Problems displaying deserialized components

Question

I'm trying to save the state of some objects which extend JComponent and JLayeredPane, and they don't all redisplay on deserializing, although they seem to be in the containment tree.
Basically, I have a class GamePanel which extends JLayeredPane. Also classes Square and Region both of which extend JComponent and use 2D graphics for painting themselves. It seems to serialize OK (but how does one tell?). But when I deserialize, only the lower level of the GamePanel is painted. However, the higher level is populated.
Does anyone have any idea why they're not displaying? The code is below (TestKiller and its menus are generated by NetBeans - hence the slightly odd code). There are 5 menu items (I've simplified a lot from the original so it's a bit clunky): Add Region (you can only do this once in this version), Save As which serializes to a file, Restore which deserializes from a file, Exit which is obvious and Print which outputs the containment hierarchy of GamePanel to standard output.
If you want to try it out, fire up the program, do a File|Add to add a Region (see the dotted lines) and File|Print to see that there's a Square at level 2 and a Region at level 3. Then File|Save as... to save it. Quit the program.
Fire it up again and do a File|Restore and a File|Print. You'll see from the output that the Square and Region are there with identical parameters to the output before, but the Region hasn't displayed its outline.
The output's below, with java-like comments added to show what I've done:
D:>java -jar test*
Painting gridlayer
// File|Add Region
New region 1
Selecting square
Checking region 1
Painting gridlayer
Painting region 1
//File|Print
Printing Gamepanel components
com.ptoye.TestSBug1.Region[Region-1,4,4,60x60,alignmentX=0.0,alignmentY=0.0,border=,flags=0,maximumSize=,minim
umSize=,preferredSize=]
Bounds java.awt.Rectangle[x=4,y=4,width=60,height=60]
Layer 3
com.ptoye.TestSBug1.Square[Square-0:0,4,4,60x60,alignmentX=0.0,alignmentY=0.0,border=,flags=16777224,maximumSi
ze=,minimumSize=,preferredSize=]
Bounds java.awt.Rectangle[x=4,y=4,width=60,height=60]
Layer 2
\\File|Save
Saving game to bug1.ksd
D:>java -jar test*
Painting gridlayer
\\File|Restore
Restoring game bug1.ksd
Restored
\\File|Print - same as above but only Square is displayed
Printing Gamepanel components
com.ptoye.TestSBug1.Region[Region-1,4,4,60x60,alignmentX=0.0,alignmentY=0.0,border=,flags=0,maximumSize=,minim
umSize=,preferredSize=]
Bounds java.awt.Rectangle[x=4,y=4,width=60,height=60]
Layer 3
com.ptoye.TestSBug1.Square[Square-0:0,4,4,60x60,alignmentX=0.0,alignmentY=0.0,border=,flags=16777224,maximumSi
ze=,minimumSize=,preferredSize=]
Bounds java.awt.Rectangle[x=4,y=4,width=60,height=60]
Layer 2
D:>
Please someone tell me what I'm doing wrong. As a serialization newbie it's probably something simple, but no amount of validate() and pack() makes any difference.
The code's below - a bit long I'm afraid but it's difficult to cut it down much more and display the problem. The main class (TestKiller) was generated by NetBeans.
* TestKiller.java
* Created on 01 August 2006, 22:13
package com.ptoye.TestSBug1;
import java.io.File;
import java.io.FileFilter;
import java.io.FileInputStream;
import java.io.FileNotFoundException;
import java.io.FileOutputStream;
import java.io.IOException;
import java.io.ObjectInputStream;
import java.io.ObjectOutputStream;
import javax.swing.JFileChooser;
import javax.swing.JOptionPane;
* @author  PToye
public class TestKiller extends javax.swing.JFrame {
  private GamePanel p;
  final String fileExtension="ksd";
   * Creates new form TestKiller
  public TestKiller() {
    initComponents();
    p=new GamePanel();
    setContentPane(p);
    p.setOpaque(true);
    setSize(p.getPreferredSize());
    pack();
  public static void showMessage(String s) {
    JOptionPane.showMessageDialog(null,s,"Error",JOptionPane.ERROR_MESSAGE);
  /** This method is called from within the constructor to
   * initialize the form.
