Newbie: How to design layering?

Question

I am sorry if this question isn�t the clearest but I am pretty new to Java. And please feel free to critic how I ask this question and the program I am going to show, I hope this will help me in the future ask better questions and write better code.
This program was something I was working on for class that I couldn't finish. It is something I really need to learn because I am taking the second Java class and i am sure this is something I really will need to know.
Question: I am trying to finish this program and my goal is to click on the order button and have all the panels I have be cleared. ( I change the setVisible to false). But the problem I am facing is when I try to add more panels the panels are being added to the bottom. I am pretty sure this is happening because I am not starting a new frame. But that is the question, how do I clear the first frame and all the panes and start a new one?
import javax.swing.*;
import java.awt.*;
import java.awt.event.*;
import java.text.*;
class LowFatBurgerGUI extends JFrame
//Frame properties
private static final int FRAME_WIDTH = 575;
private static final int FRAME_HEIGHT = 500;
private static final int FRAME_X_ORIGIN = 150;
private static final int FRAME_Y_ORIGIN = 250;
//Button properties
private static final int BUTTON_WIDTH = 150;
private static final int BUTTON_HEIGHT = 30;
private int tofuCount = 0;
private int cajunCount = 0;
private int buffaloCount = 0;
private int rainbowCount = 0;
private int riceCount = 0;
private int noSaltCount = 0;
private int zucchiniCount = 0;
private int brownCount = 0;
private int mochaCount = 0;
private int latteCount = 0;
private int espresCount = 0;
private int oolongCount = 0;
private int tofuBurgercount = 0;
private int cajunChickencount = 0;
private int buffaloWingscount = 0;
private int rainbowFilletcount = 0;
private int riceCrackercount = 0;
private int noSaltFriescount = 0;
private int zucchinicount = 0;
private int brownRicecount = 0;
private int cafeMochacount = 0;
private int cafeLattecount = 0;
private int espressocount = 0;
private int OolongTeacount = 0;
private static final double TOFU_BURGER_PRICE = 3.49;
private static final double CAJUN_CHICKEN_PRICE = 4.59;
private static final double BUFFALO_WINGS_PRICE = 3.99;
private static final double RAINBOW_FILLET_PRICE = 2.99;
private static final double RICE_CRACKER_PRICE = 0.79;
private static final double NO_SALT_FRIES_PRICE = 0.69;
private static final double ZUCCHINI_PRICE = 1.09;
private static final double BROWN_RICE_PRICE = 0.59;
private static final double CAFE_MOCHA_PRICE = 1.99;
private static final double CAFE_LATTE_PRICE = 1.99;
private static final double ESPRESSO_PRICE = 2.49;
private static final double OOLONG_TEA_PRICE = 0.99;
//Initalize food buttons
private JButton tofuBurgerButton;
private JButton cajunChickenButton;
private JButton buffaloWingsButton;
private JButton rainbowFilletButton;
private JButton riceCrackerButton;
private JButton noSaltFriesButton;
private JButton zucchiniButton;
private JButton brownRiceButton;
private JButton cafeMochaButton;
private JButton cafeLatteButton;
private JButton espressoButton;
private JButton OolongTeaButton;
//control buttons
private JButton orderButton;
private JButton cancelButton;
//Subtotal output
private static final String MESSAGE = " Your subtotal: $ ";
//BLANK
private static final String BLANK = "";
//Initialize subtota
private double subTotal = 0.0;
private JLabel countLabel;
JPanel headerPanel, menuPanel, buttomPanel, orderOutputPanel,
middleOutputPanel, buttomOutputPanel;
JFrame lowFatBurgerOrderFrame, lowFatBurgerOutputFrame;
* Start
public static void main(String [] args)
new LowFatBurgerGUI();
public LowFatBurgerGUI()
lowFatBurgerMain();
setVisible(true);
private void lowFatBurgerMain()
lowFatBurgerOrderFrame();
//lowFatBurgerOutputFrame();
tofuBurgerButton();
cajunChickenButton();
buffaloWingsButton();
rainbowFilletButton();
riceCrackerButton();
noSaltFriesButton();
zucchiniButton();
brownRiceButton();
cafeMochaButton();
cafeLatteButton();
espressoButton();
OolongTeaButton();
orderButton();
cancelButton();
lowFatBurgerOrderPanel();
//lowFatBurgerOutputPanel();
//Create order frame
private void lowFatBurgerOrderFrame()
// set the frame properties
setSize ( FRAME_WIDTH, FRAME_HEIGHT );
setResizable ( false );
setTitle ( "Welcome to Low Fat Bugers ");
setLocation ( FRAME_X_ORIGIN, FRAME_Y_ORIGIN );
//Create output frame
private void lowFatBurgerOutputFrame()
// set the frame properties
setSize ( FRAME_WIDTH, FRAME_HEIGHT );
setResizable ( false );
setTitle ( "Finalize your order ");
