Any Java GUI Builder, please?

Hello everybody!
I have to develop a GUI in Java and I am totally rookie on this (Java & GUI development). What I would like to know is whether there is a kind of GUI Builder for Java with free license. I mean, a program which makes me easier to choose where to put the different menus and buttoms of the GUI.
I explain you a bit more. The IDE that I have to use is Eclipse. The GUI that I have to implement will be done in Java, but what I have to do is to convert a XML file in the GUI (read, parse?). This way I will be able to modify the XML using the GUI and then save the file again (this way the XML file will have been modified). I am working in a windows environment in spite of the GUI will be able to work in Linux too (thanks to a Java VM).
Thank you very much for your answers! And remember, I need a free license program.
Fran.

Encephalopathic wrote:
My rec: don't use a GUI builder. At your stage, using one will hinder your ability to learn Swing and will set your Java education back at least 6 months if not more. Learn to code Swing by hand. They're not bad to use once you understand Swing, but even then, most professionals that I know do not use them in professional products (they say that the "ugly code" produced can be hard to maintain), but use them mainly for quick prototyping.Couldn't agree more, and I'm not even close to a professional level. I started out with Matisse in Netbeans. I spent quite some time learning how to use Matisse to build a rather large GUI. I spent even longer wrestling with it to try to get it to place components where I wanted them and at the size I wanted them. Then, after all the time spent on building the GUI, I found that I had to start over again from scratch because the code it had generated was so unnecessarily huge and fragmented that adding in the application's functionality was simply not feasible. Not to mention that after a certain point, Netbeans consumed so much memory to keep track of all the GUI elements that it crippled my PC (~997MB RAM) soon after opening the project.
So now I have to start over from scratch and have to hand-code it too. I would have been better off just starting by hand-coding in the first place. That way I wouldn't have lost so much time.
Besides, If you have to build a parser that builds the GUI from the contents of an XML file, I don't think any GUI builder would be of any use to you. Surely you'd have to study swing to a degree where you can hand-code a GUI with ease if you want to have any chance of building a program that can build a GUI on your behalf based on arbitrary XML content.
I could well be wrong because I'm still very much a beginner myself, but in my experience elsewhere I've always found that if you want to build a parser for something you're going to need to know whatever it is you're building a parser for like the back of your hand.

Similar Messages

JAVA GUI Builder

Hi,
Does anyone know any "good" Java GUI Builder?
Thank all.
Dang Nguyen Duc

There is a combination of tools you may find useful:
Eclipse as an IDE - free and downloadable from eclipse.org
Plugin for Eclipse called swt-designer. Free version for non-commercial use; very minimal price (~$200) for commercial use (one seat).
Caveat: This is built around using SWT, not AWT/Swing.
JBuilder also has GUI building tools.

Developing a JAVA GUI builder

Hi,
I've been a middle tier and back end developer mostly, and i've not much development on swing. By that i mean i did not get much into swing programming other than using netbeans gui designer or jdeveloper for front end user interfaces. I have a general knowledge about swing though, how to create a custom component and stuff like that.
However, i have a personal project for which i'd really like to build a gui designer for myself. I know that i can find my through if i dig hard enough, but that means a lot of time. Yes, i can use one the existing gui builders, but this time i want to add a little bit of experience to my swing programming skills, so that i can develop tools for my own development more easily.
Looking around, i see a lot of gui builders, some being open source, but none of them gives me the impressing of being a good example for me. Some of them (like netbeans gui building code) seems to large to examine, and not many simple examples for this seem to exist.
In general, there appears to be a lack of guidance for this kind of development. Swing development resources are plenty, but what about a little more custimized goals like mine ?
I want to create a simple designer with swing, but certainly this kind of task has it's tricks ? How should i represent components (txtbox, listbox, etc) on the designer ? Do i use swing components directly in the designer ? Or do i create representations of them ? What are the tips and tricks for this kind of task ?
So, what kind of resources can i use for making this task easier for me ? Which books would be helpful ? Or any online resources for getting up to speed for creating a simple gui designer in java?
I hope i could express myself clear enoug, and It'd be really appreciated if anyone could contribute about my next step
Best regards

If you actually do go about creating a visual GUi builder, 90% of your code will revolve around using the java.beans package. So you should start learning that first.
Here is an example of how to build a visual GUI builder using the java.beans package:
https://bean-builder.dev.java.net/guide/tutorial.html
http://java.sun.com/j2se/1.4.2/docs/api/java/beans/package-summary.html

Easy Java GUI Question Please Help!

