Thread: What is the best way to achieve this layout?

Hi,

I'm trying to develop a java program with a layout that resembles the following:

java.layout.jpg

However, I'm having trouble laying this out by hand (I typically use the NetBeans GUI designer, but I want to do it by hand this time). I've been coding it, but I can't decide which layout manager would be the best to use in this case. I really want to use the GridBagLayout manager, but I'm not sure if it would be best to use in this situation. Here is what I've come up with so far:

package application;
 
public class AppMain {
 
    public static void main(String args[]) {
        new AppInterface();
    }
 
}
 
package application;
 
import java.awt.*;
import javax.swing.*;
 
public class AppInterface extends JFrame {
    private JPanel mainPanel;
    private JScrollPane tabScrollPane, textBoxScrollPane;
    private JTabbedPane tabPane;
    private JTextPane textBox;
    private GridBagConstraints constraints;
 
    public AppInterface() {
        initComponents();
        setLocationRelativeTo(null);
        setVisible(true);
    }
 
    private void initComponents() {
        mainPanel = new JPanel(new GridBagLayout());
        textBoxScrollPane = new JScrollPane();
        textBox = new JTextPane();
        constraints = new GridBagConstraints();
 
        textBoxScrollPane.add(textBox);
 
        setTitle("Application Interface");
        setSize(900, 800);
        setDefaultCloseOperation(WindowConstants.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
 
        mainPanel.setBackground(Color.yellow);
 
        constraints.gridx = 0;
        constraints.gridy = 0;
        constraints.fill = GridBagConstraints.BOTH;
 
        mainPanel.add(textBoxScrollPane, constraints);
 
        add(mainPanel);
 
    }
}

I'm trying to get two different panels laid out with the GridBagLayout on each one so I can place the tab panel and text box on different panels. I need two panels side-by-side with the one on the left taking only about 25% of the JFrame and the right one taking 75% of the JFrame. Then, I hope to place the tab pane on the left panel and the text box on the right panel.

I know that JFrames have BoxLayouts as a default layout. How can I layout two panels with the BoxLayout on the JFrame with one taking 25% and the other taking 75% of the space? I think that would be a good place to start, then I can worry about placing the tab pane and text box. Thank you if you can offer any help.

I would suggest you use the BorderLayout with your button pane on the west and your text area in the center.
This would not give you a 25% / 75% split but would try to show as much of the button pane as necessary (as much as is needed to show all buttons) and give the rest of the space to the text area.