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.

You can select items such as panels, scrollbars, menus, and buttons in the component palette and then place them directly on a form in the Form Editor window. You can add any bean to the component palette (visual or non-visual), and these components can also be used in the Form Editor.

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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