Using a JPanel as cell editor in JTable

Question

I have a composite component (JPanel that contains a JTextField and a
JButton) that I would like to use as the a cell editor in a JTable.The JButton instantiates a UI editor component that I have designed. Example would be date editor for dates, tet editor for strings etc. This editor allows the user to select a date to populate the JTextField (the date may also be manually entered).
I have no problem with the rendering of the component within the table.However, I would like for the JTextField embedded within the JPanel to receive focus and a visible caret, when using the tab key to navigate to the cell. After reading through some of the posts here , I was able to transfer the focus. But I dont see a visible caret. I am unable to edit. I have to click on the text box and then start typing. Its a great pain in the ass.
I have a custom designed table and custom designed editor. Code is attached...
<pre>
protected boolean processKeyBinding(KeyStroke ks, KeyEvent e,int condition, boolean pressed) {
final int selRow = getSelectedRow();
final int rowCount = getRowCount();
final int selCol = getSelectedColumn();
final EventObject obj = (EventObject) e;
if (selRow == -1) {
SwingUtilities.invokeLater(new Runnable() {
public void run() {           
changeSelection(0, 1, false, false);
editCellAt(0, 1, obj);
boolean isSelected = false;
if ((ks == KeyStroke.getKeyStroke(KeyEvent.VK_TAB,0)) ||
(ks == KeyStroke.getKeyStroke(KeyEvent.VK_ENTER,0))) {     
if (selCol == 1) {
isSelected= getCellEditor(selRow,selCol).stopCellEditing();
targetRow = (selRow + 1) % rowCount;
SwingUtilities.invokeLater(new Runnable() {
public void run() {           
if (editCellAt(targetRow, 1, obj)) {
changeSelection(targetRow, 1, false, false);
getComponentAt(targetRow, 1).requestFocus();
} else {
getCellEditor(selRow, selCol).shouldSelectCell(obj);
return super.processKeyBinding(ks,e,condition,pressed);
</pre>
Relevant code of my custom editor is below....
public Component getTableCellEditorComponent(JTable table,
Object value, boolean isSelected, int row, int column) {
lastEditedRow = row;
lastEditedCol = column;
lastEditedTable = table;
lastEditedValue = value;
val = value;
((JTextField)editorComponent).
setText(val == null ? "" : val.toString());
setClickCountToStart(1);
if (value instanceof CycCollectionChooserModel) {
String collection = ((CycCollectionChooserModel)value).
getCollection().cyclify();
button.setVisible(EditorForCollectionMap.hasUIEditor(collection));
button.setMargin (new Insets (1,1,1,1));
button.setIconTextGap(0);
buttonListener.model = (CycCollectionChooserModel)value;
buttonListener.rowIndex = row;
buttonListener.localTable = table;
return panel;
public boolean isCellEditable(EventObject evt) {
if (evt instanceof MouseEvent) {
int clickCount;
clickCount = 1;
return ((MouseEvent)evt).getClickCount() >= clickCount;
return super.isCellEditable(evt);
public boolean stopCellEditing() {   
if (super.stopCellEditing()) {
final int targetRow = (lastEditedRow+1)%lastEditedTable.getRowCount();
SwingUtilities.invokeLater(new Runnable() {
public void run() {           
lastEditedTable.changeSelection(targetRow, 1, false, false);
lastEditedTable.getComponentAt(targetRow, 1).requestFocus();
return true;
return false;
Does any one know why I am not able to see the caret? Any insights you have will be most welcome.
Thanks in advance,
Praveen.

Answer 1

Almost solved the problem. Navigation through Tab key, up/ down arrow, Enter key works for text boxes. Navigation through Tab Key, Up/down arrow works for combo boxes. But for "Enter" key it doesnt. Changes in code ....
(I have added a key listener to my editor class)
<pre>
protected boolean processKeyBinding(KeyStroke ks, KeyEvent e,int condition, boolean pressed) {
final int selRow = getSelectedRow();
final int rowCount = getRowCount();
final int selCol = getSelectedColumn();
final EventObject obj = (EventObject) e;
if (selRow == -1) {
SwingUtilities.invokeLater(new Runnable() {
public void run() {           
changeSelection(0, 1, false, false);
editCellAt(0, 1, obj);
boolean isSelected = false;
if ((ks == KeyStroke.getKeyStroke(KeyEvent.VK_TAB,0)) ||
(ks == KeyStroke.getKeyStroke(KeyEvent.VK_ENTER,0)) ||
(ks == KeyStroke.getKeyStroke(KeyEvent.VK_DOWN,0))) {     
if (selCol == 1) {
final int targetRow = (selRow + 1) % rowCount;
getCellEditor(selRow,selCol).stopCellEditing();
SwingUtilities.invokeLater(new Runnable() {
public void run() {
editCellAt(targetRow, 1, obj);
changeSelection(targetRow, 1, false, false);
getComponentAt(targetRow, 1).requestFocus();
if ((ks == KeyStroke.getKeyStroke(KeyEvent.VK_UP,0))||
(ks == KeyStroke.getKeyStroke(KeyEvent.VK_TAB,1))) {
if (selCol == 1) {
final int targetRow = (selRow - 1) % rowCount;
getCellEditor(selRow,selCol).stopCellEditing();
SwingUtilities.invokeLater(new Runnable() {
public void run() {
editCellAt(targetRow, 1, obj);
changeSelection(targetRow, 1, false, false);
getComponentAt(targetRow, 1).requestFocus();
return super.processKeyBinding(ks,e,condition,pressed);
public class FactEditorComboBoxTableEditor extends DefaultCellEditor implements KeyListener{
//// Constructors
/** Creates a new instance of FactEditorComboBoxTableEditor. */
public FactEditorComboBoxTableEditor(JComboBox comboBox) {
super(comboBox);
JTextField TF =(JTextField)((ComboBoxEditor)comboBox.getEditor()).
getEditorComponent();
TF.addKeyListener(this);
public class FactEditorComboBoxTableEditor extends DefaultCellEditor implements KeyListener{
//// Constructors
/** Creates a new instance of FactEditorComboBoxTableEditor. */
public FactEditorComboBoxTableEditor(JComboBox comboBox) {
super(comboBox);
JTextField TF =(JTextField)((ComboBoxEditor)comboBox.getEditor()).
getEditorComponent();
TF.addKeyListener(this);
</pre>
P.S : viravan, help me solve this problem and you will get the rest of the dukes LOL