Printing forums in exact format

Question

I have a seven page card layout Forms (combination of check box, tables, text fields and text area). I need to print the content of each page in the exact form draw check box, text area, text field and tables all with its content. What would be the exact process? Should I draw each individual component or is there a java class from SUN or 3rd party vendor to draw everything automatically? Cuz drawing each individual component will be painful. Would it be best if I first save them in a file and then send the file to the printer? But even that way I have to draw the components (checkbox, text field, area and tables) individually in the file then their content. Right?
There must be an easy way... can't be that complicated...
Would appreciate your help a lot...

Answer 1

import java.awt.*;
import java.awt.event.*;
import javax.swing.*;
import java.awt.print.*;
import java.util.Random;
public class Test extends JFrame {
    CardLayout cardLayout = new CardLayout();
    JPanel cardPanel = new JPanel(cardLayout);
    String currentPanel = "0";
    public Test() {
     setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
     Container content = getContentPane();
     content.add(cardPanel, BorderLayout.CENTER);
     JPanel buttonPanel = new JPanel();
     content.add(buttonPanel, BorderLayout.SOUTH);
     for (int i=0; i<8; i++) {
         JPanel jp = new PrintablePanel("Panel "+i);
         cardPanel.add(jp, ""+i);
         JButton jb = new JButton(""+i);
         jb.setBorder(BorderFactory.createRaisedBevelBorder());
         buttonPanel.add(jb);
         jb.addActionListener(new ActionListener() {
          public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent ae) {
              currentPanel = ((JButton)ae.getSource()).getText();
              cardLayout.show(cardPanel, (currentPanel));
     JButton jb = new JButton("Print All");
     jb.setBorder(BorderFactory.createRaisedBevelBorder());
     buttonPanel.add(jb);
     jb.addActionListener(new ActionListener() {
         public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent ae) {
          PrinterJob printJob = PrinterJob.getPrinterJob();
          if (printJob.printDialog()) {
              Component[] c = cardPanel.getComponents();
              for (int i=0; i<c.length; i++) {
               printJob.setPrintable((PrintablePanel)c);
               cardLayout.show(cardPanel, ""+i);
               try { printJob.print(); }
               catch (Exception ex) { ex.printStackTrace(); }
          cardLayout.show(cardPanel, currentPanel);
     setSize(300,300);
     show();
public static void main(String[] args) { new Test(); }
class PrintablePanel extends JPanel implements Printable {
RepaintManager currentManager = RepaintManager.currentManager(this);
private static Random r = new Random();
public PrintablePanel(String Name) {
     JLabel jl = new JLabel(Name);
     jl.setSize(100,20);
     add(jl);
     Component c=null;
     for (int i=0; i<5; i++) {
     switch (r.nextInt(4)) {
          case 0:
          c = new JTextField("Text "+r.nextInt(100)); break;
          case 1:
          c = new JLabel("Label "+r.nextInt(100)); break;
          case 2:
          c = new JTextArea("TextArea "+r.nextInt(100)+"\nand more...");
          break;
          case 3:
          c = new JTree(); break;
     add(c);
public int print(Graphics g, PageFormat pf, int pi)
               throws PrinterException {
     if (pi>0) return Printable.NO_SUCH_PAGE;
     Graphics2D g2 = (Graphics2D)g;
     g2.translate(pf.getImageableX(), pf.getImageableY());
     currentManager.setDoubleBufferingEnabled(false);
     paint(g2);
     currentManager.setDoubleBufferingEnabled(true);
     return Printable.PAGE_EXISTS;