Java - Vertical "FlowLayout" with Horizontal Scrolling

Question

As described in the title, I've been trying to set up sort of a vertical flow layout with horizontal scrolling. The components within the layout will be JLabels. Let me draw a picture:

+-------------------------+   <--- window
|Label1   Label4    Label7|
|Label2   Label5    Label8|   <--- labels
|Label3   Label6    Label9|
|<===============>========|   <--- scrollbar
+-------------------------+

Same window, expanded vertically

+--------------------------+   <--- window
|Label1   Label5    Label9 |
|Label2   Label6    Label10|   <--- labels
|Label3   Label7    Label11|
|Label4   Label8    Label12|
|<===================>=====|   <--- scrollbar
+--------------------------+

So, the labels would fill the available vertical space and then create a new column. Once the available horizontal space is exhausted, a horizontal scrollbar would appear.

A vertical scrollbar should not typically appear; however, it would be nice to have a vertical scrollbar if the vertical height of the window is unusually small.

Any help is greatly appreciated. I'm new to Java, so any additional explanation would be wonderful. Thanks!

Edit:

Based on the responses below, I am now working with: http://tips4java.wordpress.com/2008/11/06/wrap-layout/ and http://code.google.com/p/verticalflowlayout/

I have the WrapLayout extending VerticalFlowLayout as such:

package LogicSim;

import java.awt.*;
import javax.swing.JScrollPane;
import javax.swing.SwingUtilities;

/**
 *  FlowLayout subclass that fully supports wrapping of components.
 */
public class VerticalWrapLayout extends VerticalFlowLayout
{
private Dimension preferredLayoutSize;

/**
* Constructs a new <code>WrapLayout</code> with a left
* alignment and a default 5-unit horizontal and vertical gap.
*/
public VerticalWrapLayout()
{
    super();
}

/**
* Constructs a new <code>FlowLayout</code> with the specified
* alignment and a default 5-unit horizontal and vertical gap.
* The value of the alignment argument must be one of
* <code>WrapLayout</code>, <code>WrapLayout</code>,
* or <code>WrapLayout</code>.
* @param align the alignment value
*/
public VerticalWrapLayout(int align)
{
    super(align);
}

/**
* Creates a new flow layout manager with the indicated alignment
* and the indicated horizontal and vertical gaps.
* <p>
* The value of the alignment argument must be one of
* <code>WrapLayout</code>, <code>WrapLayout</code>,
* or <code>WrapLayout</code>.
* @param align the alignment value
* @param hgap the horizontal gap between components
* @param vgap the vertical gap between components
*/
public VerticalWrapLayout(int align, int hgap, int vgap)
{
    super(align, hgap, vgap);
}

/**
* Returns the preferred dimensions for this layout given the
* <i>visible</i> components in the specified target container.
* @param target the component which needs to be laid out
* @return the preferred dimensions to lay out the
* subcomponents of the specified container
*/
@Override
public Dimension preferredLayoutSize(Container target)
{
    return layoutSize(target, true);
}

/**
* Returns the minimum dimensions needed to layout the <i>visible</i>
* components contained in the specified target container.
* @param target the component which needs to be laid out
* @return the minimum dimensions to lay out the
* subcomponents of the specified container
*/
@Override
public Dimension minimumLayoutSize(Container target)
{
    Dimension minimum = layoutSize(target, false);
    minimum.width -= (getHgap() + 1);
    return minimum;
}

/**
* Returns the minimum or preferred dimension needed to layout the target
* container.
*
* @param target target to get layout size for
* @param preferred should preferred size be calculated
* @return the dimension to layout the target container
*/
private Dimension layoutSize(Container target, boolean preferred)
{
        synchronized (target.getTreeLock())
        {
    //  Each row must fit with the width allocated to the containter.
    //  When the container width = 0, the preferred width of the container
    //  has not yet been calculated so lets ask for the maximum.

