Navigating between multiple panels

Question

Can anyone tell me how to go about coding for navigation between multiple JPanel classes taking the event trigger from JButton from the objects (panels) themselves? I have read about CardLayout. The panel can be swapped from the events happening in the parent panel. What I want to achieve is on click of a button embedded in the panel, it should should disappear or a desired panel should be displayed. Can't seem to find a solution.

*"Can anyone tell me.."* Sure we can, but [what have *you* tried?](http://www.whathaveyoutried.com/) I mean *besides* asking random strangers on the internet to do it for you. — Andrew Thompson, Jun 05 '12 at 16:47
You are correct -- CardLayout can do this. Now all you have to do is try to write the code and see what happens. *Then* if you get stuck, please come on back and show us your code and tell us how or why it's not working. Don't try to *find* a solution, but instead try to *write* a solution. You will learn more from the effort, trust me. — Hovercraft Full Of Eels, Jun 05 '12 at 17:12

Gene · Accepted Answer · 2012-06-06T15:41:33.623

There is nothing about CardLayout that prevents switching cards from actions of children within the cards.

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

public class Testing extends JFrame {

    private JPanel cardHolder;
    private CardLayout cards;
    private static final String cardA = "A";
    private static final String cardB = "B";

    private class Switcher implements ActionListener{
        String card;        
        Switcher(String card) { this.card = card; }
        @Override
        public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e) {
            cards.show(cardHolder, card);
        }
    }

    private void run() {
        setDefaultCloseOperation(EXIT_ON_CLOSE);

        JPanel pa = new JPanel();
        JButton ba = new JButton("Switch to B");
        ba.addActionListener(new Switcher(cardB));
        pa.add(ba);
        pa.setBackground(Color.CYAN);

        JPanel pb = new JPanel();
        JButton bb = new JButton("Switch to A");
        bb.addActionListener(new Switcher(cardA));
        pb.add(bb);
        pb.setBackground(Color.MAGENTA);

        cardHolder = new JPanel();
        cards = new CardLayout();
        cardHolder.setLayout(cards);
        cardHolder.add(pa, cardA);
        cardHolder.add(pb, cardB);
        add(cardHolder);
        pack();
        setVisible(true);
    }

    public static void main(String[] args) {
        try {
            SwingUtilities.invokeAndWait(new Runnable() {
                @Override
                public void run() {
                    new testing().run();
                }
            });
        } catch (Exception ex) { }
    }
}

+1 but 1) never `extends JFrame / JDialog / JWindow` 2) use Java Naming Conventions correctly, then class name `testing` should be `Testing` — mKorbel, Jun 05 '12 at 18:45
Gene, Thank alot works like a charm. My errors were trying to use panel.setVisible(), revalidate(), and repaint() methods to hide/show the panels. Sorry, I didn't post my codes I felt it won't do much. Thanks alot. I am new to StackOverFlow, is there anywhere I can +1 a solution. — CodeThag, Jun 06 '12 at 08:57
*"is there anywhere I can +1 a solution."* Not until you have enough rep. points. Accepting an answer (like you did) is always a good way to indicate satisfaction with an answer. — Andrew Thompson, Jun 06 '12 at 12:54
Thanks. I always keep a little class called testing in my current project as a place to do quick experiments. I use an all lower case name to allow my build script to strip it in the final build. — Gene, Jun 06 '12 at 15:43
I'm not sure what you mean by `never extends JFrame`. The run() method extends `JFrame`, and I can't think of a way it would be clearer if it didn't do this. Cheers. — Gene, Jun 06 '12 at 15:50

score 2 · Answer 2 · answered Jun 05 '12 at 17:33

2

You can use JMenu with JMenuItems instead of to use the JButton for switching betweens Cards

answered Jun 05 '12 at 17:33

mKorbel

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Navigating between multiple panels

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