Animation problem

[aubreybourke]

Hi, I am trying to make an animation for a graphical equalizer. So far I can get it to compile an run. But the animation only runs smoothly when the JPanel is focused with the mouse cursor. If I move the mouse cursor off the JPanel - animation flickers. So my question is how do I fix it so the animation runs smoothly all the time?

Code:

import javax.swing.*;
import java.awt.*;
import java.awt.image.BufferedImage;
import java.io.*;
import javax.imageio.*;
import java.awt.Graphics;
import java.awt.event.*;
import java.net.*;

public class myPanel extends JPanel{

	Image[] images = new Image[7];
	InputStream[] isimg = new InputStream[7];
 	
	String filename;

	Boolean isUp = true;
	Boolean isDown=false;
	
	int i;
	int y=0;

	public myPanel(){
		super();
		setLocation(0,0);
		setSize(208, 248);
		filename = new String("voice");
		getImages();
		
		setBackground(Color.BLACK);
		
		timer.start();
	}
public final Timer timer = new Timer(18, new ActionListener() {
	public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e) {
	   
 	
     	repaint();
	revalidate();
			
			   }

});

public void getImages(){
	
	for(i=0; i<7; i++){
	try{
	// Read from a URL
    	//URL url = new URL("/home/aubrey/kitt7.2/Jetty2/"+filename+i+".gif");

	// Read from a File
	File url = new File(filename+i+".gif");    	
	images[i] = ImageIO.read(url);
	} catch (IOException e) {
	}
	//Read from a JAR
	//isimg[i] = imageApplet.class.getResourceAsStream(filename+i+".gif");
	//images[i] = ImageIO.read(is[i]);
	//System.out.println(filename+i+".gif");

	}


}
 public void paintComponent(Graphics g) {
          		
	//super.paintComponent(g);

				

		if(isUp){
		if(y==5){
		isUp=false;
		isDown=true;
		}
		g.drawImage(images[y], 0, 0, null);
		//System.out.println("printing: "+y);
		y++;	
		}
		if(isDown){
		if(y==1){
		isDown=false;
		isUp=true;
		}
		g.drawImage(images[y], 0, 0, null);
		//System.out.println("printing: "+y);
		y--;	
		}
	}

public static void main(String[] args){

			SwingUtilities.invokeLater(
    new Runnable(){
        public void run(){
          JFrame f = new JFrame();
			
				
			f.setSize(208, 248);
			myPanel p = new myPanel();
			//p.setDoubleBuffered(false);
			System.out.println("Double Buffered: "+p.isDoubleBuffered());
		
			f.add(p);
			
		
			f.setVisible(true);
        }
    }
);
    
 }
}

[Norm]

Hard to test without the set of images.

[DarrylBurke]

Moved from New to Java.

Improve your code formatting by using consistent indents and more people are likely to read your code.
Code Conventions for the Java Programming Language: Contents

db

[aubreybourke]

Hard to test without the set of images.

Ok, have compressed them into a zip file for you (or anyone who wants to try running the code!). Hi Darryl, liking this new forums.

Regards
Aubrey.

[Norm]

How can you tell it flickers? The changing of the images produces a flickering effect.

[aubreybourke]

No not exactly flickering, sorry. What I meant to say is that when the mouse cursor is over the animation - it runs full speed. But when I take the cursor off the JPanel it slows down considerably. I can get a nice effect when the mouse is over the JPanel. But without the mouse focus it looks very "blocky" or "chunky". Not smooth like it should

[DarrylBurke]

Why the revalidate() in the Timer's actionPerformed? Are you adding or removing any components that the container needs to be revalidated?

db

[aubreybourke]

The main reason its there is because I can notice a huge difference in the animation when focused. I don't know why, but it does. And yes this program is just an example - i actually am adding/hiding/showing/removing/disposing this animation in the main part of my real app.

Do you understand my problem? It would be fairly obvious if you copy the code and run it, using the images in attached zip.

Regards
Aubrey.

[Norm]

I ran the code and do not see what you are saying.

[aubreybourke]

No way, are you sure? You dont notice a difference in the animation speed on and off mouse focus? Can anyone else confirm this? What JRE are you using? Im using openJDK 1.6 on Linux - so perhaps i should try another jvm?

[Norm]

I'm using jdk1.6.0_29 on Windows XP

[aubreybourke]

Ok Norm, I might just try another jdk here. Thanks for the feedback.