    int targetWidth = target.getSize().width;

    if (targetWidth == 0)
        targetWidth = Integer.MAX_VALUE;

    int hgap = getHgap();
    int vgap = getVgap();
    Insets insets = target.getInsets();
    int horizontalInsetsAndGap = insets.left + insets.right + (hgap * 2);
    int maxWidth = targetWidth - horizontalInsetsAndGap;

    //  Fit components into the allowed width

    Dimension dim = new Dimension(0, 0);
    int rowWidth = 0;
    int rowHeight = 0;

    int nmembers = target.getComponentCount();

    for (int i = 0; i < nmembers; i++)
    {
        Component m = target.getComponent(i);

        if (m.isVisible())
        {
            Dimension d = preferred ? m.getPreferredSize() : m.getMinimumSize();

            //  Can't add the component to current row. Start a new row.

            if (rowWidth + d.width > maxWidth)
            {
                addRow(dim, rowWidth, rowHeight);
                rowWidth = 0;
                rowHeight = 0;
            }

            //  Add a horizontal gap for all components after the first

            if (rowWidth != 0)
            {
                rowWidth += hgap;
            }

            rowWidth += d.width;
            rowHeight = Math.max(rowHeight, d.height);
        }
    }

    addRow(dim, rowWidth, rowHeight);

    dim.width += horizontalInsetsAndGap;
    dim.height += insets.top + insets.bottom + vgap * 2;

    //  When using a scroll pane or the DecoratedLookAndFeel we need to
    //  make sure the preferred size is less than the size of the
    //  target containter so shrinking the container size works
    //  correctly. Removing the horizontal gap is an easy way to do this.

    Container scrollPane = SwingUtilities.getAncestorOfClass(JScrollPane.class, target);

    if (scrollPane != null)
    {
        dim.width -= (hgap + 1);
    }

    return dim;
}
}

/*
 *  A new row has been completed. Use the dimensions of this row
 *  to update the preferred size for the container.
 *
 *  @param dim update the width and height when appropriate
 *  @param rowWidth the width of the row to add
 *  @param rowHeight the height of the row to add
 */
private void addRow(Dimension dim, int rowWidth, int rowHeight)
{
    dim.width = Math.max(dim.width, rowWidth);

    if (dim.height > 0)
    {
        dim.height += getVgap();
    }

    dim.height += rowHeight;
}
}

Here is my frame setup:

    JFrame frame = new JFrame();
    frame.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
    frame.setSize(300, 300);
    frame.setVisible(true);


    JPanel panel = new JPanel();
    panel.setLayout( new VerticalWrapLayout(0) );

    JScrollPane pane = new JScrollPane(panel);
    frame.add( pane, BorderLayout.CENTER );

    for (int i=0; i < 80; i++ ) {
        panel.add( new JLabel( "Label" + i ) );
    }

Now, this sets up the labels in vertical columns in the way that I'm after, but it still creates the vertical scroll bar. I'm pretty shaky when it comes to modifying the VerticalWrapLayout class. Also, I really don't understand how the JScrollPane interacts will these classes. Any suggestions on how to proceed?

---

Solved! Please see the answers below as well as my answer.

Solution 1

Here is an example of a VerticalFlowLayout. It is a copy of the FlowLayout class with some of the logic changed to be "vertically" oriented instead of "horizontally" oriented:

import java.awt.*;
import java.awt.event.*;
import javax.swing.*;

/**
 * A flow layout arranges components in a directional flow, much
 * like lines of text in a paragraph. The flow direction is
 * determined by the container's <code>componentOrientation</code>
 * property and may be one of two values:
 * <ul>
 * <li><code>ComponentOrientation.TOP_TO_BOTTOM</code>
 * <li><code>ComponentOrientation.BOTTOM_TO_TOP</code>
 * </ul>
 * Flow layouts are typically used
 * to arrange buttons in a panel. It arranges buttons
 * horizontally until no more buttons fit on the same line.
 * The line alignment is determined by the <code>align</code>
 * property. The possible values are:
 * <ul>
 * <li>{@link #TOP TOP}
 * <li>{@link #BOTTOM BOTTOM}
 * <li>{@link #CENTER CENTER}
 * <li>{@link #LEADING LEADING}
 * <li>{@link #TRAILING TRAILING}
 * </ul>
 * <p>
 */
public class VerticalFlowLayout implements LayoutManager, java.io.Serializable
{
    /**
     * This value indicates that each row of components
     * should be left-justified.
     */
    public static final int TOP     = 0;