setLocation ( FRAME_X_ORIGIN, FRAME_Y_ORIGIN );
lowFatBurgerOutputPanel();
//Create food buttons
private void tofuBurgerButton()
tofuBurgerButton = new JButton("Tofu Burger");
tofuBurgerButton.addActionListener(new java.awt.event.ActionListener()
public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent event)
tofuBurgerCount(event);
private void cajunChickenButton()
cajunChickenButton = new JButton("Cajun Chicken");
cajunChickenButton.addActionListener(new java.awt.event.ActionListener()
public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent event)
cajunChickenCount(event);
private void buffaloWingsButton()
buffaloWingsButton = new JButton("Buffalo Wings");
buffaloWingsButton.addActionListener(new java.awt.event.ActionListener()
public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent event)
buffaloWingsCount(event);
private void rainbowFilletButton()
rainbowFilletButton = new JButton("Rainbow Fillet");
rainbowFilletButton.addActionListener(new java.awt.event.ActionListener()
public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent event)
rainbowFilletCount(event);
private void riceCrackerButton()
riceCrackerButton = new JButton("Rice Cracker");
riceCrackerButton.addActionListener(new java.awt.event.ActionListener()
public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent event)
riceCrackerCount(event);
private void noSaltFriesButton()
noSaltFriesButton = new JButton("No-Salt Fries");
noSaltFriesButton.addActionListener(new java.awt.event.ActionListener()
public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent event)
noSaltFriesCount(event);
private void zucchiniButton()
zucchiniButton = new JButton("Zucchini");
zucchiniButton.addActionListener(new java.awt.event.ActionListener()
public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent event)
zucchiniCount(event);
private void brownRiceButton()
brownRiceButton = new JButton("Brown Rice");
brownRiceButton.addActionListener(new java.awt.event.ActionListener()
public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent event)
brownRiceCount(event);
private void cafeMochaButton()
cafeMochaButton = new JButton("Cafe Mocha");
cafeMochaButton.addActionListener(new java.awt.event.ActionListener()
public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent event)
cafeMochaCount(event);
private void cafeLatteButton()
cafeLatteButton = new JButton("Cafe Latte");
cafeLatteButton.addActionListener(new java.awt.event.ActionListener()
public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent event)
cafeLatteCount(event);
private void espressoButton()
espressoButton = new JButton("Espresso");
espressoButton.addActionListener(new java.awt.event.ActionListener()
public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent event)
espressoCount(event);
private void OolongTeaButton()
OolongTeaButton = new JButton("Oolong Tea");
OolongTeaButton.addActionListener(new java.awt.event.ActionListener()
public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent event)
OolongTeaCount(event);
private void orderButton()
orderButton = new JButton("Order");
orderButton.addActionListener(new java.awt.event.ActionListener()
public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent event)
OrderButtonAction(event);
private void cancelButton()
cancelButton = new JButton("Cancel");
cancelButton.addActionListener(new java.awt.event.ActionListener()
public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent event)
CancelButtonAction(event);
//Create order panels
public void lowFatBurgerOrderPanel()
Container orderPane;
orderPane = getContentPane();
orderPane.setLayout (new GridLayout( 3, 1 ));
//header Panel
headerPanel = new JPanel();
headerPanel.setBorder(BorderFactory.createTitledBorder( "Menu"));
//menu middle
menuPanel = new JPanel();
menuPanel.setBorder(BorderFactory.createTitledBorder("Items"));
menuPanel.setLayout(new GridLayout (4, 3));
menuPanel.add(tofuBurgerButton);
menuPanel.add(riceCrackerButton);
menuPanel.add(cafeMochaButton);
menuPanel.add(cajunChickenButton);
menuPanel.add(noSaltFriesButton);
menuPanel.add(cafeLatteButton);
menuPanel.add(buffaloWingsButton);
menuPanel.add(zucchiniButton);
menuPanel.add(espressoButton);
menuPanel.add(rainbowFilletButton);
menuPanel.add(brownRiceButton);
menuPanel.add(OolongTeaButton);
//Buttom Panel
buttomPanel = new JPanel();
buttomPanel.setBorder(BorderFactory.createTitledBorder("New"));
buttomPanel.add(countLabel = new JLabel(" Your subtotal: "));
buttomPanel.setLayout(new GridLayout(0,2));
buttomPanel.add(orderButton);
buttomPanel.add(cancelButton);
//contentPane
orderPane.add(headerPanel);
