Let's say you're creating an address form on a webpage which asks for the state a user lives in. Do you really want to list all 50 states on the form for someone to choose from? After all, that information will take up too much valuable space on the page and create unnecessary clutter.
What should you do?
The simplest solution is to use Java's JList function to create a pop-up menu with a list of states for a user to choose from. The selection is made, the options box disappears, and life moves on.
Then again, to do this, you'll need to understand the ins and outs of using JList. To give you a hand, we'll go over the basics of what you'll need to know below.
What is JList?
JList is a tool in Java which allows you to build a graphical user interface (GUI) to display a list of items and allow a user to select one or more of these items. It's a Swing component, part of a larger toolkit to build application programming interfaces (APIs). A separate component, ListModel, contains the data for the list being displayed.
The "J" at the beginning of JList indicates it's a descendant of the JComponent class as are all the tools which utilize Swing architecture. This includes the following features:
JList Constructors & Methods
The API for using JList constructors and methods breaks out into four areas:
JList Constructors
These are the most common JList constructors:
JList Methods
Common methods used with JList constructors include:
Using JList
Depending on the relative size, complexity, and visual properties of the list you want to display, JList's options are both varied and robust. There are, however, five basic steps you'll need to work through each time you use the JList function:
1. Building a List Model
Before you can build the JList GUI, you need to create a model for your list's data. There are three options to do this:
- 1ListModel: You manage all elements of the list.
- 2AbstractListModel: You manage the list data.
- 3DefaultListModel: Most list elements managed by default parameters.
2. Initializing a List
Once you've chosen your model, you'll need to use code from ListDialog.java to initialize the list and populate its array with items from a previously defined object. Or, as per the constructors listed above, you can create a list from an object or Vector as per the ListModel component.
This is also when you can determine display characteristics such as adding a scroll pane or how the text will be displayed: vertical, vertical with text wrapping, or horizontal with text wrapping.
3. Rendering List Cells
List items are displayed by using a cell renderer object to format icons and strings by via toString. If you want to customize this display, you'll need to utilize the ListCellRenderer interface. This will create a "stamp" to paint components within a JList cell such as the foreground or background colors.
4. Selecting List Items
The ListSelectionModel component manages the list selection options. By default, this includes the ability to choose any number of items as per the three following modes:
5. Adding & Removing List Items
Lists can be either mutable (changeable) or immutable (unchanging). In the case of listing all 50 US states, you'd likely want that list to be immutable. On the other hand, you'll need to set up a mutable list if you're going to be adding or removing items from it such as, for example, different products or payment options over time.
There are two basic ways to do this:
Additional JList Features
Of course, depending on the complexity of the list you want users to access, there are a variety of additional features which can be incorporated once you master the basics:
Split Panes
JSplitPane allows you to display two separate components either one on top of the other or side by side. For example, in a side-by-side display, you could list product names in the left pane, and when a selection is made by the user, a picture of the product appears in the right-hand pane.
To try this out, open Java Web Start (JDK 7 or later), and select the Launch button for the SplitPaneDemo. Or, you can use this example provided by Oracle to compile and run your own split-pane list.
Box Layout
JList's BoxLayout allows you to put all selections in a single box either in rows or stacked on top of each other. This is similar to FlowLayout but offers more powerful options such as moving and rearranging elements within the box in relationship to each other.
Be aware: Even Oracle admits coding box layouts by hand can be tricky and suggests you consider using the GroupLayout manager with a builder tool such as NetBeans IDE.
List Data Listener
When the contents of a list change, that's a data event. By default, list models are immutable, so to use a data listener – or even have a need for one – you'll need to make sure you've created a mutable list. An example of an action requiring a list data listener would be offering users the ability to add items to an online wish list.
Custom Models
By default, almost all Swing components work from models. For example, an onscreen button uses a model file to store its image, what keyboard action it's associated with, and other properties. Plus, components can use multiple models. For example, a list uses one model to track the existing selection a user has made while another one is used for list data.
So, if you wanted to allow users to enter data which is then further manipulated for them, you'd need to create a custom model. For example, perhaps you have a temperature converter. Users could enter degrees in Fahrenheit and the model you've created would convert that into a Celsius measurement. Or, you could allow users to convert pounds to kilograms, miles to kilometers, and so on.
Sample JList
Now that we've covered some of the theory, here's the code for a basic JList GUI which displays a list of four car manufacturers:
import javax.swing.*;
public class ListDemo
{
ListDemo(){
JFrame f= new JFrame();
DefaultListModel<String> l1 = new DefaultListModel<>();
l1.addElement("Audi");
l1.addElement("Chevrolet");
l1.addElement("Ford");
l1.addElement("Mercedes");
JList<String> list = new JList<>(l1);
list.setBounds(150,150, 100,100);
f.add(list);
f.setSize(500,500);
f.setLayout(null);
f.setVisible(true);
}
public static void main(String args[])
{
new ListDemo();
}
}
Remember, as you add more bells and whistles to your list's GUI, the code will be longer and more complex.
Additional JList Resources
Thanks to Java being open source, there are many resources available for programmers beginning with Oracle's complete Java Platform, Standard Edition 8 API Specification documentation. All that information makes for some dense reading, however, so for JList tips, in particular, you might also take a look at the tutorials at these websites:
When you're programming with Java, you want to make sure you're using all its features to maximum effect. Once you're familiar with JList's constructors and methods, you will be well on your way to creating dynamic lists with a variety of functions for users.
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