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I need to make JComponent's width to be 300 or less, but height should be variable (depending on content of JComponent).

Firstly, I tried to use 

myComponent.setMaximumSize(300, 9999);

but I found that this method has absolutely no effect, and component still becomes expanded depending on its content (I can't see any effect, at least).

Then I tried to use 

myComponent.setPreferredSize(300, (int)myComponent.getPreferredSize().getHeight());

Then, width becomes 300 and not less than 300. This isn't perfect, but acceptable. BUT, now, when component's content is changed, size isn't changed! This isn't acceptable.

I tried to find the way to affect only preferred width, and leave height to be "default", but I failed to find that way.

I tried to set height to 0 or -1: no effect.

How to achieve that?

UPD: please take a look at the picture: http://goo.gl/3Hp59 That's what I already implemented, but I used setPreferredSize(), which is bad, as I already realized, thank you.

Please help me find out the correct way:

Currently I use GridBagLayout. I need to make right column's width <= 300. (and left one, say, <= 200) How to achieve that using GridBagLayout, or what layout should I use instead?

Jonas Söderström
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Dmitry Frank
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    don't even try to tweak the min/pref/max - providing reasonable sizing hints is the exclusive task of the component itself ([see a recent thread](http://stackoverflow.com/questions/7229226/should-i-avoid-the-use-of-setpreferredmaximumminimumsize-methods-in-java-swi/7229519#7229519)). So implement them to report such reasonable values - and then choose a LayoutManager which dis/respects them as you to your requirements. – kleopatra Jan 07 '13 at 16:13
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    For better help sooner, post an [SSCCE](http://sscce.org/). – Andrew Thompson Jan 07 '13 at 16:40
  • @kleopatra, ok, I realized that I should not use setPreferredSize() etc, but please help me to find out the correct way: I updated my question, check it. – Dmitry Frank Jan 07 '13 at 18:07
  • @kleopatra, after all, thanks for getting me out from the wrong way. – Dmitry Frank Jan 08 '13 at 11:59

2 Answers2

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SapuSeven
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mKorbel
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    Ok, I realized that I should not use setPreferredSize() etc, but please help me to find out the correct way: I updated my question, check it. – Dmitry Frank Jan 07 '13 at 18:07
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Use GroupLayout. It has some the best controls for sizing. GroupLayout can look a bit intimidating, but the examples provided are excellent. Especially useful if you want to allow the user to resize the screen.

Alan Yackel
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  • Thank you very much, currenly i'm playing with it and it seems to be exactly what I need, really. More, your guess was correct: I want to allow the user to resize the screen, and I couldn't achieve needed behavior with `GridBagLayout`, but I can with `GroupLayout`. Thanks again! – Dmitry Frank Jan 08 '13 at 11:58