How to attach a window to another window

Question

Please have a look at the following code

Main.Java

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


public class Main extends JFrame
{
    private JButton ok;

    public Main()
    {
        ok = new JButton("OK");
        ok.addActionListener(new ButtonAction());

        JPanel panel = new JPanel();
        panel.setLayout(new FlowLayout());
        panel.add(ok);

        getContentPane().add(panel,"South");

        this.setVisible(true);
        this.setSize(new Dimension(200,200));
        this.validate();
        this.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);

    }

    public static void main(String[]args)
    {
        try
        {
            UIManager.setLookAndFeel(UIManager.getSystemLookAndFeelClassName());
            new Main();
        }
        catch(Exception e)
        {

        }
    }

    private class ButtonAction implements ActionListener
    {
        public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent ae)
        {
            Dialog d = new Dialog();
            d.setVisible(true);
        }
    }

}

Dialog.java

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


public class Dialog extends JDialog
{
    private JButton done;

    public Dialog()
    {
        done = new JButton("Done");

        this.add(done);

        this.setSize(new Dimension(400,200));
    }

}

In here, I want to "attach" the Dialog form to the main form. Which means, when I click the OK button in Main.Java, Dialog form will get attached to the right side of the main form. So, when I move the main form, the dialog also get moved. However, dialog form should be independent, which means, when I click "x" button in dialog form, only that form exists, not the main form.

How can I attach this dialog form, to the right side of the main form, when the button is clicked? Please help!

In the ButtonAction's actionPerformed, you should set the newly created dialog's location to the corner of the main frame you wish for it to be connected to. — FThompson, Aug 06 '12 at 18:14
I don't think it is the answer. That's the simplest thing possible. If the user moves the window, the dialog won't move — PeakGen, Aug 06 '12 at 18:21
It's a start. Add a WindowListener to track location, and a ComponentListener to track size. — FThompson, Aug 06 '12 at 18:25
It is highly recommended to call Swing related code on the EDT. Use `SwingUtilities.invokeLater(Runnable)` to do this. — Radu Murzea, Aug 06 '12 at 18:36
Good job. Does it work if you resize your main frame though? ;) — FThompson, Aug 09 '12 at 06:48
@Vulcan: Awesome remind:). There is another method resizable. However, the original app is not allowed to resize :) — PeakGen, Aug 09 '12 at 13:54

score 2 · Accepted Answer · edited Aug 09 '12 at 07:20

The answer is not MouseListener, but it is ComponentListener. I managed to do it with using that listener's "componentMoved()" method.

Main.java

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

public class Main extends JFrame implements ComponentListener, ActionListener
{
    private JButton ok;
    private Dialog dialog;

    public Main()
    {
        ok = new JButton("OK");
        ok.addActionListener(this);

        dialog = new Dialog();

        JPanel panel = new JPanel();
        panel.setLayout(new FlowLayout());
        panel.add(ok);

        getContentPane().add(panel,"South");

        this.addComponentListener(this);

        this.setVisible(true);
        this.setSize(new Dimension(200,200));
        this.validate();
        this.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
    }

    public static void main(String[]args)
    {
        try
        {
            UIManager.setLookAndFeel(UIManager.getSystemLookAndFeelClassName());
            new Main();
        }
        catch(Exception e){}
    }

    public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent ae)
    {   
        dialog.setVisible(true);
    }

    @Override
    public void componentHidden(ComponentEvent arg0) {}

    @Override
    public void componentMoved(ComponentEvent arg0) 
    {
        int x = this.getX() + this.getWidth();
        int y = this.getY();

        dialog.setDialogLocation(x, y);
    }

    @Override
    public void componentResized(ComponentEvent arg0) {}

    @Override
    public void componentShown(ComponentEvent arg0) {}
}

Dialog.java

import java.awt.Dimension;

import javax.swing.JButton;
import javax.swing.JDialog;


public class Dialog extends JDialog
{
    private JButton done;

    public Dialog()
    {
        done = new JButton("Done");

        this.add(done);

        this.setSize(new Dimension(400,200));
    }

    public void setDialogLocation(int x, int y)
    {
        this.setLocation(x, y);
    }

}

score 0 · Answer 2 · answered Aug 06 '12 at 18:23

0

I'm not aware of any built-in function that you can just say "dialog.moveWithThisOtherWindow(otherWindow)" or some such and it just happens. You would have to write code to do this yourself.

Create a mouse listener or mouse adapter on the parent form. In the "mouse moved" event in the mouse listener, move the child form. Of course the parent would have to have a handle to the child. Depending how you create the windows, you may need some sort of "register" function that the child can call to identify himself to the parent.

answered Aug 06 '12 at 18:23

Jay

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"*you may need some sort of "register" function that the child can call to identify himself to the parent.*" This is why the constructor `JDialog (Window owner)` exists. – Radu Murzea Aug 06 '12 at 18:34
I was thinking that the child window in this "stick together" sense may not also a child in the built-in "modality and close together" sense. I suppose I should have been more explicit. – Jay Aug 06 '12 at 18:39
OK, but how to get the location of the right corner? this.getX(), this.getY() returns the left side location right? So, I have to add the width to the getX() to get the right side X. hight of the window to get the right side, y. Isn't it? – PeakGen Aug 06 '12 at 19:01
1

@Yohan Yes, something like that. You have to get the location of the window and add its width/height to the corresponding coordinates, depending on which right corner you want. After that, you must write a `MouseAdapter` and attach it to the main frame. When the user drags the frame, recalculate the window's position (inside that `MouseAdapter`) and re-position the dialog. Try it out. If you get stuck, come back and we'll try to figure it out. – Radu Murzea Aug 06 '12 at 19:12
@SoboLAN: Hi, I found the answer. Have a look :) – PeakGen Aug 09 '12 at 06:40
@Yohan Interesting, didn't know that it would work with a `ComponentListener`. It's probably not perfect but if it works and you're satisfied, good for you :) . PS: Execute GUI-related code on the EDT, not on the main thread. This is very important. – Radu Murzea Aug 09 '12 at 07:22
@Yohan See `SwingUtilities.invokeLater(Runnable)`. You pass to that method a `Runnable` containing your GUI code. PS: I found an older answer of mine where this can be seen: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/9533072/add-a-title-to-a-jtable/9533238#9533238 . Notice the `SwingUtilities.invokeLater` call in the `main` method. Also, see this link: http://docs.oracle.com/javase/tutorial/uiswing/concurrency/initial.html – Radu Murzea Aug 09 '12 at 14:35
@SoboLAN: Thanks for the reply. No prob I guess. I am aware of that method :) – PeakGen Aug 09 '12 at 14:37

How to attach a window to another window

2 Answers2