Main Features

• Select JGoodies FormLayout from the Swing Layouts palette and drop it on a JFrame or JPanel
• The JGoodies FormLayout jar file will automatically be added to your project and the classpath adjusted
• Graphical feedback is provided for all column, row and cell interactions
• Column and row properties may be changed via a popup menu or property dialog
• Convert existing layouts (null, GridBag, etc.) to JGoodies FormLayout with intelligent column, row and gap creation
• Automatically add gaps when adding new columns or rows

Popup Header Menu

• Right-click on the header area to access the popup header menu
• Insert new columns or rows before the current column or row
• Add a new column or row at the end of the current list
• Delete entire columns or rows or just their widget contents
• Set the column alignment to left, right, center or fill
• Specify that the column or row should grow to fill the available space
• Group or ungroup columns or rows
• Set the sizing spec that should be used for the column or row (various column, row and gap types are available)
• Edit the properties of the current column or row

Graphical Feedback

• When moving a widget or adding a new widget, open cells are highlighted
• The currently selected cell shows its column and row spanning handles and alignment handles
• Grouped columns and rows are color highlighted to indicate which are in the same group
• Column and row sizing handles make it easy to set the size of a column or row
• Reorder columns and rows by dragging them (with their associated gap columns or rows)
• Column and rows borders are indicated with dotted lines
• Interactive column and row spanning feedback is provided

Column & Row Editing

• Double click on a column or row to access its property dialog
• Switch between columns and rows using the arrow buttons
• Select from any of the predefined column or gap templates
• Set the column or row alignment
• Set the size of the column or row
  • Specify a constant size in a variety of units
  • Specify minimum and maximum sizes
• Specify the resize behavior and the relative weights of each column or row
• Floating layout assistant for cells, columns and rows
• Open the Columns or Rows editing dialog from the property pane
  • Insert or add new columns and rows
  • Open the property dialog for an individual column or row
  • Group and ungroup columns or rows
  • Rearrange the order of the columns or rows

Preferences & Options

• Control whether the alignment figures are displayed
• Specify the default number of columns and rows created when a JGFL is added to an empty container
• Choose whether a JGFL options dialog appears when a JGFL is added to an empty contgainer

Source Code Generation & Parsing

• Intelligently convert existing layouts (null, GridBag, etc.) to JGoodies FormLayout with column, row and gap creation
• Generated code will use predefined FormFactory constants as necessary
• Parser can understand reused CellConstraint objects
• Parser supports all CellConstraint styles
  • Creation methods intended for use by humans
    CellConstraints cc = new CellConstraints();
    cc.xy(2, 1); // second col, first row
    cc.xy(2, 1, "right, bottom"); // aligned to right and bottom
    cc.xy(2, 1, "r, b"); // abbreviated alignment
    cc.xywh(2, 1, 4, 3); // spans 4 cols, 3 rows
    cc.xywh(2, 1, 4, 3, "right, bottom");
    cc.xywh(2, 1, 4, 3, "r, b");
     
  • Constructors intended for builders
    new CellConstraints(); // first col, first row
    new CellConstraints(2, 1);
    new CellConstraints(2, 1, 4, 3);
    new CellConstraints(2, 1, CellConstraints.RIGHT, CellConstraints.BOTTOM);
     
  • Constructors intended for building UIs from XML
    CellConstraints cc = new CellConstraints();
    new CellConstraints("2, 1");
    new CellConstraints("2, 1, r, b");
    new CellConstraints("2, 1, 4, 3");
    new CellConstraints("2, 1, 4, 3, r, b");