Java Button Width

Question

I've tried to use this and it doesn't work

singleplayerButton.setBounds(20, 20, 200, 100);

I dont know why though, can anybody help me out with this?

My full page code is here

package gmine;

import java.awt.*;
import java.awt.event.*;
import javax.swing.*;

public class gmine implements ActionListener {
        JFrame interfaceFrame;
        JButton singleplayerButton, multiplayerButton, optionsButton, quitButton;

        public gmine() {
                JFrame.setDefaultLookAndFeelDecorated(false);
                interfaceFrame = new JFrame("G-Mine B0.4");
                interfaceFrame.setSize(800,600);
                interfaceFrame.setLayout(new GridLayout(9,1, 20, 15));

                singleplayerButton = new JButton("SinglePLayer");
                singleplayerButton.addActionListener(this);
                interfaceFrame.add(singleplayerButton);
                singleplayerButton.setBounds(20, 20, 200, 100);

                multiplayerButton = new JButton("MultiPlayer");
                multiplayerButton.addActionListener(this);
                interfaceFrame.add(multiplayerButton);

                optionsButton = new JButton("Options");
                optionsButton.addActionListener(this);
                interfaceFrame.add(optionsButton);

                quitButton = new JButton("Quit");
                quitButton.addActionListener(this);
                interfaceFrame.add(quitButton);

                interfaceFrame.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
                interfaceFrame.setVisible(true);
        }

        public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent a) {

        }

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

im trying to accomplish making the buttons smaller, so not touching the side of the page.

What are you trying to acomplish with this line of code? – brimborium Oct 30 '12 at 10:15 — brimborium, Oct 30 '12 at 10:15

score 11 · Accepted Answer · answered Oct 30 '12 at 11:20

I personally would use a layout manager that will give you more flexibility in deciding how the buttons are laid out and makes a great effort to honor your components preferred size, but gives you the freedom to make adjustments to as you need...

For me, that's GridBagLayout

enter image description here

public class ButtonsLayout {

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

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

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

    public class MenuPane extends JPanel {

        public MenuPane() {
            setLayout(new GridBagLayout());

            JButton singleplayerButton = new JButton("SinglePLayer");
            JButton multiplayerButton = new JButton("MultiPlayer");
            JButton optionsButton = new JButton("Options");
            JButton quitButton = new JButton("Quit");

            GridBagConstraints gbc = new GridBagConstraints();
            gbc.gridx = 0;
            gbc.gridy = 0;
            gbc.fill = GridBagConstraints.HORIZONTAL;
            gbc.ipadx = 20;
            gbc.ipady = 20;

            add(singleplayerButton, gbc);
            gbc.gridy++;
            add(multiplayerButton, gbc);
            gbc.gridy++;
            add(optionsButton, gbc);
            gbc.gridy++;
            add(quitButton, gbc);
        }
    }
}

Here, I've used ipadx and ipady of the GridBagConstraints to increase the width and height of the components through the layout manager, as well as using the HORIZONTAL fill to make all the components the same width.

Have a look at

For more information

That is awesome, im going to use this. Thanks – Dianamu Oct 30 '12 at 20:23 — Dianamu, Oct 30 '12 at 20:23

score 4 · Answer 2 · edited Oct 30 '12 at 10:28

First of all when you use LayoutManager, then the position of the component and its size is controlled by the LayoutManager of the direct Parent Compoenent on when the Component is being placed..
Eg:
Placing a JButton on JFrame, then JFrame's LayoutManager controls the position and size of the JButton.
I would also recommend you to use GroupLayout which was developed by NetBeans team in 2005, and you can use the WindowsBuilderPro, now free from Google.

score 2 · Answer 3 · answered Oct 30 '12 at 10:27

2

The GridLayout manager will give equal size to all components. You could try using a different layout manager and then use setPreferredSize(Dimension preferredSize) on your components to size them correctly.

