GUI Programing with Java

Java Provides 2 Frameworks for building GUI-based applications. Those are

 AWT-(Abstract Window Toolkit)

 Swing

AWT-(Abstract Window Toolkit):

• AWT (Abstract Window Toolkit) is an API to develop GUI or window-based

applications in java.

• The java.awt package provides classes for AWT API such as TextField, Label,
TextArea, Checkbox, Choice, List etc.

• AWT components are platform-dependent i.e. components are displayed

according to the view of operating system.

AWT Hierarchy

• Component:

Component is an abstract class that contains various classes such as Button,

Label,Checkbox,TextField, Menu and etc.

• Container:

The Container is a component in AWT that can contain another components like
buttons, textfields, labels etc. The Container class extends Frame and Panel.

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 • Window:
The window is the container that have no borders and menu bars. You must use
frame for creating a window.

• Frame:
The Frame is the container that contain title bar and can have menu bars. It can
have other components like button, textfield etc.

• Panel:
The Panel is the container that doesn't contain title bar and menu bars. It can
have other components like button, textfield etc.

Commonly used Methods of Component class

Method Description

add(Component c) inserts a component on this component.

setSize(int width,int height) sets the size (width and height) of the component.

setLayout(LayoutManager m) defines the layout manager for the component.

setVisible(boolean status) changes the visibility of the component, by default false.

To create simple awt example, you need a frame. There are two ways to create a
frame in AWT.
• By extending Frame class (inheritance)
Ex:
class Example extends Frame
{
……..
}
• By creating the object of Frame class (association)
Ex:
class Example
{
Frame obj=new Frame();
……..
}

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A Simple AWT Example:

SimpleExample.java
import java.awt.*;
public class AwtExample
{
public static void main(String[] args)
{
Frame f=new Frame();
f.setSize(400,400);
f.setLayout(null);
f.setVisible(true);
f.setTitle("Simple Example");
}
}
Output:
Javac AwtExample.java
Java AwtExample

AWT Components or Elements:

• Button:
The button class is used to create a labeled button that has platform independent
implementation. The application result in some action when the button is pushed.
Syntax:
Button b=new Button(“Text");
(Or)
Button b1,b2;
b1=new Button(“Text”);
b.setBounds(50,100,80,30);
setBounds(int x,int y,int width,int height)
This method is used to declare location, width & height of all components of
AWT. X Y
Example: setBounds(50,100,80,30);

width Height

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  Label:

The Label class is a component for placing text in a container. It is used to display
a single line of read only text. The text can be changed by an application but a user
cannot edit it directly.

Syntax:
Label l1=new Label(“Text”);
(or)
Label l1,l2;
l1=new Label(“Text”);
 TextField:
The TextField class is a text component that allows the editing of a single line
text.
Syntax:
TextField t1=new TextField(“Text”);
(or)
TextField t1,t2;
t1=new TextField(“Text”);

• TextArea :
The TextArea class is a multi line region that displays text. It allows the editing of
multiple line text.
Syntax:
TextArea t1=new TextArea(“Text”);
(or)
TextArea t1,t2;
t1=new TextArea(“Text”);

• Checkbox :
The Checkbox class is used to create a checkbox. It is used to turn an option on
(true) or off (false). Clicking on a Checkbox changes its state from "on" to "off" or from
"off" to "on".
Syntax:
Checkbox c1=new Checkbox(“Text”);
(or)
Checkbox c1,c2;
c1=new Checkbox(“Text”);
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 • Choice :
The Choice class is used to show popup menu of choices. Choice selected by user
is shown on the top of a menu.

Syntax:
Choice c=new Choice();
c.add("Item 1");
c.add("Item 2");
c.add("Item 3");
• List :
The List class represents a list of text items. By the help of list, user can choose
either one item or multiple items.

Syntax:
List ls=new List(Size);
ls.add("Item 1");
ls.add("Item 2");
ls.add("Item 3");

 AWT does allow the user to close window directly…

 We need code to close window

//Code for Close window
addWindowListener(new WindowAdapter(){
public void windowClosing(WindowEvent we)
{
System.exit(0);
}
});

Note: We need to import one package “java.awt.event.*”.

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Example Programs for AWT Components:

Example: An example for Button Component in AWT.

ButtonExample.java
import java.awt.*;
import java.awt.event.*;
class ButtonExample
{
public static void main(String[] args)
{
// creation of Frame
Frame f=new Frame();
f.setSize(400,400);
f.setLayout(null);
f.setVisible(true);
f.setTitle("ButtonExample");
//creation of Button
Button b=new Button("SUBMIT");
b.setBounds(150,200,95,30);
f.add(b);
//Code for Close window
f.addWindowListener(new WindowAdapter(){
public void windowClosing(WindowEvent we)
{
System.exit(0);
}
});
}
}
Output:
javac ButtonExample.java
java ButtonExample

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Example: An example for Label Component in AWT.
LabelExample.java
import java.awt.*;
import java.awt.event.*;
class LabelExample
{
public static void main(String args[])
{
Frame f= new Frame();
f.setSize(400,400);
f.setLayout(null);
f.setVisible(true);
f.setTitle("Label Example");
Label l1,l2;
l1=new Label("User Name :");
l1.setBounds(50,100, 100,30);
l2=new Label("Password :");
l2.setBounds(50,150, 100,30);
f.add(l1);
f.add(l2);

