Difference between table and table model

Question

From what I've understood till now, in a JTable, the table itself is actually only a "display area" while the actual data is located in the table model. Is this correct?
Does this mean it is possible to delete rows and columns within the table itself without affecting the actual data in the table model?

Answer 1

Hi,
ok, I will try to answer your second question "is it possible to delete rows and columns in the table but not in the table model"?
The table - lets say the table's view - reflects the data of the data model only, if you fire the correct notification messages via the TableModelListener interface - JTable itself is a TableModelListener and updates its display accordingly to these messages - it never holds data by itself - if something is to be redrawn in the view, JTable ask the model via getValueAt(...) for the data and renders it using one of the cellrenderers delivered by the column of the column model resp. one of the registered default renderers.
Now to your question - you can't delete a row in the tables view, without any change in the table model, as so the data isn't hold by the table's view, it is only held by the table model. But the other way round, it is possible - often accidentially - you can change the data in the table model and forget to fire a notification message for it via the TableModelListener interface - in this case, JTable will not update its view - and the table may look strange, if parts of its view is hidden by other applications and afterwards redrawn, when this application closes. Only the parts, that were hidden, will be redrawn - and this is done with the new data. So, keep track of always sending the correct notification message with every change you make in the table model, so that JTable is able to keep its view up to date.
Hope this helps
greetings Marsian