Multiple Panels Below Each Other

Question

Is it possible i can have a top panel for a login. Then a middle and bottom panel underneath. I'm using gridbaglayout and i have assigned 2 panels. One panel has components linked to it for login details and the other panel has other components linked to it. However, it's not going occurring to plan. Ive tried using Box/Borderlayout to do this, but then i'm not able to create the spacing i want.

Here is a sketch of what i want.

public class GUI extends JFrame{

    private JPanel myTopPL, myTopPL2;
    private JTextField myUsernameTF;
    private JTextField myPasswordTF;
    private JTextField myMessageTF;
    private JLabel myUsernameLBL;
    private JLabel myPasswordLBL;
    private JLabel myItemsLBL;
    private JTextArea myMainTA;
    private JButton myLoginBN;
    private JButton myConnectBN;
    private JButton mySendBN;
    private JComboBox myItemsCB;

    public GUI () {

        super("GUI ");

        setLayout(new GridBagLayout());
        myTopPL = new JPanel();
        myTopPL2 = new JPanel();
        myTopPL.setLayout(new GridBagLayout());
        myTopPL2.setLayout(new GridBagLayout());
        GridBagConstraints myTopPLGBC = new GridBagConstraints();
        myTopPLGBC.weightx = 1;
        myTopPLGBC.weighty = 1;
        GridBagConstraints myTopPLGBC2 = new GridBagConstraints();
        myTopPLGBC.weightx = 2;
        myTopPLGBC.weighty = 2;

        myUsernameLBL = new JLabel("Username: ");
        myUsernameLBL.setFont(new Font("Arial", Font.BOLD, 13));
        myTopPLGBC.gridx = 1;
        myTopPLGBC.gridy = 1;
        myTopPLGBC.insets = new Insets(5,5,5,5);
        myTopPL.add(myUsernameLBL, myTopPLGBC);

        myUsernameTF = new JTextField(10);
        myTopPLGBC.gridx = 2;
        myTopPLGBC.gridy = 1;
        myTopPLGBC.insets = new Insets(5,5,5,5);
        myTopPL.add(myUsernameTF,myTopPLGBC);

        myPasswordLBL = new JLabel("Password: ");
        myPasswordLBL.setFont(new Font("Arial", Font.BOLD, 13));
        myTopPLGBC.gridx = 3;
        myTopPLGBC.gridy = 1;
        myTopPLGBC.insets = new Insets(5,5,5,5);
        myTopPL.add(myPasswordLBL, myTopPLGBC);

        myPasswordTF = new JTextField(10);
        myTopPLGBC.gridx = 4;
        myTopPLGBC.gridy = 1;
        myTopPLGBC.insets = new Insets(5,5,5,5);
        myTopPL.add(myPasswordTF,myTopPLGBC);

        myLoginBN = new JButton("Login");
        myTopPLGBC.gridx = 5;
        myTopPLGBC.gridy = 1;
        myTopPLGBC.insets = new Insets(5,5,5,5);
        myTopPL.add(myLoginBN,myTopPLGBC);

        myItemsLBL = new JLabel("Items: ");
        myItemsLBL.setFont(new Font("Arial", Font.BOLD, 13));
        myTopPLGBC2.gridx = 1;
        myTopPLGBC2.gridy = 3;
        myTopPLGBC2.insets = new Insets(5,5,5,5);
        myTopPL2.add(myItemsLBL, myTopPLGBC2);

        myItemsCB = new JComboBox();
        myItemsCB.addItem("     Select an Item     ");
        myTopPLGBC2.gridx = 1;
        myTopPLGBC2.gridy = 4;
        myTopPLGBC2.insets = new Insets(5,5,5,5);
        myTopPL2.add(myItemsCB, myTopPLGBC2);

        myConnectBN = new JButton("Connect");
        myTopPLGBC2.gridx = 2;
        myTopPLGBC2.gridy = 4;
        myTopPLGBC2.insets = new Insets (5,5,5,5);
        myTopPL2.add(myConnectBN, myTopPLGBC2);