Please help! whenever I try to run this code:
package here;
import java.awt.Graphics;
import java.awt.Color;
mport javax.swing.JFrame;
public class Window extends JFrame {
public Window(){
setVisible(true);
setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
setResizable(false);
setSize(500,500);
public void paint(Graphics g){
g.drawString("Hello!", 75, 75);
public static void main(String[] args) {
new Window();
this keeps happening http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7htCX6a4BI&feature=watch_response
(I didn't post this video but it looks like I'm not the only one this has happened to)
its like I get a weird screen capture :/
I tried setting the bacgkround color and I tried using netbeans instead of eclipse. neither worked.
Any help would be really great! I don't want to get discouraged from learning java!

First of all it contains Syntax error .
Call the super paint method when trying to override the paint method .
package here;
import java.awt.Graphics;
import java.awt.Color;
import javax.swing.JFrame;
public class Window extends JFrame {
public Window(){
setVisible(true);
setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
setResizable(false);
setSize(500,500);
public void paint(Graphics g){
// call the base paint method first
super.paint(g);
g.drawString("Hello!", 75, 75);
public static void main(String[] args) {
new Window();
Edited by: VID on Mar 31, 2012 5:05 AM

Any Java GUI book recommendations?

I am wanting a book about drawing
and the Paint(Graphics g) method
I can do this, but would like to expand on my knowledge
on more specialised topics eg
utilising Java2D
drawing graphs
user manipulation of data (using mouse listeners)
etc
can anyone recommend anything for me?

http://cseng.aw.com/book/0%2C3828%2C0201700743%2C00.html
Title: Building Imaging Applications with JAVA technology
(Using AWT imaging, JAVA 2D, and JAVA Advanced Imaging(JAI))

SAP JAVA GUI 7.00rev5 and IXOS

After upgrading to Java GUI 7 rev5 from Java GUI 630rev4 our IXOS viewer no longer works when called from within our R/3 system. This is also true when upgrading to any Java Gui 7 revision release.
The above works using Windows GUI 7.10 with IXOS.
Has archiving functionality been removed from Java 7?

Hello Robert,
please file a <a href="https://service.sap.com/message">bugreport</a> on component BC-FES-JAV and attache a trace file with following tracekeys (<a href="https://service.sap.com/sap/support/notes/683960">note 683960</a>) activated: CALL:EVENT:INFO:DESKTOP:GMUX:C_GMUX
Best regards
Rolf-Martin

Java GUI tools - Survey in 3 minutes for my thesis

Hello,
I'm doing a Senior Thesis to discover the best tools and the best way to create and manage Java GUIs.
Please help my thesis out by taking a short 3 minute survey, and see the results too:
http://www.sininenporssi.com/content/survey/survey.jsp
Thank you very much,
Jason

In Firefox 3.6 and later versions you need the Next-Generation Java™ Plug-In present in Java 6 U10 and later (Linux: libnpjp2.so; Windows: npjp2.dll).
*http://java.com/en/download/faq/firefox_newplugin.xml
*http://java.sun.com/javase/6/webnotes/install/jre/manual-plugin-install-linux.html
You can use a symlink like this one to a location that Firefox scans for plugins:
ln -s /usr/lib/jvm/jre/lib/i386/libnpjp2.so /usr/lib/mozilla/plugins/libnpjp2.so (java-1_6_0-sun-plugin)

I would like to develope a GUI-Builder with Java. Any idea

Hi!
I would like to support GUI-Developers by writing a GUI-Builder with integrated design rules. For example selecting Platform dependent widgets, controlling the number of widgets on the form, proper positioning of widgets on the form etc.This should be a standalone application.
Any one with tips, tricks, literature for architecture, tools to use etc?
Thanks a million times.
Marc

Before start i would like you to visit www.netbeans.org
Here you can find a very powerful IDE for Java as you are willing to create. If you like to procide creating then also you can find idea about that.

Any Java API available for character recognition.. Please help

Hi,
I am wondering if there are any Java API for identifying the character encoding of a text content. I came across NGramJ but not enough documentation to integrate with my application. Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks.

I used this but the CharsetToolKit identifies only among UTF-8, UTF-16LE and UTF-16 not any other encodings like TIS-620 etc. I am new to this as well, so not sure whether I am doing it right. Please advise.
Also, if any samples of chardet would be appreciated.
One thing not sure, is when I send a message has Thai characters from Hotmail having my browser setting to Thai encoding(TIS-620) but my Hotmail account language is English and sent to one of my exchange accounts. In the outlook, the message looks gibbrish.
So I need the charset encoding detector to let me know what type of encoding is done on the content (as if you choose English as the language option, the Hotmail server doesn't have charset parameter in the content-type header) so that I can decode and re-encode to UTF-8.
Any immediate response would be appreciated.

Our business require to download & install SAP Java GUI 720. Able to download it but not to install due to "security preferences" restriction. Any suggestion?

