Exception in thread "main" java.lang.IllegalArgumentException: illegal component position

[Kody Wright]

Hello : )

I am in the process of writing a GUI and keep running into an error that I can't seem to get rid of. I still have to add various listeners to make it work, but right now I'm simply trying to make the GUI show up and look the way I want it to.

The error I keep running into is:
Exception in thread "main" java.lang.IllegalArgumentException: illegal component position

I've tried isolating the problem to figure out what exactly is "illegal" about my components...but to no avail. It's entirely possible that I am overlooking some simple error, I've been reading code all day so perhaps my eyes just need a break .

If anyone is able to figure out the problem, I would appreciate it.

Thanks in advance for all the help!

import java.awt.BorderLayout;
import java.awt.Color;
import java.awt.FlowLayout;
import java.awt.Frame;
import java.awt.GridLayout;
import java.awt.event.*;
import javax.swing.JButton;
import javax.swing.JFrame;
import javax.swing.JPanel;
import javax.swing.JLabel;
import javax.swing.JRadioButton;
import javax.swing.JTextField;
import javax.swing.WindowConstants;
import javax.swing.border.TitledBorder;

public class Calories extends JFrame {
	
	//Declaration of Variables
	
	private Color color1 = new Color(205,102,000); // Burnt Orange
	private Color color2 = new Color(82,82,82); // Dark Gray
	
	private final double PROTEIN_RATIO = .34;
	private final double CARB_RATIO = .46;
	private final double FAT_RATIO = .20;
	private final double PROTEIN_G = .33;
	private final double CARB_G = .20;
	private final double FAT_G = .20;
	
	TitledBorder title = new TitledBorder("Enter Your Informatino");
	
	JLabel lWeight = new JLabel("Weight:");
	JLabel lBodyFat = new JLabel("Body Fat %:");
	JLabel lAF = new JLabel("Activity Factor:");
	JLabel lDoE = new JLabel("Duration of Exercise:");
	JLabel lMET = new JLabel("MET Value:");
	JLabel lcalP = new JLabel("Calories of Protein:");
	JLabel lcalC = new JLabel("Calories of Carbs:");
	JLabel lcalF = new JLabel("Calories of Fat:");
	JLabel lGP = new JLabel("Grams of Protein:");
	JLabel lGC = new JLabel("Grams of Carbs:");
	JLabel lGF = new JLabel("Grams of Fat:");
	JLabel lCalReq = new JLabel("Total Daily Calories:");
	
	JTextField tWeight = new JTextField();
	JTextField tBodyFat = new JTextField();
	JTextField tAF = new JTextField();
	JTextField tDoE = new JTextField();
	JTextField tMET = new JTextField();
	JTextField tcalP = new JTextField();
	JTextField tcalC = new JTextField();
	JTextField tcalF = new JTextField();
	JTextField tGP = new JTextField();
	JTextField tGC = new JTextField();
	JTextField tGF = new JTextField();
	JTextField tCalReq = new JTextField();
	
	JRadioButton high = new JRadioButton();
	JRadioButton mod = new JRadioButton();
	
	JButton calculate = new JButton("Calculate");
	JButton information = new JButton("What's this?");
	
	//Constructor
		
	public Calories(){
		
		JPanel p1 = new JPanel();
		p1.setLayout(new GridLayout(7,2));
		p1.setBorder(title);
		title.setTitleColor(Color.white);
		p1.add(lWeight, JLabel.LEFT);
		lWeight.setForeground(Color.white);
		p1.add(tWeight);
		p1.add(lBodyFat, JLabel.LEFT);
		lBodyFat.setForeground(Color.white);
		p1.add(tBodyFat);
		p1.add(lAF, JLabel.LEFT);
		lAF.setForeground(Color.white);
		p1.add(tAF);
		p1.add(lDoE, JLabel.LEFT);
		lDoE.setForeground(Color.white);
		p1.add(tDoE);
		p1.add(lMET, JLabel.LEFT);
		p1.setForeground(Color.white);
		p1.add(tMET);
		p1.add(high);
		p1.add(mod);
		p1.setBackground(color2);
		
		JPanel p2 = new JPanel();
		p2.add(information);
		
		JPanel p3 = new JPanel();
		p3.add(p1, BorderLayout.CENTER);
		p3.add(p2, BorderLayout.SOUTH);
		
