Visual Editor?

jewelthief · #1 (**permalink**) 10-21-2008, 10:14 AM

Hello!

I am new to java world. I have downloaded Eclipse 3.4 from Eclipse.org.
I have created a new project and added a class in it but i want to add visual class so i can build some application with GUI.

So i want to know how can i add visual class? (just like we add windows forms in MS visual studio). DO i need to install visual editor separately? If yes! then where can i get that?

Any help would be appreciated.

Eranga · #2 (**permalink**) 10-21-2008, 10:24 AM

I think you are talking about GUI. Basically you have to learn about Swing. I don't know weather Eclipse have a GUI development editor, or a control box. Did you check that?

jewelthief · #3 (**permalink**) 10-21-2008, 10:33 AM

What is swing? No! I dont see any GUI editor in Eclipse 3.4. Do I have to explicitly attach some GUI editor with that?

georgemc · #4 (**permalink**) 10-21-2008, 12:26 PM

Originally Posted by jewelthief

What is swing? No! I dont see any GUI editor in Eclipse 3.4. Do I have to explicitly attach some GUI editor with that?

Yeh, there are several available from Eclipse.org. They generate horrible, hideous code, though. I'd learn to use the GUI toolkits properly, if I were you.

Swing is one of several GUI frameworks available to Java

Eranga · #5 (**permalink**) 10-21-2008, 12:31 PM

Originally Posted by jewelthief

What is swing? No! I dont see any GUI editor in Eclipse 3.4. Do I have to explicitly attach some GUI editor with that?

Swing is a collection of graphical user interface components/controls. Basically you have to use those components to develop a user interface.

Sorry, I don't know that Eclipse have to do such a thing, I'm a NetBeans user. Let see what our Eclipse users comments on this.

jewelthief · #6 (**permalink**) 10-21-2008, 02:01 PM

Any eclipse user here? I am using eclipse 3.4. I have downloaded Visual Editor for Eclipse 3.4 and extracted its files into dropins folder but i am getting nothing.

Eranga · #7 (**permalink**) 10-21-2008, 02:02 PM

Ya, lots of people are here. Just wait for a moment, at this time most of them are on the bed.

jewelthief · #8 (**permalink**) 10-22-2008, 11:00 AM

Ok! I have Installed the Visual Editor. Well...I suppose so as i am seeing Visual Editor in Plugins details from "About Eclipse SDK" tab in Help menu.

Now from where can i make visual class? because i am not seeing any option of making visual class.

any help will be appreciated.

Thanks

jewelthief · #9 (**permalink**) 10-22-2008, 01:04 PM

Please if any one can help me?

srfpala · #10 (**permalink**) 10-22-2008, 03:14 PM

Netbeans offers a desktop application project type which is similar to visual studio.

Darryl.Burke · #11 (**permalink**) 10-22-2008, 03:56 PM

Just another cross poster.
Swing - Visual Editor in Eclipse?

db

Eranga · #12 (**permalink**) 10-22-2008, 06:55 PM

Originally Posted by srfpala

Netbeans offers a desktop application project type which is similar to visual studio.

Yes, it's really nice.

jewelthief, did you check on the Eclipse official web site. May be you can find a solution there.

georgemc · #13 (**permalink**) 10-23-2008, 11:48 AM

Originally Posted by srfpala

Netbeans offers a desktop application project type which is similar to visual studio.

Which is a shame, because it just re-enforces the misconception that the GUI is the application. People who start out using visual editors tend to start every project with a form, from which they control everything else.

Learn to build GUIs by hand, then use a visual editor, if you still feel you want to. The rule of thumb, as always, is don't use a tool to automate something you can't do by hand first, or you'll be stumped when something goes wrong

Eranga · #14 (**permalink**) 10-23-2008, 12:33 PM

I think use of a visual editor is nice, in some distance. If a person well know how to write code by hand, do you think he/she must hang on with it. I'm not, recommended to use a visual editor. There is an advantage too, since all of those development cannot workout through the visual editor, so you must have knowledge on how to write it by hand. So still you need to know the fundamentals.