My "form" is 9X uglier than a bag of butts (How to restrict the width of JTextField?)

[blackbird]

I'm using BorderLayout on my frame and BoxLayout on my panel:

frame.getContentPane().add(BorderLayout.CENTER, mainPanel);
mainPanel.setLayout(new BoxLayout(mainPanel, BoxLayout.PAGE_AXIS));

This is working well enough, except that my JTextFields are the entire width of the panel (about 10X wider than they need to be). How can I get them to straighten up and fly right?

Similarly, how can I add some "padding" or margins to my components, so that they don't scrunch right up against each other?

[asifzbaig]

Try two things:

textField.setSize(int width, int height);

and

textField.setResizable(false);

[blackbird]

Try two things:

textField.setSize(int width, int height);

and

textField.setResizable(false);

Thanks, but the first has no affect, and the second won't compile:

"The method setResizable(boolean) is undefined for the type JTextField"

Anybody else?

[blackbird]

The only thing I've found that does any good is to provide some space around the JLabels:

lblIPAddr.setPreferredSize(new Dimension(32, 32));

[Fubarable]

I strongly disagree with asifzbaig's advice. The key is to use the right combinations of nested containers using the best layout managers for the situation at hand. To help you best I suggest you post three things:

• An sscce that shows your current gui (please read the link).
• An image of the current GUI
• An image of the desired GUI layout

With this we will be able to get a much better grasp of just what you're trying to do and how to help you achieve it.

[Fubarable]

You might look at using GridBagLayout, for example: GridBagLayout example

Or even MiGLayout, although you'd have to download that one.