Multiple Frames - JInternalFrame

Question

Goal:
I need to create a main window. This window contains multiple different views.
( I should be able to switch back and forth among these views).
Each view contains 4 small frames/window.
My design thought:
Step 1. Main window = JFrame.
Step 2.Using JLayeredPane to add several layers onto JFrame in z order. Each layer=one view.
Step 3. Each layer of step 2 should be able to hold 4 frames/windows.
Problem:
In step 2, JLayeredPane can only hold JInternalPane or Jpanel. JLayerPane can't hold JFrame.
Therefore , I can't do step 3 because JInternalFrame from step 2 can't hold any more frames.
Where I am wrong? Or it is just impossible to do such thing?

Answer 1

* Card_Layout_Demo_2.java
import java.awt.*;
import java.awt.event.*;
import javax.swing.*;
public class Card_Layout_Demo_2 extends JFrame {
    public Card_Layout_Demo_2() {
        initComponents();
    private void initComponents() {
        cards = new JPanel();
        jDesktopPane1 = new JDesktopPane();
        jInternalFrame1 = new JInternalFrame();
        jDesktopPane2 = new JDesktopPane();
        jInternalFrame2 = new JInternalFrame();
        jDesktopPane3 = new JDesktopPane();
        jInternalFrame3 = new JInternalFrame();
        jToolBar1 = new JToolBar();
        jButton1 = new JButton();
        jButton2 = new JButton();
        jButton3 = new JButton();
        setDefaultCloseOperation(WindowConstants.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
        setTitle("Card Layout Demo 2");
        cards.setLayout(new CardLayout());
        jInternalFrame1.setTitle("Frame 1.1");
        jInternalFrame1.setPreferredSize(new Dimension(200, 100));
        jInternalFrame1.setVisible(true);
        jInternalFrame1.setBounds(0, 0, 200, 100);
        jDesktopPane1.add(jInternalFrame1, JLayeredPane.DEFAULT_LAYER);
        cards.add(jDesktopPane1, "panel 1");
        jInternalFrame2.setTitle("Frame 2.1");
        jInternalFrame2.setPreferredSize(new Dimension(200, 100));
        jInternalFrame2.setVisible(true);
        jInternalFrame2.setBounds(0, 0, 200, 100);
        jDesktopPane2.add(jInternalFrame2, JLayeredPane.DEFAULT_LAYER);
        cards.add(jDesktopPane2, "panel 2");
        jInternalFrame3.setTitle("Frame 3.1");
        jInternalFrame3.setPreferredSize(new Dimension(200, 100));
        jInternalFrame3.setVisible(true);
        jInternalFrame3.setBounds(0, 0, 200, 100);
        jDesktopPane3.add(jInternalFrame3, JLayeredPane.DEFAULT_LAYER);
        cards.add(jDesktopPane3, "panel 3");
        getContentPane().add(cards, BorderLayout.CENTER);
        jButton1.setText("Panel 1");
        jButton1.addActionListener(new ActionListener() {
            public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent evt) {
                jButton1ActionPerformed(evt);
        jToolBar1.add(jButton1);
        jButton2.setText("Panel 2");
        jButton2.addActionListener(new ActionListener() {
            public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent evt) {
                jButton2ActionPerformed(evt);
        jToolBar1.add(jButton2);
        jButton3.setText("Panel 3");
        jButton3.addActionListener(new ActionListener() {
            public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent evt) {
                jButton3ActionPerformed(evt);
        jToolBar1.add(jButton3);
        getContentPane().add(jToolBar1, BorderLayout.NORTH);
        Dimension screenSize = Toolkit.getDefaultToolkit().getScreenSize();
        setBounds((screenSize.width-400)/2, (screenSize.height-300)/2, 400, 300);
    private void jButton1ActionPerformed(ActionEvent evt) {
        CardLayout cl = (CardLayout)cards.getLayout() ;
        cl.show(cards, "panel 1");
    private void jButton2ActionPerformed(ActionEvent evt) {
        CardLayout cl = (CardLayout)cards.getLayout() ;
        cl.show(cards, "panel 2");
    private void jButton3ActionPerformed(ActionEvent evt) {
        CardLayout cl = (CardLayout)cards.getLayout() ;
        cl.show(cards, "panel 3");
    public static void main(String args[]) {
        new Card_Layout_Demo_2().setVisible(true);
    private JPanel cards;
    private JButton jButton1;
    private JButton jButton2;
    private JButton jButton3;
    private JDesktopPane jDesktopPane1;
    private JDesktopPane jDesktopPane2;
    private JDesktopPane jDesktopPane3;
    private JInternalFrame jInternalFrame1;
    private JInternalFrame jInternalFrame2;
    private JInternalFrame jInternalFrame3;
    private JToolBar jToolBar1;
}