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I am making a software that will support multiple features simultaneously. I know the logic, and I have developed the features to support.

I want my project to have a look similar to Metro GUI of Windows 8. It need not to be specifically Metro, but similar.

I know about all the layouts in standard Swing library. Currently I am using GroupLayout though. How should I proceed, any ideas? Because the UI seems dull and I don't want to use 3rd party APIs either. Any suggestions?

Andrew Thompson
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nsthethunderbolt
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  • OK I don't get it. What is it about the look of a Metro app. that comes down to layouts, as opposed to see the [pluggable **look** and feel](http://stackoverflow.com/tags/look-and-feel/info)? Can you post some images or links to them? Preferably for the same app. on Windows 7 *and* Metro. – Andrew Thompson Jan 30 '13 at 01:12
  • Sorry, but I don't have any images, as I dumped my GUI. I was reconstructing it. And metro UI consists of Tiles which can be dragged to relocate. – nsthethunderbolt Jan 30 '13 at 18:54

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I personally would use GridBagLayout, simply because it would allow you to supply better weighted constraints to each "group", but even that might not be entirely suitable.

I would also take a look for the Metro UX guidelines for more ideas

These might be helpful

MadProgrammer
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    From the MSDN article *"Simple, clean, elegantly designed tiles will be more successful than those that scream for attention like a petulant child."*. Classic. :) – Andrew Thompson Jan 30 '13 at 01:04
  • Don't you think that GroupLayout is more versatile than GridBagLayout. And do you have any ideas on how to make Panels or any internal components of a Frame, draggable. And don't mention JInternalFrames. Any help would be appreciated. thanks – nsthethunderbolt Jan 30 '13 at 18:59
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    @nsthethunderbolt No actually. `GridLayout` will require that each panel be the same size will be allocated a equal percentage of the available. `GridBagLayout` will allow you to have panels that expand columns/rows, have different weights (height/width) and generally provide you a far more flexible layout solution. Personally, if you're not going to write your own, this is the next best solution - IMHO – MadProgrammer Jan 30 '13 at 20:05