Setting Up a GUI - FlowLayout - Using Two JPanels

Question

Hello:
I am getting confused with setting up a GUI with two JPanels one that would be on top and the other middlePanel having a FlowLayout.
I set up two JPanels but obviously have something wrong because my northPanel has "disappeared" when I added a middlePanel. My componets are all over the place and again my northPanel is no longer showing.
Idea of what I'm doing.
1) Enter total number of diners
2)Confirm that diners # is correct.
3)Enter name of Diner
4)Take order - Entree (Pull-Down)
5)Two sides (CheckBox)
6)Display Completed Order of diners.
P.S. I hope my question is not too stupid I am new and has justed started Java Programming. I have tried to look through the Documentation but am getting confused with GUI relating to FlowLayout, GridLayout. etc. I'm just not sure which one I should use to set up my GUI in an organized manner. Am I on the right track or is my code completely screwed. Thanks.
** My Code **
import java.awt.*;
import java.awt.event.*;
import javax.swing.*;
public class Menu extends JFrame {
private JTextField partyNumField, dinerName;
private JComboBox orderComboBox;
private int partyNum;
private JButton getParty, continueOrder;
private JLabel party, companyLogo, dinerLabel, entreeOrder;
private String dinnerEntree[] = {"Filet Mignon", "Chicken Cheese Steak", "Tacos", "Ribs"};
private JCheckBox mashed, cole, baked, french;
public Menu() {
super("O'Brien Caterer - Where we make good Eats!");
Container container = getContentPane();
JPanel northPanel = new JPanel();
northPanel.setLayout(new FlowLayout(FlowLayout.CENTER, 80, 5));
companyLogo = new JLabel("Welcome to O'Brien's Caterer's");
northPanel.add(companyLogo);
party = new JLabel("Enter the Total Number in Party Please");
partyNumField = new JTextField(5);
northPanel.add(party);
northPanel.add(partyNumField);
getParty = new JButton("GO - Continue with Order");
getParty.addActionListener(
new ActionListener(){
public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent actionEvent)
partyNum = Integer.parseInt(partyNumField.getText());
String ans=JOptionPane.showInputDialog(null, "Total Number is party is: "
+ partyNum + " is this correct?\n\n" + "Enter 1 to continue\n"
+ "Enter 2 to cancel\n");
if (ans.equals("1")) {
System.out.println(ans+"=continue"); // handle continue
} else { // assume to be 2 for cancel
System.out.println(ans+"=cancel"); // handle cancel
); // end Listener
northPanel.add(getParty);
JPanel middlePanel = new JPanel();
middlePanel.setLayout(new FlowLayout(FlowLayout.CENTER));
dinerLabel = new JLabel("Please enter Diner's name");
dinerName = new JTextField(30);
continueOrder = new JButton("continue");
middlePanel.add(dinerLabel);
middlePanel.add(continueOrder);
middlePanel.add(dinerName);
entreeOrder = new JLabel("Please choose an entree");
orderComboBox = new JComboBox(dinnerEntree);
orderComboBox.setMaximumRowCount(4);
//orderComboBox.addItemListener(
// new ItemListener(){
// public void itemsStateChanged(ItemEvent event)
// if (event.getStateChange() == ItemEvent.SELECTED)
// add entree order to Person
// continue ** enable the two sides order
mashed = new JCheckBox("Mashed Potatoes");
middlePanel.add(mashed);
cole = new JCheckBox("Cole Slaw");
middlePanel.add(cole);
baked = new JCheckBox("Baked Beans");
middlePanel.add(baked);
french = new JCheckBox("FrenchFries");
middlePanel.add(french);
// CheckBoxHandler handler = new CheckBoxHandler();
// mashed.addItemListener(handler);
// cole.addItemListener(handler);
// baked.addItemListener(handler);
// french.addItemListener(handler);
middlePanel.add(entreeOrder);
middlePanel.add(orderComboBox);
container.add(northPanel);
container.add(middlePanel);
middlePanel.setEnabled(true);
setSize(500, 500);
show();
// private class to handle event of choosing Check BOx Item
// private class CheckBoxHandler implements ItemListener{
// private int count = 0;
// public void itemStateChanged(ItemEvent event){
// if (event.getsource() == mashed)
// if (event.getStateChange() == ItemEvent.SELECTED)
// count++;
// add mashed choice to person's order
// if (event.getsource() == cole)
// if (event.getStateChange() == ItemEvent.SELECTED)
// count++;
//add cole slaw to person's order
// if (event.getsource() == baked)
// if (event.getStateChange() == ItemEvent.SELECTED)
// count++;
//add baked beans to person's order
// if (event.getsource() == french)
// if (event.getStateChange() == ItemEvent.SELECTED)