   * WARNING: Do NOT modify this code. The content of this method is
   * always regenerated by the Form Editor.
  private void initComponents() {                         
    jMenuBar1 = new javax.swing.JMenuBar();
    jmFile = new javax.swing.JMenu();
    jmiAddRegion = new javax.swing.JMenuItem();
    jSeparator2 = new javax.swing.JSeparator();
    jmiSaveAs = new javax.swing.JMenuItem();
    jmiRestore = new javax.swing.JMenuItem();
    jmiExit = new javax.swing.JMenuItem();
    jSeparator1 = new javax.swing.JSeparator();
    jmiPrint = new javax.swing.JMenuItem();
    FormListener formListener = new FormListener();
    setDefaultCloseOperation(javax.swing.WindowConstants.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
    setTitle("Restore bug");
    jmFile.setText("File");
    jmiAddRegion.setText("Add region");
    jmiAddRegion.addActionListener(formListener);
    jmFile.add(jmiAddRegion);
    jmFile.add(jSeparator2);
    jmiSaveAs.setMnemonic('s');
    jmiSaveAs.setText("Save as...");
    jmiSaveAs.addActionListener(formListener);
    jmFile.add(jmiSaveAs);
    jmiRestore.setMnemonic('r');
    jmiRestore.setText("Restore");
    jmiRestore.addActionListener(formListener);
    jmFile.add(jmiRestore);
    jmiExit.setMnemonic('x');
    jmiExit.setText("Exit");
    jmiExit.addActionListener(formListener);
    jmFile.add(jmiExit);
    jmFile.add(jSeparator1);
    jmiPrint.setText("Print");
    jmiPrint.addActionListener(formListener);
    jmFile.add(jmiPrint);
    jMenuBar1.add(jmFile);
    setJMenuBar(jMenuBar1);
    pack();
  // Code for dispatching events from components to event handlers.
  private class FormListener implements java.awt.event.ActionListener {
    public void actionPerformed(java.awt.event.ActionEvent evt) {
      if (evt.getSource() == jmiSaveAs) {
        TestKiller.this.jmiSaveAsActionPerformed(evt);
      else if (evt.getSource() == jmiRestore) {
        TestKiller.this.jmiRestoreActionPerformed(evt);
      else if (evt.getSource() == jmiExit) {
        TestKiller.this.jmiExitActionPerformed(evt);
      else if (evt.getSource() == jmiPrint) {
        TestKiller.this.jmiPrintActionPerformed(evt);
      else if (evt.getSource() == jmiAddRegion) {
        TestKiller.this.jmiAddRegionActionPerformed(evt);
  private void jmiAddRegionActionPerformed(java.awt.event.ActionEvent evt) {                                            
    p.dummyAdd();
    jmiAddRegion.setEnabled(false);
  private void jmiPrintActionPerformed(java.awt.event.ActionEvent evt) {                                        
    p.print();
  private void jmiSaveAsActionPerformed(java.awt.event.ActionEvent evt) {                                         
    File f;
    ObjectOutputStream oos=null;
    JFileChooser jfc=new JFileChooser();
    jfc.setFileSelectionMode(JFileChooser.FILES_ONLY);
    jfc.setMultiSelectionEnabled(false);
    jfc.addChoosableFileFilter(jfc.getAcceptAllFileFilter());
    jfc.addChoosableFileFilter(new KDSFileFilter());
    jfc.showSaveDialog(this);
    f=jfc.getSelectedFile();
    if (f==null) {
      showMessage("Null file found");
    int i=f.getName().lastIndexOf(".");
    if (i==-1) {
      f=new File(f.getAbsolutePath()+"."+fileExtension);
    try {
      oos=new ObjectOutputStream(new FileOutputStream(f));
