Problem displaying panel into frame

Question

i have a GUI which uses the following frame, the frame
displays two panels,i set fallPanel's width and height to
some values but when i run the program i see just a
small square inside my
frame instead of a my
dimensioned fallPanel, could any java guru help me?
(i post the code for the frame too)
thanx
clo
public class FallFrame extends JFrame
private Container contentPane;
private GridBagLayout layout = new GridBagLayout();
public FallFrame()
FallPanel fallPanel = new FallPanel();
SidePanel sidePanel = new SidePanel();
contentPane = getContentPane();
contentPane.setLayout(layout);
GridBagConstraints constraints = new GridBagConstraints();
constraints.weightx = 0;
constraints.weighty = 0;
add(fallPanel, constraints, 0, 0, 1, 1);
add(sidePanel, constraints, 1, 0, 1, 1);
repaint();
private void add(Component c, GridBagConstraints
constraints,
int x, int y, int w, int h)
constraints.gridx = x;
constraints.gridy = y;
constraints.gridwidth = w;
constraints.gridheight = h;
contentPane.add(c, constraints);

Answer 1

If you're only using 2 panels, ditch the use of GridBagLayout. It's not very easy to use, and can be quite tricky if you don't set the parameters the way it expects them. In particular, weightx, and weighty are important parameters, and not setting them or setting them incorrectly can cause your components to collapse when the frame is resized.
If you just have two panels, use BorderLayout. It's much more simple, and I use it almost all the time. Rarely, is there a need for the complexity of GridBagLayout.
public class FallFrame extends JFrame {
public FallFrame() {
getContentPane().setLayout( new BorderLayout() );
FallPanel fallPanel = new FallPanel();
SidePanel sidePanel = new SidePanel();
getContentPane().add( fallPanel, BorderLayout.WEST );
getContentPane().add( sidePanel, BorderLayout.CENTER );
One note of caution. Adding the component into the CENTER of BorderLayout will cause it to get all the resize. If you want fallPanel, and sidePanel to share that you can add sidePanel to the EAST instead of the CENTER, and resize will redistribute more evenly. If you have any trouble with BorderLayout read the APIs.
charlie