JLabel does not appear over JButton?

Question

I have a grid of 16 buttons which will represent dice. When a score is added, I want a JLabel to pop up in the middle and display the added score. The 16 buttons and one label are all within one JLabel. Why do the buttons always show on top of the JLabel, even when the JLabel is set to visible?

Thank you for any help!

Pictures

JButtons visible, JLabel is not:

When the JButtons are setVisible to false, the JLabel is seen:

Code

Here is the constructor to my code. The label does not show up if the buttons are visible.

        public Grid()
        {
            super();
            setLayout(null);
            setBounds(125,205,290,290);
            setBackground(new Color(139,69,19));
            setBorder(new LineBorder(Color.black,5));

            for(int a = 0; a < piece.length; a ++)
            {
                for(int b = 0; b < piece[0].length; b ++)
                {
                    piece[a][b] = new DiceButton(0,0,a,b,null);
                    piece[a][b].addActionListener(this);
                    add(piece[a][b]);
                }
            }

            scoringVisual = new JLabel("+ 200");
            scoringVisual.setBounds(110, 135, 70, 30);
            scoringVisual.setFont(new Font("Arial Rounded MT Bold", Font.BOLD, 20));
            scoringVisual.setOpaque(true);
            scoringVisual.setBackground(new Color(0,87,0));
            scoringVisual.setForeground(new Color(38,224,2));
            scoringVisual.setHorizontalAlignment(JLabel.CENTER);
            scoringVisual.setBorder(new LineBorder(Color.black,1));
            add(scoringVisual);
        }

You might want to include some code - in particular, what [Layout Manager](http://docs.oracle.com/javase/tutorial/uiswing/layout/visual.html) are you using? — Richard JP Le Guen, Jun 12 '13 at 05:53
I have updated my question, I am using a null layoutManager and setting the bounds using the values in the for loop as it is a grid. — juggling_pro, Jun 12 '13 at 05:56
And the answer to your last [question](http://stackoverflow.com/questions/17058159/how-do-i-get-a-jlabel-to-show-over-a-jbutton) didn't help because? — MadProgrammer, Jun 12 '13 at 05:56
The question was very vague, so I updated it here with my actual code and pictures. — juggling_pro, Jun 12 '13 at 05:59
Tips: 1) Add @MadProgrammer (or whoever) to notify them of a new comment. 2) Don't start new questions on that basis, instead ***edit the old question.*** — Andrew Thompson, Jun 12 '13 at 06:10
Alright, I am new here so I will remember that. Thank you :) — juggling_pro, Jun 12 '13 at 06:14
*"I will remember that"* You forgot my 1st tip in the time between reading my comment and making your own! — Andrew Thompson, Jun 12 '13 at 06:21

score 2 · Accepted Answer · answered Jun 12 '13 at 15:47

In your last posting I stated:

Basically the last component added is painted first.

However, I then posted example code (which was the same as your code):

c.add(button);
c.add(label);

Of course I meant to post:

c.add(label);
c.add(button);

Of course this is still a terrible way to do what your want. You should NOT be using a null layout. You should not be using setBounds() to position your components on the panel.

I don't have a background with glasspanes or anything,

That is why I gave you the link to the tutorial. It contains working exmaples.

but I wish to do this in the easiest way possible.

That is why I gave you the link to the tutorial. Sometimes you need to learn the basics to take advantage of what Swing has to offer. Since you don't know how Swing works you don't know that drawbacks of your current approach. We are trying to point you in the right direction at the start of your design phase so you don't have to revisit the design in the future when you encounter problems and it will become harder to change.

JLabel does not appear over JButton?

Pictures

Code

1 Answers1