Getting Size of Components

Ok, I need to be able to get the current size of a component. I have attempted to use the component's getWidth() method, getHeight() method, getSize() method, and the getPreferredSize() method but they all return 0 or dimensions that have a height and width of 0 (depending on the method).

My components have not been given a specific size by me, they should be getting their size based on what they contain or specifications on construction. For example, the size of a JLabel is the length of the String given to it. The size of a JTextField is the number of columns given to. The size of a JButton is the length of the String given to it. And those sorts of things.

I believe that because of this setup, I am getting 0 because I have not explicitly set a size or a preferred size. And for what I am doing, I shouldnt be sending it a size or a preferred size anyway.

As well as getting the sizes of normal components, I want to be able to get the size of a JPanel when I send it one. I havent managed to get that to work either.

Is anyone able to send me in the correct direction?

When are you trying to retrieve the size? Is this before they are visible or packed within a JFrame? These methods return 0 prior to this:

Code java:

---

	public static void main(String[] args){
 
		JPanel panel = new JPanel();
		JLabel lab = new JLabel("Label");
		panel.add(lab);
		System.out.println(lab.getWidth());//
		JFrame frame = new JFrame();
		frame.getContentPane().add(panel);
		frame.pack();
		System.out.println(lab.getWidth());
		frame.setVisible(true);
 
	}

---

This will be before packing because I am attempting to create a centerComponent(Component,int) method in my custom layout. It will need to subtract the width of the Component from the width of the JPanel and divide by 2 to find out where it needs to be placed for an X coordinate.

Looks to me that you don't need to get the size, you need to get the preferredSize.

db