GE Energy requires us to use SAP for business. I downloaded the SAP Java GUI 720, can see it in the download window. But once I try to install it, the following message is shown: "SAP Java GUI 720 MacOSX.JAR” can’t be opened because it is from an unidentified developer. Your security preferences allow installation of only apps from the Mac App Store and identified developers."
Please let me know if there is a way to change the security settings in order to install SAP on MacBook Air.

Hello,
To change the security settings go to:
'''System Preferences''' >''' Security & Privacy'''.
On the '''General Tab''' click the '''little lock''' in the lower left corner to '''unlock the general preference pane'''. Then select the ''''Anywhere'''' radio button beneath "'''Allow applications downloaded from'''" then confirm.
If you need more assistance just ask for it :)
Sincerly,
Black Thunder.

JavaFX Visual GUI Builder - not using FXML - only based on pure Java

The decision to provide a pure Java based JavaFX API activates the pure Java people who where FXML resistent in the past.
JavaFX is the future ... the last few month when I check the new possibilities I came slowly but surely to this opinion...
The Scene Build is still based on FXML. So ... for the pure Java developer there is no advantage to use it ... only to see what components are available in the JavaFX standard I see no advantage for me to use it. I won't create JavaFX clients based on FXML.
What's the future plan...is there a Project in the World who want to provide a Visual GUI Builder who produce pure Java based JavaFX Code like Eclipse Window Builder do it for Swing or SWT or JBuilder for Swing many years ago.
That's the main reason that JavaFX get successful in the future. A software architect who has to decide using JavaFX as the new Company Standard...will never do it without stomachache.
Do I miss some news?
Is there are NetBeans Version who can do it or a plugin I don't now?
Edited by: 984992 on 30.01.2013 14:24
Edited by: 984992 on 30.01.2013 14:30

I don't think you are getting it, or just making a big deal about it.
Currently SceneBuilder is connected to Netbeans using the FXML. It's not hard at all, nor is there a big issue. In the next few years Scenebuilder will be in Netbeans integrated, so it will be just like the swing gui builder. FX is still new, from a scripting lang, to a super powerful lang. FXML uses so little code.... Also you can do things either with, or without FXML, FXML IS NOT NEEDED IN FX AT ALL, only limited on Scene Builder.
This is the FXML I am using for a dice game I am creating. Not much at all.
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<?import java.lang.*?>
<?import java.util.*?>
<?import javafx.collections.*?>
<?import javafx.scene.chart.*?>
<?import javafx.scene.control.*?>
<?import javafx.scene.image.*?>
<?import javafx.scene.layout.*?>
<?import javafx.scene.paint.*?>
<BorderPane fx:id="border" maxHeight="-Infinity" maxWidth="-Infinity" minHeight="-Infinity" minWidth="-Infinity" prefHeight="785.0" prefWidth="1518.0" xmlns:fx="http://javafx.com/fxml" fx:controller="ZonkController">
<left>
<AnchorPane minHeight="86.0" minWidth="62.0" prefHeight="390.0" prefWidth="768.0">
<children>
<Button fx:id="button" layoutX="126.0" layoutY="90.0" onAction="#handleButtonAction" text="Click Me!" />
<Pane fx:id="pane" layoutX="737.0" prefHeight="390.0" prefWidth="211.0" />
</children>
</AnchorPane>
</left>
<right>
<AnchorPane prefHeight="386.0" prefWidth="460.0">
<children>
<BarChart fx:id="barChart" layoutX="7.0" layoutY="-10.0" prefWidth="460.0">
<xAxis>
<CategoryAxis fx:id="names" side="BOTTOM" />
</xAxis>
<yAxis>
<NumberAxis fx:id="scores" side="LEFT" />
</yAxis>
</BarChart>
</children>
</AnchorPane>
</right>
<top>
<ImageView fx:id="iv" fitHeight="394.24998969072755" fitWidth="525.6666641235352" pickOnBounds="true" preserveRatio="true" BorderPane.alignment="TOP_CENTER" />
</top>
</BorderPane>
It is all codecompleted like a class normally would, so there is nothing to worry about :)
.CSS isn't hard either.

The Great GUI Builder Mystery

I am trying to create a GUI Builder using Java. I have searched high and low, low and high, and I have not been able to figure out how to set the design time behaviour of a JavaBean (or any component for that matter). Theoretically (according to the JavaBeans API) this is done using the setDesignTime() method, but how can I apply this to a javax.swing.JButton, for example?
The BDK, and Bean Builder tools accomplish design time behaviour, but I am still unable to figure out how it is done (even after viewing the source code provided). (It appears as though those tools emulate design time behaviour.)
Can someone give me some help or direct me to a place where I can find the help that I need?

Ok.....
Is there any way to make a swing component behave as if it is in design time mode?
If I am completely lost, please give me a hint as to where I can find the information that I need.
Please help!

