Applets and Frames

CS 21a: Introduction to Computing I

First Semester, 2013-2014

Applets

►Usually graphical in content►One way of writing Java programs

(besides applications)►Java programs that can be

embedded in HTML documents (web pages)►Note: Not all web browsers

automatically support Java 2. You will have to install the Java Plug-in, which is done automatically if you installed Java on your machines.

JApplet

►This is the “swing” version of Applets

►JApplet is the newer version of the Applet class that is used with Java’s swing GUI components

►We will be using this in class

Java Applet Classes

►Abstract Window Toolkit (AWT)►Contain classes that provide the Java

graphical user interface (GUI) components

►Java Foundation Classes►Was an extension to java►Contains swing components written

entirely in java

Writing Java Appletsimport javax.swing.*;import java.awt.*;

/**This applet displays “Hello, world!” on a label.**/public class MyApplet extends JApplet{ private JLabel helloLabel; public void init() { Container c = getContentPane(); c.setLayout( new FlowLayout() );

this.helloLabel = new JLabel( "Hello, world!" ); c.add( helloLabel ); }}

Running Java Applets► Recall that an .html needs to be created to

execute applets► Executing through an IDE

► In BlueJ:, right-click on the class and select “Run Applet”, then Click on “OK” and wait for the applet to appear

► In JCreator, create the .html file and execute that file► Executing through the Command Prompt

► appletviewer file.html► Executing through a browser:

► Go to the folder where the .html and the .class resides

► Double-click on that and wait for the browser to load

Writing Web Pages with Applets

►You will have to include this in the body of the HTML file to tell it you are embedding an applet:<APPLET CODE=AppletSubclass.classWIDTH=anInt HEIGHT=anInt> </APPLET>

►To embed the class file of MyApplet.java:<APPLET CODE=MyApplet.class WIDTH=100 HEIGHT=100> </APPLET>

Container and getContentPane()

► Container► A generic AWT container ► a component that can contain other AWT

components► Most important methods: setLayout() and add()

► getContentPane()► A method found in JApplet► This method returns the contentPane object (a

Container) for this applet.► You’ll need these to be able to add components

to your applet.

public void init()

► Every applet must implement one or more of the init(), start(), and paint() methods. This is what a browser usually looks for when it runs applets.

► You will have to include the init() method to give your applet its intended appearance and functionality► Think of init() as a constructor for your applet

► This is where you add the components to a container► The applet is in effect an aggregate class containing

the labels, buttons, text fields, and other visual components

Importing Packages

►To be able to use JApplet and swing components you will have to import the javax.swing package and to be able to use some AWT components, you will have to import the java.awt package.

►At the top of your java class:import javax.swing.*;import java.awt.*;

The Java Swing Components

► Java’s framework for programming lightweight GUI Components► Lightweight here means that it’s written in and it

runs entirely in Java

►Components► JButton, JTextField, JTextArea, JLabel, JPanel► Others (self-study)

►You will have to add these components to an AWT container

Java Abstract Window Toolkit (AWT)

►Java’s framework for programming Graphical User Interfaces (GUIs)

►Containers►Layout Managers►FlowLayout, GridLayout,

BorderLayout►CardLayout, GridBagLayout (self-

study)

Components

► JButton: clickable visual object ► JLabel: text► JTextField

► contains editable text► methods setText() and getText()

► JTextArea► same as JTextField but can support multiple

lines► JPanel

► may contain other visual components► methods setLayout() and add()

Layout Managers

►FlowLayout► objects are placed row by row, left to right

►GridLayout► divides container into an m by n grid

►BorderLayout► divides container into 5 parts► Center, North, South, East, West► e.g., add( component, “North” );

►See examples

Panel

►A Panel is a component that can contain other objects

►We can do more complex layouts by using Panels within the Applet►or even Panels within Panels

Designing a GUI for an Applet

► import java.awt.*; ► import javax.swing.*;► extends JApplet

► inherits built-in features of JApplet► Declare variables for the different visual

components to be placed on the applet► In the init() method,

► create visual components – use new► establish layout manager – use setLayout()

► default for JApplets: BorderLayout► add visual components – use MyContainer.add()► nested layouts possible – use Panels

Applet Exampleimport javax.swing.*;import java.awt.*;public class HelloWorldApplet extends JApplet { private JButton button; private JTextField textField; private JLabel label; public void init() { Container c = getContentPane(); c.setLayout( new FlowLayout() ); label = new JLabel( "Hello, World!" ); c.add( label ); textField = new JTextField( "Enter your name here", 15 ); c.add( textField ); button = new JButton( "Click Me" ); c.add( button ); } ...}

HTML File for the Applet

<applet code=HelloWorldApplet.class width=300 height=200>

</applet>

JFrame

►Use JFrame instead of JApplet if you want a GUI application (instead of a web-based applet)

►Extend JFrame instead of JApplet► Instead of the init() method, place

initialization code in the class’ constructor

►Need a main method (perhaps in a separate class) that instantiates and displays the frame

Frame Exampleimport javax.swing.*;import java.awt.*;public class HelloWorldFrame extends JFrame { private JButton button; private JTextField textField; private JLabel label; public HelloWorldFrame() { Container c = this.getContentPane(); c.setLayout( new FlowLayout() ); label = new JLabel( "Hello, World!" ); c.add( label ); textField = new JTextField( "Enter your name here", 15 ); c.add( textField ); button = new JButton( "Click Me" ); c.add( button ); } ...}

Driver Class for the Frameimport javax.swing.*;

public class FrameRunner{

public static void main( String args[] ){

JFrame f = new HelloWorldFrame();f.setSize( 200, 300 );f.setDefaultCloseOperation( JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE );f.setVisible( true );

}}

About Frames

►When using frames, you could call setLayout() and add() directly on the frame object► No need to declare a Container object or

call getContentPane()►Other methods applicable on a frame

object (these can be called in the frame’s constructor, or from the driver)► setSize() : sets the dimensions of the

frame► setTitle() : sets the title bar of the frame