Painting in jPanels

[nickrrr]

Hello, i'm working on a computer science project and was looking for some help on some problems ive ran into. My goal is to make a very basic paint app using swing for a gui (just started using netbeans).

My Main class

public class Main {

    /**
     * @param args the command line arguments
     */
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        JavaPaintUI UI = new JavaPaintUI();
        UI.setVisible(true);
    }

}

my JavaPaintUI class (minus all the generated stuff from netbeans)

package javapaint;

import java.awt.*;

public class JavaPaintUI extends javax.swing.JFrame {

int currentX, currentY, oldX, oldY;

    private void jPanel2MouseDragged(java.awt.event.MouseEvent evt) {
                                currentX = evt.getX();
				currentY = evt.getY();
				oldX = currentX;
				oldY = currentY;
                                System.out.println(currentX + " " + currentY);
                                
    }

    private void jPanel2MousePressed(java.awt.event.MouseEvent evt) {
                                oldX = evt.getX();
				oldY = evt.getY();
                                 System.out.println(oldX + " " + oldY);
    }

so i have got this far to make it store 2 sets of coordinates for me to draw a line between yet i'm unsure of how to actually draw inside jpanel2. Is using two points and drawing a line between an effective way to draw or should i just store the current position and draw a circle in its place. I'm used to graphics2d and drawing yet am confused on how to structure it like this.

can anyone point me in the right direction of what i need to do?

Im making a pen tool and also a line tool, which i plan to make work by calling the coordinates on release of the mouse.

[Fubarable]

You'll want to go to the Oracle Java tutorials and read up on how to do graphics with Java and how to draw in Swing.

[doWhile]

See Trail: 2D Graphics (The Java™ Tutorials) Best of luck and post back if you have problems.

[nickrrr]

Thanks guys, reading all of the links and tutorials. However i'm still lost (java is frustrating!), so i need to create a paint method in the JavaPaintUI class? and in that method i need to call the variables in my events (x/y cord)? i still put repaint inside the event thought?

I'm confused with where to put what, as i want it to draw inside the jpanel, yet the only place i know of to place the method is inside the jframe class or main class.

sorry, your help is greatly appreciated.
(still reading all your links in hopes of an answer)

[Fubarable]

Thanks guys, reading all of the links and tutorials. However i'm still lost (java is frustrating!),

I'm sure that you're smart, but there's no way on earth that you could read all in the tutorials about graphics and digest it in this short period of time. No one is that smart. Keep at it.

... so i need to create a paint method in the JavaPaintUI class? and in that method i need to call the variables in my events (x/y cord)? i still put repaint inside the event thought?

The tutorials on Swing will tell you that you should paint in a paintComponent method of a component that derives from JComponent such as a JPanel. Yes, you call repaint() in your event handler once you've set the appropriate class fields.

I'm confused with where to put what, as i want it to draw inside the jpanel, yet the only place i know of to place the method is inside the jframe class or main class.

There are many examples of this and similar programs in this forum. You might want to search for them and look them over.

Luck!

[nickrrr]

So i feel like i'm kinda understanding it but confused with how to integrate it to my generated code.

package javapaint;

import java.awt.*;
import javax.swing.*;

public class JavaPaintUI extends javax.swing.JFrame {

    /** Creates new form JavaPaintUI */
    public JavaPaintUI() {
        initComponents();
    }


    private void initComponents() {
        jPanel2 = new javax.swing.JPanel();     
        pack();
    }                             

    public static void main(String args[]) {
        java.awt.EventQueue.invokeLater(new Runnable() {

            public void run() {
                new JavaPaintUI().setVisible(true);
            }

        });
    }

    public javax.swing.JPanel jPanel2;

    
    class jPanel2 extends JPanel {
        @Override
        public void paintComponent(Graphics g) {
            super.paintComponent(g);

            g.drawString("BLAH", 20, 20);
            g.drawRect(200, 200, 200, 200);
        }
    }
}

I have a feeling this is terribly wrong but i'm not sure where to continue.
In most examples they create a jpanel by calling a class like that (but theirs makes the jpanel inside it). How can i use paintComponent on a already made jpanel (as did by netbeans)? jPanel2

I just saw a post by you about not using generated gui's until fluent in them and agree. Thinking of restarting, since i don't really get the way it generated it.


Thanks

[DarrylBurke]

How can i use paintComponent on a already made jpanel (as did by netbeans)?

Easy way: ditch the NetBeans visual designer, which is not a beginners' tool, and learn to hand-code your GUIs.
Trail: Creating a GUI With JFC/Swing (The Java™ Tutorials)

Tough way: read the extensive NetBeans help. Learn the quirks of the visual designer. Learn the meaning of 'Custom creation code' and many other terms.

db

[Markgm]

I'm confused with where to put what, as i want it to draw inside the jpanel, yet the only place i know of to place the method is inside the jframe class or main class.

Extending/subclassing a JPanel gives you the ability to add to it.
On another note, here's pseudocode for using a different class...

class main {
MyClass foo = new foo(this);

void eventHandler(event e) {
foo.passItAlong(e);
}
}

Edit-add: Or register foo as a listener for events.