Inconsistent Java Swing JFrame Size

Question

it is my first question in Stackoverflow. I have collected pages from here so much and didn't solved my problem. My problem is sometimes (not always) jframe i have created, appear not same with size I have set in properties. I use Netbeans 7.1.2 and only do drag n drop for GUI making. I can't do GUI coding yet. This is the picture for example

My window component looks like cropped. The size when run and size in properties (minimumsize and preferredsize) is different. This happened both with Free Design or Absolute Design. What is the problem of this? Do you know what usual problem with this? I don't know what happen. How do I can solve this? I am sorry for mistakes. Thank you.

I don't know where the error from the code but this is that frame's code:

@SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
// <editor-fold defaultstate="collapsed" desc="Generated Code">
private void initComponents() {

    jButton4 = new javax.swing.JButton();
    jSeparator1 = new javax.swing.JSeparator();
    btBack = new javax.swing.JButton();
    jButton5 = new javax.swing.JButton();
    jLabel1 = new javax.swing.JLabel();
    btNext = new javax.swing.JButton();
    jLabel10 = new javax.swing.JLabel();
    jLabel2 = new javax.swing.JLabel();
    jSeparator2 = new javax.swing.JSeparator();
    jLabel3 = new javax.swing.JLabel();
    jLabel4 = new javax.swing.JLabel();
    jLabel5 = new javax.swing.JLabel();
    jLabel6 = new javax.swing.JLabel();
    jLabel7 = new javax.swing.JLabel();
    lbJudul = new javax.swing.JLabel();
    jPanel1 = new javax.swing.JPanel();

    jButton4.setIcon(new javax.swing.ImageIcon(getClass().getResource("/otodidak/gambar/logomati.png"))); // NOI18N
    jButton4.setToolTipText("Tutup Otodidak");
    jButton4.addActionListener(new java.awt.event.ActionListener() {
        public void actionPerformed(java.awt.event.ActionEvent evt) {
            jButton4ActionPerformed(evt);
        }
    });

    setDefaultCloseOperation(javax.swing.WindowConstants.DISPOSE_ON_CLOSE);
    setTitle("Otodidak");
    setAlwaysOnTop(true);
    setLocationByPlatform(true);
    setPreferredSize(new java.awt.Dimension(787, 410));
    setResizable(false);
    getContentPane().setLayout(new org.netbeans.lib.awtextra.AbsoluteLayout());
    getContentPane().add(jSeparator1, new org.netbeans.lib.awtextra.AbsoluteConstraints(48, 53, 689, -1));

    btBack.setIcon(new javax.swing.ImageIcon(getClass().getResource("/otodidak/gambar/backlogo2.png"))); // NOI18N
    btBack.setToolTipText("Kembali");
    btBack.addMouseListener(new java.awt.event.MouseAdapter() {
        public void mouseClicked(java.awt.event.MouseEvent evt) {
            btBackMouseClicked(evt);
        }
    });
    btBack.addActionListener(new java.awt.event.ActionListener() {
        public void actionPerformed(java.awt.event.ActionEvent evt) {
            btBackActionPerformed(evt);
        }
    });
    getContentPane().add(btBack, new org.netbeans.lib.awtextra.AbsoluteConstraints(224, 340, 130, -1));

    jButton5.setIcon(new javax.swing.ImageIcon(getClass().getResource("/otodidak/gambar/logomati.png"))); // NOI18N
    jButton5.setToolTipText("Tutup Otodidak");
    jButton5.addActionListener(new java.awt.event.ActionListener() {
        public void actionPerformed(java.awt.event.ActionEvent evt) {
            jButton5ActionPerformed(evt);
        }
    });
    getContentPane().add(jButton5, new org.netbeans.lib.awtextra.AbsoluteConstraints(718, 358, 46, -1));