        GridBagConstraints GBC = new GridBagConstraints();
        GBC.anchor = GridBagConstraints.NORTHWEST;
        GBC.weightx = 1;
        GBC.weighty = 1; 
        this.add(myTopPL,GBC);  

        GridBagConstraints GBC2 = new GridBagConstraints();
        GBC2.anchor = GridBagConstraints.NORTHWEST;
        GBC2.weightx = 2;
        GBC2.weighty = 2; 
        this.add(myTopPL2,GBC2);    

    }

    public static void main(String[] args) {

        GUI GUI = new GUI ();
        GUI .setDefaultCloseOperation(RMIAuctionHouse.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
        GUI .setSize(750,500);
        GUI .setVisible(true);
    }
}

Answer 1

I'd break down the application into it's individual areas of responsibilities and focus on creating the UI elements to support it. This will allow you to focus on the needs of each section of your application, it also allows you the opportunity to change around the layout as you need

public class TestLayout15 {

    public static void main(String[] args) {
        new TestLayout15();
    }

    public TestLayout15() {
        EventQueue.invokeLater(new Runnable() {
            @Override
            public void run() {
                try {
                    UIManager.setLookAndFeel(UIManager.getSystemLookAndFeelClassName());
                } catch (ClassNotFoundException | InstantiationException | IllegalAccessException | UnsupportedLookAndFeelException ex) {
                }

                JFrame frame = new JFrame("Test");
                frame.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
                frame.setLayout(new BorderLayout());
                frame.add(new MainPane());
                frame.pack();
                frame.setLocationRelativeTo(null);
                frame.setVisible(true);
            }

        });
    }

    public class MainPane extends JPanel {

        private JTextField messageField;
        private JButton sendButton;

        public MainPane() {
            setBorder(new EmptyBorder(4, 4, 4, 4));
            setLayout(new GridBagLayout());
            GridBagConstraints gbc = new GridBagConstraints();
            gbc.gridx = 0;
            gbc.gridy = 0;
            gbc.weightx = 1;
            gbc.fill = GridBagConstraints.HORIZONTAL;
            gbc.gridwidth = GridBagConstraints.REMAINDER;
            add(new LoginPane(), gbc);
            gbc.gridy++;
            add(new ConnectPane(), gbc);
            gbc.gridy++;
            gbc.weighty = 1;
            gbc.fill = GridBagConstraints.BOTH;
            add(new JScrollPane(new JTextArea(5, 20)), gbc);

            gbc.gridwidth = 1;

            messageField = new JTextField(10);
            sendButton = new JButton("Send");

            gbc.gridy++;
            gbc.weighty = 0;
            gbc.fill = GridBagConstraints.HORIZONTAL;
            add(messageField, gbc);
            gbc.gridx++;
            gbc.weightx = 0;
            add(sendButton, gbc);            
        }

    }

    public class ConnectPane extends JPanel {

        private JComboBox comboBox;
        private JButton connectButton;

        public ConnectPane() {
            comboBox = new JComboBox();
            connectButton = new JButton("Connect");

            setLayout(new GridBagLayout());
            GridBagConstraints gbc = new GridBagConstraints();
            gbc.gridx = 0;
            gbc.gridy = 0;
            gbc.anchor = GridBagConstraints.WEST;
            add(comboBox, gbc);

            gbc.gridx++;
            gbc.weightx = 1;
            add(connectButton, gbc);
        }

    }

    public class LoginPane extends JPanel {

        private JTextField userNameField;
        private JPasswordField passwordField;
        private JButton loginButton;

        public LoginPane() {

            userNameField = new JTextField(10);
            passwordField = new JPasswordField(10);
            loginButton = new JButton("Login");

            setLayout(new GridBagLayout());
            GridBagConstraints gbc = new GridBagConstraints();
            gbc.gridx = 0;
            gbc.gridy = 0;
            gbc.anchor = GridBagConstraints.WEST;
            add(new JLabel("User name:"), gbc);

            gbc.gridx++;
            add(userNameField, gbc);

            gbc.gridx++;
            add(new JLabel("Password:"), gbc);

            gbc.gridx++;
            add(passwordField, gbc);

            gbc.gridx++;
            gbc.weightx = 1;
            add(loginButton, gbc);

        }

    }

}