Diplaying non-rectangular windows using java.

Question

I am seeking some information regarding rendering of irregular shaped windows using java. Would like to know if its possible to achieve that using only java, if not then which tool can be used, so that my application can be used across platforms. I have gathered some information but most of the tools are not platform independent, most are useful only for windows, there is no mention of whether the tools will be helpful in UNIX etc. environment.
Awaiting reply,
Shweta.

Answer 1

hi,
you can create a component you like.you must override the paint method
and paint the component itself. the Graphics Object in paint give you some methods to paint lines,areas and colors.
the example paint a clock :
import java.awt.Container;
import java.util.Calendar;
import java.awt.Graphics;
import java.awt.Color;
import java.awt.event.WindowListener;
import java.awt.event.ActionListener;
import java.awt.event.WindowEvent;
import java.awt.event.ActionEvent;
import javax.swing.Timer;
import java.awt.Label;
import java.util.TimeZone;
import java.util.SimpleTimeZone;
public class Uhr extends java.awt.Frame implements WindowListener,ActionListener
//{{DECLARE_CONTROLS
Calendar cal=null;
int sec;
int minute;
int hour;
double Rh,Rm,Rs;
int nullx,nully,mx,my,Rk;
Timer timer=null;
Label lab=null;
public Uhr()
super();
//{{INIT_CONTROLS
setSize(200,200);
setLayout(null);
setTitle("Pit-Timer");
cal=Calendar.getInstance();
TimeZone tz = TimeZone.getDefault();//new SimpleTimeZone(1,"GMT");//;
// String [] tza=new String[128];
// tza=TimeZone.getAvailableIDs();
// for (int i=0;i<tza.length;i++)
// System.out.println(tza);
cal.setTimeZone(tz);
sec=cal.get(Calendar.SECOND);//0..59
minute=cal.get(Calendar.MINUTE); //0..59
hour=cal.get(Calendar.HOUR_OF_DAY);//0..23
lab=new Label("Time");
lab.setBounds(20,170,180,25);
add(lab);
addWindowListener(this);
timer=new Timer(1000,this);
timer.setRepeats(true);
timer.start();
Rk=getSize().width/2;
Rs=Rk*0.9;
Rm=Rk*0.8;
Rh=Rk*0.6;
mx=getSize().width/2;
my=getSize().height/2;
public static void main(String[] args)
(new Uhr()).setVisible(true);
public void paint(Graphics gr)
//zeichnen Hintergrund
gr.setColor(Color.red);
gr.fillArc(mx-Rk/2, my-Rk/2,Rk, Rk, 0, 360);
//zeichnen Stundenskala
gr.setColor(Color.darkGray);
for (double alpha=0;alpha<Math.PI*2;alpha+=Math.PI/6)
gr.drawLine( mx+(new Double (Rk/2*Math.cos(alpha))).intValue(),
my+(new Double (Rk/2*Math.sin(alpha))).intValue(),
mx+(new Double (Rm/2*Math.cos(alpha))).intValue(),
my+(new Double (Rm/2*Math.sin(alpha))).intValue());
sekunde(gr);
minute(gr);
stunde(gr);
super.paint(gr);
public void sekunde(Graphics gr)
double alpha;
int x,y;
gr.setColor(Color.blue);
alpha=(Math.PI/30*(sec-15));
x=(new Double (Rs/2*Math.cos(alpha))).intValue();
y=(new Double (Rs/2*Math.sin(alpha))).intValue();
gr.drawLine(mx,my,mx+x,my+y);
public void minute(Graphics gr)
double alpha;
int x,y;
gr.setColor(Color.green);
alpha=(Math.PI/30*(minute-15));
x=(new Double (Rm/2*Math.cos(alpha))).intValue();
y=(new Double (Rm/2*Math.sin(alpha))).intValue();
gr.drawLine(mx,my,mx+x,my+y);
public void stunde(Graphics gr)
double alpha;
int x,y;
gr.setColor(Color.yellow);
alpha=(Math.PI/6*(hour-3));
x=(new Double (Rh/2*Math.cos(alpha))).intValue();
y=(new Double (Rh/2*Math.sin(alpha))).intValue();
gr.drawLine(mx,my,mx+x,my+y);
public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e)
if (e.getSource()==timer)
sec++;
lab.setText("Time : "+new Integer(hour).toString()+":"+new Integer(minute).toString()+":"+
new Integer(sec).toString());
if (sec==60)
sec=0;
minute++;
if (minute==60)
minute=0;
hour++;
if (hour==24)
hour=0;
repaint();
public void windowActivated(WindowEvent e){}
//Invoked when a window is activated.
public void windowClosed(WindowEvent e)
{//Invoked when a window has been closed.
timer.stop();
dispose();
System.exit(0);
public void windowClosing(WindowEvent e)
timer.stop();
dispose();
System.exit(0);}
//Invoked when a window is in the process of being closed.
public void windowDeactivated(WindowEvent e){}
//Invoked when a window is de-activated.
public void windowDeiconified(WindowEvent e){}
//Invoked when a window is de-iconified.
public void windowIconified(WindowEvent e){}
//Invoked when a window is iconified.
public void windowOpened(WindowEvent e){}
//Invoked when a window has been opened.
bye