The 
JDialog class is the key class for creating dialog windows when using the Swing API. It is a child of the equivalent AWT Dialog class. A dialog is a pop-up window, usually reasonably small and non-resizable that displays or requests information to or from the user. You can create your own dialog windows or use some standard dialogs that are available.
A dialog is either modal or non-modal. A modal dialog, once visible does not allow you to interact with the application in any other way, than through the dialog. A non-modal dialog gives you access to the dialog and to the application at the same time.
It is possible to create a very simple dialog using the JOptionPane class. This class allows you to display a message along with a pre-defined icon.
I have written an example to demonstrate most dialog types, as in Figure 9.20, “The Dialog Example Application” and with the full source code in - JDialogExample.java.
Figure 9.20. The Dialog Example Application
When the buttons are pressed in Figure 9.20, “The Dialog Example Application” the different dialogs open to demonstrate the different dialog types.
When the first button Message Dialog is pressed an ActionEvent is generated and a Message Dialog is created as in Figure 9.21, “The Message Dialog”, where all you can do is read the message and press the "OK" or window "X" buttons.
Figure 9.21. The Message Dialog
This is created using the code:
JOptionPane.showMessageDialog(this, "An error has occurred", "Error", JOptionPane.ERROR_MESSAGE);
Where this refers to the parent Component, "An error has occurred" is the message, "Error" is the title, and JOptionPane.ERROR_MESSAGE is the pre-defined icon to use.
When the second button Input Dialog is pressed an ActionEvent is generated and an Input Dialog is created as in Figure 9.22, “The Input Dialog”. The Input Dialog allows you to enter a value that is returned to the calling application as a String object. In this example the calling application takes the String object and displays it in the TextArea.
Figure 9.22. The Input Dialog
This is created using the code:
String s = JOptionPane.showInputDialog(this, "What is your age?",
"A Question", JOptionPane.QUESTION_MESSAGE);
this.sendMessage("Your age is " + s + ".\n");
Where this refers to the parent Component, "What is your age?" is the message, "A Question" is the title, and JOptionPane.QUESTION_MESSAGE is the pre-defined icon to use.
When the third button Confirm Dialog is pressed an ActionEvent is generated and a Confirm Dialog is created as in Figure 9.23, “The Confirm Dialog”. The Confirm Dialog allows you to have a selection of options, in this case "yes", "no" and "cancel", which when pressed causes a int value to be returned to the calling application. In this application the confirm details will be displayed in the TextArea component.
Figure 9.23. The Confirm Dialog
This is created using the code:
1
2
3 int selected = JOptionPane.showConfirmDialog(this, "Are you sure?",
4 "A Question", JOptionPane.YES_NO_CANCEL_OPTION,
5 JOptionPane.INFORMATION_MESSAGE);
6 if (selected == JOptionPane.NO_OPTION)
7 this.sendMessage("You are not sure!\n");
8 else if (selected == JOptionPane.YES_OPTION)
9 this.sendMessage("You are sure!\n");
10 else this.sendMessage("You cancelled!\n");
11
12 Where this refers to the parent Component, "Are you sure?" is the message, "A Question" is the title, YES_NO_CANCEL_OPTION is the pre-defined button arrangement to use and JOptionPane.INFORMATION_MESSAGE is the pre-defined icon to use. We can then compare the selected int value to the defined values of JOptionPane. NO_OPTION or JOptionPane.YES_OPTION
When the fourth button Input Dialog (with Options) is pressed an ActionEvent is generated and an Input Dialog is created as in Figure 9.24, “The Input Dialog with Options”. The Input Dialog allows you to have a selection of options that you can choose from a pull down list. In this application the selected value will be displayed in the TextArea component.
Figure 9.24. The Input Dialog with Options
This is created using the code:
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2
3 String[] theDays = {"Monday", "Tuesday", "Wednesday", "Thursday", "Friday" };
4 String selected = (String) JOptionPane.showInputDialog( this,
5 "Today is: ", "Working Week Input",
6 JOptionPane.INFORMATION_MESSAGE, null,
7 theDays, theDays[0]);
8 this.sendMessage("You selected " + selected + ".\n");
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10 Where first off an array of String is created and this is passed as the options to the input dialog. The call to the input dialog will return an Object object that can be cast converted to a String objects, as the list we passed is an array of String objects. The method call 
showInputDialog() expects the parameters, Where thisrefers to the parent Component, "Today is: "is the message, "Working Week Input" is the title, JOptionPane.INFORMATION_MESSAGE is the pre-defined icon to use,null is a separate Icon object to use, theDays is the array of Object expected and theDays[0] is the inital selection.