    } catch (FileNotFoundException ex) {
      showMessage("Cannot find file "+f.getName());
      return;
    } catch (IOException ex) {
      showMessage("Cannot open file "+f.getName());
      return;
    if (oos!=null) {
      System.out.println("Saving game to "+f.getName());
      try {
        oos.writeObject(p);
      } catch (IOException ex) {
        showMessage("Cannot write game to "+f.getName()+"\n"+ex.getMessage());
      } finally {
        try {
          oos.close();
        } catch (IOException ex) {
  private void jmiExitActionPerformed(java.awt.event.ActionEvent evt) {                                       
    System.exit(0);
  private void jmiRestoreActionPerformed(java.awt.event.ActionEvent evt) {                                          
    File f;
    ObjectInputStream ois=null;
    JFileChooser jfc=new JFileChooser();
    jfc.setFileSelectionMode(JFileChooser.FILES_ONLY);
    jfc.setMultiSelectionEnabled(false);
    jfc.addChoosableFileFilter(jfc.getAcceptAllFileFilter());
    jfc.addChoosableFileFilter( new KDSFileFilter());
    jfc.showOpenDialog(this);
    f=jfc.getSelectedFile();
    if (f!=null) {
      try {
        ois=new ObjectInputStream(new FileInputStream(f));
      } catch (FileNotFoundException ex) {
        showMessage("Cannot find file "+f.getName());
        return;
      } catch (IOException ex) {
        showMessage("Cannot open file "+f.getName());
        return;
      if (ois!=null) {
        System.out.println("Restoring game "+f.getName());
        try {
          p=(GamePanel) ois.readObject();
        } catch (IOException ex) {
          showMessage("Cannot read game from file "+f.getName());
        } catch (ClassNotFoundException ex) {
          showMessage("Cannot restore game - wrong object type");
        try {
          ois.close();
        } catch (IOException ex) {
        pack();
        p.validate();
        p.repaint();
        System.out.println("Restored");
  private class KDSFileFilter extends javax.swing.filechooser.FileFilter {
    public boolean accept(File f) {
      if (f.isDirectory()) {
        return true;
      String ext = null;
      String s = f.getName();
      int i = s.lastIndexOf('.');
      if (i > 0 &&  i < s.length() - 1) {
        ext = s.substring(i+1).toLowerCase();
      return (ext==null || ext.equalsIgnoreCase(fileExtension));
    public String getDescription() {
      return "Killer Su Doku games";
   * @param args the command line arguments
  public static void main(String args[]) {
    java.awt.EventQueue.invokeLater(new Runnable() {
      public void run() {
        new TestKiller().setVisible(true);
  // Variables declaration - do not modify                    
  private javax.swing.JMenuBar jMenuBar1;
  private javax.swing.JSeparator jSeparator1;
  private javax.swing.JSeparator jSeparator2;
  private javax.swing.JMenu jmFile;
  private javax.swing.JMenuItem jmiAddRegion;
  private javax.swing.JMenuItem jmiExit;
  private javax.swing.JMenuItem jmiPrint;
  private javax.swing.JMenuItem jmiRestore;
  private javax.swing.JMenuItem jmiSaveAs;
  // End of variables declaration                  
* GamePanel.java
* Created on 10 January 2007, 18:45
* To change this template, choose Tools | Template Manager
* and open the template in the editor.
