How to avoid JFrame EXIT_ON_CLOSE operation to exit the entire application?

Question

I have a application that launches other applications, something like a dock. The problem is that if the app that I'm launching (JFrame) has the EXIT_ON_CLOSE it will also close my main application.

I have no control what-so-ever over the applications that I'm launching. That is, I cannot expect the application to have a good behavior and use DISPOSE_ON_CLOSE.

What can I do to avoid this? I've tried already to use threads, but no luck. I also tried to put the main application thread in daemon, but no luck too.

I've tried putting a custom SecurityManager overwritting the checkExit method. The problem is that now even the main app can't exit. Also, it doesn`t "work" because applications that use EXIT_ON_CLOSE as their default close operation will throw a Exception and not execute (since Swing checks the Security Manager for the exit -- System.checkExit()), failing to launch :(.

Are you launching this other application like frame.setVisible, or by creating a new process through Runtime or Process Builder? — Zach L, Jan 28 '11 at 12:47

fmucar · Answer 1 · 2011-01-28T12:38:07.270

3

if you want to close only the frame you see, it should be DISPOSE_ON_CLOSE

EDIT:

Try intercepting the EXIT_ON_CLOSE event.

frame.getGlassPane() or frame.getRootPane()

may be useful.

Also if you have right to execute methods of the other app, you can call setDefaultCloseOperation again setting it to DISPOSE_ON_CLOSE

edited Jan 28 '11 at 12:38

answered Jan 28 '11 at 11:54

fmucar

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But I have no control on the application that I'll run. This is the problem. – Marcos Roriz Junior Jan 28 '11 at 12:13

Andrew Thompson · Answer 2 · 2016-08-25T10:25:39.277

3

It is a bit of a hack, but you can always use a SecurityManager to manage the other frames.

This simple example prevents a frame from exiting:

import java.awt.*;
import javax.swing.*;

public class PreventExitExample {

    public static void main(String[] args) {
        Runnable r = new Runnable() {
            @Override
            public void run() {
                PreventExitExample o = new PreventExitExample();

                JFrame f = new JFrame(o.getClass().getSimpleName());
                f.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
                f.setLocationByPlatform(true);
                f.setSize(new Dimension(400,200));
                f.setVisible(true);

                System.setSecurityManager(new PreventExitSecurityManager());
            }
        };
        SwingUtilities.invokeLater(r);
    }
}

class PreventExitSecurityManager extends SecurityManager {

    @Override
    public void checkExit(int status) {
        throw new SecurityException("Cannot exit this frame!");
    }
}

edited Aug 25 '16 at 10:25

answered Jan 28 '11 at 15:22

Andrew Thompson

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Yes, I think that for example the open source project JDistro does something like that. – Anthony Jan 29 '11 at 13:25
Hi, the problem with using a custom SecurityManager is that now even the main app can't exit. Also, it doesnt "work" because applications that use `EXIT_ON_CLOSE` as their default close operation will throw a Exception and not execute (Since Swing checks the Security Manager for the exit -- System.checkExit()). – Marcos Roriz Junior Jan 31 '11 at 13:38
If you had run that code you might see the main app. **can** exit. – Andrew Thompson Jan 31 '11 at 14:13
Ok, the main app can exit. But the other app won't run (i.e., the ones that have `EXIT_ON_CLOSE`. – Marcos Roriz Junior Feb 01 '11 at 10:58
@StefanDollase Removed the link, included an example. – Andrew Thompson Aug 25 '16 at 10:26

score 2 · Answer 3 · answered Jan 28 '11 at 12:54

2

You can get list of all frames using Frame's static method public static Frame[] getFrames()

Iterate the list and check if a list member is instanceof JFrame change default close operation to DISPOSE_ON_CLOSE

answered Jan 28 '11 at 12:54

StanislavL

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How to avoid JFrame EXIT_ON_CLOSE operation to exit the entire application?

3 Answers3

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