Designing Java GUIs

Use the IDE's Form Editor to visually design GUIs (graphical user interfaces). As you visually create and modify your GUI, the Java code to implement it is automatically generated and updated.

The Form Editor window consists of the Component Inspector, the Component Palette, and the Form Designer panes.

You can select items such as panels, scrollbars, menus, and buttons in the Component Palette. You can then place the selected components directly on a form in the Form Designer. You can add any visual or nonvisual bean to the Component Palette and these components can also be used in the Form Designer. The components you add to your current form are displayed in a tree view in the Component Inspector.

The layout manager you select controls how items can be positioned in your form.

Designing a GUI with the IDE is quick because you don't need to worry about generating and updating code while you try out different layout managers, parameters, and components.

In addition, you can manage event handlers and customize the way code is generated for components.

For more information about creating Java GUIs, see "The JFC Swing Tutorial: A Guide to Constructing GUIs" at http://java.sun.com/docs/books/tutorial/book.html

Follow these links for help on designing, creating, and updating Java GUIs:

Form Editor
Creating a New Form
Testing a Form

Working With Components
Component Inspector
Component Palette

Working With Layouts
Working With Source Code
Managing Component Events
Using the Connection Wizard

Creating a Menu
Creating a Multiple Document Interface (MDI) Application

Configuring the Form Editor
Customizing the Component Palette

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