    /**
     * This value indicates that each row of components
     * should be centered.
     */
    public static final int CENTER    = 1;

    /**
     * This value indicates that each row of components
     * should be right-justified.
     */
    public static final int BOTTOM     = 2;

    /**
     * <code>align</code> is the property that determines
     * how each column distributes empty space.
     * It can be one of the following three values:
     * <ul>
     * <code>TOP</code>
     * <code>BOTTOM</code>
     * <code>CENTER</code>
     * </ul>
     *
     * @see #getAlignment
     * @see #setAlignment
     */
    int align;     // This is the one we actually use

    /**
     * The flow layout manager allows a seperation of
     * components with gaps.  The horizontal gap will
     * specify the space between components and between
     * the components and the borders of the
     * <code>Container</code>.
     *
     * @see #getHgap()
     * @see #setHgap(int)
     */
    int hgap;

    /**
     * The flow layout manager allows a seperation of
     * components with gaps.  The vertical gap will
     * specify the space between rows and between the
     * the rows and the borders of the <code>Container</code>.
     *
     * @see #getHgap()
     * @see #setHgap(int)
     */
    int vgap;

    /**
     * Constructs a new <code>VerticalFlowLayout</code> with a centered alignment and a
     * default 5-unit horizontal and vertical gap.
     */
    public VerticalFlowLayout()
    {
        this(CENTER, 5, 5);
    }

    /**
     * Constructs a new <code>VerticalFlowLayout</code> with the specified
     * alignment and a default 5-unit horizontal and vertical gap.
     * The value of the alignment argument must be one of
     * <code>VerticalFlowLayout.TOP</code>, <code>VerticalFlowLayout.BOTTOM</code>,
     * or <code>VerticalFlowLayout.CENTER</code>
     * @param align the alignment value
     */
    public VerticalFlowLayout(int align)
    {
        this(align, 5, 5);
    }

    /**
     * Creates a new flow layout manager with the indicated alignment
     * and the indicated horizontal and vertical gaps.
     * <p>
     * The value of the alignment argument must be one of
     * <code>VerticalFlowLayout.TOP</code>, <code>VerticalFlowLayout.BOTTOM</code>,
     * or <code>VerticalFlowLayout.CENTER</code>.
     * @param     align   the alignment value
     * @param     hgap  the horizontal gap between components
     *                   and between the components and the
     *                   borders of the <code>Container</code>
     * @param     vgap  the vertical gap between components
     *                   and between the components and the
     *                   borders of the <code>Container</code>
     */
    public VerticalFlowLayout(int align, int hgap, int vgap)
    {
        this.hgap = hgap;
        this.vgap = vgap;
        setAlignment(align);
    }

    /**
     * Gets the alignment for this layout.
     * Possible values are <code>VerticalFlowLayout.TOP</code>,
     * <code>VerticalFlowLayout.BOTTOM</code> or <code>VerticalFlowLayout.CENTER</code>,
     * @return   the alignment value for this layout
     * @see     java.awt.VerticalFlowLayout#setAlignment
     * @since     JDK1.1
     */
    public int getAlignment()
    {
        return align;
    }

    /**
     * Sets the alignment for this layout. Possible values are
     * <ul>
     * <li><code>VerticalFlowLayout.TOP</code>
     * <li><code>VerticalFlowLayout.BOTTOM</code>
     * <li><code>VerticalFlowLayout.CENTER</code>
     * </ul>
     * @param     align one of the alignment values shown above
     * @see     #getAlignment()
     * @since     JDK1.1
     */
    public void setAlignment(int align)
    {
        this.align = align;
    }

