How to set font color for selected text in jTextArea?

Question

I have to set defined color(like red) for selected text in jTextArea. It is like highlighting process in text area (jTextArea). When I select particular text and click on any button it should change in predefined color.

I can change jTextArea to jTextPane or JEditorPane if there is any solution.

`JTextPane` or `JEditorPane` may be a better option for you here. — Michael Berry, May 28 '13 at 11:32
Thanks berry I can change it to jTextPane or jEditorPane if there is any solution. — Aryan G, May 28 '13 at 11:36
Your answer, with working example: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/9650992/how-to-change-text-color-in-the-jtextarea — An SO User, May 28 '13 at 11:38
EnKrypt, I tried with jTextArea1.setSelectedTextColor(Color.red); but that change color when I am selecting particular text. I want to set it fixed until I close window, like highlighter. — Aryan G, May 28 '13 at 11:38

Joop Eggen · Accepted Answer · 2013-05-28T12:02:29.000

Styled text (with a color attribute for characters) is available as StyledDocument, and usable in JTextPane and JEditorPane. So use a JTextPane.

private void buttonActionPerformed(java.awt.event.ActionEvent evt) {
    StyledDocument doc = textPane.getStyledDocument();
    int start = textPane.getSelectionStart();
    int end = textPane.getSelectionEnd();
    if (start == end) { // No selection, cursor position.
        return;
    }
    if (start > end) { // Backwards selection?
        int life = start;
        start = end;
        end = life;
    }
    Style style = textPane.addStyle("MyHilite", null);
    StyleConstants.setForeground(style, Color.GREEN.darker());
    //style = textPane.getStyle("MyHilite");
    doc.setCharacterAttributes(start, end - start, style, false);
}

Mind: the style can be set at the creation of the JTextPane, and as the outcommented code shows, retrieved out of the JTextPane field.

Thank you, I think this code works. How to use StyledDocument and other style in it? it is showing "Can not find symbol". — Aryan G, May 28 '13 at 11:54
There must be a JTextPane textPane, and `import javax.swing.text.*`. And then there is somewhere JButton with addActionListener or so. — Joop Eggen, May 28 '13 at 12:09

score 1 · Answer 2 · answered May 28 '13 at 11:37

1

First of all you can not do this using JTextArea because it is a plain text area.You have to use a styled text area like JEditorPane.see here.You can use a HTMLDocument and do what you want.See here

answered May 28 '13 at 11:37

Sanjaya Liyanage

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How to set font color for selected text in jTextArea?

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