Re -set the container

Question

I want to build a small application and i am not sure how to construct the switch between UI, should I use one frame or multi frames.
If one frame,can I use some class to reconstruct the container if the next panels need to be constructed.
if use multi frame, how to switch them off.
cheers

Answer 1

You could use a CardLayout for this. With this layout you set up all yout panels and then switch between them as necessary:
CardDisplay would be a good way to do this. You can set up a number of Panels and then display them when appropriate. Here's a basic example:
import javax.swing.*;
import java.awt.*;
import java.awt.event.*;
public class CardTest extends JFrame implements ActionListener
     JButton but1, but2;
     JPanel pan1, pan2, deck;
     JLabel lab1, lab2;
     CardLayout cardDisplay;
     public CardTest()
          Container c = getContentPane();
          // set up a new CardLayout
          cardDisplay = new CardLayout();
          deck = new JPanel(cardDisplay);
          // set soem components
          but1 = new JButton("Click me");
          but1.addActionListener(this);
          but2 = new JButton("Click me");
          but2.addActionListener(this);
          lab1 = new JLabel ("This is Panel 1. CLick to See Panel 2");
          lab2 = new JLabel ("This is Panel 2. CLick to See Panel 1");
          // set up some new JPanels
          pan1 = new JPanel(new FlowLayout(FlowLayout.CENTER));
          pan1.setBackground(Color.red);
          pan1.add(lab1);
          pan1.add(but1);
          pan2 = new JPanel (new FlowLayout(FlowLayout.CENTER));
          pan2.setBackground(Color.green);
          pan2.add(lab2);
          pan2.add(but2);
          // add these to the CardLayout
          deck.add(pan1, "ONE");
          deck.add(pan2, "TWO");
          // add the CardLayout to Container
          c.add(deck);
     public static void main (String args [])
          CardTest ct = new CardTest();
          ct.setSize(300,300);
          ct.setVisible(true);
     public void actionPerformed (ActionEvent e)
          // switch displayed Panel on event.
          // Note that there also exist next() and previous() methods to do this
          if(e.getSource() == but1)
               cardDisplay.show(deck, "TWO");
          else
               cardDisplay.show(deck, "ONE");
}