Layout approaches

Question

I have been attempting to put several objects on a window using various layout managers, but have had little success in what the objects look like visually, especially when the window is resized.
I have an object that, from top-to-bottom, is a JLabel, a JComboBox, a JTable, and another JLabel. This object (called ComboTable) will be on the left upper-most portion of the window.
Another object (RptButtonPanel) contains (again top-to-bottom) 4 JButtons that can be (in this case; it will be associated with other objects later) associated with the ComboTable
On the window, the object immediately to the right of the first ComboTable is a JTabbedPane. The first tab on this tabbed pane contains 2 more ComboTables (each of these with a RptButtonPanel)
The problem I'm having is with using the layout managers, particular how they behave when the windows are resized. I would like the combotables to expand appropriately when the window enlarges, and contract appropriately when the window shrinks. The RptButtonPanels should not resize/reposition. I would prefer that the combotables do not change position (e.g. huddle to the center) when the window resizes. In the case of the objects on the tabbed pane, the tabbed pane should enlarge to hold the 2 ComboTables appropriately, but the ComboTables should hold their position.
The lowest resolution for the users will be 800x600. Do I need to set a minimum size for all of the objects?
I have tried various combinations of BoxLayout, GridBagLayout, and BorderLayout, but each of them have their own issues. The ideas I have tried center around the following:
- ComboTable on a panel #1 using GridBagLayout; RptButtonPanel on a panel #2 using GridBagLayout; placed 2 ComboTables (with RptButtons) on a panel #3 using either BoxLayout (X_AXIS), BorderLayout, or GridBagLayout (whatever worked at the time); placed panel #1 and panel #3 on window using BoxLayout (X_AXIS).
Does anyone have any suggestions on a good approach to doing this? Admittedly, GridBagLayout seems to cause me some trouble, especially when it comes to specifying weightx/weighty and what happens during window resize.
Thanks,
Van Williams

Answer 1

Hi Shiv,
I didn't find any documentation related to this. However i would like to add my understanding
Note: As per the Sizing Guide, MDM Layout server should be installed on the m/c having min of 2GB RAM (4GB Recommended).
1. layout server as a central server with Multiple Publisher clients accessing common server
Advantages
1. Only one layout server needs to be installed and all the Clients i.e. MDM Publisher will access this centralized layout server.
2. It reduces Hardware cost since only one centralized m/c is required.
3. One layout server needs to be managed if any configuration changes are required.
Disadvantages
1. Simultaneous access of this centralized server affects the performance
2. Would be slow as compare to Approach-2 because of delay due to network.
2. layout server on individual clients system
Advantages
1. Better performance as compare to Approach-1 since no n/w connections are involved in communication between the Layout server and MDM Publisher.
2. No extra hardware is required for layout server installation since every individual m/c contains its own layout server.
Disadvantages
1. As per the Note above, individual machines should have min of 2GB RAM just because of Layout Server. Hence if the number of clients increases so does the cost of hardware as well.
2. Difficult to manage as compare to Approach-1 (Ref to Adv-3).
Based on above points, I would recommend the first approach since it is cost effective, easy maintainance. As far as performance goes, n/w speed could be enhanced even at the lower cost as compare to installing multiple layout servers on individual m/cs.
Regards,
Jitesh Talreja