    /**
     * Gets the horizontal gap between components
     * and between the components and the borders
     * of the <code>Container</code>
     *
     * @return   the horizontal gap between components
     *           and between the components and the borders
     *           of the <code>Container</code>
     * @see     java.awt.VerticalFlowLayout#setHgap
     * @since     JDK1.1
     */
    public int getHgap() {
        return hgap;
    }

    /**
     * Sets the horizontal gap between components and
     * between the components and the borders of the
     * <code>Container</code>.
     *
     * @param hgap the horizontal gap between components
     *           and between the components and the borders
     *           of the <code>Container</code>
     * @see     java.awt.VerticalFlowLayout#getHgap
     * @since     JDK1.1
     */
    public void setHgap(int hgap) {
        this.hgap = hgap;
    }

    /**
     * Gets the vertical gap between components and
     * between the components and the borders of the
     * <code>Container</code>.
     *
     * @return   the vertical gap between components
     *           and between the components and the borders
     *           of the <code>Container</code>
     * @see     java.awt.VerticalFlowLayout#setVgap
     * @since     JDK1.1
     */
    public int getVgap() {
        return vgap;
    }

    /**
     * Sets the vertical gap between components and between
     * the components and the borders of the <code>Container</code>.
     *
     * @param vgap the vertical gap between components
     *           and between the components and the borders
     *           of the <code>Container</code>
     * @see     java.awt.VerticalFlowLayout#getVgap
     */
    public void setVgap(int vgap) {
        this.vgap = vgap;
    }

    /**
     * Adds the specified component to the layout.
     * Not used by this class.
     * @param name the name of the component
     * @param comp the component to be added
     */
    public void addLayoutComponent(String name, Component comp) {
    }

    /**
     * Removes the specified component from the layout.
     * Not used by this class.
     * @param comp the component to remove
     * @see    java.awt.Container#removeAll
     */
    public void removeLayoutComponent(Component comp) {
    }

    /**
     * Returns the preferred dimensions for this layout given the
     * <i>visible</i> components in the specified target container.
     *
     * @param target the container that needs to be laid out
     * @return  the preferred dimensions to lay out the
     *          subcomponents of the specified container
     * @see Container
     * @see #minimumLayoutSize
     * @see    java.awt.Container#getPreferredSize
     */
    public Dimension preferredLayoutSize(Container target)
    {
    synchronized (target.getTreeLock())
    {
        Dimension dim = new Dimension(0, 0);
        int nmembers = target.getComponentCount();
        boolean firstVisibleComponent = true;

        for (int i = 0 ; i < nmembers ; i++)
        {
            Component m = target.getComponent(i);

            if (m.isVisible())
            {
                Dimension d = m.getPreferredSize();
                dim.width = Math.max(dim.width, d.width);

                if (firstVisibleComponent)
                {
                    firstVisibleComponent = false;
                }
                else
                {
                    dim.height += vgap;
                }

                dim.height += d.height;
            }
        }

        Insets insets = target.getInsets();
        dim.width += insets.left + insets.right + hgap*2;
        dim.height += insets.top + insets.bottom + vgap*2;
        return dim;
    }
    }

    /**
     * Returns the minimum dimensions needed to layout the <i>visible</i>
     * components contained in the specified target container.
     * @param target the container that needs to be laid out
     * @return  the minimum dimensions to lay out the
     *          subcomponents of the specified container
     * @see #preferredLayoutSize
     * @see    java.awt.Container
     * @see    java.awt.Container#doLayout
     */
    public Dimension minimumLayoutSize(Container target)
    {
    synchronized (target.getTreeLock())
    {
        Dimension dim = new Dimension(0, 0);
        int nmembers = target.getComponentCount();
        boolean firstVisibleComponent = true;

        for (int i = 0 ; i < nmembers ; i++)
        {
            Component m = target.getComponent(i);
            if (m.isVisible())
            {
                Dimension d = m.getMinimumSize();
                dim.width = Math.max(dim.width, d.width);

                if (firstVisibleComponent)
                {
                    firstVisibleComponent = false;
                }
                else
                {
                    dim.height += vgap;
                }

                dim.height += d.height;
            }
        }


        Insets insets = target.getInsets();
        dim.width += insets.left + insets.right + hgap*2;
        dim.height += insets.top + insets.bottom + vgap*2;
        return dim;
    }
    }

