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JavaFX GUI Basics with BorderPane

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23 views4 pages

JavaFX GUI Basics with BorderPane

Uploaded by

ranganadh
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as TXT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

INTRODUCTION TO JAVAFX

-----------------------
What is JavaFX?
JavaFX is the latest GUI (Graphical User Interface) environment that Java uses. Its
predecessors include AWT and Swing. Swing is a GUI toolkit that made creating GUI's
with Java much easier. It is still used heavily in today's world, but is no longer
being actively developed.

According to Oracle, JavaFX is \a set of graphics and media packages that enables
de-velopers to design, create, test, debug, and deploy rich client applications
that operate consistently across diverse platforms." In other words, JavaFX is the
latest way to create GUI applications with Java.

JavaFX was created and is maintained by Oracle, but you can use it with other
languages as well, like JRuby, Scala, Jython (a of Python), Groovy, and JavaScript!
In addition, you can use the web language CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) to alter the
appearance of your GUI application without changing your code.

The following code is a very simple JavaFX application.

Notice three main things. First, that the class uses \extends Application." What
this does is tell Java that you are going to use inheritance to make this
application use JavaFX.

Next it has a required method named \start(Stage primaryStage)." The \primaryStage"


is what is going to appear. Think of the \Stage" as a stage that actors stand on
for theater productions.

Finally, we tell the Stage to appear by \[Link]();" This is what makes


the application visible.

import [Link];
import [Link];
public class Ch1_1 extends Application {
public void start(Stage primaryStage) {
[Link]();
}
public static void main(String[] args) {
launch(args);
}
}

Let us make the application a littler more interesting. After all, an empty
application is very boring and useless.
The following code is slightly di#erent from the one above. First, it has a label.
The label is just text that will appear on the screen. Second it has a \StackPane"
layout - which means that the the text will appear in the middle of the
application.

The next line adds the label to the StackPane. The StackPane has to then be added
to a \Scene." A \Scene" is similar to scenes in theater where the scenes can be
changed, but the stage is always the same. For example, in theater, you might have
an opening scene with a blue backdrop and a couch. Then, when the scene changes the
backdrop becomes red and a chair replaces the couch. Regardless of how many scenes
are in a play at the theater, there is only one stage where the actors always
perform.

When the \Scene" is all con


gured then it is added to the Stage.

import [Link];
import [Link];
import [Link].*;
import [Link].*;
import [Link].*;
public class Ch1_2 extends Application {
public void start(Stage primaryStage) {
Label label1 = new Label("I love JavaFX!"); //show text
StackPane root = new StackPane(); //create a layout
[Link]().add(label1); //add the Label to the
layout
Scene scene = new Scene(root,100,100); //add the StackPane
to the scene and set's the width to be 100 pixels and
the height to be 100 pixels
[Link](scene); //set the Scene
[Link](); //show the Stage
}
public static void main(String[] args) {
launch(args);
}
}

Two Approaches

There are two main approaches to creating Java GUI's. You can either write all the
code by hand or you can use a drag-and-drop application.

Approach 1 - Hand-Written Code


The first approach is to create the GUI completely by hand-written code. This
approach is well worth your time. You will have complete control over every aspect
of the what happens. This is what I have shown above.

However, this approach requires months of digging into documentation and is not the
approach we will take with this book. This used to be the only way to create GUI's
in the long forgotten past.

Approach 2 - Drag And Drop


The second approach is to create the GUI using a drag-and-drop application, like
Scene Builder ([Link]

The approach that is going to take is to design the GUI in Scene Builder and
write the code in JGrasp. The reason for this approach is that it allows the
beginning student to see exactly how the GUI is put together with no magic, but
makes it easier by having to only drag-and-drop the GUI components.

I presume at this point that you already have a very fundamental knowledge of how
Java works and that you have both Java and JGrasp installed. The next step is to
install Scene Builder. With a web browser, navigate to [Link]
source/scene-builder/. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and download the
executable jar

Layouts
-------
Layouts are how GUI's are put together. The layout is how GUI controls are placed
on the screen. A GUI control, also known as a GUI widget is an interactive element
in the GUI, like a button, scrollbar, or textfield.
There are many di#erent layouts. The following are some of the more common layouts:

BorderPane - A basic layout that gives you


ve areas: top, left, right, bottom,and center.

HBox - A basic layout that orders the GUI controls in a horizontal (thus the \H")
line.

VBox - A basic layout that orders the GUI controls in a vertical (thus the \H")
line.

GridPane - A basic layout that orders the GUI controls in a grid. For example, a
grid might be 2 row by 2 columns.

