Set Color of JLabel Using a String

Question

I am working on a Java project. I want for the user to input a color for a Label. I want to do something like this, but with a String.

jLabel3.setForeground(Color.blue);

Here is what I tried, but didn't work:

String a = "blue";
jLabel3.setForeground(Color.a);

or:

String a = "blue";
jLabel3.setForeground(a);

Is there possibly another way to do this with a method? Any help would be great. Thank You.

Eng.Fouad · Accepted Answer · 2013-03-07T23:09:11.623

7

Here is one way:

Map<String, Color> colors = new HashMap<String, Color>();

// ...

colors.put("blue", Color.BLUE);
colors.put("red", Color.RED);
colors.put("green", Color.GREEN);
// other colors

Then use it like:

String a = "blue";
jLabel3.setForeground(colors.get(a.toLowerCase()));

EDIT: Consider a color chooser. See How to Use Color Choosers.

edited Mar 07 '13 at 23:09

answered Mar 07 '13 at 21:22

Eng.Fouad

115,165
71
313
417

"-1: Work only for predefined color, not for user defined colors" - Aubin – Mar 07 '13 at 22:01
1

+1 for `Map`; the reverse is suggested [here](http://stackoverflow.com/a/6717956/230513) for arbitrary [named colors](http://www.w3schools.com/html/html_colornames.asp). Also consider a [two-way map](http://stackoverflow.com/q/3430170/230513). – trashgod Mar 07 '13 at 22:36
1

@Legend, he could provide a method for registering user-defined colors -- by putting new values into the map. – shuangwhywhy Mar 07 '13 at 22:51

score 4 · Answer 2 · answered Mar 07 '13 at 21:22

4

Try reflection:

Color color;
try {
    Field field = Class.forName("java.awt.Color").getField("yellow");
    color = (Color)field.get(null);
} catch (final Exception e) {
    e.printStackTrace();
}

Besides that you can create a map of colors and their names.

answered Mar 07 '13 at 21:22

1

-1: Work only for predefined color, not for user defined colors, reflection is not designed for this need even if your code sample compile and runs well. – Aubin Mar 07 '13 at 21:34
Eng.Fouad has done for me, nothing to add, it's perfect and upvoted – Aubin Mar 07 '13 at 21:52
Then you have nothing to contribute here. Also, last I checked, his only worked for predefined colors as well. – Mar 07 '13 at 22:01

score 0 · Answer 3 · edited Mar 07 '13 at 21:24

0

Not sure if there is a better way but you could do somthing like:

If("blue".equals(a)){
    jLabel3.setForeground(Color.blue);
}

edited Mar 07 '13 at 21:24

Eng.Fouad

115,165
71
313
417

answered Mar 07 '13 at 21:24

Boyen

1,429
2
15
22

And if we have 256 colors, you add 256*3 LOC every where you need a color? – Aubin Mar 07 '13 at 21:35
1

@Aubin Exactly, it's a very primitive way but it could be effective depending on how many different colors the user is allowed to use. – Boyen Mar 07 '13 at 21:37

Set Color of JLabel Using a String

3 Answers3