Java GUI Panels

Question

I am trying to make a game for one of my classes, but I am running into trouble in implementing some of the things I want to do. Essentially, I want multiple different parts inside the same graphical user interface window.

To my understanding I would use JPanels to create these different parts and put them in a larger JPanel, am I right in this?

I have my code here, but really I need help just on what to do going about all of this.

public class FarkleWindow extends JFrame{

    private int windowWidth = 800;
    private int windowHeight = 600;

    private JPanel player1Dice, player2Dice, dicePanel, infoBox;
    private FarkleDisplay gameBoard;public FarkleWindow()
    {
        this.setTitle("Farkle!");
        this.setSize(windowWidth,windowHeight);
        this.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);

        inititalizeWindow();

        this.setVisible(true);

    }


    private void inititalizeWindow() {
        gameBoard = new FarkleDisplay();

        this.add(gameBoard, BorderLayout.CENTER);

        //addMenuOptions();

        player1Dice = new JPanel();
        gameBoard.add(player1Dice);

    }
}

I would like to know what to put in the initializeWindow() part to create the different parts, and how I would tell that they are visible, like a border or color or something to just see that it is there.

Any help would be appreciated!

EDIT

I am reading more on this, and as I look at it I have more questions. Can I make JPanels certain sizes, or is it just through specific positioning that I can fit everything I want?

EDIT V2

So it was said that I should include more information on what kind of layout I want for an interface, and thank you guys for the help I do have! I am still getting used to using and posting to Stack Overflow rather than just searching for what I am looking for on it.

Basically what I am going for and looking to build is something similar to this layout

http://bestbackgammon.com/farkle/index_files/image001.jpg

I want each part a separate Panel, if that is a good way to go about it. So having the two side rectangles as Panels and the center Square a Panel, and a fourth Panel for the brown text box type thing inside the middle Square.

Would this be a decent way to go about that?

(Also, any tips on what I should improve for my question in general would be good.)

camickr · Accepted Answer

what to put in the initializeWindow() part to create the different parts,

player1Dice = new JPanel();
gameBoard.add(player1Dice);

You can also do something like:

JPanel panel1 = new JPanel();
panel1.setBackground( Color.GREEN );
gameBoard.add(panel1);
JPanel panel2 = new JPanel();
panel2.setBackground( Color.BLUE );
gameBoard.add(panel2);

Of course there won't be much to see because the panel doesn't contain any components. Your question is too vague to give a specific answer.

and how I would tell that they are visible, like a border or color or something to just see that it is there.

You can add a Border to the panel. Something like:

panel.setBorder( BorderFactory.createLineBorder(Color.RED) );

Read the section from the Swing tutorial on How to Use Borders for more information.

Java GUI Panels

Answers (2)

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