Thread: Need a Layout Manager that can change size of window

I am creating a window that contains a number of drop-downs. When the user changes the value in one of these drop-downs (Projects), I need to reload the values listed in another one (Documents). I am currently using GridLayout, but when the Documents drop-down expands, the window doesn't expand with it, thus cutting it off at the original window's size. Is there a particular layout manager that will resize the window to the proper width necessary?

Chris

GridLayout ensures that each cell is the same width & height as the others. Sounds like part of what you need is a layout manager that honors your components' preferred sizes. GridBagLayout is one that does that.

Now, if you want the window itself (JFrame, JDialog) to resize, I don't think any layout manager will do that for you automatically. Layout managers do stuff with child components, but do nothing to the parent window. You'll probably have to run through all the window's child components, adding up their preferred widths & heights, and resize (and re-center on screen) the window yourself.

Personally though, I would try to steer away from changing the size of the window. This seems like something that could be distracting and unintuitive to users. Is it possible to make the window as big as it needs to be and then not touch its size after that?

Yes, it would be OK for me to make the window a single larger size and leave it, but I'm not sure how to do that.