How can I use BoxLayout to do this?

Question

I\'ve already set up the menu (the centre boxes) perfectly, but I don\'t know how I can position the label. Currently what is happening is the label is going below the menu opti

Answer 1

You can get the desired results using the correct combinations of LayoutManagers. Don't limit yourself to one. Take advantage of the power than comes with combining/nesting layouts.

Here's the technique I used

• A BoxLayout for the center buttons
• A GridLayout(1, 5) for a panel the consists of everything but the buttom-left button which is in its own
• FlowLayout with a LEADING alignment
• All wrapped in the JFrame default BorderLayout

See the program below

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

public class BoxLayoutDemo {

    JButton button1 = new JButton("Button1");
    public BoxLayoutDemo() {
        JPanel pane = new JPanel(new GridLayout(1, 5));

        Box box = Box.createVerticalBox();
        box.add(new JButton("Button 1"));
        box.add(Box.createVerticalStrut(20));
        box.add(new JButton("Button 2"));
        box.add(Box.createVerticalStrut(20));
        box.add(new JButton("Button 3"));
        box.add(Box.createVerticalStrut(20));
        box.add(new JButton("Button 4"));
        box.add(Box.createVerticalStrut(20));
        box.add(new JButton("Button 5"));
        box.add(Box.createVerticalStrut(20));

        pane.add(new JPanel());
        pane.add(new JPanel());
        pane.add(box);
        pane.add(new JPanel());
        pane.add(new JPanel());

        JPanel pane2 = new JPanel(new FlowLayout(FlowLayout.LEADING));
        pane2.add(new JButton("ButtonButton"));

        JFrame frame = new JFrame("GridBag Box");
        frame.add(pane, BorderLayout.CENTER);
        frame.add(pane2, BorderLayout.SOUTH);
        frame.pack();
        frame.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
        frame.setLocationRelativeTo(null);
        frame.setVisible(true);
    }


    public static void main(String[] args) {
        SwingUtilities.invokeLater(new Runnable(){
            public void run(){
                new BoxLayoutDemo();
            }
        });
    }
}

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Disclaimer : excuse the title of the frame. I was first thinking of combining GridBagLayout with the Box, but the way I did it was so much easier. Too lazy to change the title now that I've noticed it.

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For those who say what I did above is somewhat hackish (by adding empty panels), which maybe it is, you could also add the top panel and bottom panel to a containing panel with a BorderLayout and a preferred size, and it will give you similar result

    public BoxLayoutDemo() {
        JPanel pane = new JPanel();

        Box box = Box.createVerticalBox();
        box.add(new JButton("Button 1"));
        box.add(Box.createVerticalStrut(20));
        box.add(new JButton("Button 2"));
        box.add(Box.createVerticalStrut(20));
        box.add(new JButton("Button 3"));
        box.add(Box.createVerticalStrut(20));
        box.add(new JButton("Button 4"));
        box.add(Box.createVerticalStrut(20));
        box.add(new JButton("Button 5"));
        box.add(Box.createVerticalStrut(20));

        pane.add(box);

        JPanel pane2 = new JPanel(new FlowLayout(FlowLayout.LEADING));
        pane2.add(new JButton("ButtonButton"));

        JPanel panel = new JPanel(new BorderLayout()){
            public Dimension getPreferredSize() {
                return new Dimension(400, 260);
            }
        };
        panel.add(pane, BorderLayout.CENTER);
        panel.add(pane2, BorderLayout.SOUTH);

        JFrame frame = new JFrame("Slitting using different layouts");
        frame.add(panel);
        frame.pack();
        frame.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
        frame.setLocationRelativeTo(null);
        frame.setVisible(true);
    }