How to set Look and Feel ?

[Gary Hill]

Hi,

Using Netbeans:

I am trying to get a GUI window to look correct on windows XP at the moment it is using "Metal" as its default window.

I have searched on the internet and found code thats supposed to change it but it doesn't work ?

If you could assist me i would be grateful.

Regards

Gary

package javaapplication14;

import javax.swing.UIManager;

public class Main {

    static WindowSetUp Window = new WindowSetUp();			// New GUI object

    public static void main(String[] args) {

        Window.setVisible(true);				// Turns on JFrame.	

        try {

            UIManager.setLookAndFeel(UIManager.getSystemLookAndFeelClassName());
            //Tell the UIManager to use the platform look and feel
            
        } catch (Exception e) {
            //Do nothing
        }
    }
}

package javaapplication14;

public class WindowSetUp extends javax.swing.JFrame {

    public String name;

    // Initialise GUI
    public WindowSetUp() {
        initComponents();

    }
 


    /** This method is called from within the constructor to
     * initialize the form.
     * WARNING: Do NOT modify this code. The content of this method is
     * always regenerated by the Form Editor.
     */
    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
    // <editor-fold defaultstate="collapsed" desc="Generated Code">
    private void initComponents() {

        javax.swing.JScrollPane jScrollPane1 = new javax.swing.JScrollPane();
        jTextArea1 = new javax.swing.JTextArea();
        javax.swing.JScrollPane jScrollPane2 = new javax.swing.JScrollPane();
        javax.swing.JTree jTree1 = new javax.swing.JTree();

        setDefaultCloseOperation(javax.swing.WindowConstants.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
        setTitle("GB Serial Test");

        jTextArea1.setColumns(20);
        jTextArea1.setRows(5);
        jScrollPane1.setViewportView(jTextArea1);

        jScrollPane2.setViewportView(jTree1);

        javax.swing.GroupLayout layout = new javax.swing.GroupLayout(getContentPane());
        getContentPane().setLayout(layout);
        layout.setHorizontalGroup(
            layout.createParallelGroup(javax.swing.GroupLayout.Alignment.LEADING)
            .addGroup(layout.createSequentialGroup()
                .addGap(64, 64, 64)
                .addComponent(jScrollPane1, javax.swing.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE, javax.swing.GroupLayout.DEFAULT_SIZE, javax.swing.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE)
                .addGap(18, 18, 18)
                .addComponent(jScrollPane2, javax.swing.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE, 127, javax.swing.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE)
                .addContainerGap(25, Short.MAX_VALUE))
        );
        layout.setVerticalGroup(
            layout.createParallelGroup(javax.swing.GroupLayout.Alignment.LEADING)
            .addGroup(layout.createSequentialGroup()
                .addGap(66, 66, 66)
                .addComponent(jScrollPane1, javax.swing.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE, javax.swing.GroupLayout.DEFAULT_SIZE, javax.swing.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE)
                .addContainerGap(138, Short.MAX_VALUE))
            .addGroup(javax.swing.GroupLayout.Alignment.TRAILING, layout.createSequentialGroup()
                .addContainerGap(14, Short.MAX_VALUE)
                .addComponent(jScrollPane2, javax.swing.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE, 275, javax.swing.GroupLayout.PREFERRED_SIZE)
                .addContainerGap())
        );

        pack();
    }// </editor-fold>
    /**
     * @param args the command line arguments
     */
    // Variables declaration - do not modify
    javax.swing.JTextArea jTextArea1;
    // End of variables declaration

}

[Rob Spoor]

The look and feel should be set before the GUI is shown. Any changes afterwards are not automatically shown. You can force a reload using SwingUtilities.updateComponentTreeUI though. The Component argument and all of its children are then repainted with the new look and feel.

[Gary Hill]

Hi Rob,

Thanks is now working.. and for any one else that reads this here is the working main code.

Regards


Gary

package javaapplication14;

import javax.swing.UIManager;

public class Main {

    public static void main(String[] args) {

        try {

            UIManager.setLookAndFeel(UIManager.getSystemLookAndFeelClassName());
            //Tell the UIManager to use the platform look and feel

            WindowSetUp Window = new WindowSetUp();
            // New GUI object
            Window.setVisible(true);
            // Turns on JFrame.

        } catch (Exception e) {
            //Do nothing
        }
    }
}

[Rob Spoor]

Side note: it's a bad idea to "swallow" exceptions like that. What happens if something goes wrong in the creation of your window? You'll be wondering why your application doesn't show, and you won't know why. The least you should do is log the exception (e.g. e.printStackTrace()).

[Gary Hill]

Hi Rob,

Yes thanks for pointing that out.

Regards

Gary