Using the Box class

I'm using the Box class for one of my applets to organize my buttons.

Code:

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

public class conceptstemplate extends JApplet
{
    Box sidebar = new Box (BoxLayout.LINE_AXIS);
   
    JButton next = new JButton ("Next >");
    JButton previous = new JButton ("< Previous");
    JButton mmenu = new JButton ("Main Menu");
   
    public void init ()
    {
        setSize (1000, 600);
        setBackground (Color.lightGray);
       
       
        //sidebar.add (Box.createRigidArea (new Dimension (50, 450)));
        //sidebar.add (Box.createVerticalStrut (450));
        //sidebar.setBounds (0, 450, getWidth (), 150);
        //sidebar.add (Box.createHorizontalGlue ());
       
        sidebar.add (Box.createHorizontalStrut (50));
        sidebar.add (mmenu);
        sidebar.add (Box.createHorizontalStrut (600));
        sidebar.add (previous);
        sidebar.add (Box.createHorizontalStrut (50));
        sidebar.add (next);
       
        add (sidebar);
    }
}

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The problem I'm having is getting the buttons to shift downward to the bottom of the window. The code with // behind it shows the methods I've tried using and that haven't worked. Is anyone able to help me?

To put things on the bottom of a container, I usually use the BorderLayout, and place my bottom-most component BorderLayout.PAGE_END. If I have a bunch of buttons to put at the bottom, I put them in a JPanel, say called buttonPanel, and then place that JPanel on the bottom of the container.

Please edit your post above, and change your [quote] [/quote] tags to [code] [/code] tags.

If there is a way to shift the box or the buttons downward, that would be fine.

I would use BorderLayout, except that I am using the Box class and the Box class can only use the BoxLayout. If I were to use another container, I'd be severely compromising my summative

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Neoco

If there is a way to shift the box or the buttons downward, that would be fine.

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OK, one way is as described above.

Quote:

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I would use BorderLayout, except that I am using the Box class and the Box class can only use the BoxLayout. If I were to use another container, I'd be severely compromising my summative

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You are using Box class as a tool to get the gui design you desire, but you shouldn't be wed to the tool. Please show an image of what gui you're trying to achieve, and then an image of the undesirable gui that your current code creates right now.

Quote:

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I would use BorderLayout, except that I am using the Box class and the Box class can only use the BoxLayout. If I were to use another container, I'd be severely compromising my summative

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Based upon the above it seems you aren't familiar with nesting layout managers - placing the JPanel with the BoxLayout (your button panel) inside a JPanel with a BorderLayout as Fubarable described. Alternatively, you can create a Box or JPanel with a BoxLayout and set it to vertical - adding a vertical glue before adding the button parent Component

Hey I managed to find the solution on my own actually

Code:

---

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

public class conceptstemplate extends JApplet
{
        Box sidebar = new Box (BoxLayout.LINE_AXIS);
       
        JButton next = new JButton ("Next >");
        JButton previous = new JButton ("< Previous");
        JButton mmenu = new JButton ("Main Menu");
       
        public void init ()
        {
                setSize (1000, 600);
                setBackground (Color.lightGray);
               
                mmenu.setAlignmentY (Component.BOTTOM_ALIGNMENT);
                previous.setAlignmentY (Component.BOTTOM_ALIGNMENT);
                next.setAlignmentY (Component.BOTTOM_ALIGNMENT);
               
                sidebar.add (Box.createHorizontalStrut (50));
                sidebar.add (mmenu);
                sidebar.add (Box.createHorizontalGlue ());
                sidebar.add (previous);
                sidebar.add (Box.createHorizontalStrut (50));
                sidebar.add (next);
                sidebar.add (Box.createHorizontalStrut (50));
               
                add (sidebar);
        }
}

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All I had to do was set the proper alignment for each button.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by doWhile

Alternatively, you can create a Box or JPanel with a BoxLayout and set it to vertical - adding a vertical glue before adding the button parent Component

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I might end up doing this to make it look better. Thanks for the help though!. I'll post here again if I have anymore problems