// count++;
//add french to person's order
public static void main(String args[])
Menu application = new Menu();
application.addWindowListener(
new WindowAdapter(){
public void windowClosing(WindowEvent windowEvent)
System.exit(0);
}

Answer 1

This looks better, i myself don't like the flow layout
import java.awt.*;
import java.awt.event.*;
import javax.swing.*;
public class Menu1 extends JFrame
     private JTextField partyNumField, dinerName;
     private JComboBox orderComboBox;
     private int partyNum;
     private JButton getParty, continueOrder;
     private JLabel party, companyLogo, dinerLabel, entreeOrder;
     private String dinnerEntree[] = {"Filet Mignon", "Chicken Cheese Steak", "Tacos", "Ribs"};
     private JCheckBox mashed, cole, baked, french;
public Menu1()
     super("O'Brien Caterer - Where we make good Eats!");
     addWindowListener(new WindowAdapter()
         public void windowClosing(WindowEvent ev)
               dispose();
               System.exit(0);
     Container container = getContentPane();
     JPanel northPanel = new JPanel();
     northPanel.setLayout(new FlowLayout(FlowLayout.CENTER, 120,15));
     companyLogo   = new JLabel("Welcome to O'Brien's Caterer's");
     northPanel.add(companyLogo);
     party         = new JLabel("Enter the Total Number in Party Please");
     partyNumField = new JTextField(5);
     northPanel.add(party);
     northPanel.add(partyNumField);
     getParty    = new JButton("GO - Continue with Order");
     northPanel.add(getParty);
     northPanel.setPreferredSize(new Dimension(700,150));
     getParty.addActionListener(new ActionListener()
          public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent actionEvent)
               partyNum = Integer.parseInt(partyNumField.getText());
               String ans=JOptionPane.showInputDialog(null, "Total Number is party is: "
               + partyNum + " is this correct?\n\n" + "Enter 1 to continue\n"
               + "Enter 2 to cancel\n");
               if (ans.equals("1"))
                    System.out.println(ans+"=continue"); // handle continue
               else { // assume to be 2 for cancel
               System.out.println(ans+"=cancel"); // handle cancel
     }}); // end Listener
     JPanel middlePanel = new JPanel();
     middlePanel.setLayout(new FlowLayout(FlowLayout.CENTER));
     dinerLabel         = new JLabel("Please enter Diner's name");
     dinerName          = new JTextField(30);
     continueOrder      = new JButton("continue");
     middlePanel.add(dinerLabel);
     middlePanel.add(dinerName);
     middlePanel.add(continueOrder);
     entreeOrder   = new JLabel("Please choose an entree");
     orderComboBox = new JComboBox(dinnerEntree);
     orderComboBox.setMaximumRowCount(4);
//orderComboBox.addItemListener(
// new ItemListener(){
// public void itemsStateChanged(ItemEvent event)
// if (event.getStateChange() == ItemEvent.SELECTED)
// add entree order to Person
// continue ** enable the two sides order
     mashed = new JCheckBox("Mashed Potatoes");
     middlePanel.add(mashed);
     cole   = new JCheckBox("Cole Slaw");
     middlePanel.add(cole);
     baked  = new JCheckBox("Baked Beans");
     middlePanel.add(baked);
     french = new JCheckBox("FrenchFries");
     middlePanel.add(french);
// CheckBoxHandler handler = new CheckBoxHandler();
// mashed.addItemListener(handler);
// cole.addItemListener(handler);
// baked.addItemListener(handler);
// french.addItemListener(handler);
     middlePanel.add(entreeOrder);
     middlePanel.add(orderComboBox);
//container.add(northPanel);
//container.add(middlePanel);
     container.add(northPanel, java.awt.BorderLayout.NORTH);
     container.add(middlePanel, java.awt.BorderLayout.CENTER);
     middlePanel.setEnabled(true);
     setSize(600, 500);
     show();
// private class to handle event of choosing Check BOx Item
// private class CheckBoxHandler implements ItemListener{
// private int count = 0;
// public void itemStateChanged(ItemEvent event){
// if (event.getsource() == mashed)
// if (event.getStateChange() == ItemEvent.SELECTED)
// count++;
// add mashed choice to person's order
// if (event.getsource() == cole)
// if (event.getStateChange() == ItemEvent.SELECTED)
// count++;
//add cole slaw to person's order
// if (event.getsource() == baked)
// if (event.getStateChange() == ItemEvent.SELECTED)
// count++;
//add baked beans to person's order
