JPanel not showing up in JFrame

[rlindsey]

This project is suppose to display a group of boxes 100 pixels square from 1 to 5 that is entered by the user. If the user enters 1 then a single box 100 wide and 100 high is supposed to be shown, if they enter 2 then a stack of boxes the same height and width each 2X2 is supposed to be shown. There is a class to make the panel and the drawlines and the main program area that calls up the class, with a set size passed, and then adds it to the JFrame and displays it. The JFrame is supposed to be 10 pixels wider around then the panel. The JFrame operates correctly, shrinking and expanding as it is needed, but the JPanel graphics do not display ever.

Here is my class code:

import java.awt.*; 
import java.awt.Graphics; //imports the java graphics
import javax.swing.JPanel; //imports the java panel

public class MakeBox extends JPanel
{
	//class variable
	private int sizer = 110; //integer sizer for box size with default set
	
	//constructor that takes the size of the box
	public MakeBox(int newSize)
	{
		sizer = newSize;
	}	
	
	//public method that takes one integer value to construct and display the box
	public void CreateBox(Graphics g)
	{
		//method variables
		int i = 110; //sets up a loop value at default value
		
		//call paintComponent for correct display
		super.paintComponent(g);		
		
		//set graphic color
		g.setColor(Color.BLACK);
				
		//draw the outer box lines
		g.drawLine( 10, 10, sizer, 10);
		g.drawLine( 10, 10, 10, sizer);
		g.drawLine( sizer, 10, sizer, sizer);
		g.drawLine( 10, sizer, sizer, sizer);
		
		//loop to draw intersecting lines
		for( i = 110; i < sizer; i = i + 100)
		{
			//draw vertical line
			g.drawLine( i, 10, i, sizer);
			
			//draw horizontal line
			g.drawLine (10, i, sizer, i);
		}
	}
}

And here is my main program area:

import javax.swing.JOptionPane; //import the java pane
import javax.swing.JFrame; //imports the java frame
import java.awt.Graphics;
import java.awt.*;

public class BoxProgram
{	
	public static void main( String[] args)
	{
		//variables
		boolean tester = false; //boolean to test for valid entry
		String getNumber = "1"; //string for user entry set at default value
		int thisNumber = 0; //integer for string conversion
		int drawBox = 110; //integer for height and width of box set at default value		
		int boxSize = 120; //integer for the size of the box set at default value
				
		//test do while loop
		do
		{
			//get user entry
			getNumber = JOptionPane.showInputDialog(" Please enter a number from 1 to 5:");
			
			//try catch to test for valid entry
			try
			{
				//try to convert entry into integer value
				thisNumber = Integer.parseInt( getNumber );
				
				//if statement to check for values between 1 and 5
				if (thisNumber > 0 && thisNumber < 6)
				{
					//set box size
					boxSize = thisNumber * 100 + 20;
					
					//set the width and height of the box
					drawBox = boxSize - 10;					
					
					//create new box class panel
					MakeBox thisBox = new MakeBox(drawBox);				
										
					//create a frame to hold the panel
					JFrame thisFrame = new JFrame();
					
					//set frame to exit when closed
					thisFrame.setDefaultCloseOperation( JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE );
					
					//add panel to the frame
					thisFrame.add( thisBox );
					
					//set frame size
					thisFrame.setSize ( boxSize, boxSize );					
					
					//make frame visible
					thisFrame.setVisible( true );			
					
					//set boolean value
					tester = true;
				}
				else
				{
					//display out of range error message
					JOptionPane.showMessageDialog(null, "Please enter a number from 1 to 5.");
					
					//set error boolean
					tester = false;
				} 
			}
			catch(Throwable t)
			{
				//display invalid entry type error message
				JOptionPane.showMessageDialog(null, "Please enter a valid numeric value.");
				
				//set error boolean
				tester = false;
			}
		}		
		while (tester == false);
	}
}

Why is the panel not being displayed? Is my question here.

[Michael Dunn]

> Why is the panel not being displayed? Is my question here.

this might be a good place to start

//public void CreateBox(Graphics g)
public void paintComponent(Graphics g)

[rlindsey]

Thank you, it's working now. I was going by the example code from the book and it had it set up the first way, but your way works and the first way did not. lol