package com.ptoye.TestSBug1;
import java.awt.Color;
import java.awt.Component;
import java.awt.Container;
import java.awt.Dimension;
import java.awt.Graphics;
import java.awt.Graphics2D;
import java.io.Serializable;
import java.util.HashSet;
import java.util.Set;
import javax.swing.JLayeredPane;
* @author PToye
public class GamePanel extends JLayeredPane implements Serializable {
  private static final int GRID_LEVEL=2;
  private static final int REGIONS_LEVEL=3;
  private static final int THICK_WIDTH=4;
  private static final int THIN_WIDTH=1;
  static final int SQUARE_SIZE=60;
  private static final int SQUARES=1;  // test size
  static final int BIGSQUARES=SQUARES*SQUARES;
  static final int TotalSize=(SQUARES+1)*THICK_WIDTH+SQUARES*(SQUARES-1)*THIN_WIDTH+
      BIGSQUARES*SQUARE_SIZE;
  public final Color NORMAL_BACK_COLOUR=Color.WHITE;
  public final Color SELECTED_BACK_COLOUR=Color.PINK;
  int coordArray;  // used to be an array of start coords of each square
  private Region newRegion;
  private int regionId=1;
  private Square squareArray; // used to be an array
  private Region regions; // used to be a set
  /** Creates a new instance of GamePanel */
  public GamePanel() {
    super();
    regions=null;
    makeGridLayer();  //adds the white square
    setPreferredSize(new Dimension(TotalSize,TotalSize));
    setVisible(true);
    newRegion=null;
    setFocusable(true);
  public void dummyAdd() {
    setupRegion(squareArray);
    if (newRegion.checkNewRegion(1)) {
      addRegion(newRegion);
  public void addRegion(Region r) {
    if (regions==null) {
      regions=r;
      add(r,new Integer(REGIONS_LEVEL));
      r.repaint();
  void print() {
    Component[] cList=getComponents();
    System.out.println("Printing Gamepanel components");
    for (int i = 0; i < cList.length; i++) {
      Component c=cList;
System.out.println(c.toString());
System.out.println(" Bounds "+c.getBounds());
System.out.println(" Layer "+getLayer(c));
if (c instanceof Container) {
printContainer((Container)c," ");
void printContainer(Container c, String preString) {
Component[] cList1=c.getComponents();
for (int i = 0; i < cList1.length; i++) {
Component comp=cList1[i];
System.out.println(preString+comp.toString());
System.out.println(preString+" Bounds "+comp.getBounds());
if (comp instanceof Container) {
printContainer((Container)comp,preString+" ");
private void setupRegion(Square s) {
if (newRegion==null) {
newRegion=new Region(regionId++,this);
Region r=s.getRegion();
if (r==null) {
newRegion.addSquare(s);
selectSquare(s);
s.setRegion(newRegion);
} else {
System.exit(1); // should not happen
private void makeGridLayer() {
int currentXCoord;
int currentYCoord;
int arrayIndex=0;
Square sq;
currentXCoord=THICK_WIDTH;
currentYCoord=THICK_WIDTH;
coordArray=currentYCoord;
sq=new Square(0,0, NORMAL_BACK_COLOUR,this);
add(sq,new Integer(GRID_LEVEL));
squareArray=sq;
public void paintComponent(Graphics g) {
super.paintComponent(g);
Graphics2D g2=(Graphics2D) g;
System.out.println("Painting gridlayer");
g2.setBackground(Color.BLACK);
g2.setColor(Color.BLACK);
g2.fillRect(0,0,TotalSize,TotalSize);
void selectSquare(Square s) {
System.out.println("Selecting square");
s.setBackColour(SELECTED_BACK_COLOUR);
* Square.java
* Created on 28 December 2006, 15:53
* To change this template, choose Tools | Template Manager
* and open the template in the editor.
