Hiding Columns in a JTable

Hi folks,
I'm developing a program, one part of which should show in a table the information it got from the DB. It works just fine. The problem is - the user doesn't need to see all the columns (some of them are even unknown and are for intern use only). How could I hide those columns? Or should I create another TableModel and show it instead?
Thanks in advance

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Hiding columns of a JTable

I want to hide some of the columns of my JTable. Plz tell me how to do it?
Thanks in advance

Alternatively, remove those columns from the table's columnModel.Definitely the preferred approach.
Wouldn't you still have to modify the TableModel so that the getValueAt method doesn't return the wrong value?No, the view of the table is not necessarily the same as the order of the data in the TableModel. What happens, for example when a column of the table is reordered? Well, each TableColumn contains a reference to a specific column in the TableModel. So the TableColumnModel is used by the table to control the view of the table and the TableColumn will get the data from the correct column. This way you can reorder TableColumns or remove TableColumns withouth affecting the TableModel only the view of the table.
My FixedColumnScrollPane example uses this feature:
http://forum.java.sun.com/thread.jspa?forumID=257&threadID=500055
By the way, when you use the getValueAt(...) method you have to be carefull which index you use for the column.
a) Do you want the first column viewable in the table, then just use the column
b) Do you want the first column from the TableModel. In this case you have some helper methods (in case columns have been reordered or removed):
convertColumnIndexToModel()
convertColumnIndexToView()

About hiding columns in a JTable.

I have read various ideas on how to hide columns in these forums,. Everything from using the removeColumn method in TableColumnModel to writing a wrapper TableModel to handle the details. These ideas work, but in certain situations it is difficult to retro-fit the code in this manner. Being that Swing has a MVC architecture, does it not make since that I should be able to alter the view ( The Table ) any way I like without altering the underlying models? Does anyone have a good solution?
I already had implemented a TableModel which does this, and a TableColumnModel. Probelm is, I have external libraries that make extensive use of the DefaultTableColumnModel in the JTable, and I would rather not have to alter it. those libraries.
Thanks.
AC

Being that Swing has a MVC
architecture, does it not make since that I should be
able to alter the view ( The Table ) any way I like
without altering the underlying models? Does anyone
have a good solution?I can see your point, but JTable presents the view it does which is customizable in certain ways only.
The hiding of columns just isn't part of what it does.
So you could extend JTable to add such functionality. Having looked at the source of JTable recently, I wouldn't want to do that.
The alternative is to wrap existing models in another model that does some transformation (i.e. hiding a column) without changing the underlying model. See the TableMap and TableSorter examples in the Swing Table Tutorial to see an example of this.

Show hidden columns in a JTable

Hi,
I have a requirement for hiding some columns of a JTable and showing them back based on user actions.
I have gone through some topics about hiding columns. which can be done by table.removeColumn();
But when I use table.addColumn(); it adds the column at the end of the table.It should add in the same location as the previous column.
How to show /reveal the hidden column back?.

