Drawing Canvas on JFrame

Question

I'm trying to draw simple shapes with Canvas, in this class I've set the painting

public class Game extends Canvas{
    //FIELDS
    public int WIDTH  = 1024;
    public int HEIGHT = WIDTH / 16 * 9;

    //METHODS
    public void start(){
        Dimension size = new Dimension (WIDTH, HEIGHT);
        setPreferredSize(size);
        paint(null);
    }

    public void paint(Graphics g){
        g.setColor(Color.GREEN);
        g.fillRect(0, 0, WIDTH, HEIGHT);
        g.setColor(Color.BLACK);
        g.fillOval(100, 100, 30, 30);
    }
}

And in this the Window

public class MainW {


    public static void main(String[] args) {
        Game ga = new Game();
        JFrame frame = new JFrame ();
        frame.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
        frame.setLocationRelativeTo(null);
        frame.add(ga);
        frame.setVisible(true);
        ga.start();

    }

}

It works, but the JFrame is not adapting to the Canvas. I have to manually resize the window to see the objects. How can I pack it so that JFrame automatically encompasses the Canvas?

EDIT: That's really weird. While frame.pack() is indeed essential, it's not enough. What I did was change the start method and turn it into a constructor, like that:

    public class Game extends Canvas{
        //FIELDS
        public int WIDTH  = 1024;
        public int HEIGHT = WIDTH / 16 * 9;

        //METHODS
        public void Game(){
        Dimension size = new Dimension (WIDTH, HEIGHT);
        setPreferredSize(size);
    }

then, from the other class, Eclipse complained about calling the constructor directly(E.G. ga.Game), so I followed it's tip and changed to:

    public static void main(String[] args) {
        Game ga = new Game();
        JFrame frame = new JFrame ();
        frame.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
        frame.setLocationRelativeTo(null);
        frame.add(ga);
        frame.setVisible(true);
        ga.getName();

    }

This way I achieve what I have in mind but I really don't know why I can't call the constructor.

Add `frame.pack();` between `add(ga)` and `setVisible(true)`. — johnchen902, Jul 29 '13 at 11:09
Don't mix AWT and Swing components needlessly. YOu should be drawing on a JPanel and in its `paintCompoment(...)` override method. — Hovercraft Full Of Eels, Jul 29 '13 at 11:13

score 5 · Accepted Answer · edited May 23 '17 at 11:53

I don't know what it is you're trying to do, but you should NEVER be calling paint and especially not pass it null.

Start by taking a look at Performing Custom Painting and Painting in AWT and Swing for details about how painting works.

In order to get the window to size to you component, you need to provide it some important information.

While Window#pack is the method you are looking for, it will not help you unless you provide appropriate sizing hints.

In this case, you need to override the getPreferredSize method of you component and provide an appropriate size value. Window#pack will use this value to determine what size it needs to be in order to accommodate it.

enter image description here

import java.awt.BorderLayout;
import java.awt.Color;
import java.awt.Dimension;
import java.awt.EventQueue;
import java.awt.Graphics;
import javax.swing.JFrame;
import javax.swing.JPanel;
import javax.swing.UIManager;
import javax.swing.UnsupportedLookAndFeelException;

public class TestPaint {

    public static void main(String[] args) {
        new TestPaint();
    }

    public TestPaint() {
        EventQueue.invokeLater(new Runnable() {
            @Override
            public void run() {
                try {
                    UIManager.setLookAndFeel(UIManager.getSystemLookAndFeelClassName());
                } catch (ClassNotFoundException | InstantiationException | IllegalAccessException | UnsupportedLookAndFeelException ex) {
                }

                JFrame frame = new JFrame("Testing");
                frame.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
                frame.setLayout(new BorderLayout());
                frame.add(new TestPane());
                frame.pack();
                frame.setLocationRelativeTo(null);
                frame.setVisible(true);
            }
        });
    }

    public class TestPane extends JPanel {

        @Override
        public Dimension getPreferredSize() {
            return new Dimension(200, 200);
        }

        @Override
        protected void paintComponent(Graphics g) {
            super.paintComponent(g);
            g.setColor(Color.GREEN);
            g.fillRect(0, 0, WIDTH, HEIGHT);
            g.setColor(Color.BLACK);
            g.fillOval(100, 100, 30, 30);
        }
    }
}

The paint chain is very important and you should avoid breaking it at all coasts. Make sure you always call super.paintXxx or be prepared for some serious weirdness

Also may want to have a read of Should I avoid the use of set(Preferred|Maximum|Minimum)Size methods in Java Swing?

score 2 · Answer 2 · answered Jul 29 '13 at 11:16

2

Use java.awt.Window.pack (JFrame indirectly extends Window):

Causes this Window to be sized to fit the preferred size and layouts of its subcomponents.

    // ...
    frame.add(ga);
    frame.pack();
    frame.setVisible(true);
    // ...

answered Jul 29 '13 at 11:16

johnchen902

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sajjadG · Answer 3 · 2013-07-29T11:21:58.610

After painting on canvas try repaint the JFrame

public static void main(String[] args) {
    Game ga = new Game();
    JFrame frame = new JFrame ();
    frame.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
    frame.setLocationRelativeTo(null);
    frame.add(ga);
    frame.setVisible(true);
    ga.start();

    //repaint here
    frame.repaint();
}

Also note that:

frame.pack for fixing the size issue.

frame.revalidate sometimes help when adding or removing components in runtime.

Drawing Canvas on JFrame

3 Answers3

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