Multicolored JTextPane

Question

I am using a JTextPane to display a online report.
Each new line / set of new lines signify a record in the report. Since there could be variable number of records all with variable number of lines it becomes difficult to distinguish between records. Hence, what I intend to do is create the text pane such that alternate record areas have different backgrounds or foregrounds.
Can I get some pointers as to how to go about doing this ?
Thanks in advance,

Answer 1

Heres an example of how to change the background color of alternate lines. I haven't tried it with groups of lines.
import java.awt.*;
import java.net.*;
import javax.swing.*;
import javax.swing.text.*;
public class BackgroundLines extends JFrame
     public BackgroundLines()
          throws Exception
          JTextArea textComponent = new JTextArea()
               public void paintComponent(Graphics g)
                    Rectangle drawHere = g.getClipBounds();
                    int lineHeight = g.getFontMetrics().getHeight();
                    int startOffset = getInsets().top;
                    int start = (drawHere.y / lineHeight) * lineHeight + startOffset;
                    int startLineNumber = (drawHere.y / lineHeight);
                    int endLineNumber = startLineNumber + (drawHere.height / lineHeight) + 1;
                    for (int i = startLineNumber; i <= endLineNumber; i++)
                         g.setColor( i % 2 == 0 ? getBackground() : Color.lightGray );
                         g.fillRect(drawHere.x, start, drawHere.width, lineHeight);
                         start += lineHeight;
                    super.paintComponent(g);
          textComponent.setOpaque( false );
          JScrollPane scrollPane = new JScrollPane(textComponent);
          scrollPane.setPreferredSize(new Dimension(300, 250));
          getContentPane().add( scrollPane );
     public static void main(String[] args)
          throws Exception
          BackgroundLines frame = new BackgroundLines();
          frame.setDefaultCloseOperation( EXIT_ON_CLOSE );
          frame.pack();
          frame.setVisible(true);
}