orderPane.add(menuPanel);
orderPane.add(buttomPanel);
//Create output panel
public void lowFatBurgerOutputPanel()
Container outputPane;
outputPane = getContentPane();
outputPane.setLayout (new GridLayout( 3, 1 ));
orderOutputPanel = new JPanel();
orderOutputPanel.setBorder(BorderFactory.createTitledBorder("Output"));
middleOutputPanel = new JPanel();
middleOutputPanel.setBorder(BorderFactory.createTitledBorder("something"));
buttomOutputPanel = new JPanel();
buttomOutputPanel.setBorder(BorderFactory.createTitledBorder("new"));
outputPane.add(orderOutputPanel);
outputPane.add(middleOutputPanel);
outputPane.add(buttomOutputPanel);
//Craete and count the number of times a button is clicked
void tofuBurgerCount(ActionEvent event)
tofuBurgercount++;
setLableTextSubtotal();
void cajunChickenCount(ActionEvent event)
cajunChickencount++;
setLableTextSubtotal();
void buffaloWingsCount(ActionEvent event)
buffaloWingscount++;
setLableTextSubtotal();
void rainbowFilletCount(ActionEvent event)
rainbowFilletcount++;
setLableTextSubtotal();
void riceCrackerCount(ActionEvent event)
riceCrackercount++;
setLableTextSubtotal();
void noSaltFriesCount(ActionEvent event)
noSaltFriescount++;
setLableTextSubtotal();
void zucchiniCount(ActionEvent event)
zucchinicount++;
setLableTextSubtotal();
void brownRiceCount(ActionEvent event)
brownRicecount++;
setLableTextSubtotal();
void cafeMochaCount(ActionEvent event)
cafeMochacount++;
setLableTextSubtotal();
void cafeLatteCount(ActionEvent event)
cafeLattecount++;
setLableTextSubtotal();
void espressoCount(ActionEvent event)
espressocount++;
setLableTextSubtotal();
void OolongTeaCount(ActionEvent event)
OolongTeacount++;
setLableTextSubtotal();
void OrderButtonAction(ActionEvent event)
headerPanel.setVisible(false);
menuPanel.setVisible (false);
buttomPanel.setVisible(false);
lowFatBurgerOutputFrame();
// Clear order
void CancelButtonAction(ActionEvent event)
countLabel.setText(BLANK);
countLabel.setText(" Cancelled Order");
tofuBurgercount = 0;
cajunChickencount = 0;
buffaloWingscount = 0;
rainbowFilletcount = 0;
riceCrackercount = 0;
noSaltFriescount = 0;
zucchinicount = 0;
brownRicecount = 0;
cafeMochacount = 0;
cafeLattecount = 0;
espressocount = 0;
OolongTeacount = 0;
private void setLableTextSubtotal()
DecimalFormat df = new DecimalFormat("0.00");
countLabel.setText(MESSAGE + df.format((
TOFU_BURGER_PRICE * tofuBurgercount
+ CAJUN_CHICKEN_PRICE * cajunChickencount
+ BUFFALO_WINGS_PRICE * buffaloWingscount
+ RAINBOW_FILLET_PRICE * rainbowFilletcount
+ RICE_CRACKER_PRICE * riceCrackercount
+ NO_SALT_FRIES_PRICE * noSaltFriescount
+ ZUCCHINI_PRICE * zucchinicount
+ BROWN_RICE_PRICE * brownRicecount
+ CAFE_MOCHA_PRICE * cafeMochacount
+ CAFE_LATTE_PRICE * cafeLattecount
+ ESPRESSO_PRICE * espressocount
+ OOLONG_TEA_PRICE * OolongTeacount)));
//Create a window closer
private void addWindowCloseListener()
this.addWindowListener(new java.awt.event.WindowAdapter()
public void windowClosing(WindowEvent event)
quit(event);
void quit(WindowEvent event)
System.exit(0);
}

Answer 1

And please feel free to critic how I ask this question and the program I am going to show, I hope this will help me in the future ask better questions and write better code.1) Use the "preview" link before posting your question. As you have noticed all your code has lost its formatting and is left justified. I'm sure you don't code like this so don't ask as to read it like this.
2) So you ask how to I keep the formatting of the posted code? Well, did you notice the buttons at the top of the message box or the "Formatting Tips" link.
3) Post a small executable version of your code that demonstrates the problem. I hope you don't expect us to read through hundreds of lines of unnecessary code. Most problems can be demonstrated in about 20 lines of code and the side benefit is many times you find your problem while creating the sample code.
But the problem I am facing is when I try to add more panels the panels are being added to the bottomThis is because of the LayoutManager you are using. Most LayoutManagers just keep displaying the component as it is added to the container. One way around this is to remove(...) the existing component before adding the new component (check out the Container API for more information about the remove(...) methods). Or maybe use a different LayoutManager like a BorderLayout which replaces components that are added or a CardLayout which allow you to display multiple components in the same area.
I suggest you read the Swing tutorial on [url http://java.sun.com/docs/books/tutorial/uiswing/layout/visual.html]Using Layout Managers.