Using JFileChooser in GUI Builder / Matisse

Would appreciate any help with how to modify the code created by the NetBeans GUI Builder / Matisse to use jFileChooser.
I've added a Menu item to act as a file Open option, called OpenItem, and the GUI builder has added a listener which points to a method OpenItemActionPerformed:
private void OpenItemActionPerformed(java.awt.event.ActionEvent evt) {
        // TODO add your handling code here:
} I have also added a jFileChooser component, named jFileChooser1, but if I try to use it in the OpenItemActionPerformed method I get an error.
private void OpenItemActionPerformed(java.awt.event.ActionEvent evt) {
       JFileChooser1.
}     shows error: "<identifier> expected" (as soon as I get to the dot).
The variable seems to be defined:
private void initComponents() {
        jFileChooser1 = new javax.swing.JFileChooser();
}// Variables declaration - do not modify
private javax.swing.JFileChooser jFileChooser1;
// End of variables declaration
Maybe I have gone about this the wrong way, so any clues as to either how I can get the jFileChooser1 variable to work or any way I can use JFilechooser with GUI Builder created application would be much appreciated.
Thanx in advance.

The following example creates a file chooser and displays it as first an open-file dialog and then as a save-file dialog:
    String filename = File.separator+"tmp";
    JFileChooser fc = new JFileChooser(new File(filename));
    // Show open dialog; this method does not return until the dialog is closed
    fc.showOpenDialog(frame);
    File selFile = fc.getSelectedFile();
    // Show save dialog; this method does not return until the dialog is closed
    fc.showSaveDialog(frame);
    selFile = fc.getSelectedFile();Here is a more elaborate example that creates two buttons that create and show file chooser dialogs.
    // This action creates and shows a modal open-file dialog.
    public class OpenFileAction extends AbstractAction {
        JFrame frame;
        JFileChooser chooser;
        OpenFileAction(JFrame frame, JFileChooser chooser) {
            super("Open...");
            this.chooser = chooser;
            this.frame = frame;
        public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent evt) {
            // Show dialog; this method does not return until dialog is closed
            chooser.showOpenDialog(frame);
            // Get the selected file
            File file = chooser.getSelectedFile();
    // This action creates and shows a modal save-file dialog.
    public class SaveFileAction extends AbstractAction {
        JFileChooser chooser;
        JFrame frame;
        SaveFileAction(JFrame frame, JFileChooser chooser) {
            super("Save As...");
            this.chooser = chooser;
            this.frame = frame;
        public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent evt) {
            // Show dialog; this method does not return until dialog is closed
            chooser.showSaveDialog(frame);
            // Get the selected file
            File file = chooser.getSelectedFile();
    };Here's some code that demonstrates the use of the actions:
    JFrame frame = new JFrame();
    // Create a file chooser
    String filename = File.separator+"tmp";
    JFileChooser fc = new JFileChooser(new File(filename));
    // Create the actions
    Action openAction = new OpenFileAction(frame, fc);
    Action saveAction = new SaveFileAction(frame, fc);
    // Create buttons for the actions
    JButton openButton = new JButton(openAction);
    JButton saveButton = new JButton(saveAction);
    // Add the buttons to the frame and show the frame
    frame.getContentPane().add(openButton, BorderLayout.NORTH);
    frame.getContentPane().add(saveButton, BorderLayout.SOUTH);
    frame.pack();
    frame.setVisible(true);

Java GUI in same frame

Hi,
Using the Bean area I was able to bring up Java GUI on the client side. This Java GUI is displayed outside the Oracle main frame. Is there any way to show these Java GUI's under the same Oracle frame itself?
-murali

murali,
I think that there is no straight and easy answer to this and one would have to drill down into how a Forms is composed in the client Applet. You will have to check if MDI is used as a runtime parameter and then get a hold to the Forms Window. Also, you will have to use ewt classes to build the GUI to make sure the look and feel is the same. I don't have an answer for you, but its an interesting challenge to face.
frank

GUI Builder: Where to get Icons for Swing components

Hi,
I am creating a GUI Builder for Swing GUIs and I am searching for icons representing Swing Components as seen in many GUI Builders like JBuilder.
So I want to have ToggleButtons with icons in a toolbar, to let the user choose what Swing Component to create (e.g. JTextField, JList, etc.).
Are there any free icons for Swing Components?
Thank you very much for your help.
Regards,
Alex

Hi ipooley,
thanks for this reply but I know that page already.
What I am searching for are icons of JComponents like JButton or JTextField etc. . You can see them for example in some GUI builders like JBuilder-Designer and they are looking as if they are Java native.
Regards,
Alex

Any Java GUI Builder, please?

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for