink = new URI("http://www.evolutionx.x10.mx/forum/index.php");
try {
desktop.browse(forumlink);
} catch (IOException ex) {
Logger.getLogger(GUIPanel.class.getName()).log(Level.SEVERE, null, ex);
}
} catch (URISyntaxException ex) {
Logger.getLogger(GUIPanel.class.getName()).log(Level.SEVERE, null, ex);
}
}
private void webclientActionPerformed(java.awt.event.ActionEvent evt) {
Desktop desktop = Desktop.getDesktop();
try {
webclientlink = new URI("http://evolutionx.x10.mx/play.html");
try {
desktop.browse(webclientlink);
} catch (IOException ex) {
Logger.getLogger(GUIPanel.class.getName()).log(Level.SEVERE, null, ex);
}
} catch (URISyntaxException ex) {
Logger.getLogger(GUIPanel.class.getName()).log(Level.SEVERE, null, ex);
}
}
private void ShutdownActionPerformed(java.awt.event.ActionEvent evt) {
System.exit(0);
}
/**
* @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 {
for (javax.swing.UIManager.LookAndFeelInfo info : javax.swing.UIManager.getInstalledLookAndFeels()) {
if ("Nimbus".equals(info.getName())) {
javax.swing.UIManager.setLookAndFeel(info.getClassName());
break;
}
}
} catch (ClassNotFoundException ex) {
java.util.logging.Logger.getLogger(GUIPanel.class.getName()).log(java.util.logging.Level.SEVERE, null, ex);
} catch (InstantiationException ex) {
java.util.logging.Logger.getLogger(GUIPanel.class.getName()).log(java.util.logging.Level.SEVERE, null, ex);
} catch (IllegalAccessException ex) {
java.util.logging.Logger.getLogger(GUIPanel.class.getName()).log(java.util.logging.Level.SEVERE, null, ex);
} catch (javax.swing.UnsupportedLookAndFeelException ex) {
java.util.logging.Logger.getLogger(GUIPanel.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 GUIPanel().setVisible(true);
}
});
}
// Variables declaration - do not modify
private javax.swing.JButton Shutdown;
private javax.swing.JButton forums;
private javax.swing.JLabel jLabel1;
private javax.swing.JMenu jMenu1;
private javax.swing.JMenuBar jMenuBar1;
private javax.swing.JMenuItem jMenuItem2;
private javax.swing.JSeparator jSeparator1;
private javax.swing.JSeparator jSeparator2;
private javax.swing.JSeparator jSeparator3;
private javax.swing.JSeparator jSeparator4;
private javax.swing.JTabbedPane jTabbedPane1;
private java.awt.TextArea textArea1;
private javax.swing.JButton webclient;
private javax.swing.JButton website;
private javax.swing.JButton youtube;
// End of variables declaration
private JPanel jPanel = new JPanel();
private JPanel jPanel1 = new JPanel();
private JPanel jPanel2 = new JPanel();
private JPanel jPanel3 = new JPanel();
private JPanel jPanel4 = new JPanel();
private JPanel jPanel5 = new JPanel();
private URI webclientlink, youtubelink, forumlink, websitelink;
}
You only have to add this lines before add the buttons to the tab: