JTextArea setLocation problem?

Question

The JTextArea setLocation method is not sticking after the call to repaint(). The JTextArea is going back to it's original location; the repaint() method is acting like the pack() method.
I've written a test application to show what I'm talking about. (The test Application is in two files.)
The following program draws a circle and has 5 JTextAreas, you can drag the text areas anywhere on the screen. On the repaint() method call the text areas get reset to their original positions. If you remark the repaint() calls out the text areas stay where you place them. Try to place one of the text areas over the circle with and without the repaint calls commented out, the circle gets erased. This is why I need to call repaint.
This behavior only occurs if the following program is an application. The setLocation method works fine if this is placed in an Applet. This behavior was discovered when I tried to make my Applet an Application. If anyone can provide a work around I'd appreciate it.
Thanks,
Andrew
package test;
import java.awt.Toolkit;
import javax.swing.*;
import javax.swing.UIManager;
import java.awt.Dimension;
public class Test {
boolean packFrame = false;
public static void main(String[] args) {
JFrame frame = new Frame1();
frame.setTitle("Application");
frame.setSize(600, 550);
Dimension d = Toolkit.getDefaultToolkit().getScreenSize();
frame.setLocation( (d.width - frame.getSize().width) / 2,
(d.height - frame.getSize().height) / 2);
frame.setVisible(true);
frame.setDefaultCloseOperation(3);
frame.setResizable(false);
---------------------New File---------------------------
package test;
import java.awt.*;
import javax.swing.*;
import java.awt.event.MouseMotionListener;
import java.awt.event.MouseEvent;
import javax.swing.border.LineBorder;
public class Frame1
extends JFrame implements MouseMotionListener {
Image aFrame = null;
JPanel contentPane;
BorderLayout borderLayout1 = new BorderLayout();
JLabel statusBar = new JLabel();
JTextArea[] display = null;
JPanel centerPanel = null;
JPanel moviePanel = null;
public Frame1() {
try {
setDefaultCloseOperation(EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
jbInit();
catch (Exception exception) {
exception.printStackTrace();
private void jbInit() throws Exception {
contentPane = (JPanel) getContentPane();
contentPane.setLayout(borderLayout1);
setSize(new Dimension(400, 300));
setTitle("Frame Title");
statusBar.setText(" ");
contentPane.add(statusBar, BorderLayout.SOUTH);
centerPanel = new JPanel(new BorderLayout());
moviePanel = new JPanel(new GridBagLayout());
display = new JTextArea[5];
GridBagConstraints gbc = new GridBagConstraints();
gbc.gridx=gbc.RELATIVE;
gbc.gridy=gbc.RELATIVE;
for (int i=0; i < display.length; i++) {
display[i] = new JTextArea(" ",3,15);
moviePanel.add(display, gbc);
display[i].setBorder(new LineBorder(Color.lightGray));
display[i].addMouseMotionListener(this);
centerPanel.add(moviePanel, BorderLayout.CENTER);
contentPane.add(centerPanel, BorderLayout.CENTER);
moviePanel.addMouseMotionListener(this);
centerPanel.addMouseMotionListener(this);
contentPane.addMouseMotionListener(this);
public void update(Graphics g) {
paint(g);
public void paint(Graphics g) {
for (int i=0; i < display.length; i++) {
display[i].setText("i: "+Integer.toString(i));
Graphics2D offscreenG = ((Graphics2D)moviePanel.getGraphics());
int w = centerPanel.getWidth();
int h = centerPanel.getHeight();
background(w,h);
offscreenG.drawImage(aFrame,0,0,this);
public void background(int width, int height) {
aFrame = createImage(width, height);
Graphics2D aFrameG = ((Graphics2D) aFrame.getGraphics());
aFrameG.setColor(Color.cyan);
aFrameG.fillOval(5,5,width/2,height/2);
public void mouseDragged(MouseEvent e) {
if (e.getSource() instanceof JTextArea) {
JTextArea temp = ((JTextArea)e.getSource());
int x = e.getX();
int y = e.getY();
((JTextArea)e.getSource()).setLocation(temp.getX() + x, temp.getY() + y);
repaint(); // Remark me out
public void mouseMoved(MouseEvent e) {
repaint(); // Remark me out

Answer 1

Don't forget to use the Code Formatting Tags so the posted code retains its original formatting. That is done by selecting the code and then clicking on the "Code" button above the question input area.
Well, the basic answer is that Swing is different than AWT so you need to learn how to code using Swing. Start by reading the [Swing tutorial|http://java.sun.com/docs/books/tutorial/uiswing/TOC.html] for examples and explanations.
a) the setLocation doesn't work, because the Layout Manager overrides that value based on the rules of the layout manager. This is a good thing. You should always use layout managers and not set the location manually. The tutorial gives examples of using a layout manager.
b) don't override the update() method in Swing, that is an old AWT trick
c) don't override the paint() method of the frame. Custom painting, if required, is done by overriding the paintComponent() method. Again the tutorial gives an example.
If you are tying to add an image to the background of the frame then there are better ways to do it. Search the forum using "background-image" (without the "-") to find postings on this topic.