Two problems with displaying images in JPanel

Question

Hi,
I need to display some small rectangular images inside a JPanel. These images also need to be componenents as they will have listeners associated with them. I have never had any experience with images, so I might totally be down the wrong path. I was thinking of just creating a class which extends JComponent, and using the graphics drawImage method. However, I don't want each image component to have to know exactly where to draw the image associated with itself. Rather, I want the JPanel which holds all of the images to know how to lay them out.
Is there an easier way to use images?
Which brings me to my second problem. I want these images to overlap each other, so that only a small portion of each is showing (this way I can fit more on the screen), then when the user clicks on one, I can show more of it.
Unfortunately, I don't know of any layout managers which will allow me to overlap components. I could use the drawImage method mentioned above, but like I said, I would like to try to not have each image object try and figure out its location.
any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Answer 1

Hi
there is a better way ; it is called a JLabel ;-)
JLabel myJLabel = new JLabel(new ImageIcon("img/myLogo.gif"));for your second problem, don't use any layout manager like in this code :
myJPanel.setLayout(null);
myJPanel.add(myJLabel);
myJLabel.setBounds(new Rectangle(x, y, width, height);hope it helps
Nico