package com.ptoye.TestSBug1;
import java.awt.Color;
import java.awt.Dimension;
import java.awt.Graphics;
import java.awt.Graphics2D;
import java.io.Serializable;
import javax.swing.JComponent;
* @author PToye
class Square extends JComponent implements Serializable {
* X index in grid
private int xIndex;
* Y index in grid
private int yIndex;
* The square's parent grid
private GamePanel parent;
* Region it belongs to (or null if none)
private Region region;
* The background colour
private Color backColour;
private boolean marked;
// public Square() {
// System.out.println("New Square - null constructor");
// addMouseListener(parent);
* Create a new square
public Square(int x, int y, Color bcol, GamePanel parent) {
this.parent=parent;
xIndex=x;
yIndex=y;
backColour=bcol;
region=null;
setName("Square-"+x+":"+y);
setBounds(parent.coordArray,parent.coordArray,
GamePanel.SQUARE_SIZE,GamePanel.SQUARE_SIZE);
setOpaque(true);
setVisible(true);
public void paintComponent(Graphics g) {
super.paintComponent(g);
Graphics2D g2=(Graphics2D) g;
// System.out.println("Painting square "+xIndex+","+yIndex+":"+getBounds());
g2.setColor(backColour);
g2.fillRect(0,0,GamePanel.SQUARE_SIZE,GamePanel.SQUARE_SIZE);
g2.setColor(Color.BLACK);
public Dimension getPreferredSize() {
return new Dimension(GamePanel.SQUARE_SIZE,GamePanel.SQUARE_SIZE);
public void setBackColour(Color backColour) {
this.backColour = backColour;
repaint(0,0,GamePanel.SQUARE_SIZE,GamePanel.SQUARE_SIZE);
public Region getRegion() {
return region;
public void setRegion(Region region) {
this.region = region;
* Region.java
* Created on 28 December 2006, 15:59
* To change this template, choose Tools | Template Manager
* and open the template in the editor.
package com.ptoye.TestSBug1;
import java.awt.BasicStroke;
import java.awt.Color;
import java.awt.Font;
import java.awt.FontMetrics;
import java.awt.Graphics;
import java.awt.Graphics2D;
import java.awt.geom.GeneralPath;
import java.io.Serializable;
import java.util.HashSet;
import java.util.Iterator;
import java.util.Set;
import javax.swing.JComponent;
* @author PToye
* Class representing a region whose total sum is known
public class Region extends JComponent implements Serializable {
private static final float BORDER_WIDTH=1f;
private static final float DASH_LENGTH=4f;
private static final float[] dashes={DASH_LENGTH,DASH_LENGTH};
private static final BasicStroke borderStroke=
new BasicStroke(BORDER_WIDTH,BasicStroke.CAP_BUTT,BasicStroke.JOIN_MITER,
1f,dashes,0);
private static final int borderInset=3;
private GamePanel parent;
* The sum as given
private int total;
private String totalString;
private int id;
* The squares constituting the region
private Square contents; // the square in the region
private Square leadSquare; // top left-hand square
private int leadXCoord,leadYCoord; // X, Y coords of lead square wrt border
private GeneralPath border=null;
public Region(int id, GamePanel parent) {
super();
this.id=id;
this.parent=parent;
setName("Region-"+id);
contents=null;
border=new GeneralPath();
System.out.println("New region "+id);
public void addSquare(Square s) {
if (contents!=null) {
contents=s;
public boolean checkNewRegion(int tot) {
System.out.println("Checking region "+id);
border.moveTo(borderInset,borderInset);
border.lineTo(GamePanel.SQUARE_SIZE-borderInset,borderInset);
border.lineTo(GamePanel.SQUARE_SIZE-borderInset,GamePanel.SQUARE_SIZE-borderInset);
border.lineTo(borderInset,GamePanel.SQUARE_SIZE-borderInset);
border.lineTo(borderInset,borderInset);
setBounds(parent.coordArray,parent.coordArray,GamePanel.SQUARE_SIZE,GamePanel.SQUARE_SIZE);
repaint();
return true;
public void paintComponent(Graphics g) {
int newX, newY;
System.out.println("Painting region "+id);
super.paintComponent(g);
Graphics2D g2=(Graphics2D) g;
g2.setColor(Color.BLACK);
g2.setStroke(borderStroke);
g2.draw(border);

Answer 1

OK, I asked the FTE team and got this reply: "Lucida Grande is CTS's fallback font for Thai.  This font on OS 10.7 and 10.6 are not supporting Thai anymore.  The version on 10.5 was supporting it." This means that it's our bug that we keep using Lucida Grande as fallback font even Apple dropped support Thai script with that font after 10.6. Unfortunately this bug was deferred from current development release (11.2) because of time constraint. If this support is critical for your business, can you open a bug in our public bugbase and ask as many vote as possible? In this way I may be able to convince internal team to fix this bug in next release.
Thank you for your feedback!
Hitomi