Looked at some previous posts pertaining to my subject but too no avail.
Trying to align components using BoxLayout but I cannot get it to work. I have tinkered with it for some time now with different results but I can't figure it out. I have used the default FlowLayout with no problems, I am trying to learn and expand my knowledge and BoxLayout will be better for my program. I want everything to stay in alignment if the User resizes their application window. I've adjusted all the sizes this way after just trying to get it to work and failing.
package GUI;
import javax.swing.*;
import java.awt.*;
/**
* Created by Thunderfoot on 7/31/2016. Keep Growing!
* Graphical User Interface
* Needs 3 JPanels(Text area + scroll pane)(2 Buttons) (1 Button), a JTextArea, JScrollPane, and 3 JButtons
*/
public class PrimaryFrame extends JFrame {
//Class variables
private static JPanel panel1, panel2, panel3;
public static JTextArea output;
//Constructor
public PrimaryFrame() {
//Frame component attributes
final Dimension FRAME_SIZE = new Dimension(400, 400);
final Dimension PANEL1_SIZE = new Dimension(400, 250);
final Dimension PANEL2_SIZE = new Dimension(400, 40);
final Dimension PANEL3_SIZE = new Dimension(400, 40);
//JFrame is PrimaryFrame
setDefaultCloseOperation(WindowConstants.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
setPreferredSize(FRAME_SIZE);
setMaximumSize(FRAME_SIZE);
setTitle("Fighting Game");
//JPanel for Text
panel1 = new JPanel();
panel1.setLayout(new BoxLayout(panel1, BoxLayout.PAGE_AXIS));
panel1.setMinimumSize(PANEL1_SIZE);
panel1.setPreferredSize(PANEL1_SIZE);
panel1.setMaximumSize(PANEL1_SIZE);
panel1.setBackground(Color.BLACK);
//JPanel for Attack and Kick Buttons
panel2 = new JPanel();
panel2.setLayout(new BoxLayout(panel2, BoxLayout.LINE_AXIS));
panel2.setMinimumSize(PANEL2_SIZE);
panel2.setPreferredSize(PANEL2_SIZE);
panel2.setMaximumSize(PANEL2_SIZE);
panel2.setBackground(Color.BLUE);
//JPanel for Power Attack Button
panel3 = new JPanel();
panel3.setLayout(new BoxLayout(panel3, BoxLayout.PAGE_AXIS));
panel3.setMinimumSize(PANEL3_SIZE);
panel3.setPreferredSize(PANEL3_SIZE);
panel3.setMaximumSize(PANEL3_SIZE);
panel3.setBackground(Color.ORANGE);
panel3.add(Box.createHorizontalGlue());
panel3.add(Box.createVerticalGlue());
//JTextArea & JScrollPane
output = new JTextArea();
output.setEditable(false);
JScrollPane outputScroller = new JScrollPane(output, ScrollPaneConstants.VERTICAL_SCROLLBAR_AS_NEEDED, ScrollPaneConstants.HORIZONTAL_SCROLLBAR_NEVER);
outputScroller.setMaximumSize(new Dimension(375, 250));
outputScroller.setBorder(BorderFactory.createLineBorder(Color.RED));
panel1.add(outputScroller);
panel1.add(Box.createHorizontalGlue());
panel1.add(Box.createVerticalGlue());
//Attack Button
JButton attackButton = new JButton(" ATTACK ");
attackButton.setMaximumSize(new Dimension(75, 30));
attackButton.setBorderPainted(true);
//Kick Button
JButton kickButton = new JButton(" KICK ");
kickButton.setMaximumSize(new Dimension(75, 30));
kickButton.setBorderPainted(true);
//Add components
panel2.add(attackButton);
panel2.add(Box.createHorizontalGlue());
panel2.add(Box.createVerticalGlue());
panel2.add(kickButton);
panel2.add(Box.createHorizontalGlue());
panel2.add(Box.createVerticalGlue());
//Power Attack Button
JButton powAttButton = new JButton(" POWER ATTACK ");
powAttButton.setMaximumSize(new Dimension(150, 30));
powAttButton.setBorderPainted(true);
panel3.add(powAttButton);
panel3.add(Box.createHorizontalGlue());
}
public void buildGUI() {
//Add components and build GUI Frame
this.add(panel3);
this.add(panel2);
this.add(panel1);
//Set attributes
//Pack components together inside of frame
pack();
//Center of screen
setLocationRelativeTo(null);
//Make frame visible
setVisible(true);
}
}
You have to set the Layout of your PrimaryFrame.
I suggest you add an additional line to your buildGUI() method:
public void buildGUI() {
//defines the Layout for the main Frame
this.setLayout(new GridLayout(3,1)) //its up to you wich Layout you use
//Add components and build GUI Frame
this.add(panel3);
this.add(panel2);
this.add(panel1);
//Set attributes
//Pack components together inside of frame
pack();
//Center of screen
setLocationRelativeTo(null);
//Make frame visible
setVisible(true);
}
Notice GridLayout(3,1) will generate a layout with three rows and one column