// if (event.getsource() == french)
// if (event.getStateChange() == ItemEvent.SELECTED)
// count++;
//add french to person's order
public static void main(String args[])
     new Menu1();
no edit
import java.awt.*;
import java.awt.event.*;
import javax.swing.*;
public class Menu1 extends JFrame
     private JTextField partyNumField, dinerName;
     private JComboBox orderComboBox;
     private int partyNum;
     private JButton getParty, continueOrder;
     private JLabel party, companyLogo, dinerLabel, entreeOrder;
     private String dinnerEntree[] = {"Filet Mignon", "Chicken Cheese Steak", "Tacos", "Ribs"};
     private JCheckBox mashed, cole, baked, french;
public Menu1()
     super("O'Brien Caterer - Where we make good Eats!");
     addWindowListener(new WindowAdapter()
     public void windowClosing(WindowEvent ev)
               dispose();
               System.exit(0);
     Container container = getContentPane();
     JPanel northPanel = new JPanel();
     northPanel.setLayout(new FlowLayout(FlowLayout.CENTER, 120,15));
     companyLogo = new JLabel("Welcome to O'Brien's Caterer's");
     northPanel.add(companyLogo);
     party = new JLabel("Enter the Total Number in Party Please");
     partyNumField = new JTextField(5);
     northPanel.add(party);
     northPanel.add(partyNumField);
     getParty = new JButton("GO - Continue with Order");
     northPanel.add(getParty);
     northPanel.setPreferredSize(new Dimension(700,150));
     getParty.addActionListener(new ActionListener()
          public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent actionEvent)
               partyNum = Integer.parseInt(partyNumField.getText());
               String ans=JOptionPane.showInputDialog(null, "Total Number is party is: "
               + partyNum + " is this correct?\n\n" + "Enter 1 to continue\n"
               + "Enter 2 to cancel\n");
               if (ans.equals("1"))
                    System.out.println(ans+"=continue"); // handle continue
               else { // assume to be 2 for cancel
               System.out.println(ans+"=cancel"); // handle cancel
     }}); // end Listener
     JPanel middlePanel = new JPanel();
     middlePanel.setLayout(new FlowLayout(FlowLayout.CENTER));
     dinerLabel = new JLabel("Please enter Diner's name");
     dinerName = new JTextField(30);
     continueOrder = new JButton("continue");
     middlePanel.add(dinerLabel);
     middlePanel.add(dinerName);
     middlePanel.add(continueOrder);
     entreeOrder = new JLabel("Please choose an entree");
     orderComboBox = new JComboBox(dinnerEntree);
     orderComboBox.setMaximumRowCount(4);
//orderComboBox.addItemListener(
// new ItemListener(){
// public void itemsStateChanged(ItemEvent event)
// if (event.getStateChange() == ItemEvent.SELECTED)
// add entree order to Person
// continue ** enable the two sides order
     mashed = new JCheckBox("Mashed Potatoes");
     middlePanel.add(mashed);
     cole = new JCheckBox("Cole Slaw");
     middlePanel.add(cole);
     baked = new JCheckBox("Baked Beans");
     middlePanel.add(baked);
     french = new JCheckBox("FrenchFries");
     middlePanel.add(french);
// CheckBoxHandler handler = new CheckBoxHandler();
// mashed.addItemListener(handler);
// cole.addItemListener(handler);
// baked.addItemListener(handler);
// french.addItemListener(handler);
     middlePanel.add(entreeOrder);
     middlePanel.add(orderComboBox);
//container.add(northPanel);
//container.add(middlePanel);
     container.add(northPanel, java.awt.BorderLayout.NORTH);
     container.add(middlePanel, java.awt.BorderLayout.CENTER);
     middlePanel.setEnabled(true);
     setSize(600, 500);
     show();
// private class to handle event of choosing Check BOx Item
// private class CheckBoxHandler implements ItemListener{
// private int count = 0;
// public void itemStateChanged(ItemEvent event){
// if (event.getsource() == mashed)
// if (event.getStateChange() == ItemEvent.SELECTED)
// count++;
// add mashed choice to person's order
// if (event.getsource() == cole)
// if (event.getStateChange() == ItemEvent.SELECTED)
// count++;
//add cole slaw to person's order
// if (event.getsource() == baked)
// if (event.getStateChange() == ItemEvent.SELECTED)
// count++;
//add baked beans to person's order
// if (event.getsource() == french)
// if (event.getStateChange() == ItemEvent.SELECTED)
// count++;
//add french to person's order
public static void main(String args[])
     new Menu1();
}