    /**
     * Lays out the container. This method lets each
     * <i>visible</i> component take
     * its preferred size by reshaping the components in the
     * target container in order to satisfy the alignment of
     * this <code>VerticalFlowLayout</code> object.
     *
     * @param target the specified component being laid out
     * @see Container
     * @see    java.awt.Container#doLayout
     */
    public void layoutContainer(Container target)
    {
    synchronized (target.getTreeLock())
    {
        Insets insets = target.getInsets();
        int maxHeight = target.getSize().height - (insets.top + insets.bottom + vgap*2);
        int nmembers = target.getComponentCount();
        int x = insets.left + hgap;
        int y = 0;
        int columnWidth = 0;
        int start = 0;

        boolean ttb = target.getComponentOrientation().isLeftToRight();

        for (int i = 0 ; i < nmembers ; i++)
        {
            Component m = target.getComponent(i);

            if (m.isVisible())
            {
                Dimension d = m.getPreferredSize();
                m.setSize(d.width, d.height);

                if ((y == 0) || ((y + d.height) <= maxHeight))
                {
                    if (y > 0)
                    {
                        y += vgap;
                    }

                    y += d.height;
                    columnWidth = Math.max(columnWidth, d.width);
                }
                else
                {
                    moveComponents(target, x, insets.top + vgap, columnWidth, maxHeight - y, start, i, ttb);
                    y = d.height;
                    x += hgap + columnWidth;
                    columnWidth = d.width;
                    start = i;
                }
            }
        }

        moveComponents(target, x, insets.top + vgap, columnWidth, maxHeight - y, start, nmembers, ttb);
    }
    }

    /**
     * Centers the elements in the specified row, if there is any slack.
     * @param target the component which needs to be moved
     * @param x the x coordinate
     * @param y the y coordinate
     * @param width the width dimensions
     * @param height the height dimensions
     * @param columnStart the beginning of the column
     * @param columnEnd the the ending of the column
     */
    private void moveComponents(
        Container target, int x, int y, int width, int height, int columnStart, int columnEnd, boolean ttb)
    {
        switch (align)
        {
            case TOP:
                y += ttb ? 0 : height;
                break;
            case CENTER:
                y += height / 2;
                break;
            case BOTTOM:
                y += ttb ? height : 0;
                break;
        }

        for (int i = columnStart ; i < columnEnd ; i++)
        {
            Component m = target.getComponent(i);

            if (m.isVisible())
            {
                int cx;
                cx = x + (width - m.getSize().width) / 2;

                if (ttb)
                {
                    m.setLocation(cx, y);
                }
                else
                {
                    m.setLocation(cx, target.getSize().height - y - m.getSize().height);
                }

                y += m.getSize().height + vgap;
            }
        }
    }

    /**
     * Returns a string representation of this <code>VerticalFlowLayout</code>
     * object and its values.
     * @return   a string representation of this layout
     */
    public String toString()
    {
        String str = "";

        switch (align)
        {
            case TOP:    str = ",align=top"; break;
            case CENTER: str = ",align=center"; break;
            case BOTTOM: str = ",align=bottom"; break;
        }

        return getClass().getName() + "[hgap=" + hgap + ",vgap=" + vgap + str + "]";
    }


    public static void main(String[] args)
    {
        JPanel main = new JPanel( new BorderLayout() );

        final JPanel buttons = new JPanel(new VerticalFlowLayout() );
//      buttons.setComponentOrientation(ComponentOrientation.RIGHT_TO_LEFT);
        main.add(buttons, BorderLayout.CENTER);

        for (int i = 0; i < 7; i++)
        {
            buttons.add( new JRadioButton("button " + i) );
        }

        JButton button = new JButton("Add Radio Button");
        main.add(button, BorderLayout.SOUTH);
        button.addActionListener( new ActionListener()
        {
            private int i = 8;

            public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e)
            {
                buttons.add( new JRadioButton("button R Us" + i++) );
                buttons.revalidate();
//              pack();
            }
        });

        JFrame frame = new JFrame();
        frame.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
        frame.add(main);
        frame.setSize(300, 300);
        frame.setLocationRelativeTo(null);
        frame.setVisible(true);
    }


}

Theoretically you should be able to take the WrapLayout and have it extend this class and then customize the code to also be vertically oriented.