* Hide_Columns.java
* This code contains a table model that allows you to
* specify the columns to be hidden in a boolean array.
* To use the model:
*       model = new MyTableModel(data, columnNames);
*       table.setModel(model);
* The most important method in the model is "getNumber()", which converts a column number
* into the number corresponding to the data to be displayed.
* Visible columns can be dynamically changed with
* model.setVisibleColumns(0, column0.isSelected());
import java.awt.*;
import java.awt.event.*;
import java.util.*;
import javax.swing.*;
import javax.swing.table.*;
public class Hide_Columns extends JFrame {
    public Hide_Columns() {
        setTitle("Hide columns");
        setDefaultCloseOperation(WindowConstants.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
        model = new MyTableModel(data, columnNames);
        table.setModel(model);
        getContentPane().add(new JScrollPane(table), BorderLayout.CENTER);
        for( int i=0; i<4; i++ ){
            final JCheckBox columnX = new JCheckBox("Column "+i);
            columnX.setSelected(true);
            final int col = i;
            columnX.addActionListener(new ActionListener() {
                public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent evt) {
                    model.setVisibleColumns(col, columnX.isSelected());
            toolBar.add(columnX);
        getContentPane().add(toolBar, BorderLayout.NORTH);
        setSize(400,300);
        setLocationRelativeTo(null);
        model.addRow(new Object[]{null,null,null,null});
        model.setValueAt("test0",0,0);
        model.setValueAt("test1",0,1);
        model.setValueAt("test2",0,2);
        model.setValueAt("test3",0,3);
    public static void main(String args[]) { new Hide_Columns().setVisible(true); }
    private JTable table = new JTable();
    private JToolBar toolBar = new JToolBar();
    private   MyTableModel model;
    /** This is the data of the table*/
    private Vector<Object> data = new Vector<Object>();
    /** Column names */
    Vector<String> columnNames = new Vector<String>();{
        columnNames.addElement("0");
        columnNames.addElement("1");
        columnNames.addElement("2");
        columnNames.addElement("3");
class MyTableModel extends DefaultTableModel {
    /** Shows which columns are visible */
    private   boolean[] visibleColumns = new boolean[4];{
        visibleColumns[0] = true;
        visibleColumns[1] = true;
        visibleColumns[2] = true;
        visibleColumns[3] = true;
    public MyTableModel(Vector<Object> data, Vector<String> columnNames){
        super(data, columnNames);
    protected void setVisibleColumns(int col, boolean selection){
        visibleColumns[col] = selection;
        fireTableStructureChanged();
     * This function converts a column number of the table into
     * the right number of the data.
    protected int getNumber(int column) {
        int n = column;    // right number
        int i = 0;
        do {
            if (!(visibleColumns)) n++;
i++;
} while (i < n);
// When we are on an invisible column,
// we must go on one step
while (!(visibleColumns[n])) n++;
return n;
// *** METHODS OF THE TABLE MODEL ***
public int getColumnCount() {
int n = 0;
for (int i = 0; i < 4; i++)
if (visibleColumns[i]) n++;
return n;
public Object getValueAt(int row, int column) {
return super.getValueAt(row, getNumber(column));
public void setValueAt(Object obj, int row, int column) {
super.setValueAt(obj, row, getNumber(column));
public String getColumnName(int column) {
return super.getColumnName(getNumber(column));

How to get all the values in one column of a JTable

How to get all the values in one column of a JTable as a Collection of String.
I don;t want to write a for loop to say getValueAt(row, 1) eg for 2nd column.

I don;t want to write a for loop to say getValueAt(row, 1) eg for 2nd column. You could always write a custom TableModel that stores the data in the format you want it. It would probably be about 50 lines of code. Or you could write a loop in 3 lines of code. I'll let you decide which approach you want to take.

Event getting trigger after hiding columns in alv report

Hi All,
I having requirement like after hiding columns,i have to control some of the hard coded data in report output. Is there any event to know what all are the columns are selected to hide?

You can use FM REUSE_ALV_LIST_LAYOUT_INFO_GET to read the fieldcat again.
Look at the parameter it_event_exit on the ALV FM to now user has press on some of the Layout buttons.
In the fieldcatalog, look for
- no_out = 'X'. " column is not displayed but can be choosen when changing the layout
-tech = 'X'.
" column is neither displayed nor availabe in the layout

How can I add custom right-click-menu to column headers in JTable?

Can anyone point me to a topic on how to customize a popup menu for column headers in JTable? Specifically, I want to add things like "auto-size column" and "hide column".
Thanks,
Matt

Right-click on your table. Then go to Advanced->Runtime Shortcut Menu->Edit.
There are only two ways to tell somebody thanks: Kudos and Marked Solutions
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How to create Hyperlink column in a JTable

Can anyone help in creating a hyperlink column in a JTable.
Thanks in advance,
Sridhar.

If the parent is an Applet it is very simple .
catch the mouse click on columns and execute the following code
String url = getValueAt(i,j);
getAppletContext().showDocument(new
URL(url ), "_blank");
thatz all .
if ur program is an application use this getRuntime.exec() and use parameters to rundll32.exe url and iexplore.exe in Windows platform,
if u have still doubts plz get back to me
Renjith K.V

How to fix the value of first column in the JTable in java swing for every

Hi ,
I have a swing page that have table panel in which there is a table of size 7x4 now when I click on the perticulat row then that row data will displayin the table like that the selected row become the second column in the new table and the fist column of this table will remain constant for all the entry but the second column update according to the roe which is selected .How it is possible .
Thanks in Advace,
anu

One thing you can do is to prevent the user from editing that column and programatically supply the values of that column yourself.
JTable table = new JTable() {
   public boolean isCellEditable(int row, int col) {
       if(col == 0) {
          return false;
       return super.isCellEditable(row, col);
};This allows you to prevent the user from editing the column information so you can supply some sort of a default value for the column always
ICE