StackPane - A basic layout that put all the GUI controls in a stack, in other
words, right on top of each other.

import [Link];
import [Link];
import [Link].*;
import [Link].*;
import [Link].*;
public class HandWrittenCode extends Application {
public void start(Stage primaryStage) {
HBox hbox1 = new HBox();
Label label1 = new Label("Multipy by 5:"); //show text
TextField myTextField = new TextField();
[Link]().addAll(label1,myTextField);
BorderPane borderPane1 = new BorderPane();
Button myButton = new Button("Add");
[Link](hbox1);
[Link](myButton);
int width = 300;
int height = 300;
Scene scene = new Scene(borderPane1,width,height);
[Link](scene);
[Link](); //show the Stage
}
public static void main(String[] args){
launch(args);
}
}

Common questions

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In JavaFX, the 'Label' control serves as a simple way to display static text to the user, acting as a non-interactive component for conveying information within the GUI . Its effective utilization across different layouts involves strategically positioning it to enhance readability and interface clarity. For example, in an HBox or VBox, labels can provide captions or instructions next to input fields, while in a BorderPane, they can serve as titles or section headings . Within a StackPane, labels can overlay images or other controls to provide context or explanations, leveraging the layout's layering capability . Proper usage of labels is crucial for intuitive UI design as it directly affects user comprehension and interaction with the application .

StackPane in JavaFX is used to layer GUI controls on top of one another, with each subsequent node stacked above the previous. This layout is beneficial for applications requiring overlapping UI elements, such as a notification badge over an icon or layered images and controls that create depth in the interface . In scenarios where elements need to be superimposed, like placing text over an image, StackPane offers an efficient way to manage z-ordering without complex layout calculations . Its simplicity and ability to layer elements make StackPane ideal for both simple and complex GUI designs requiring overlays .

The BorderPane layout in JavaFX offers a structured way to partition a GUI into five distinct areas: top, left, right, bottom, and center, facilitating organized placement of UI components . This layout is particularly beneficial for applications requiring distinct sections, such as headers, footers, sidebars, and a central content area. To configure a BorderPane, developers set different nodes to each area using methods like setTop(), setBottom(), setLeft(), setRight(), and setCenter(), effectively utilizing the layout for complex UI designs . BorderPane's structured design pattern ensures a clean and extendable interface layout management .

In JavaFX, a 'Stage' represents the top-level window in which all GUI elements appear, similar to a theater stage where performances occur . The 'Scene' is analogous to a scene in a play, presenting the content that can be swapped out while the stage remains constant . The relationship between the two is foundational in JavaFX architecture: the stage is set to show a particular scene using primaryStage.setScene(scene), establishing the visible content . Scenes can change during the application's runtime, offering dynamic content management within a static context given by the stage .

JavaFX's integration with multiple programming languages such as JRuby, Scala, Jython, Groovy, and JavaScript enhances its acceptance and usability by enabling developers to leverage their existing language proficiencies while maintaining access to robust JavaFX libraries . This integration allows a broader audience of developers to enter JavaFX application development without switching exclusively to Java, thus reducing the learning curve and fostering adoption among diverse programming communities . This language-agnostic approach encourages innovation and flexibility in GUI application development, attracting developers who prefer language-specific features and paradigms, but who want to benefit from JavaFX's powerful graphical capabilities .

Scene Builder simplifies Java GUI application development by providing a drag-and-drop interface to design the GUI layouts visually, which reduces the need for writing extensive hand-written code. This approach allows developers to focus on the design aspect without the steep learning curve associated with mastering JavaFX code syntax . By contrast, the hand-written code approach requires a deep understanding of JavaFX and its documentation for full control over application behavior, making it time-consuming and complex for beginners . Scene Builder is particularly useful for those who have foundational Java knowledge and need to construct GUIs efficiently, like beginning students .

JavaFX promotes cross-platform application development primarily through its comprehensive set of graphics and media packages, which ensure consistent application behavior across various devices and operating systems . This consistency is vital for developers targeting a wide user base with different platforms. Additionally, JavaFX's capability to integrate with web technologies like CSS allows developers to create sleek, modern interfaces that easily adapt to different screen sizes and resolutions, using responsive design principles . By coupling JavaFX with other programming languages and technologies such as JRuby, Scala, and JavaScript, developers can further extend cross-platform compatibility and leverage existing skills in these languages .

CSS in JavaFX plays a crucial role in separating the design and style from the application logic, allowing developers to make aesthetic changes independently from the core Java code. This approach offers several advantages over traditional Java GUI styling methods used in AWT and Swing, where styling was tightly coupled with code modifications. With CSS, developers can easily update the look and feel of an application without recompiling or rewriting the Java code, promoting better maintainability and faster iteration times in UI development . JavaFX's support for CSS enables designers who may not be familiar with Java to contribute to the application's appearance, enhancing collaborative workflows .

In JavaFX, the HBox layout arranges GUI controls in a horizontal line, which is suitable for displaying elements sequentially across a single row . The VBox layout, on the other hand, organizes controls in a vertical line, ideal for stacking elements in a column format . The choice between HBox and VBox typically depends on the desired orientation of the interface components: HBox is used when a horizontal arrangement is needed, such as toolbars, while VBox suits scenarios requiring vertical stacking, like form fields .

JavaFX is considered the latest GUI environment for Java applications, following AWT and Swing. While Swing was a significant improvement over AWT by making GUI creation easier, JavaFX extends these capabilities by offering a comprehensive set of graphics and media packages for designing, creating, testing, and deploying cross-platform rich client applications . Unlike Swing, JavaFX applications can be enhanced using CSS for styling, allowing aesthetic adjustments without code changes, and support other languages like JRuby, Scala, and Groovy . Furthermore, JavaFX provides more modern and sophisticated layouts and UI controls compared to its predecessors, aiming to replace Swing as the preferred toolkit for Java GUIs .

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