Edit:

I have the WrapLayout extending VerticalFlowLayout as such:

You can't just extend the VerticalFlowLayout. The WrapLayout code is designed to calculate a fixed width based on the size of the parent container. You need to change the behaviour the calculate a fixed height. I haven't tried it but basically you would need to change "width" related variable references to "height" and "height" related variable references to "width" so that the code will work on the vertical dimension instead of the horizontal dimension.

Solution 2

Here is the modified VerticalWrapLayout that I used, in case anyone is interested!

package LogicSim;

import java.awt.*;
import javax.swing.JScrollPane;
import javax.swing.SwingUtilities;

/**
 *  FlowLayout subclass that fully supports wrapping of components.
 */
public class VerticalWrapLayout extends VerticalFlowLayout
{
private Dimension preferredLayoutSize;

/**
* Constructs a new <code>WrapLayout</code> with a left
* alignment and a default 5-unit horizontal and vertical gap.
*/
public VerticalWrapLayout()
{
    super();
}

/**
* Constructs a new <code>FlowLayout</code> with the specified
* alignment and a default 5-unit horizontal and vertical gap.
* The value of the alignment argument must be one of
* <code>WrapLayout</code>, <code>WrapLayout</code>,
* or <code>WrapLayout</code>.
* @param align the alignment value
*/
public VerticalWrapLayout(int align)
{
    super(align);
}

/**
* Creates a new flow layout manager with the indicated alignment
* and the indicated horizontal and vertical gaps.
* <p>
* The value of the alignment argument must be one of
* <code>WrapLayout</code>, <code>WrapLayout</code>,
* or <code>WrapLayout</code>.
* @param align the alignment value
* @param hgap the horizontal gap between components
* @param vgap the vertical gap between components
*/
public VerticalWrapLayout(int align, int hgap, int vgap)
{
    super(align, hgap, vgap);
}

/**
* Returns the preferred dimensions for this layout given the
* <i>visible</i> components in the specified target container.
* @param target the component which needs to be laid out
* @return the preferred dimensions to lay out the
* subcomponents of the specified container
*/
@Override
public Dimension preferredLayoutSize(Container target)
{
    return layoutSize(target, true);
}

/**
* Returns the minimum dimensions needed to layout the <i>visible</i>
* components contained in the specified target container.
* @param target the component which needs to be laid out
* @return the minimum dimensions to lay out the
* subcomponents of the specified container
*/
@Override
public Dimension minimumLayoutSize(Container target)
{
    Dimension minimum = layoutSize(target, false);
    minimum.height -= (getVgap() + 1);
    return minimum;
}

/**
* Returns the minimum or preferred dimension needed to layout the target
* container.
*
* @param target target to get layout size for
* @param preferred should preferred size be calculated
* @return the dimension to layout the target container
*/
private Dimension layoutSize(Container target, boolean preferred)
{
        synchronized (target.getTreeLock())
        {
    //  Each row must fit with the width allocated to the containter.
    //  When the container width = 0, the preferred width of the container
    //  has not yet been calculated so lets ask for the maximum.

    int targetHeight = target.getSize().height;

    if (targetHeight == 0)
        targetHeight = Integer.MAX_VALUE;

    int hgap = getHgap();
    int vgap = getVgap();
    Insets insets = target.getInsets();
    int verticalInsetsAndGap = insets.top + insets.bottom + (vgap * 2);
    int maxHeight = targetHeight - verticalInsetsAndGap;

