Use GridLayout (AWT)

You can use the visual editor for Java to layout a class using GridLayout.

The layout manager java.awt.GridLayout lays out components in a grid of equal-sized rectangles in rows and columns. You can set the number of rows and columns that a GridLayout will contain. As components are added, they are added in order based on the componentOrientation: right to left, or left to right.

• To set the grid dimensions for a GridLayout:
  1. In the Design view or Java Beans view, select the component that is using GridLayout.

  2. Click the Customize Layout

     toolbar button. The Customize Layout dialog opens.

  3. On the Layout notebook tab, enter a value for either Number of columns or Number of rows.
  If you set both the number of rows and the number of columns to non-zero values, the number of columns specified is ignored. Instead, the number of columns is determined from the specified number or rows and the total number of components in the layout. So, for example, if you specify three rows and two columns, and you add nine components to the layout, they will be displayed as three rows of three columns. Specifying the number of columns affects the layout only when the number of rows is set to zero.

• To add a component to a GridLayout:
  1. Select a Swing/AWT component on the palette.

  2. Move your cursor over the Design view and click on the GridLayout.

• To move a component within a GridLayout:
  1. On the Design view, click and drag the component that you are moving. As you move your cursor, a black bar will indicate the position where the component will be added.

  2. Release your mouse to move the component.

• To set spacing for components with a GridLayout:
  1. In the Design view or Java Beans view, select the component that is using GridLayout.

  2. Click the Customize Layout

     toolbar button. The Customize Layout dialog opens.

  3. On the Layout notebook tab, enter values for Horizontal gap and Vertical gap. Horizontal gap sets the distance in pixels between columns, while vertical gap sets the spacing between rows.

 

Parent topic

Swing and AWT layout managers

 

Related concepts

Layout managers and containers

 

Related tasks

Using BorderLayout
Using BoxLayout
Using CardLayout
Using FlowLayout
Using GridBag layout