setting width JPanel

[thesti]

hi,

how to set the width of a JPanel with a GridLayout as the layout manager.

thanks.

[JosAH]

hi,

how to set the width of a JPanel with a GridLayout as the layout manager.

thanks.

It depends: the total width of the JPanel is partly determined by the prefered
width of the widest component in the GridLayout and the total amount of space
allocated to the JPanel. What do you want to accomplish?

kind regards,

Jos

[thesti]

well,
the panel seems to be 'wider' . i mean that the components inside each row could still be fit in if the width of the jpanel is smaller.

because it is wider, it looks not so nice, the buttons is wider and there is unused extra space.

so i want to make the jpanel narrower if i could.

thanks

[JosAH]

You can make a JPanel smaller of course (just use its setPreferedSize method)
but then another component next to it needs to become wider etc. etc. all the
way up to your JFrame top level container. A GridLayout is probably not the
LayoutManager you want.

kind regards,

Jos

[BigDaddyLH]

A GridLayout is probably not the
LayoutManager you want.

Or, if the GridLayout works for the components in that panel, you may need to nest containers and layouts more. Take a look at the layout section of the Swing tutorial:

http://java.sun.com/docs/books/tutorial/uiswing/layout/index.html

You can also post the smallest possible sample program that demonstrates your problem. Please don't post all the original code -- most of it will be irrelevant. And please use code tags.

[JosAH]

Or, if the GridLayout works for the components in that panel, you may need to nest containers and layouts more.

Yep true; in my village lives a woman; she's an old fashioned book printer. Yes
those people still do exist. I sometimes consult her for my GUIs. She hmms
a bit points with her thumb to the screen and starts off: "we need more rest
in this section, put more white in there" or "this may need a few points of
nothing overhere" or "that doesn't align properly, shame on you". I take notes
and back home I put my carefully crafted panels in yet other panels and add
glue or struts to them. It works fine 'till now ;-)

kind regards,

Jos

[thesti]

thanks for your willing to help.

i'll post the code that may give you description

public class MainForm extends JFrame {

         //these classes are extended from the JPanel
         //and will be placed at the frame
         private Game game;	
         private UserPanel usrPanel1, usrPanel2;
         private DicePanel dicePanel;
         private TidePanel tidePanel;

        public MainForm() {
               /*instantiation of the panels
               .....
               */

               //right panel container
               JPanel rightPanel = new JPanel(new GridLayout(4, 1, 10, 10));
                  rightPanel.add(usrPanel1);
                  rightPanel.add(usrPanel2);
                  rightPanel.add(dicePanel);
                  rightPanel.add(tidePanel);

               //main panel for  the frame
               JPanel mainPanel = new JPanel(new BorderLayout());
                 mainPanel.add(bjackPanel, "North");
                 mainPanel.add(game, "Center");
                 mainPanel.add(rightPanel, "East");

                  //add mainPanel to the frame 
                  add(mainPanel);

                  //set some property of the frame 
                  setSize(935, 700);
                  setResizable(false);
                  setLocationRelativeTo(null);
                  setVisible(true);
        }
}

the right panel with 1 column gridLayout, consists of some smaller panels.
it is the width of the rightPanel that i want to resize.

you're right that if i use the setPreferredSiz e, it will make the panel smaller but not the overall frame.
i've tried to wrap the right panel into another panel, but i just don't know what layout manager should i use for the wrappe panel. it makes the rightPanel looks more terrible.

thanks in advance.

[JosAH]

If you get rid of the horizontal gaps you lose 20 pixels already.

kind regards,

Jos