Modal-like behaviour between two Jframes

Question

Let�s say my app has 2 JFrames. The main JFrame is already loaded and from it, there is a menuitem that loads and shows the 2nd JFrame. I�d like to know how can I disable the main JFrame until the users requests to do so, clicking on some button or alike on the 2n JFrame.
I have tried to do .getContenPane().setEnabled(false) on the main JFrame before loading the 2n one, but it seems not wo work.
I have also considered going across all components inside the main JFrame, using getContentPane().getComponents() an on the returing array, do a setEnabled(false). But this seems quite a dirty way to accomplish it.
Any idea? JFrame does not offer a setModal() method? It�s kinda sick...
(No , I don�t want to make the 2nd JFrame into a JDialog that I know offers the setModal() method)....

Answer 1

I have tried to do .getContenPane().setEnabled(false) on the main JFrame
before loading the 2n one, but it seems not wo work.seems to work OK in this
import javax.swing.*;
import java.awt.*;
import java.awt.event.*;
class Testing
  public void buildGUI()
    JButton btn = new JButton("Show Other Frame");
    JPanel p = new JPanel(new GridBagLayout());
    p.add(btn,new GridBagConstraints());
    final JFrame f1 = new JFrame("f1");
    f1.getContentPane().add(p);
    f1.setSize(200,200);
    f1.setLocationRelativeTo(null);
    f1.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
    f1.setVisible(true);
    btn.addActionListener(new ActionListener(){
      public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent ae){
        final JFrame f2 = new JFrame("f2");
        f2.addWindowListener(new WindowAdapter(){
          public void windowClosing(WindowEvent we){
            f1.setEnabled(true);
        f2.setBounds(100,100,150,100);
        f2.setVisible(true);
        f1.setEnabled(false);
  public static void main(String[] args)
    SwingUtilities.invokeLater(new Runnable(){
      public void run(){
        new Testing().buildGUI();
}