Chapter 12. Understanding Layout Managers

IN THIS CHAPTER

• Uncovering Layout Managers

• Layout Managers Available

• Using a Layout Manager

• Using the XYLayout Manager

• Using the BorderLayout Manager

• Using the FlowLayout Manager

• Using VerticalFlowLayout

• Using the BoxLayout2 Manager

• Using the GridLayout Manager

• Using the CardLayout Manager

• Using the OverlayLayout2 Manager

• Using the PaneLayout Manager

• Using the GridBagLayout Manager

• Creating a Custom Layout Manager

• Design Guidelines

Every container, by default, has a layout manager associated with it. The layout managers have a singular responsibility: to determine where each new component is placed when it is added to the container. Technically, a layout manager is an object that implements the LayoutManager interface. Each container has a default layout manager assigned to it and an accessor and mutator to access or change the selected layout manager. Layout managers give you the following features: