radiobuttons changing background color

[Craig Parsons]

I have 4 radio buttons in a group box. When the user selects any one, the background color should change to whatever color is associated with the radio button. I have it coded but here is my problem. When the radio button is checked the color checked flashes and then goes away. The same thing happens when any of the 4 buttons is checked.
Any Suggestions?
Thanks,

[saager mhatre]

I think we're definitely going to need a few specifics on this.
Some code would be good. If not, atleast let us know if you're using Swing or AWT and what event are you handling to change the BGColor as also how you're changing it.
See ya soon

[Craig Parsons]

Here are some pieces of the code. The entire program would be too large to paste in this forum. I hope everything is here that would be needed to see if there is a problem. These buttons get created and added to a box layout. That box layout gets add to west section of a border layout.

 
  
public class Elimination extends JFrame 
{
  private JRadioButton redRadio, blueRadio, grayRadio, whiteRadio;
  private Color redColor, blueColor, grayColor, whiteColor;
  private ButtonGroup radioGroup;
 public Elimination()
    {
  grayRadio  = new JRadioButton("Gray",true);
  redRadio   = new JRadioButton("Red",false); 
  radioGroup = new ButtonGroup();
  radioGroup.add(redRadio);
  radioGroup.add(blueRadio);
  redColor   = new Color(255,0,0);
  grayColor  = new Color(128,128,128);
  grayRadio.addItemListener(new RadioButtonHandler(grayColor));
  redRadio.addItemListener(new RadioButtonHandler(redColor));
  } 
  private class RadioButtonHandler implements ItemListener
  {
      private Color color;
       
      public RadioButtonHandler(Color c)
      {
          color = c;   
      }
        
      public void itemStateChanged(ItemEvent event)
      {
          setBackground(color);
      }
   }
}
 

Thanks,

[Jose Botella]

Welcome to the Ranch Craig.
set the background to the content pane of the JFrame by
getContentPane().setBackground(color);
The blue button was not given listener. The gray button was not added to the ButtonGroup

[Craig Parsons]

I added those changes and know the background doesn't even flash the color. I am kind of new to all this and a bit confused. I have added my entire code hoping for a little help. The code is still a work in progress and nees a lot work to dress it up. I have also commented out several lines of code for my testing.
The only area I am concerned about is how the radio buttons can change the background color of my application.
If anyone can help it would be appreciated.

 
 import java.awt.*;
import java.awt.event.*;
import javax.swing.*;
import javax.swing.border.*;
//import javax.swing.JOptionPane;
//import javax.swing.JMenuItem;
//public class Elimination extends JFrame implements ActionListener
public class Elimination extends JFrame 
{
    private JLabel elimationLabel;
    private JPanel southPanel;
    private JPanel southPanel2;
    private JLabel currLabel;
    private JLabel lowLabel;
    private JPanel westPanel;
    private JPanel radioPanel;
    private JLabel dice1Label;
    private JLabel dice2Label;
    private JPanel eastPanel;
    private JTextField currText;
    private JTextField lowText;
    private JTextField dice1Text;
    private JTextField dice2Text;
    private JRadioButton redRadio, blueRadio, grayRadio, whiteRadio;
    private Color redColor, blueColor, grayColor, whiteColor;
    private ButtonGroup radioGroup;
    private JButton howPlayButton;
    private JButton resetButton;
    private JButton rollDiceButton;
    private JButton centerButtons[];
    private JPanel centerPanel;
    private int intDice1, intDice2, totalDice, rollNum;
    private int resetSwitch = 1;
    private int currScore = 78;
    private int lowScore = 79;
   
   private String centerButtonNames [] = {"1", "2", "3", "4", "5", "6", "7", "8", "9", "10", "11", "12"};
   private JPanel northPanel;
   
   private Container container;
    
    
    public Elimination()
    {
        super("Let's play Elimination!");
             
 //       Container container = getContentPane();
      container = getContentPane();       
 
//******************************************************************************        
        northPanel     = new JPanel();                 //CREATE NORTH PANEL OBJECT
        elimationLabel = new JLabel ("Elimination");   //CREATE LABEL OBJECT
    
        elimationLabel.setFont(new Font("Serif",Font.BOLD,36));  //SET FONT
            
        northPanel.add(elimationLabel);                //ADD LABEL TO THE PANEL
        container.add(northPanel,BorderLayout.NORTH);  //ADD PANEL TO THE CONTAINER
   
//******************************************************************************        
        howPlayButton  = new JButton ();                  //CREATE BUTTON OBJECT
        resetButton    = new JButton ();
        southPanel     = new JPanel();                     //CREATE SOUTH PANEL OBJECT
        southPanel2    = new JPanel ();
        rollDiceButton = new JButton();
    
        southPanel.setLayout(new BorderLayout(10,10));
  
        southPanel2.setLayout(new FlowLayout());
        
        rollDiceButton = new JButton("Roll The Dice");
        rollDiceButton.setPreferredSize(new Dimension(400,30));
        rollDiceButton.setBorder(new BevelBorder(BevelBorder.RAISED));
        rollDiceButton.setToolTipText("Click here to roll the dice.");
        rollDiceButton.setMnemonic('D');
   
        southPanel2.add(rollDiceButton);     
        southPanel.add(southPanel2,BorderLayout.NORTH);
          
        
        howPlayButton = new JButton("How to Play Elimination.");
        howPlayButton.setPreferredSize(new Dimension(200,30));
        howPlayButton.setBorder(new BevelBorder(BevelBorder.RAISED));
        howPlayButton.setToolTipText("Click here for playing instructions.");
        howPlayButton.setMnemonic('H'); 
        southPanel.add(howPlayButton,BorderLayout.EAST);
        
        resetButton = new JButton("Reset Game");
        resetButton.setPreferredSize(new Dimension(200,30));
        resetButton.setBorder(new BevelBorder(BevelBorder.RAISED));
        resetButton.setToolTipText("Click here to reset the game");
        resetButton.setMnemonic('R');
        southPanel.add(resetButton,BorderLayout.WEST);
              
        container.add(southPanel , BorderLayout.SOUTH); //ADD PANEL TO THE CONTAINER
//******************************************************************************      
        centerButtons  = new JButton [12];
        centerPanel    = new JPanel ();
                
        centerPanel.setLayout(new GridLayout (4,3,5,5));
       
        for (int diceNumber = 0; diceNumber < centerButtons.length; diceNumber++)
        {
           centerButtons[diceNumber] = new JButton(centerButtonNames[diceNumber]);
           centerButtons[diceNumber].setPreferredSize(new Dimension(50,30));
           centerButtons[diceNumber].setFont(new Font("Serif",Font.BOLD,30));
           centerButtons[diceNumber].setBorder(new BevelBorder(BevelBorder.RAISED));
           centerButtons[diceNumber].setToolTipText("Click here to elimate the " + (diceNumber + 1) + " button.");
   //        centerButtons[diceNumber].setMnemonic(String.valueOf(diceNumber)Integer.toString(diceNumber)""+diceNumber);
          
           centerButtons[diceNumber].setEnabled(false);
           centerPanel.add(centerButtons[diceNumber]);
        }
          
                 
         container.add(centerPanel,BorderLayout.CENTER);
        
        
//******************************************************************************
        westPanel   = new JPanel();                 //CREATE NORTH PANEL OBJECT
        radioPanel  = new JPanel();
         
        currLabel = new JLabel ("Current Score");  
        currLabel.setFont(new Font("Serif",Font.BOLD,20));  //SET FONT
        currLabel.setPreferredSize(new Dimension(150,30));
        currText = new JTextField("00",2);
        currText.setFont(new Font("Serif",Font.BOLD,20));  //SET FONT
        currText.setBackground(Color.cyan);
        currText.setEditable(false);
        currText.setText(Integer.toString(78));
        lowLabel = new JLabel ("Low Score");  
        lowLabel.setFont(new Font("Serif",Font.BOLD,20));  //SET FONT
        lowLabel.setPreferredSize(new Dimension(150,30));
        lowText = new JTextField("00",2);
        lowText.setFont(new Font("Serif",Font.BOLD,20));  //SET FONT
        lowText.setBackground(Color.cyan);
        lowText.setEditable(false);
        
        redRadio   = new JRadioButton("Red",false);
  //      blueRadio  = new JRadioButton("Blue",false);
    //    grayRadio  = new JRadioButton("Gray",true);
      //  whiteRadio = new JRadioButton("White",false);
        
        radioGroup = new ButtonGroup();
        radioGroup.add(redRadio);
 //       radioGroup.add(blueRadio);
   //     radioGroup.add(grayRadio);
     //   radioGroup.add(whiteRadio);
        
         
        Box verticalWestBox = Box.createVerticalBox();
        Box radioBox = Box.createVerticalBox(); 
     
        verticalWestBox.add(Box.createVerticalStrut(15));
        verticalWestBox.add(currLabel);
        verticalWestBox.add(currText);
     
        verticalWestBox.add(Box.createVerticalStrut(40));
             
        verticalWestBox.add(lowLabel);
        verticalWestBox.add(lowText);
        
        verticalWestBox.add(Box.createVerticalStrut(15));
        
 //       radioBox.add(grayRadio);
        radioBox.add(redRadio);
   //     radioBox.add(blueRadio);
     //   radioBox.add(whiteRadio);
        radioPanel.add(radioBox);
   
        radioPanel.setBorder(BorderFactory.createTitledBorder("Select color for background"));
        verticalWestBox.add(radioPanel);
        
        redColor   = new Color(255,0,0);
       // grayColor  = new Color(128,128,128);
     //   blueColor  = new Color(0,0,255);
   //     whiteColor = new Color(255,255,255);
    
   //     grayRadio.addItemListener(new RadioButtonHandler(grayColor));
        redRadio.addItemListener(new RadioButtonHandler(redColor));
   //     blueRadio.addItemListener(new RadioButtonHandler(blueColor));
   //     whiteRadio.addItemListener(new RadioButtonHandler(whiteColor));
            
        westPanel.add(verticalWestBox); 
        container.add(westPanel,BorderLayout.WEST);  //ADD PANEL TO THE CONTAINER
        
        
          
//******************************************************************************       
        eastPanel   = new JPanel();                 //CREATE NORTH PANEL OBJECT
         
        dice1Label = new JLabel ("Dice 1");  
        dice1Label.setFont(new Font("Serif",Font.BOLD,20));  //SET FONT
        dice1Label.setPreferredSize(new Dimension(150,30));
        dice1Text = new JTextField("00",2);
        dice1Text.setFont(new Font("Serif",Font.BOLD,20));  //SET FONT
        dice1Text.setBackground(Color.cyan);
        dice1Text.setEditable(false);
        dice2Label = new JLabel ("Dice 2");  
        dice2Label.setFont(new Font("Serif",Font.BOLD,20));  //SET FONT
        dice2Label.setPreferredSize(new Dimension(150,30));
        dice2Text = new JTextField("00",2);
        dice2Text.setFont(new Font("Serif",Font.BOLD,20));  //SET FONT 
        dice2Text.setBackground(Color.cyan);
        dice2Text.setEditable(false);
         
        Box verticalEastBox = Box.createVerticalBox(); 
     
        verticalEastBox.add(Box.createVerticalStrut(15));
        verticalEastBox.add(dice1Label);
        verticalEastBox.add(dice1Text);
     
        verticalEastBox.add(Box.createVerticalStrut(40));
             
        verticalEastBox.add(dice2Label);
        verticalEastBox.add(dice2Text);
        
        eastPanel.add(verticalEastBox); 
        container.add(eastPanel,BorderLayout.EAST);  //ADD PANEL TO THE CONTAINER
        
         
//****************************************************************************** 
      
        ButtonHandler handler = new ButtonHandler();
        howPlayButton.addActionListener(handler);
        resetButton.addActionListener(handler);
        rollDiceButton.addActionListener(handler);
        
        for (int diceNumber = 0; diceNumber < centerButtons.length; diceNumber++)
        {
           centerButtons[diceNumber].addActionListener(handler);
         
        }
        
         
         
      
         
        
     
        setLocation(200,100);
        setSize(600, 500);
        setVisible(true);
        rollDiceButton.requestFocus();
    }
    
    
 
//******************************************************************************    
    public static void main (String args[])
    {
        Elimination application = new Elimination();
        application.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
    }
    
//****************************************************************************** 
    private class ButtonHandler implements ActionListener
    {
        public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent event)
        {
            //******************************************************************
            //HOW TO PLAY ELIMINATION BUTTON CODE
            //******************************************************************
            if (event.getSource() == howPlayButton)
            {
               JOptionPane.showMessageDialog(Elimination.this, 
               "Starting with a score of 78 the goal of Elimination is to get " +
               "\nthe lowest score.  Click on the 'Roll Dice' button to start " +
               "\nthe game.  After you roll you will have to eliminate some " +
               "\nnumbers from the key pad.  You must eliminate the sum of both " +
               "\ndice or the number shown on each dice.  For example if you " +
               "\nroll a 5 and a 2, you must eliminate 7 or the 5 and the 2. " +
               "\nEither way your score decreases by 7.  If you roll doubles " +
               "\nyou must elimate the sum of both dice.  You cannot eliminate " +
               "\nthe same number more than once per game.  The game ends when " +
               "\nyou roll the dice and cannot eliminate any numbers.");
            }   
        
           //*******************************************************************
           //RESET BUTTON CODE
           //*******************************************************************
            if (event.getSource() == resetButton)
            {    
                if (currScore < lowScore)
                    lowText.setText(Integer.toString(currScore));
                
                 currText.setText(Integer.toString(78));
                 rollDiceButton.requestFocus();
                 rollNum = 0;
                 resetSwitch = 1;
                 for (int diceNumber = 0; diceNumber < centerButtons.length; diceNumber++)
                 {
                    centerButtons[diceNumber].setEnabled(false);
                    centerPanel.add(centerButtons[diceNumber]);
                 }
                 validate();
            }
            
             //*****************************************************************
             //ROLL DICE BUTTON CODE
             //*****************************************************************
             if (event.getSource() == rollDiceButton)
             {    
                 rollNum = 0;
                 Dice dice1 = new Dice();
                 Dice dice2 = new Dice();
                 
                 
                 intDice1 = dice1.rollDice();
                 intDice2 = dice2.rollDice();
                 
                 totalDice = intDice1 + intDice2;
                 
                 dice1Text.setText(Integer.toString(intDice1));
                 dice2Text.setText(Integer.toString(intDice2));
                   
                 rollDiceButton.requestFocus();
                 rollDiceButton.setEnabled(false);
                 
                 if (resetSwitch == 1)
                 {
                    for (int diceNumber = 0; diceNumber < centerButtons.length; diceNumber++)
                    {
                       centerButtons[diceNumber].setEnabled(true);
                       centerPanel.add(centerButtons[diceNumber]);
                    }
                 }
                 resetSwitch = 0;
                 
                 validate();
             }
             //*************************     
            for (int diceNumber = 0; diceNumber < centerButtons.length; diceNumber++)
            {
                 if (event.getSource() == centerButtons[diceNumber])
                     //IF BOTH DICE ARE EQUAL
                     if( intDice1 == intDice2)
                     {
                        if ((diceNumber + 1) == totalDice)
                        {
                           centerButtons[diceNumber].setEnabled(false);
                           rollDiceButton.setEnabled(true);
                        }
                        else
                        {
                           JOptionPane.showMessageDialog(Elimination.this, 
                           "Since you rolled doubles you must eliminate the button that  " +
                           "\nequals the total of the two dice.  In this case that total is " +
                             totalDice + "."); 
                        }
                     }
                     else
                         //IF BOTH DICE HAVE DIFFERENT VALUES
                         if ((diceNumber + 1) == totalDice ||
                             (diceNumber + 1) == intDice1  ||
                             (diceNumber + 1) == intDice2)
                         {
                             if (((diceNumber + 1) == totalDice)  &&
                                 ((centerButtons[intDice1 - 1].isEnabled() == true)) &&
                                 ((centerButtons[intDice2 - 1].isEnabled() == true)))
                             {
                                
                                centerButtons[diceNumber].setEnabled(false);
                                rollDiceButton.setEnabled(true);
                             }
                             else
                                 if (rollNum == 0)
                                 {
                                    if ((((diceNumber + 1) == intDice1  &&
                                          (diceNumber + 1) == intDice2) ||
                                         ((diceNumber + 1) == intDice2  &&
                                          (diceNumber + 1) == intDice1)) &&  
                                          (centerButtons[intDice1 - 1].isEnabled() == true &&
                                           centerButtons[intDice2 - 1].isEnabled() == true))
                                    {
                                        
                                        
                                    }
                                    else
                                    {
                                         JOptionPane.showMessageDialog(Elimination.this, 
                                         "No options here"); 
                                        
                                    }
                                 }
     //                            else
     //                         if (((diceNumber + 1) == intDice1  ||
     //                                 (diceNumber + 1) == intDice2) &&
     //                                ((centerButtons[intDice1 - 1].isEnabled() == true) ||
     //                                 (centerButtons[intDice2 - 1].isEnabled() == true))) // &&
     //                  
     //                            {
     //                               rollNum++;
     //                               centerButtons[diceNumber].setEnabled(false);
     //                                 if (rollNum == 2)
     //                                 {
     //                                       rollDiceButton.setEnabled(true);
     //                                 }
     //                                
     //                            }
     //                            else
      //                           {
      //                                JOptionPane.showMessageDialog(Elimination.this, 
       //                               "Invalid buttone presswsed"); 
       //                           }
                         }    
                       
                         
                         
                         
                         
                         
                         
                          
                         else
                         {
                           JOptionPane.showMessageDialog(Elimination.this, 
                           "You must eliminate either the total of the two dice " +
                           "\nor the number on each dice.  In your case those " + 
                           "numbers are " +   totalDice + " or " + intDice1 +
                           " and " + intDice2); 
                         }
                        
       
                 
                     
                     
                     
            } //END FOR LOOP
        } //ACTIONPERFORMED END
    }    //buttonhandler end
//******************************************************************************
//CHANGING BACKGROUND COLOR STARTS HERE
    
    private class RadioButtonHandler implements ItemListener
    {
        private Color color;
        
        public RadioButtonHandler(Color c)
        {
            color = c;   
        }
        
        public void itemStateChanged(ItemEvent event)
        {
           JOptionPane.showMessageDialog(Elimination.this, 
                           "Change colors"); 
       
           setBackground(color);
        }
   }      // RADIOBUTTONHANDLER END BRACKET
    
    
//******************************************************************************    
       public void paint(Graphics g)
       {
        
           super.paint(g);
           
           g.setColor(new Color(255,0,0));
           g.fillRect(5,77,1048,4);
     
       }  //PAINT END BRACKET
//******************************************************************************   
   
}
               
 

[Jose Botella]

The container is behind the JPanels you placed on the different regions of the BorderLayout. Thus if you set its color you will not see any change. Set the color of westPanel, eastPanel etc.
You might also have a look at How to write an ItemListener in the Java Tutorial.

[Craig Parsons]

Thanks,
That was driving me crazy. Now it looks so obvious. I'll check out that tutorial too. Thanks again for your help.