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User Interface Components of the JFC

The JFC includes Swing, a complete set of user interface components, including windows, dialog boxes, alert boxes, panels and panes, and basic controls. Each JFC component contains a model (the data structure) and a user interface (the presentation and behavior of the component), as shown in the following illustration.

Pluggable Look and Feel Architecture

Because both presentation and behavior are separate and replaceable ("pluggable"), you can specify any of several look and feel designs for your application--or you can create your own look and feel. The separation of a component's model (data structure) from its user interface (display and interaction behavior) is the empowering principle behind the pluggable look and feel architecture of the JFC. A single JFC application can present a Java look and feel, a platform-specific look and feel, or a customized interface (for example, an audio interface).

Example Model and Interfaces

Consider the slider and the editable text field in the following figure as an example. The underlying model contains information about the current value as well as the minimum and maximum values. The slider's interface determines how users see or interact with the slider. The slider enforces the idea of a range of choices. However, an editable text field would be easier for keyboard users. The editable text field shares the data model with the slider. The text field's interface contains data about the position and color of the label and the text field and the response when users type in a new value.

Client Properties

You can use the client properties mechanism to display an alternate form of a specific Java user interface component. If a look and feel design does not support a property, it ignores the property and displays the component as usual. You can set alternate appearances for sliders, toolbars, trees, and internal windows. For instance, a nonfilling slider might be displayed by default. However, by using the client properties mechanism, you can display a filling slider, as shown in the preceding figure.

Major JFC User Interface Components

The following table illustrates (with icons intended for use in a GUI builder) the major user interface components in the JFC. Components are listed alphabetically by their names in code. Their English names are provided, followed by the location of more detailed information on each component.

Table 1   Names of the JFC User Interface Components 

Component	Code Name	Common Name	For Details
	JApplet	Applet	click here
	JButton	Command button and toolbar button	click here and here
	JCheckBox	Checkbox	click here
	JCheckBoxMenuItem	Checkbox menu item	click here
	JColorChooser	Color chooser	click here
	JComboBox	Noneditable and editable combo boxes	click here
	JDesktopPane	Backing window	click here
	JDialog	Dialog box, secondary window, and utility window	click here, here, and here
	JEditorPane	Editor pane	click here
	JFrame	Primary window	click here
	JInternalFrame	Internal window, minimized internal window, and internal utility window	click here and here
	JLabel	Label	click here and here
	JList	List components (list boxes and selectable lists)	click here and here
	JMenu	Drop-down menu and submenu	click here
	JMenuBar	Menu bar	click here
	JMenuItem	Menu item	click here
	JOptionPane	Alert box	click here
	JPanel	Panel	click here
	JPasswordField	Password field	click here
	JPopupMenu	Contextual menu	click here
	JProgressBar	Progress bar	click here
	JRadioButton	Radio button	click here
	JRadioButtonMenuItem	Radio button menu item	click here
	JScrollBar	Scrollbar	click here
	JScrollPane	Scroll pane	click here
	JSeparator	Separator	click here
	JSlider	Slider	click here
	JSplitPane	Split pane	click here
	JTabbedPane	Tabbed pane	click here
	JTable	Table	click here
	JTextArea	Plain text area	click here
	JTextField	Noneditable and editable text fields (single line)	click here
	JTextPane	Editor pane with the styled editor kit plug-in	click here
	JToggleButton	Toggle button and toolbar toggle button	click here and here
	JToolBar	Toolbar	click here
	JToolTip	Tool tip	click here
	JTree	Tree component	click here
	JWindow	Plain (unadorned) window	click here

 In the JFC, the typical primary windows that users work with are based on the JFrame component. Unadorned windows that consist of a rectangular region without any title bar, close control, or other window controls are based on the JWindow component. Designers and developers typically use the JWindow component to create windows without title bars, such as splash screens.

For details on the use of windows, panels, and panes, see Chapter 7.

Java Look and Feel Design Guidelines, second edition. Copyright 2001. Sun Microsystems, Inc. All Rights Reserved.