Looking for component: flexible rows like columns in a JTable

Hello,
I need a swing component to display several rows which can be moved up and down, the height resized, interchanged with the mouse like the columns in a JTable. But there is no need for columns. I think there is no standard swing component.
Any ideas, resource hints?
Thanks, Ulrich

One more piece of advice. It is not very easy to get "pre-written custom components". Most developers do things to meet their own needs and these may not be exactly what you are looking for. The best thing to do is to try to develop this yourself. It will give you loads of experience and in later programmes you may write, based on the experience you obtained from the "pain-staking" development process you'll know how to go round these problems quicker and may be able to help others also.
So just start writing some stuff. You may end up finishing sooner than you think. And remember forum members are always ready to help with problems (accompanied by minimal code examples of the actual problem).
ICE

Help for adjusting columns of a JTAble in a Table Model

Hello community,
In order to have a good display of by DataBase in a JTable, I've wrote some code to adjust columns in function of datas. Those datas are displayed with a TableModel ( which I've declared in a class JDBCAdapter ).
When I start my application, I call adjustColumns(), and all is great but when I add information to my DB and display it, the columns of my JTable return to default width...
So I want to incorporate my function adjustColumns in my TableModel, and I need help...
     void adjustColumns()
     // Ajuste les colonnes aux donnes pour que tout soit visible
     int nbRow,nbCol;
     nbRow = JTable1.getRowCount();
     nbCol = test.getColumnCount();
     for ( int i = 0; i < nbCol; i++ )
     com.sun.java.swing.table.TableColumn column = null;
     column = JTable1.getColumnModel().getColumn(i);
     int dataLength = 0;
     for ( int j = 0; j< nbRow; j++ )
     FontMetrics fm;
     int dataLengthTmp;
     String valueTable;
     fm = JTable1.getFontMetrics(JTable1.getFont());
     if ( test.getValueAt(j, i) == null )
     System.out.println("Valeur nulle...");
     dataLengthTmp = 0;
     else
     valueTable = test.getValueAt(j, i).toString();
     dataLengthTmp = fm.stringWidth(valueTable);
     System.out.println(valueTable + " = " + dataLengthTmp);
     if ( dataLengthTmp > dataLength )
     dataLength = dataLengthTmp;
     if ( dataLength != 0 )
column.setWidth(dataLength + 5);
else
column.sizeWidthToFit();
JTable1.setModel(test);
JTable1.repaint();
import java.util.Vector;
import java.sql.*;
import com.sun.java.swing.table.AbstractTableModel;
import com.sun.java.swing.event.TableModelEvent;
public class JDBCAdapter extends AbstractTableModel {
Connection connection;
Statement statement;
ResultSet resultSet;
String[] columnNames = {};
Vector rows = new Vector();
ResultSetMetaData metaData;
public JDBCAdapter(String url, String driverName,
String user, String passwd) {
try {
Class.forName(driverName);
System.out.println("Ouverture de la connexion a la base de donnee...");
connection = DriverManager.getConnection(url, user, passwd);
statement = connection.createStatement();
catch (ClassNotFoundException ex) {
System.err.println("Cannot find the database driver classes.");
System.err.println(ex);
catch (SQLException ex) {
System.err.println("Cannot connect to this database.");
System.err.println(ex);
public void executeQuery(String query) {
if (connection == null || statement == null) {
System.err.println("There is no database to execute the query.");
return;
try {
resultSet = statement.executeQuery(query);
metaData = resultSet.getMetaData();
int numberOfColumns = metaData.getColumnCount();
columnNames = new String[numberOfColumns];
// Get the column names and cache them.
// Then we can close the connection.
for(int column = 0; column < numberOfColumns; column++) {
columnNames[column] = metaData.getColumnLabel(column+1);
// Get all rows.
rows = new Vector();
while (resultSet.next()) {
Vector newRow = new Vector();
for (int i = 1; i <= getColumnCount(); i++) {
newRow.addElement(resultSet.getObject(i));
rows.addElement(newRow);
// close(); Need to copy the metaData, bug in jdbc:odbc driver.
fireTableChanged(null); // Tell the listeners a new table has arrived.
catch (SQLException ex) {
System.err.println(ex+" query = "+query);
public void executeUpdate(String query) {
if (connection == null || statement == null) {
System.err.println("There is no database to execute the query.");
return;
try {
statement.executeUpdate(query);
// close(); Need to copy the metaData, bug in jdbc:odbc driver.
fireTableChanged(null); // Tell the listeners a new table has arrived.
