Component size in SpringLayout

Question

I use SpringLayout on my form, But as you see, its look isn't good (large and bad size)!

public class t8 extends JFrame {

JButton okButton, cancellButton;
JTextField idTF, nameTf;
JLabel idlbl, namelbl;

public t8() {
    add(createPanel(), BorderLayout.CENTER);

    setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
    setSize(400, 500);
    setLocation(400, 100);
    setVisible(true);
}

public static void main(String[] args) {
    new t8();
}

public JPanel createPanel() {
    JPanel panel = new JPanel();
    okButton = new JButton("Ok");
    cancellButton = new JButton("Cancel");
    idTF = new JTextField(10);
    nameTf = new JTextField(10);
    idlbl = new JLabel("ID");
    namelbl = new JLabel("Name");
    panel.add(idlbl);
    panel.add(idTF);
    panel.add(namelbl);
    panel.add(nameTf);
    panel.add(okButton);
    panel.add(cancellButton);

    panel.setLayout(new SpringLayout());
    SpringUtilities.makeCompactGrid(panel, 3, 2, 20, 50, 50, 100);
    return panel;
}
}

I change makeCompactGrid numbers, But was not success!

(The width of JTextFields are large, and my button's size are different)

Answer 1

If you don't care about the layout manager, but only care about the layout, then you should use a GridLayout, or if you don't want all component to be the same size, a GridBagLayout. Here's how with a grid layout (only the modified method is shown):

public JPanel createPanel() {
    JPanel panel = new JPanel();
    panel.setLayout(new GridLayout());
    okButton = new JButton("Ok");
    cancellButton = new JButton("Cancel");
    idTF = new JTextField(10);
    nameTf = new JTextField(10);
    idlbl = new JLabel("ID");
    namelbl = new JLabel("Name");
    panel.add(idlbl);
    panel.add(idTF);
    panel.add(namelbl);
    panel.add(nameTf);
    panel.add(okButton);
    panel.add(cancellButton);
    return panel;
}

And with a GridBagLayout:

public JPanel createPanel() {
    JPanel panel = new JPanel();
    GridBagLayout gb = new GridBagLayout();
    GridBagConstraints gbc = new GridBagConstraints();
    panel.setLayout(gb);
    okButton = new JButton("Ok");
    cancellButton = new JButton("Cancel");
    idTF = new JTextField(10);
    nameTf = new JTextField(10);
    idlbl = new JLabel("ID");
    namelbl = new JLabel("Name");
    add(panel, idlbl, 0, 0, 1, 1, gb, gbc, false);
    add(panel, idTF, 0, 1, 1, 1, gb, gbc, true);
    add(panel, namelbl, 1, 0, 1, 1, gb, gbc, false);
    add(panel, nameTf, 1, 1, 1, 1, gb, gbc, true);
    add(panel, okButton, 2, 0, 1, 1, gb, gbc, false);
    add(panel, cancellButton, 2, 1, 1, 1, gb, gbc, true);
    return panel;
}

private void add(Container outer, Component c, int x, int y, int w, int h, GridBagLayout gb, GridBagConstraints gbc, boolean wide) {
    gbc.gridx = x;
    gbc.gridy = y;
    gbc.gridwidth = w;
    gbc.gridheight = h;
    if (wide) {
        gbc.weightx = 100;
    } else {
        gbc.weightx = 0;
    }
    gb.setConstraints(c, gbc);
    outer.add(c);
}

I believe that the extra GridBagLayout complexity just might be worth it.

Answer 2

I would suggest you to use Netbeans drag and drop tool which will allow you to set the components physically and will also give you the preview. If you want to do it with code just use the free layout and set the location and size of every component manually By setSize() and setLocation() methods, although this will require more lines of code but will ensure you that all the components are in their correct position.