As a different example, you could also place a JPanel on top of your JFrame and place the buttons there.

answered Oct 30 '12 at 10:27

Hermann Hans

1,798
1
13
24

1

Personally, I'd avoid using `setPreferredSize` if possible, it runs you straight into problems with different look and feels and differences in fonts and DPI issues...it's almost as bad as `null` layouts...almost ;) - IMHO – MadProgrammer Oct 30 '12 at 11:12

score 1 · Answer 4 · answered Oct 31 '12 at 06:35

1

I tried to use one of the answers above. Now the program wont show. it just terminates.

package gmine;

import java.awt.*;
import java.awt.event.*;
import javax.swing.*;

public class gmine {
        JFrame interfaceFrame;
        JButton singleplayerButton, multiplayerButton, optionsButton, quitButton;


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

                JFrame frame = new JFrame("G-Mine");
                interfaceFrame.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
                interfaceFrame.setLayout(new BorderLayout());
                interfaceFrame.setSize(800,600);
                interfaceFrame.add(new MenuPane());
                interfaceFrame.pack();
                interfaceFrame.setLocationRelativeTo(null);
                interfaceFrame.setVisible(true);
            }
        });
    }

    public class MenuPane extends JPanel {

        public MenuPane() {
            setLayout(new GridBagLayout());

            JButton singleplayerButton = new JButton("SinglePLayer");
            JButton multiplayerButton = new JButton("MultiPlayer");
            JButton optionsButton = new JButton("Options");
            JButton quitButton = new JButton("Quit");

            GridBagConstraints gbc = new GridBagConstraints();
            gbc.gridx = 0;
            gbc.gridy = 0;
            gbc.fill = GridBagConstraints.HORIZONTAL;
            gbc.ipadx = 20;
            gbc.ipady = 20;

            add(singleplayerButton, gbc);
            gbc.gridy++;
            add(multiplayerButton, gbc);
            gbc.gridy++;
            add(optionsButton, gbc);
            gbc.gridy++;
            add(quitButton, gbc);
        }
    }
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        new gmine();
    }

}

answered Oct 31 '12 at 06:35

Dianamu

121
1
3
12

There's no constructor. Try changing `public void ButtonsLayout()` to `public gmine` – MadProgrammer Oct 31 '12 at 06:42
I do that and i get this in my console. – Dianamu Nov 01 '12 at 07:16
I do that and i get this in my console. http://pastebin.com/23y5GifJ And here is the full script http://pastebin.com/GBLB382J – Dianamu Nov 01 '12 at 08:34
Your create a new `JFrame`, but then reference the instance variable which is `null`. Change the line `JFrame frame = new JFrame("G-Mine");` to something more like `interfaceFrame = new JFrame("G-Mine");` – MadProgrammer Nov 01 '12 at 08:42
Ok it works now, but when i open it, it is the size of the buttons, now my set width. interfaceFrame.setSize(800,600); why? – Dianamu Nov 02 '12 at 06:15
This interfaceFrame.pack() is packing the window down to its preferred size – MadProgrammer Nov 02 '12 at 07:14
so i remove that? so i get my setSize(); ? – Dianamu Nov 02 '12 at 08:13
Without the influence of `pack`, the `setSize` values should now remain – MadProgrammer Nov 02 '12 at 08:45
ok, that works great, http://i.imgur.com/XPuwW.png . Now to add my image logo, and set the background color of black – Dianamu Nov 02 '12 at 10:48
Mad, why wont interfaceFrame.setBackground(Color.BLACK); make the bg black? – Dianamu Nov 03 '12 at 01:47
Probably because what you need to change is the content pane. Try interfaceFrame.getContentPane().setBackground(Color.BLACK); – MadProgrammer Nov 03 '12 at 02:59
let us [continue this discussion in chat](http://chat.stackoverflow.com/rooms/19013/discussion-between-heloic-and-madprogrammer) – Dianamu Nov 03 '12 at 12:01

Java Button Width

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