Configuring the Form Editor

You can configure the behavior of the Form Editor as well as the grid and color properties of the Form Editor window.

To configure Form Editor behavior and Form Editor window appearance:

  1. From the main window, choose Tools and choose Options.
  2. In the Options window, expand the Editing node.
  3. Select the Form Editor Settings node.
  4. Modify the values to your preferred settings.
    Properties Tab
    Connection Border Color   Color of components' selection border during connection mode.
    Drag Feedback Color   Color of target container during dragging.
    Selection Border Color   Color of the boxes around a component that mark it as "selected."
    Selection Border Size   Size (in pixels) of the boxes around a component that mark it as "selected."
    Show Component Palette Tabs   If True, entire component palette is shown in main window, with tabs for various types of components. If False, only the Selection Mode buttons are shown. You can always access components by clicking the Add Mode button (plus sign) and selecting a component from the displayed menu.
    Expert Tab
    Apply Grid to Position   If True, the position of components is snapped to the grid (if a grid is used) in AbsoluteLayout or Null Layout.
    Apply Grid to Size   If True, the size of components is snapped to the grid (if a grid is used) in AbsoluteLayout or Null Layout.
    Event Variable Name   The name of the variable generated in the signature of the event handler method for the event object. For example, evt is the variable name in private void button1ActionPerformed (java.awt.event.ActionEvent evt).
    Grid X   Size of grid for AbsoluteLayout or Null Layout in the x axis.
    Grid Y    Size of grid for AbsoluteLayout or Null Layout in the y axis.
    Indent AWT Hierarchy   If True, the code generated in initComponents() is indented for child components of a container.
    Property Editor Search Path   List of packages that are searched for property sheets used in the Form Editor.
    Property Editors   Explicitly registered editors for certain property types.
    Variables Modifier   The access modifier for variables generated for components on the form.
    Workspace   The workspace the IDE jumps to when a form object is opened.
See also
Customizing the Component Palette
AbsoluteLayout
Null Layout

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