Double buffer help needed

[pizzadude223]

My image keeps flashing when I try to move it, so I wan't to double buffer to eliminate that. I have read about a dozen tutorials I don't really understand it. I know the image is drawn off screen and brought back on, I just don't really understand how it's coded. So it would be great if someone could post an example code or explain it with bits of code. Thanks.

[camickr]

Swing is double buffered by default so it shouldn't be a problem.

[pizzadude223]

I don't think I'm using swing, I'm doing something like g.drawline(150,150,0,150);

[Norm]

To see if you are using Swing vs AWT:
Do any of your classes names begin with the letter J?
Are any of your classes in the package javax.swing?

g.drawLine doesn't show what class or package is being used.

What does Google return? I get lots of examples with java double buffering example

[pizzadude223]

Well I get alot of double buffering examples on google too, just I don't really understand any of them in the first page or two. I believe I'm using AWT because in the beginning of my program I import java.awt. None of my classes begin with a J either. Thanks.

[Norm]

class DoubleBufferedCanvas extends Canvas {

public void update(Graphics g) {
Graphics offgc;
Image offscreen = null;
Dimension d = size();

// create the offscreen buffer and associated Graphics
offscreen = createImage(d.width, d.height);
offgc = offscreen.getGraphics();
// clear the exposed area
offgc.setColor(getBackground());
offgc.fillRect(0, 0, d.width, d.height);
offgc.setColor(getForeground());
// do normal redraw
paint(offgc);
// transfer offscreen to window
g.drawImage(offscreen, 0, 0, this);
}
}

[pizzadude223]

So would I just keep my stuff have already drawn without double buffering where it is?

[pizzadude223]

I tried it without moving my stuff around and putting that in and it still flickers. I don't think update is being called.

[Norm]

I don't think update is being called.

Add println() statements to methods to allow them to tell you that they are being called.

[pizzadude223]

I don't have a compiler that accepts system.out.println. It won't tell me if method is working using the system.out.println.

[Norm]

What environment are you working in?
If you get any errors, you need to post the full text here if you expect anyone to help you.

If the statement: System.out.println("I am in methodX");
is the first statement in methodX, then you'll know if the method is being called because you will see: 'I am in methodX' printed on the console.

[pizzadude223]

I put it like this:

public void update(Graphics g) { 
System.out.println();
Graphics offgc;
Image offscreen = null;
Dimension d = size();

// create the offscreen buffer and associated Graphics
offscreen = createImage(d.width, d.height);
offgc = offscreen.getGraphics();
// clear the exposed area
offgc.setColor(getBackground());
offgc.fillRect(0, 0, d.width, d.height);
offgc.setColor(getForeground());
// do normal redraw
paint(offgc);
// transfer offscreen to window
g.drawImage(offscreen, 0, 0, this);

but I have no errors and the consol won't say anything.

[Norm]

Change this:
System.out.println(); // print nothing
to this:
System.out.println("in update"); // print something

[pizzadude223]

I did that now and it still doesn't print anything.

[Norm]

then you'll know if the method is being called because you will see:

The method is NOT being called.

[pizzadude223]

So then what do I do?

[Norm]

Do about what?

I posted an example of double buffering.
Somewhere in your code you build an image by drawing it bit by bit. You said that process was causing your image to flicker. To eliminate flicker, you use the double buffering technique: create an image in memory, draw on that image and THEN draw that image in one statement to where it is visible to the user.

[pizzadude223]

Can you tell me how I would use it in this code because it is really confusing me.

import java.applet.*;
import java.awt.*;

public class DrawingLines extends Applet {
   int sec = 45;
   int x = 1;
   int w = 120;
   int h = 150;

   public void init() {

      x = 1;
      setBackground( Color.black );

   }

   public void start() {


	if (sec == 45) {
	w = 120;
	h = 150;
      	try 
   	{
    	Thread.sleep(1000);
    	} 
     	catch(InterruptedException e)
	{
        e.printStackTrace();
        }
	sec++;
      }
	if (sec == 44) {
	w = 119;
	h = 147;
      	try 
   	{
    	Thread.sleep(1000);
    	} 
     	catch(InterruptedException e)
	{
        e.printStackTrace();
        }
	sec++;
      }
   }

   public void paint( Graphics g ) {
	while (x > 0) {
	g.setColor(Color.black);
	g.fillRect(0, 0, 300, 300);
	g.setColor(new Color(48, 203, 255));
      	g.drawLine(150, 150, w, h);
	}
   }
public void update(Graphics g) { 
System.out.println("in update"); ;
Graphics offgc;
Image offscreen = null;
Dimension d = size();

// create the offscreen buffer and associated Graphics
offscreen = createImage(d.width, d.height);
offgc = offscreen.getGraphics();
// clear the exposed area
offgc.setColor(getBackground());
offgc.fillRect(0, 0, d.width, d.height);
offgc.setColor(getForeground());
// do normal redraw
paint(offgc);
// transfer offscreen to window
g.drawImage(offscreen, 0, 0, this);
}
}

[Norm]

There are many unexplained statements in your code.

Why do this:Thread.sleep(1000);
What is the variable sec used for?

Why are h and w set to those values?

There is an endless loop in paint()

I have no idea what your code is supposed to do.

[pizzadude223]

Its supposed to be a timer, at least the first two seconds of one. Thread.sleep(1000) makes a 1 second wait. Sec is used to determine where the second hand would be. h and w are set to those values to represent positions. The endless loop is supposed to make it so the clock keeps running. It's supposed to be an anolog clock.