Analysis
You simply want the JComponents
to be displayed on the JFrame
. We can achieve this by using a single JPanel
, but adding and removing the JComponents
from it, during the JButton
's action listener.
Without looking at your actual code, it is better to make a manageable way to reach code and instantiated Objects. The code listed below, creates a nice and manageable way to do so.
Achieving This
The entire class is listed below with comments for explanations.
package swing;
import java.awt.BorderLayout;
import java.awt.Dimension;
import java.awt.event.ActionEvent;
import java.awt.event.ActionListener;
import java.util.ArrayList;
import java.util.List;
import javax.swing.JButton;
import javax.swing.JComponent;
import javax.swing.JFrame;
import javax.swing.JPanel;
public class MultiPaneledFrame {
JFrame frame = new JFrame();
JPanel window = new JPanel();
// As you can see, we create an array containing all your JComponents.
// We have two of these, to simulate multiple JPanel's.
List<JComponent> window1Contents = new ArrayList<JComponent>();
List<JComponent> window2Contents = new ArrayList<JComponent>();
// NOTE: The above Lists can instead be stuck in their own class like asked for,
// and instantiated on Class invocation.
JButton goto2 = new JButton("Goto Panel 2");
JButton goto1 = new JButton("Goto Panel 1");
int panelToShow = 0; // 0 - First "panel".
// 1 - Second "panel".
// Main method of class. Change 'Multi_Paneled_Frame' to the name of your Class.
public MultiPaneledFrame() {
// Execute anything else you want here, before we start the frame.
window1Contents.add(goto2);
window2Contents.add(goto1);
// Here is where I personally am setting the coordinates of the JButton's on the JPanel.
goto2.setPreferredSize(new Dimension(200, 100));
goto1.setPreferredSize(new Dimension(200, 100));
//goto2.setBounds(5, 5, 150, 30); < Used for 'null' layout.
//goto1.setBounds(5, 5, 150, 30); < Used for 'null' layout.
goto2.addActionListener(new ActionListener() {
public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e) {
addComponents(panelToShow = 1);
}
});
goto1.addActionListener(new ActionListener() {
public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e) {
addComponents(panelToShow = 0);
}
});
initialiseFrame();
}
public static void main(String[] args) {
SwingUtilities.invokeLater(new Runnable() {
public void run() {
new MultiPaneledFrame();
}
});
}
private void initialiseFrame() {
frame.setSize(600, 400); // Change it accordingly.
// Optional
frame.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
frame.setLocationRelativeTo(null);
frame.setResizable(false);
// Needed
frame.setVisible(true);
frame.add(window);
window.setLayout(new BorderLayout()); // Assuming your using a BorderLayout.
//window.setLayout(null); < Uses 'null' layout.
addComponents(panelToShow);
// I always like to make sure that everything is on the frame nicely.
frame.repaint();
frame.validate();
}
private void addComponents(int panelNo) {
if (panelNo == 0) {
for (JComponent component : window1Contents) {
window.removeAll(); // We're removing everything that it contains and replacing it...
window.revalidate();
window.add(component, BorderLayout.CENTER);
//window.add(component); < Uses 'null' layout.
// Since we are using the first panel, we are adding
// everything from the first list of components to the window...
}
} else {
for (JComponent component : window2Contents) {
window.removeAll(); // We're removing everything that it contains and replacing it...
window.revalidate();
window.add(component, BorderLayout.CENTER);
//window.add(component); < Uses 'null' layout.
// Since we are using the second panel, we are adding
// everything from the second list of components to the window...
}
}
// Refreshes the frame.
frame.repaint();
frame.validate();
}
}
Conclusion
Although there are countless ways to achieve something like this, the way I have given, is semi-efficient, and very flexible. Feel free to edit the code, or drop a question if you have any concerns, and I will be happy to respond.
PS: This code was tested and works on a Macbook Air running OS X 10.11 and Java Version 8 Update 65.