catch (SQLException ex) {
System.err.println(ex+" query = "+query);
public void close() throws SQLException {
System.out.println("Fermeture de la connection a la base de donnee... Bye !");
resultSet.close();
statement.close();
connection.close();
protected void finalize() throws Throwable {
close();
super.finalize();
// Implementation of the TableModel Interface
// MetaData
public String getColumnName(int column) {
if (columnNames[column] != null) {
return columnNames[column];
} else {
return "";
public Class getColumnClass(int column) {
int type;
try {
type = metaData.getColumnType(column+1);
catch (SQLException e) {
return super.getColumnClass(column);
switch(type) {
case Types.CHAR:
case Types.VARCHAR:
case Types.LONGVARCHAR:
return String.class;
case Types.BIT:
return Boolean.class;
case Types.TINYINT:
case Types.SMALLINT:
case Types.INTEGER:
return Integer.class;
case Types.BIGINT:
return Long.class;
case Types.FLOAT:
case Types.DOUBLE:
return Double.class;
case Types.DATE:
return java.sql.Date.class;
default:
return Object.class;
public boolean isCellEditable(int row, int column) {
try {
return metaData.isWritable(column+1);
catch (SQLException e) {
return false;
public int getColumnCount() {
return columnNames.length;
// Data methods
public int getRowCount() {
return rows.size();
public Object getValueAt(int aRow, int aColumn) {
Vector row = (Vector)rows.elementAt(aRow);
return row.elementAt(aColumn);
public String dbRepresentation(int column, Object value) {
int type;
if (value == null) {
return "null";
try {
type = metaData.getColumnType(column+1);
catch (SQLException e) {
return value.toString();
switch(type) {
case Types.INTEGER:
case Types.DOUBLE:
case Types.FLOAT:
return value.toString();
case Types.BIT:
return ((Boolean)value).booleanValue() ? "1" : "0";
case Types.DATE:
return value.toString(); // This will need some conversion.
default:
return "\""+value.toString()+"\"";
public void setValueAt(Object value, int row, int column) {
try {
String tableName = metaData.getTableName(column+1);
// Some of the drivers seem buggy, tableName should not be null.
if (tableName == null) {
System.out.println("Table name returned null.");
String columnName = getColumnName(column);
String query =
"update "+tableName+
" set "+columnName+" = "+dbRepresentation(column, value)+
" where ";
// We don't have a model of the schema so we don't know the
// primary keys or which columns to lock on. To demonstrate
// that editing is possible, we'll just lock on everything.
for(int col = 0; col<getColumnCount(); col++) {
String colName = getColumnName(col);
if (colName.equals("")) {
continue;
if (col != 0) {
query = query + " and ";
query = query + colName +" = "+
dbRepresentation(col, getValueAt(row, col));
System.out.println(query);
System.out.println("Not sending update to database");
// statement.executeQuery(query);
catch (SQLException e) {
// e.printStackTrace();
System.err.println("Update failed");
Vector dataRow = (Vector)rows.elementAt(row);
dataRow.setElementAt(value, column);
Thanks to help me.

Hi,
OK. I have read your code sample again. It looks like the JDBCAdapter class is reloading table data in the executeQuery method. Why not call adjustColumns at the end of this method after the new rows and columns are loaded? Perhaps it also should be called at the end of executeUpdate. Have you tried doing that?
I would still set
JTable1.setAutoCreateColumnsFromModel (false); to prevent Java from readjusting the size automatically at some other time.
regards,
Terry

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Hello Friends,
I need a help in JTable.
I want to have a Radio button as a column of a JTable.(The Other Columns should be Strings).
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I would appreciate if u give me the code for this, as it is very urgent.
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Hi,
use a TableCellRenderer and CellEditor as described in http://java.sun.com/docs/books/tutorial/uiswing/components/table.html
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public void mouseClicked(MouseEvent e) {
/* some actions */
}

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I'm writing a program which requires me to select a column in the JTable through code. The problem is that I could only find getSelectedColumn() function in JTable and no setSelectedColumn().
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Regards,
Derreck

Hi,
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The above line will suffice your requirement.
Cheers,
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Hiding Columns in a JTable

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