When the fifth and sixth buttons My Modal Dialog and My Modeless Dialog are pressed an ActionEvent is generated and a special MyDialog is created as in Figure 9.25, “The MyDialog (modal and modeless look the same)”. This dialog is our own implementation of JDialog where MyDialog is a child class of JDialogproviding our own specific requirements. In this case it creates the GUI to request a number between 1 and 10 and validates to ensure that the number is indeed in this range. Invalid results and correct results are sent to the main application, as the MyDialog is passed a reference to the main application in its constructor.
Figure 9.25. The MyDialog (modal and modeless look the same)
This is created using the code: (See DialogExample.java)
| 116117118119120121122123124125126127128129130131132133134135136137138139140141142143144145146147148149150151152153154155 | class MyDialog extends JDialog implements ActionListener { private JTextField entryField; private JDialogExample callingApp;
public MyDialog(Frame frame, String title, JDialogExample callingApp, boolean isModal) { super(frame, title, isModal); this.callingApp = callingApp;
this.getContentPane().setLayout(new FlowLayout()); this.getContentPane().add(new JLabel("Enter a number between 1 and 10:")); entryField = new JTextField(10); entryField.addActionListener(this); this.getContentPane().add(entryField);
//prevent the dialog from closing without a value this.setDefaultCloseOperation(JDialog.DO_NOTHING_ON_CLOSE); this.setSize(400,80); this.setVisible(true); }
public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e) { String entry = entryField.getText(); try{ Integer i = new Integer(entry); if (i.intValue()<=10 && i.intValue()>=1) { callingApp.sendMessage("Valid number "+ i +" entered!\n"); this.dispose(); } else { callingApp.sendMessage("Invalid Number Entered " + i +"!\n"); } } catch (NumberFormatException exept) { callingApp.sendMessage("Invalid Number Entered!\n"); } } }
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So at the top of this segment of code, if the ActionEvent was generated by either the fifth or sixth buttons then and instance of my Dialog class MyDialog is created and then runs. There are two forms here, modal and modeless, and all that differentiates between the calls is the true and false values that are passed to the parent class of MyDialog JDialog through the super() call. A modal dialog box takes all control and will not allow you to press any other place in the same program, whereas the modeless dialog box allows you to still use the calling application in full. There are many different reasons for using either
The MyDialog is passed a reference to the calling application to its constructor called 
callingApp. This is important as it allows us to communicate with the calling application to call its public sendMessage() method. The constructor then sets up the display by adding a JLabel and JTextField components. One unusual call in the constructor is to the method setDefaultCloseOperation(JDialog.DO_NOTHING_ON_CLOSE) which prevents the user from pressing the "X" button in the frame of the dialog to avoid entering a value - try it! The actionPerformed() method takes the input from the JTextField when enter is pressed in the field and validates the data in that field. It tries to convert the String into an Integer, which will throw an 
NumberFormatException if invalid text, such as "abc" is entered. If this exception does not occur then the Integer object will be converted to an int variable and checked if it is in the range 1 to 10. If it is then the MyDialog dialog will pass the value back to the calling application through the calling application's sendMessage() method. The dialog will then dispose of itself.
Remember that the code for all these examples is in file - JDialogExample.java. You should compile and run this example if you do not understand the difference between modal and modeless. Press the sixth button and then press another dialog button, try to do this with any other combination. The only modeless dialog is the last dialog in this example.
The JList Class
The JList is the Swing replacement for the java.awt.List component. It differs from the AWT component in that it displays an array of Objects, not just an array of String. This allows you to create complex displays, such as displaying images in the JList component. It is common to use a Vector of objects to hold the data. Once again, this component does not support scrolling, you must pass this task onto a component such as JScrollPane.
