Want to draw some rectangles inside a swing panel object

Question

HI,
I want to draw some rectangles inside one JPanel object in swing. The JPanel object should also hold some buttons, labels, etc.. I can add simple buttons, label etc. easily to the panel object but how do I add graphics (like lines, rectangles) to it ??
an immediate response would be highly appreciated!!

Answer 1

I am not sure why you are talking about the rectangle.
To repeat I fill in a bit of code (subject to compiler errors since I Do not have a machine where I can compile or test on at the moment):
  private class ColourCube extends JPanel 
     // The size of each rectangle with colour
     private static final int ROWS = 10;
     private static final int COLS = 10;
     // To store current selection
     private int selectedIndex[] = null;
     public ColourCube()
         addMouseListener( new MouseAdapter() {
            public void mouseReleased(MouseEvent me)
               // Find the rectangle index by dividing
               // x and y positions then set selectedIndex
               // unless it is the same positions as previous
               // then set it to be null
               fireActionEvent();
     // needed listener methods for firing events
     public void addActionListener( ActionListener al)
        // add to list
     // remove etc....
     protected void fireActionEvent()
        // Construct action event
        // call actionPerformed( ae ) on all listeners
     public void paintComponent(Graphics g)
         // Depending on size and height of this component
         // calculate out colWidth and rowHeight
         // Loop and paint the rectangles in their different colours
         for(int i = 0; i < ROWS; i++)
            for(int j = 0; j < COLS; j++)
               // set the colour to the graphics object here from the list of colours available
               g.setColor( ... );
               // Added a little bit extra to have some space between
               // each rectangle
               g.fillRect( i * rowHeight + 1, j * colWidth + 1, colWidth - 2, rowHeight - 2 );
         if( selectedIndex != null )
            // We have a selection, lets paint the selection
            g.setColor( Color.white ); // Selection colour
            // The index contains the row in index 0 and the col in index 1
            g.drawRect( selectedIndex[0] * rowHeight, selectedIndex[1] * colWidth, colWidth, rowHeight );
  }Lacking from the above component is lacking stuff like preferedSize.
Now, all you do is instantiate the ColourChooser, add it to your applet iether by drag and drop if you have an WYSIWYG editor, or by hand if you are so inclined.
Voila! A composite component appears, doing the stuff it needs to be doing.
Regards,
Peter Norell