		JPanel p4 = new JPanel();
		p4.setLayout(new GridLayout(3,2));
		p4.add(lcalP, JLabel.LEFT);
		p4.add(tcalP);
		p4.add(lcalC, JLabel.LEFT);
		p4.add(tcalC);
		p4.add(lcalF, JLabel.LEFT);
		p4.add(tcalF);
		
		JPanel p5 = new JPanel();
		p5.setLayout(new GridLayout(3,2));
		p5.add(lGP, JLabel.LEFT);
		p5.add(tGP);
		p5.add(lGC, JLabel.LEFT);
		p5.add(tGC);
		p5.add(lGF, JLabel.LEFT);
		p5.add(tGF);
		
		JPanel p6 = new JPanel();
		p6.add(calculate);
		
		JPanel p7 = new JPanel();
		p7.add(lCalReq, JLabel.LEFT);
		p7.add(tCalReq, FlowLayout.RIGHT);
		
		JPanel p8 = new JPanel();
		p8.add(p7, BorderLayout.NORTH);
		p8.add(p4, BorderLayout.WEST);
		p8.add(p5, BorderLayout.EAST);
		p8.add(p6, BorderLayout.CENTER);
		
		setLayout(new FlowLayout(FlowLayout.CENTER));
		add(p8);
		add(p3);
	}

	public static void main (String [] args) {
		Frame frame1 = new Calories();
		frame1.setResizable(true);
		frame1.pack();
		frame1.setTitle("Calorie Calculator");
		frame1.setLocationRelativeTo(null);
		frame1.setVisible(true);
		((JFrame) frame1).setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
	}

}
	

[Greg Brannon]

There are 5 or 6 lines that cause the same complaint, usually the first component placed in each container. If you remove the second argument in the call to add() for each of them, the complaints go away, and your GUI will display. Why the complaint? I'm not sure. I don't have much experience with GridLayout. More research (or a response from someone smarter) should provide a reason.

[Rob Camick]

Exception in thread "main" java.lang.IllegalArgumentException: illegal component position

The add(...) method is used to add components to a Container. Normally the component is added as the last component of the container. The add(...) method also allows you to specify the "position" of the component in the container. That is, first, second, third etc. To add a component at the start (first) you would use:

panel.add(component, 0);

JLabel.LEFT is not a "position" it is an "alignment" so it is an ivalid value.

[Kody Wright]

Thanks for the help guys, I managed to get it. After removing the "JLabel.LEFT" and switching a few things around, as per your suggestions, I was able to get it to show correctly.

import java.awt.BorderLayout;
import java.awt.Color;
import java.awt.FlowLayout;
import java.awt.Frame;
import java.awt.GridLayout;
import java.awt.event.*;
import javax.swing.JButton;
import javax.swing.JFrame;
import javax.swing.JPanel;
import javax.swing.JLabel;
import javax.swing.JRadioButton;
import javax.swing.JTextField;
import javax.swing.WindowConstants;
import javax.swing.border.Border;
import javax.swing.border.TitledBorder;

public class Calories extends JFrame {
	
	//Declaration of Variables
	
	private Color color1 = new Color(205,102,000); // Burnt Orange
	private Color color2 = new Color(82,82,82); // Dark Gray
	
	private final double PROTEIN_RATIO = .34;
	private final double CARB_RATIO = .46;
	private final double FAT_RATIO = .20;
	private final double PROTEIN_G = .33;
	private final double CARB_G = .20;
	private final double FAT_G = .20;
	
	TitledBorder title = new TitledBorder("Enter Your Information");
	TitledBorder title2 = new TitledBorder("Your Info will appear here");
	
	JLabel lWeight = new JLabel("Weight:");
	JLabel lBodyFat = new JLabel("Body Fat %:");
	JLabel lAF = new JLabel("Activity Factor:");
	JLabel lDoE = new JLabel("Duration of Exercise: ");
	JLabel lMET = new JLabel("MET Value:");
	JLabel lcalP = new JLabel("Calories of Protein: ");
	JLabel lcalC = new JLabel("Calories of Carbs:");
	JLabel lcalF = new JLabel("Calories of Fat:");
	JLabel lGP = new JLabel(" Grams of Protein: ");
	JLabel lGC = new JLabel(" Grams of Carbs: ");
	JLabel lGF = new JLabel(" Grams of Fat: ");
	JLabel lCalReq = new JLabel("Total Daily Calories:");
	JLabel lHigh = new JLabel("High Pro");
	JLabel lMod = new JLabel("Moderate Pro");
	