    //  Fit components into the allowed height

    Dimension dim = new Dimension(0, 0);
    int rowWidth = 0;
    int rowHeight = 0;

    int nmembers = target.getComponentCount();

    for (int i = 0; i < nmembers; i++)
    {
        Component m = target.getComponent(i);

        if (m.isVisible())
        {
            Dimension d = preferred ? m.getPreferredSize() : m.getMinimumSize();

            //  Can't add the component to current row. Start a new row.

            if (rowHeight + d.height > maxHeight)
            {
                addColumn(dim, rowWidth, rowHeight);
                rowWidth = 0;
                rowHeight = 0;
            }

            //  Add a horizontal gap for all components after the first

            if (rowHeight != 0)
            {
                rowHeight += vgap;
            }

                            // ******************************************************
            rowHeight += d.height;
                            rowWidth = Math.max(rowWidth, d.width);
        }
    }

    addColumn(dim, rowWidth, rowHeight);

    dim.height += verticalInsetsAndGap;
    dim.width += insets.left + insets.right + hgap * 2;

    //When using a scroll pane or the DecoratedLookAndFeel we need to
    //  make sure the preferred size is less than the size of the
    //  target containter so shrinking the container size works
    //  correctly. Removing the horizontal gap is an easy way to do this.

    Container scrollPane = SwingUtilities.getAncestorOfClass(JScrollPane.class, target);

    if (scrollPane != null)
    {
        dim.height -= (vgap + 1);
    }

    return dim;
}
}

/*
 *  A new row has been completed. Use the dimensions of this row
 *  to update the preferred size for the container.
 *
 *  @param dim update the width and height when appropriate
 *  @param rowWidth the width of the row to add
 *  @param rowHeight the height of the row to add
 */
private void addColumn(Dimension dim, int rowWidth, int rowHeight)
{
    dim.height = Math.max(dim.height, rowHeight);

    if (dim.width > 0)
    {
        dim.width += getHgap();
    }

    dim.width += rowWidth;
}
}

Thanks all!

Solution 3

You can use BoxLayout:

For example:

import javax.swing.BorderFactory;
import javax.swing.Box;
import javax.swing.BoxLayout;
import javax.swing.JFrame;
import javax.swing.JLabel;
import javax.swing.JPanel;
import javax.swing.JScrollPane;
import javax.swing.SwingUtilities;

public class CustomFrame extends JFrame
{

    private int labelCounter = 0;
    private int maxLabels = 3;
    private Box box;
    private JPanel pane;

    public CustomFrame()
    {
        super("Custom JFrame");
        setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
        pane = new JPanel();
        pane.setLayout(new BoxLayout(pane, BoxLayout.X_AXIS));
        JScrollPane scr = new JScrollPane(pane);
        add(scr);

        for(int i = 1; i <= 15; i++) addNewLabel("Label " + i);

        setSize(200,130);
        setVisible(true);
    }

    private void addNewLabel(String s)
    {
        if(labelCounter % maxLabels == 0)
        {
            box = Box.createVerticalBox();
            box.setBorder(BorderFactory.createEmptyBorder(10,10,10,10));
        }
        box.add(new JLabel(s));
        pane.add(box);
        labelCounter++;
    }

    public static void main(String[] args)
    {
        SwingUtilities.invokeLater(new Runnable()
        {
            public void run()
            {
                new CustomFrame();
            }
        });

    }
}

Solution 4

I investigated your problem and as far as I saw there a multiple VerticalFlowLayouts which aren't wrappable and there also are wrappableFlowLayouts, which aren't vertical.

Instead of putting those together (what smart people would have done) I wrote a poor workaround based on answer one for you. It gets the job done, but sadly it turned out to be not nearly as smooth/reliable as I wanted. But I thought I post it anyway.

public class CustomFrame extends JFrame {

private int borderWidth = 10;
private int labelCounter = 0;
private Box box;
private JPanel pane;
private List<JLabel> registeredLabels = new ArrayList<JLabel>();

public CustomFrame() {
    super("Custom JFrame");
    setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
    pane = new JPanel();
    pane.setLayout(new BoxLayout(pane, BoxLayout.X_AXIS));
    JScrollPane scrollPane = new JScrollPane(pane);
    scrollPane.setHorizontalScrollBarPolicy(JScrollPane.HORIZONTAL_SCROLLBAR_ALWAYS);
    scrollPane.setVerticalScrollBarPolicy(JScrollPane.VERTICAL_SCROLLBAR_NEVER);
    add(scrollPane);
    setSize(200, 130);

