How to add jlabel image hovering?

Question

How would I go upon adding JLabel hovering? Like when you move your mouse over top a JLabel a and new image will overlap it. I know how to make it work with buttons, but the same technique will not work for JLabels. Will anyone guide me towards adding JLabel hovering? Please and thanks.

package src;

import java.awt.Dimension;
import javax.swing.ImageIcon;
import javax.swing.JFrame;
import javax.swing.JLabel;

/*
 * @Author - 0x29A
 * 
 * 
 */
public class Jframe {

    public static void main(final String args[]) {

        /*
         * @Images
         */
        final ImageIcon icon = new ImageIcon("Data/button.png");
        final JLabel label = new JLabel(icon);

        final ImageIcon icon1 = new ImageIcon("Data/button1.png");
        final JLabel label1 = new JLabel(icon1);

        final ImageIcon icon2 = new ImageIcon("Data/button2.png");
        final JLabel label2 = new JLabel(icon2);

        final ImageIcon icon3 = new ImageIcon("Data/button3.png");
        final JLabel label3 = new JLabel(icon3);

        final ImageIcon icon4 = new ImageIcon("Data/button4.png");
        final JLabel label4 = new JLabel(icon4);

        final ImageIcon icon5 = new ImageIcon("Data/button5.png");
        final JLabel label5 = new JLabel(icon5);

        final ImageIcon icon6 = new ImageIcon("Data/background.png");
        final JLabel label6 = new JLabel(icon6);

        /*
         * @Image Location
         */
        label.setBounds(282, 255, 96, 96);
        label1.setBounds(384, 255, 96, 96);
        label2.setBounds(282, 153, 96, 96);
        label3.setBounds(384, 153, 198, 96);
        label4.setBounds(181, 152, 96, 96);
        label5.setBounds(181, 255, 96, 96);
        label6.setBounds(0, 0, 765, 503);

        /*
         * @Frame
         */
        final JFrame frame = new JFrame("test");
        frame.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
        frame.setPreferredSize(new Dimension(765, 503));
        frame.setLayout(null);
        frame.add(label);
        frame.add(label1);
        frame.add(label2);
        frame.add(label3);
        frame.add(label4);
        frame.add(label5);
        frame.add(label6);
        frame.pack();
        frame.setResizable(false);
        frame.setLocationRelativeTo(null);
        frame.setVisible(true);
    }
}

I'd start by learning how to use a MouseListener and MouseMotionListener, and [this](http://docs.oracle.com/javase/tutorial/uiswing/events/mouselistener.html) and [this](http://docs.oracle.com/javase/tutorial/uiswing/events/mousemotionlistener.html) tutorial can help. Have you tried anything yet? — Hovercraft Full Of Eels, Jul 26 '12 at 22:06
Thanks for those, but the problem is I have no idea how to use those with the code I have. Could you start me off by adding a mouse event for one of my label, and then I can follow how you did it and add the rest myself? That would be really thankful. — 0x29A, Jul 26 '12 at 22:10
My philosophy is that you'll gain ***much*** more if you at least give it a go first yourself. Also, we'll be able to help you better by seeing what incorrect assumptions you may have. Finally, you've got nothing to lose by trying. — Hovercraft Full Of Eels, Jul 26 '12 at 22:17

David Kroukamp · Answer 1 · 2012-07-26T22:39:57.570

Made a quick example, it uses a MouseListener and MosueAdapter to monitor mouseExited() and mouseEntered() events on the JLabel, and when either of these methods are called (i.e when the mouse is over the label or not) the picture is changed:

import java.awt.BorderLayout;
import java.awt.Container;
import java.awt.event.MouseAdapter;
import javax.swing.*;

public class LabelHoverTest extends JFrame {

    Icon pic1;
    Icon pic2;
    JLabel label;

    public LabelHoverTest(String title) {
        super(title);
        pic1 = UIManager.getIcon("OptionPane.informationIcon");
        pic2 = UIManager.getIcon("OptionPane.questionIcon");
        createAndShowUI();
    }

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

            @Override
            public void run() {
                new LabelHoverTest("Label Hover Test").setVisible(true);
            }
        });
    }

    private void createAndShowUI() {
        setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
        setResizable(false);
        addComponentsToPane(getContentPane());
        setSize(300, 300);
        setLocationRelativeTo(null);
        setVisible(true);
    }

    private void addComponentsToPane(Container contentPane) {
        label = new JLabel(pic1);

        contentPane.add(label, BorderLayout.CENTER);

        label.addMouseListener(new MouseAdapter() {

            @Override
            public void mouseEntered(java.awt.event.MouseEvent evt) {
                label.setIcon(pic2);
            }

            @Override
            public void mouseExited(java.awt.event.MouseEvent evt) {
                label.setIcon(pic1);
            }
        });
    }
}

+1 example; `UIManager.getIcon`, shown [here](http://stackoverflow.com/a/7935040/230513), may be more self contained; `pack()`? — trashgod, Jul 26 '12 at 22:36

score 3 · Answer 2 · edited Jul 26 '12 at 22:26

3

you can use the MouseEntered mouse event for that and write this code JLabel.setIcon(new javax.swing.ImageIcon(getClass().getResource("image location")));

edited Jul 26 '12 at 22:26

David Kroukamp

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answered Jul 26 '12 at 22:15

exexzian

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+1 only saw this after I posted my answer. Good suggestion :) – David Kroukamp Jul 26 '12 at 22:27

How to add jlabel image hovering?

2 Answers2

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