Figure 9.27. The JList Example Application
The code for this example is given below and in JListExample.java
| 12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334353637 | package ee402;
import javax.swing.*; import javax.swing.event.*;
@SuppressWarnings("serial") public class JListExample extends JFrame implements ListSelectionListener { private JList<String> myJList;
public JListExample() { super("JList Example"); String[] data = {"Monday","Tuesday","Wednesday","Thursday","Friday","Saturday","Sunday"}; myJList = new JList<String>(data); myJList.addListSelectionListener(this);
JScrollPane p = new JScrollPane(this.myJList, JScrollPane.VERTICAL_SCROLLBAR_ALWAYS, JScrollPane.HORIZONTAL_SCROLLBAR_ALWAYS);
this.getContentPane().add("Center", p);
this.pack(); this.setVisible(true); }
public void valueChanged(ListSelectionEvent e) { JOptionPane.showMessageDialog(this, "You selected : " + myJList.getSelectedValue(), "Selection", JOptionPane.INFORMATION_MESSAGE); } public static void main(String[] args) { new JListExample(); } }
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The list is populated by a String array, by passing the array to the constructor of the JList class. You can add an 
ListSelectionListener listener to the JListcomponent. In this case the JListExample class is responsible for handling the ListSelectionEvent event object and so according to the ListSelectionListenerinterface the class must implement the valueChanged() method that receives a ListSelectionEvent event object. This application is very annoying to use, as it pops up a dialog every time you select any item from the list component. The dialog is created using the JOptionPane class as discussed in the section called “Dialogs”.
The JList component allows for the multiple selection of items in the list. If you use the method myList.setSelectionMode(ListSelectionModel.MULTIPLE_INTERVAL_SELECTION) you can have multiple selection (it is actually the default state). To get the multiply selected items you can call the getSelectedValues() that returns an array of Object that can be appropriately cast converted to an array of String if required. Another useful method is the getSelectedIndex() that returns an int variable, defining the position of the item in the list that was selected. getSelectedIndices()returns an array of int if multiple selection is allowed.
The JTree Class
The JTree is very useful for displaying any type of hierarchical data. It displays data in the form of a real tree, with nodes, branches etc. Figure 9.28, “The JTreeExample Application” shows a very basic tree in operation. You can set the JTree so that events are generated whenever the tree is expanded or collapsed, or when a particular cell is selected.
Figure 9.28. The JTree Example Application
The code for this example is given below and in - JTreeExample.java
| 1234567891011121314151617181920212223242526272829303132333435363738394041424344454647484950515253545556575859606162 | package ee402;
import javax.swing.*; import javax.swing.tree.*;
@SuppressWarnings("serial") public class JTreeExample extends JFrame { JTree myTree; public JTreeExample() { super("JTree Example");
DefaultMutableTreeNode top = new DefaultMutableTreeNode("Student Tree"); myTree = new JTree(top); DefaultMutableTreeNode ugNode = new DefaultMutableTreeNode("Undergraduate"); DefaultMutableTreeNode johnDoe = new DefaultMutableTreeNode( new Student("John Doe", "912345676", "EE1")); DefaultMutableTreeNode janeDoe = new DefaultMutableTreeNode( new Student("Jane Doe", "912345677", "ME1")); DefaultMutableTreeNode pgNode = new DefaultMutableTreeNode("Postgraduate"); DefaultMutableTreeNode jamesDoe = new DefaultMutableTreeNode( new Student("James Doe", "912345678", "GDE1"));
top.add(ugNode); ugNode.add(johnDoe); ugNode.add(janeDoe); top.add(pgNode); pgNode.add(jamesDoe);
JScrollPane p = new JScrollPane(this.myTree, JScrollPane.VERTICAL_SCROLLBAR_ALWAYS, JScrollPane.HORIZONTAL_SCROLLBAR_ALWAYS);
this.getContentPane().add("Center", p);
this.pack(); this.setVisible(true); } public static void main(String[] args) { new JTreeExample(); } }
class Student { private String name; private String id; private String classname;
Student(String name, String id, String classname) { this.name = name; this.id = id; this.classname = classname; } public String toString() { return name; } }
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There are a few important points to note in this example. First off, the javax.swing.tree package must be imported if you wish to use the default tree nodes. In this application I have used the relatively straightforward DefaultMutableTreeNode for all my nodes, even the root node, by using the node object passed to the constructor ofJTree. I have created a temporary Student class to use as the objects in the tree. Note that in this class the toString() method inherited from Object is over-ridden, to provide our own support for converting a Student object into a String object. This allows for the object to be displayed correctly on our tree. The nodes are added to other nodes and thus the tree builds up.