    jLabel1.setIcon(new javax.swing.ImageIcon(getClass().getResource("/otodidak/gambar/synapticwvdial.png"))); // NOI18N
    getContentPane().add(jLabel1, new org.netbeans.lib.awtextra.AbsoluteConstraints(388, 65, 348, 264));

    btNext.setIcon(new javax.swing.ImageIcon(getClass().getResource("/otodidak/gambar/nextlogo2.png"))); // NOI18N
    btNext.setToolTipText("Lanjut");
    btNext.addMouseListener(new java.awt.event.MouseAdapter() {
        public void mouseClicked(java.awt.event.MouseEvent evt) {
            btNextMouseClicked(evt);
        }
    });
    getContentPane().add(btNext, new org.netbeans.lib.awtextra.AbsoluteConstraints(396, 340, 130, 48));

    jLabel10.setFont(new java.awt.Font("Ubuntu", 1, 48)); // NOI18N
    jLabel10.setText("1");
    getContentPane().add(jLabel10, new org.netbeans.lib.awtextra.AbsoluteConstraints(48, 68, 36, 40));

    jLabel2.setFont(new java.awt.Font("Ubuntu", 0, 24)); // NOI18N
    jLabel2.setText("Instal Aplikasi wvdial");
    getContentPane().add(jLabel2, new org.netbeans.lib.awtextra.AbsoluteConstraints(90, 80, -1, 24));
    getContentPane().add(jSeparator2, new org.netbeans.lib.awtextra.AbsoluteConstraints(50, 116, 216, 18));

    jLabel3.setFont(new java.awt.Font("Ubuntu", 0, 16)); // NOI18N
    jLabel3.setText("1) Buka Synaptic.");
    getContentPane().add(jLabel3, new org.netbeans.lib.awtextra.AbsoluteConstraints(56, 132, 368, 26));

    jLabel4.setFont(new java.awt.Font("Ubuntu", 0, 16)); // NOI18N
    jLabel4.setText("3) Klik kanan wvdial, pilih mark for Installation. ");
    getContentPane().add(jLabel4, new org.netbeans.lib.awtextra.AbsoluteConstraints(56, 207, 346, -1));

    jLabel5.setFont(new java.awt.Font("Ubuntu", 0, 16)); // NOI18N
    jLabel5.setText("2) Ketik wvdial. ");
    getContentPane().add(jLabel5, new org.netbeans.lib.awtextra.AbsoluteConstraints(56, 170, 346, -1));

    jLabel6.setFont(new java.awt.Font("Ubuntu", 0, 16)); // NOI18N
    jLabel6.setText("4) Biarkan Synaptic menginstalkan wvdial. ");
    getContentPane().add(jLabel6, new org.netbeans.lib.awtextra.AbsoluteConstraints(56, 244, 346, -1));

    jLabel7.setFont(new java.awt.Font("Ubuntu", 0, 16)); // NOI18N
    jLabel7.setText("Catatan: internet harus menyala.");
    getContentPane().add(jLabel7, new org.netbeans.lib.awtextra.AbsoluteConstraints(58, 292, 298, 22));

    lbJudul.setFont(new java.awt.Font("Dialog", 1, 24)); // NOI18N
    lbJudul.setForeground(new java.awt.Color(254, 254, 254));
    lbJudul.setHorizontalAlignment(javax.swing.SwingConstants.CENTER);
    lbJudul.setText("Cara Menginstal Smartfren AC682");
    getContentPane().add(lbJudul, new org.netbeans.lib.awtextra.AbsoluteConstraints(117, 12, 578, -1));

    jPanel1.setBackground(new java.awt.Color(1, 1, 1));
    getContentPane().add(jPanel1, new org.netbeans.lib.awtextra.AbsoluteConstraints(0, -2, 788, 50));

    pack();

Not whole the code, but maybe useful. Thank you for all you attentions...

Answer 1

...AbsoluteConstraints(117, 12, 578, -1)  

This is the basis of the problem. It is as effective as a null layout when using pack().

The solution is plain. Use layout managers that honor the preferred sizes of the components.