Using absolute positioning

All Java components have a platform-dependent, preferred size. This specifies how large the component should be, notwithstanding the layout policy of the layout manager used by its container. A component's preferred size is usually the size that is big enough for a user to see its function on a GUI.

You can use absolute positioning in conjunction with a layout manager to position components. When using absolute positioning, you are required to specify the size and position of each component within the container. You can modify a component's position and size by using the Component class's setBounds method.

public void setBounds(int x, int y, int width, int height);

When a layout manager lays out components, it takes into account its own layout policy and the preferred sizes of its container's components.

If there is a clash between the layout policy of the layout manager and the preferred size of a component that it is positioning, the layout policy takes precedence.

For example, if a button's preferred size is larger than the size and position required by the layout manager's layout policy, the button will be resized by the layout manager.

The Component class has instance variables that specify the size and position of components.

The variables x and y specify the component's position in pixels, relative to the top left-hand corner of its container.

The width and height variables are also measured in pixels.

To use absolute positioning, you need to set the container's layout property to null.

public class LayoutApplet extends Applet {
import java.awt.*;
import java.applet.Applet;

public class NewButton extends Applet {
  public void init (){
    MISSING CODE
  }
}

public class LayoutApplet extends Applet {
import java.awt.*;
import java.applet.Applet;

public class NewButton extends Applet {
  public void init (){
    setLayout (null);
  }
}

You type setLayout (null); to set the layout property to null.

To set the container's layout property to null, you call the setLayout method and give it a parameter of null.

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

public class NewButton extends Applet {
  public void init (){
    setLayout (null);
  }
}

Note

Using absolute positioning for all components on your interface is not advised because components aren't implemented consistently across platforms. Components also don't resize well when you resize the top-level container. You should use absolute positioning only when it is really necessary.

Consider the code in which you add a button to the applet NewButton. Its position is four pixels in and six pixels down from the top left-hand corner of the container. You also specify the size of the button – 200 pixels wide and 400 pixels high.

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

public class NewButton extends Applet {
  public void init (){
    setLayout (null) ;
    Button b = new Button ("Exit");
    b.setBounds(4,6,200,400);
    add(b);
  }
}

When you run the NewButton applet, the button appears the exact size defined in the setBounds method. This is because the applet is not using the layout manager class.

This may cause only part of the button to be shown or the button may not be visible at all. You may need to resize the JFrame window to see the button.

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

public class NewButton extends Applet {
  public void init (){
    setLayout (null) ;
    Button b = new Button ("Exit");
    b.setBounds(4,6,200,400);
    add(b);
  }
}

Posted in: Java Fundamentals,Java GUI,Swing Components