    // this just calls the method reAddAllLabels() upon resizing
    this.addComponentListener(new ComponentListener() {

        @Override
        public void componentShown(ComponentEvent e) {
            // ignore
        }

        @Override
        public void componentResized(ComponentEvent e) {
            reAddAllLabels();
            repaint();
        }

        @Override
        public void componentMoved(ComponentEvent e) {
            // ignore
        }

        @Override
        public void componentHidden(ComponentEvent e) {
            // ignore
        }
    });

    setVisible(true);
}

/**
 * Build the Label, register the Label in the Label-List, add the Label through further method
 * 
 * @param text
 *            for the new Label
 */
public void addNewLabel(String text) {
    JLabel myJLabel = new JLabel(text);
    registeredLabels.add(myJLabel);
    addLabel(myJLabel);
}

/**
 * Reset stuff, add all registered Labels
 * 
 */
private void reAddAllLabels() {
    labelCounter = 0;
    pane.removeAll();
    if (registeredLabels.size() > 0) {
        for (JLabel label : registeredLabels) {
            addLabel(label);
        }
    }
}

/**
 * Calculate max-Labels per Column, eventually create new Box, add Label to box
 * 
 * @param label
 */
private void addLabel(JLabel label) {
    int maxLabels = (pane.getHeight() - borderWidth * 2) / label.getPreferredSize().height;
    if (labelCounter % maxLabels == 0) {
        box = Box.createVerticalBox();
        box.setBorder(BorderFactory.createEmptyBorder(borderWidth, borderWidth, borderWidth, borderWidth));
    }
    box.add(label);
    pane.add(box);
    labelCounter++;
}

/**
 * How to use the frame
 * 
 * @param args
 */
public static void main(String[] args) {
    SwingUtilities.invokeLater(new Runnable() {
        @Override
        public void run() {
            CustomFrame customFrame = new CustomFrame();

            for (int i = 1; i <= 20; i++) {
                customFrame.addNewLabel("Label " + i);
            }
        }
    });
}
}

View more solutions

Comments

[RyanB]

Thanks for the help, but this is not exactly what I want as the labels should fill the available vertical space when the window is re-sized. It might be possible to try and determine the size of the window and the height of the label and see how many could fit in a row, but it would be nice to use something more like the flowlayout.

[Andrew Thompson]

Maybe the OP did not like it, but I did. +1 Aspects I most liked about your answer are 1) small screenshot 2) Code a) example b) started on the EDT (no economizing there) c) with a nice border. :)

[camickr]

+1 for pointing the OP in the right direction. The better solution is indeed a combination of a VerticalFlowLayout and the WrapLayout to create a VerticalWrapLayout.

[Eng.Fouad]

+1 very nice code and it answers what OP is looking for, though it lacks of JScrollPane :)

[DejanLekic]

Yep, nice. +1 I rarely need something like this (i would use BoxLayout for this if someone asked me to do it), but it is a nice class. :)

[RyanB]

+1 Thank you. I've also found the WrapLayout class and I'm trying to extend the VerticalFlowLayout. I've edited my original question.

[RyanB]

+1 Thank you for taking the time to respond, I appreciate it. @camickr I am working on that now.

[Omphaloskopie]

+1 Shiiiiiiit (like Clay Davis from "the Wire") this works fine! :D

[Omphaloskopie]

Future Visitors check out the OPs solution based on this! ready to go VerticalWrapLayout

[Omphaloskopie]

Future Visitors check out the OPs solution based on the answer! ready to go VerticalWrapLayout

[Daniel]

This solution is based on tips4java.wordpress.com/2008/11/06/wrap-layout originally written by Rob Camick. The About link on that server discusses IP rights of that code.