Setting width of JTextArea and JTextField

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1

Guys,

I have read instruction on how to set the width of JTextArea’s and JTextFields.

I have tried to set the width of a text field like so:


  
  JTextField test = new JTextField("", 15);

and, this for the JTextArea


  
  // obviously row and cols vars come from somewhere
  
  JTextArea test = new JTextArea("",rows,cols);

So, why is it that the text field and text areas just take up the available size of the window. If I make the window bigger then the fields just grow with it. Is it something to do with the kind of layout I am using. The layout is a GridLayout().

Thanks

2

I typically never set the size on my components mark. That is the job of the layout manager. I would recommend using the GridBayLayout instead of just the GridLayout.

Regards,

Nate

3

Ok Nate, I will look into that then. You got any examples of how you do it?

4

If you post an example of what you’re trying to do. I’m not the best of coming up with my own examples.

:slight_smile:

Nate

5

Basically what I want is a form like.

– First Name - JTextField
– Second Name - JTextField
– Telephone Number - JTextField
– Priority - JTextField
– call description - JTextArea (200,200) ??

Sorry I dont actually have my code on me at the minute! :frowning:

6 

package example;

import java.awt.*;

import javax.swing.*;

public class SampleGUI extends JFrame
{
	public SampleGUI()
	{
		init();
	}
	
	private void init()
	{
		setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.DISPOSE_ON_CLOSE);
		setTitle("Grid Bag Layout Example");
		
		GridBagConstraints gbc = new GridBagConstraints();
		
		JPanel detailPanel = new JPanel();
		detailPanel.setLayout(new GridBagLayout());
		
		JLabel label = new JLabel("First Name:");
		gbc.gridx = 0;
		gbc.gridy = 0;
		gbc.fill = GridBagConstraints.HORIZONTAL;
		detailPanel.add(label, gbc);
		
		JTextField firstNameTextField = new JTextField();
		gbc.gridx = 1;
		gbc.gridy = 0;
		gbc.fill = GridBagConstraints.HORIZONTAL;
		gbc.weightx = 1.0;
		detailPanel.add(firstNameTextField, gbc);
		
		label = new JLabel("Last Name:");
		gbc.gridx = 0;
		gbc.gridy = 1;
		gbc.fill = GridBagConstraints.HORIZONTAL;
		gbc.weightx = 0.0;
		detailPanel.add(label, gbc);
		
		JTextField lastNameTextField = new JTextField();
		gbc.gridx = 1;
		gbc.gridy = 1;
		gbc.fill = GridBagConstraints.HORIZONTAL;
		gbc.weightx = 1.0;
		detailPanel.add(lastNameTextField, gbc);
		
		label = new JLabel("Telephone:");
		gbc.gridx = 0;
		gbc.gridy = 2;
		gbc.fill = GridBagConstraints.HORIZONTAL;
		gbc.weightx = 0.0;
		detailPanel.add(label, gbc);
		
		JTextField telephoneTextField = new JTextField();
		gbc.gridx = 1;
		gbc.gridy = 2;
		gbc.fill = GridBagConstraints.HORIZONTAL;
		gbc.weightx = 1.0;
		detailPanel.add(telephoneTextField, gbc);
		
		label = new JLabel("Priority Name:");
		gbc.gridx = 0;
		gbc.gridy = 3;
		gbc.fill = GridBagConstraints.HORIZONTAL;
		gbc.weightx = 0.0;
		detailPanel.add(label, gbc);
		
		String[] data = {"1", "2", "3", "4", "5", "6", "7", "8", "9", "10"};
		JComboBox priorityComboBox = new JComboBox(data);
		gbc.gridx = 1;
		gbc.gridy = 3;
		gbc.fill = GridBagConstraints.HORIZONTAL;
		gbc.weightx = 1.0;
		detailPanel.add(priorityComboBox, gbc);
		
		label = new JLabel("Call Description:");
		gbc.gridx = 0;
		gbc.gridy = 4;
		gbc.fill = GridBagConstraints.HORIZONTAL;
		gbc.weightx = 0.0;
		detailPanel.add(label, gbc);
		
		JTextArea descriptionTextArea = new JTextArea();
		gbc.gridx = 0;
		gbc.gridy = 5;
		gbc.gridwidth = 2;
		gbc.fill = GridBagConstraints.BOTH;
		gbc.weightx = 1.0;
		gbc.weighty = 1.0;
		detailPanel.add(descriptionTextArea, gbc);
		
		
		getContentPane().add(detailPanel);
	}
	
	
	public static void main(String[] args)
	{
		SampleGUI gui = new SampleGUI();
		
		gui.setSize(250, 400);
		gui.setVisible(true);
	}
}
7

Thanks. I will check that out! :slight_smile:

8