How to position something on a certain point on a JPanel?

Question

Right now I have the following code which adds the JLabel to the top center of the Panel, which I assume is the default

imageLabel = new JLabel();
        ImageIcon customer1 = new ImageIcon("src/view/images/crab.png");

        imageLabel.setIcon(customer1);
        storePanel.add(imageLabel);
        imageLabel.setBounds(20, 20, 50, 50);

setBounds obviously isn't putting it at 20,20....so how do you position something to a point within a Panel?

score 2 · Answer 1 · answered Nov 25 '13 at 19:08

Use the appropriate LayoutManager to place components in the panel.

http://docs.oracle.com/javase/tutorial/uiswing/layout/visual.html

In your case you should be able to use a FlowLayout and set the horizontal and vertical gaps when you create it.

http://docs.oracle.com/javase/7/docs/api/java/awt/FlowLayout.html#FlowLayout(int,%20int,%20int)

score 2 · Answer 2 · answered Nov 25 '13 at 19:10

2

Seems your storePanel is JPanel and has default FlowLayout manager, because of your setBounds(20, 20, 50, 50); doesn't work. It will be work with null layout (storePanel.setLayout(null);).

But I recommend you to use LayoutManager.

answered Nov 25 '13 at 19:10

alex2410

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Anthony Accioly · Answer 3 · 2013-11-25T20:12:49.233

Although not recommended, you can do absolute positioning if you set your layout manager to null.

storePanel.setLayout(null);
// imageLabel initialization code
storePanel.add(imageLabel);
imageLabel.setBounds(20, 20, 50, 50);

Oracle Documentation

My advice is to use a Good IDE + UI Builder combo such as:

Thease are WYSIWYG tools that can generate Swing code using flexible Layout Managers such as Group Layout or JGoodies Form Layout.

A layout manager is a must if you want to design good UIs. They not only handle the size and positioning of components, but things such as redistributing / repositioning / resizing components on window resize (which is really hard to get right by hand). Also, those UI designers can hint you so that you stick to the guidelines and best practices in order to design high quality / cross-platform UI.

Levenal · Answer 4 · 2013-11-25T20:05:51.443

If you don't mind a bit of manual work you can add constraints to your label using a SpringLayout. This allows you to position edges an exact distance from other edges, which by default also sorts the components size (By basically setting the edges a set distance apart when you lay it out) I have demonstrated below with a textArea, but is could easily apply to your label as well.

public class SO {

    public static void main(String[] args) {        
    //Components
          JFrame frame = new JFrame();
          JPanel panel = new JPanel();
          panel.setSize(frame.getSize());
          JTextArea text = new JTextArea();         
    //Add components
          panel.add(text);
          frame.add(panel);         
    //Layout add & setup  
          SpringLayout layout = new SpringLayout();
          panel.setLayout(layout);        
          layout.putConstraint(SpringLayout.WEST, text, 10, SpringLayout.WEST, panel);
          layout.putConstraint(SpringLayout.NORTH, text, 10, SpringLayout.NORTH, panel);
          layout.putConstraint(SpringLayout.EAST, text, -10, SpringLayout.EAST, panel);        
          frame.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
          frame.setLocationRelativeTo(null);
          frame.pack();
          frame.setVisible(true);        
    }
}

`frame.pack()` ??? instead of `frame.setSize(300, 300);`, thats way (how is designated)/for LayoutManager — mKorbel, Nov 25 '13 at 20:01

How to position something on a certain point on a JPanel?

4 Answers4