The JTable Class.
The JTable Class has many uses in displaying data in rows and columns, very useful in the display of a database lookup query. Figure 9.29, “The JTable Example Application. (a) As it appears on startup (b) moved and edited a bit” shows an example of a basic table in operation. In (a) you can see that the table is displaying a set of strings in a row/column layout. The titles are given on the top of the columns and the component allows you to move the dividers between cells, just like you can in Excel. As you can see in (b) the contents of the cells can be edited by default. There is no storage mechanism at this stage, you are simply editing the data on the table component.
Figure 9.29. The JTable Example Application. (a) As it appears on startup (b) moved and edited a bit
The code for this example is given below and in JTableExample.java
| 1234567891011121314151617181920212223242526272829303132 | package ee402;
import javax.swing.*;
@SuppressWarnings("serial") public class JTableExample extends JFrame { private JTable myTable; public JTableExample() { super("JTable Example");
String[] columnNames = {"Name", "ID Number", "Class"}; String[][] data = {{"John Doe", "91234567", "EE1" }, {"Jane Doe", "91234568", "ME1" }, {"James Doe", "91234569", "GDE1" }}; myTable = new JTable(data, columnNames);
JScrollPane p = new JScrollPane(this.myTable, JScrollPane.VERTICAL_SCROLLBAR_ALWAYS, JScrollPane.HORIZONTAL_SCROLLBAR_ALWAYS);
this.getContentPane().add("Center", p); this.pack(); this.setVisible(true); } public static void main(String[] args) { new JTableExample(); } }
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If you wish to allow selection of the table you can add a ListSelectionInterface interface to the JTable, just like for JLIst in the section called “The JListClass”. Figure 9.30, “The JTable Example Application with ListSelection events.” shows an example with ListSelection events associated with the table. When you select a row the dialog will pop-up to say that you have selected that row.
Figure 9.30. The JTable Example Application with ListSelection events.
The code for this example is given below and in - JTableExample2.java
| 1234567891011121314151617181920212223242526272829303132333435363738394041424344454647 | package ee402;
import javax.swing.*; import javax.swing.event.*;
@SuppressWarnings("serial") public class JTableExample2 extends JFrame implements ListSelectionListener { JTable myTable;
public JTableExample2() { super("JTable Example");
String[] columnNames = {"Name", "ID Number", "Class"}; String[][] data = {{"John Doe", "91234567", "EE1" }, {"Jane Doe", "91234568", "ME1" }, {"James Doe", "91234569", "GDE1" }}; myTable = new JTable(data, columnNames); myTable.setSelectionMode(ListSelectionModel.SINGLE_SELECTION);
ListSelectionModel selectModel = myTable.getSelectionModel(); selectModel.addListSelectionListener(this);
JScrollPane p = new JScrollPane(this.myTable, JScrollPane.VERTICAL_SCROLLBAR_ALWAYS, JScrollPane.HORIZONTAL_SCROLLBAR_ALWAYS);
this.getContentPane().add("Center", p);
this.pack(); this.setVisible(true); } public void valueChanged(ListSelectionEvent e) { ListSelectionModel lsm = (ListSelectionModel)e.getSource(); int selectedRow = lsm.getMinSelectionIndex(); JOptionPane.showMessageDialog(this, "You selected the " + selectedRow + " row.", "Selection", JOptionPane.INFORMATION_MESSAGE);
}
public static void main(String[] args) { new JTableExample2(); } }
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In this example the selection mode is set from multiple to single, so that only one row may be selected at a time. The ListSelectionModel interface object defines the selection model for the JTable, allowing us to associate the ListSelectionListener interface with the selection process. When a ListSelectionEvent object is generated this is handled by the valueChanged() method, where we can interrogate the event object e to get the selected index of the event, through the ListSelectionModel interface.