	JTextField tWeight = new JTextField();
	JTextField tBodyFat = new JTextField();
	JTextField tAF = new JTextField();
	JTextField tDoE = new JTextField();
	JTextField tMET = new JTextField();
	JTextField tcalP = new JTextField();
	JTextField tcalC = new JTextField();
	JTextField tcalF = new JTextField();
	JTextField tGP = new JTextField();
	JTextField tGC = new JTextField();
	JTextField tGF = new JTextField();
	JTextField tCalReq = new JTextField(" Your total daily calories will appear here ");
	
	JRadioButton high = new JRadioButton();
	JRadioButton mod = new JRadioButton();
	
	JButton calculate = new JButton("Calculate");
	JButton information = new JButton("What's this?");
	
	//Constructor
		
	public Calories(){
		
		JPanel p1 = new JPanel();
		p1.setLayout(new GridLayout(7,2));
		p1.add(lWeight);
		lWeight.setForeground(Color.white);
		p1.add(tWeight);
		p1.add(lBodyFat);
		lBodyFat.setForeground(Color.white);
		p1.add(tBodyFat);
		p1.add(lAF);
		lAF.setForeground(Color.white);
		p1.add(tAF);
		p1.add(lDoE);
		lDoE.setForeground(Color.white);
		p1.add(tDoE);
		p1.add(lMET);
		lMET.setForeground(Color.white);
		p1.add(tMET);
		p1.add(lHigh);
		lHigh.setForeground(Color.white);
		p1.add(high);
		high.setBackground(color2);
		p1.add(lMod);
		lMod.setForeground(Color.white);
		p1.add(mod);
		mod.setBackground(color2);
		p1.setBackground(color2);
		
		JPanel p2 = new JPanel();
		p2.setBackground(color2);
		p2.add(information);
		information.setBackground(color1);
		
		JPanel p3 = new JPanel();
		p3.setLayout(new BorderLayout());
		p3.setBorder(title);
		title.setTitleColor(Color.white);
		p3.setBackground(color2);
		p3.add(p1, BorderLayout.CENTER);
		p3.add(p2, BorderLayout.SOUTH);
		
		JPanel p4 = new JPanel();
		p4.setLayout(new GridLayout(3,2));
		p4.setBackground(color2);
		p4.add(lcalP);
		lcalP.setForeground(Color.white);
		p4.add(tcalP);
		p4.add(lcalC);
		lcalC.setForeground(Color.white);
		p4.add(tcalC);
		p4.add(lcalF);
		lcalF.setForeground(Color.white);
		p4.add(tcalF);
		
		JPanel p5 = new JPanel();
		p5.setLayout(new GridLayout(3,2));
		p5.setBackground(color2);
		p5.add(lGP);
		lGP.setForeground(Color.white);
		p5.add(tGP);
		p5.add(lGC);
		lGC.setForeground(Color.white);
		p5.add(tGC);
		p5.add(lGF);
		lGF.setForeground(Color.white);
		p5.add(tGF);
		
		JPanel p6 = new JPanel();
		p6.setBackground(color2);
		p6.add(calculate);
		calculate.setBackground(color1);
		
		JPanel p7 = new JPanel();
		p7.setBackground(color2);
		p7.add(lCalReq);
		lCalReq.setForeground(Color.white);
		p7.add(tCalReq);
		
		JPanel p8 = new JPanel();
		p8.setBackground(color2);
		p8.setBorder(title2);
		title2.setTitleColor(Color.white);
		p8.setLayout(new BorderLayout());
		p8.add(p7, BorderLayout.NORTH);
		p8.add(p4, BorderLayout.WEST);
		p8.add(p5, BorderLayout.EAST);
		p8.add(p6, BorderLayout.SOUTH);
		
		JPanel p9 = new JPanel();
		p9.setLayout(new GridLayout(1,2));
		p9.add(p3);
		p9.add(p8);
		
		add(p9);
	}

	public static void main (String [] args) {
		Frame frame1 = new Calories();
		frame1.setResizable(true);
		frame1.pack();
		frame1.setTitle("Calorie Calculator");
		frame1.setLocationRelativeTo(null);
		frame1.setVisible(true);
		((JFrame) frame1).setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
	}

}