//Code for Close window

f.addWindowListener(new WindowAdapter(){
public void windowClosing(WindowEvent we)
{
System.exit(0);
}
});
}
}
Output:
Javac LabelExample.java
Java LabelExample

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Example: An example for TextField Component in AWT.
TextFieldExample.java
import java.awt.*;
import java.awt.event.*;
class TextFieldExample
{
public static void main(String args[]){
Frame f= new Frame();
f.setSize(400,400);
f.setLayout(null);
f.setVisible(true);
f.setTitle("TextField Example");
TextField t1,t2;
t1=new TextField("");
t1.setBounds(50,100, 200,30);
t2=new TextField("");
t2.setBounds(50,150, 200,30);
f.add(t1);
f.add(t2);
//Close window
f.addWindowListener(new WindowAdapter(){
public void windowClosing(WindowEvent we)
{
System.exit(0);
}
});
}
}
Output:
Javac TextFiledExample.java
Java TextFiledExample

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Example: An example for TextArea Component in AWT.
TextAreaExample.java
import java.awt.*;
import java.awt.event.*;
public class TextAreaExample
{
public static void main(String args[])
{
Frame f= new Frame();
f.setSize(400,400);
f.setLayout(null);
f.setVisible(true);
f.setTitle("TextAreaExample");
TextArea area=new TextArea();
area.setBounds(50,50, 300,150);
f.add(area);
//Close window
f.addWindowListener(new WindowAdapter(){
public void windowClosing(WindowEvent we)
{
System.exit(0);
}
});
}
}
Output:
Javac TextFieldExample.java
Java TextFieldExample

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Example: An example for Checkbox Component in AWT.
CheckboxExample.java
import java.awt.*;
import java.awt.event.*;
public class CheckboxExample
{
public static void main(String args[])
{
Frame f= new Frame("Checkbox Example");
f.setSize(400,400);
f.setLayout(null);
f.setVisible(true);
f.setTitle("Checkbox Example");
Checkbox chb1 = new Checkbox("DS C++");
chb1.setBounds(100,100, 100,50);
Checkbox chb2 = new Checkbox("Java", true);
chb2.setBounds(100,150, 50,50);
f.add(chb1);
f.add(chb2);
//Close window
f.addWindowListener(new WindowAdapter(){
public void windowClosing(WindowEvent we)
{
System.exit(0);
}
});
}
}
Output:
Javac CheckboxExample.java
Java CheckboxExample

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Example: An example for Choice Component in AWT.
ChoiceExample.java
import java.awt.*;
import java.awt.event.*;
public class ChoiceExample
{
public static void main(String args[])
{
Frame f= new Frame();
f.setSize(400,400);
f.setLayout(null);
f.setVisible(true);
f.setTitle("ChoiceExample");
Label l=new Label("Country :");
l.setBounds(50,100,75,75);
Choice c=new Choice();
c.setBounds(120,125,75,75);
c.add("India");
c.add("Japan");
c.add("Austraila");
c.add("U.S.A");
c.add("U.K");
f.add(c);
f.add(l);
//code for close window
f.addWindowListener(new WindowAdapter(){
public void windowClosing(WindowEvent we)
{
System.exit(0);
}
});
}
}
Output:
Javac ChoiceExample.java
Java ChoiceExample

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Example: An example for List Component in AWT.
ListExample.java
import java.awt.*;
import java.awt.event.*;
public class ListExample
{
public static void main(String args[])
{
Frame f= new Frame();
f.setSize(400,400);
f.setLayout(null);
f.setVisible(true);
List l1=new List(5);
l1.setBounds(100,100, 100,75);
l1.add("Item 1");
l1.add("Item 2");
l1.add("Item 3");
l1.add("Item 4");
l1.add("Item 5");
f.add(l1);
//Code for Close window
f.addWindowListener(new WindowAdapter(){
public void windowClosing(WindowEvent we)
{
System.exit(0);
}
});
}
}
Output:
Javac ListExample.java
Java ListExample

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Example: An example program for Login page in AWT.
LoginExample.java
import java.awt.*;
import java.awt.event.*;
class LoginExample
{
public static void main(String args[])
{
Frame f= new Frame ("Login Page");
f.setSize(400,400);
f.setLayout(null);
f.setVisible(true);
Label l1,l2;
TextField t1,t2;
Checkbox cb;
Button b;
l1=new Label("User Name :");
l1.setBounds(50,60,100,30);
t1=new TextField("");
t1.setBounds(150,60, 200,30);
l2=new Label("Password :");
l2.setBounds(50,120,100,30);
t2=new TextField("");
t2.setBounds(150,120, 200,30);
cb=new Checkbox("Save Password");
cb.setBounds(50,150,200,30);
b=new Button("Login");
b.setBounds(150,180,100,30);
f.add(l1); f.add(l2);
f.add(t1); f.add(t2);
f.add(cb);
f.add(b);
}
}
Output:
Javac LoginExample.java
Java LoginExample
13 GUI Programming in Java |Madhu T.
Example: An example program for Registration page in AWT.
RegistrationExample.java
import java.awt.*;
import java.awt.event.*;
class RegistrationExample
{
public static void main(String args[])
{
Frame f= new Frame();
f.setSize(600,800);
f.setLayout(null);
f.setVisible(true);
f.setTitle("Registration Page");
Label l1,l2,l3,l4,l5,l6;
TextField t1,t2;
Choice ch;
List ls;
Checkbox cb1,cb2,cb3;
TextArea ta;
Button b;
l1=new Label("Name :");
l1.setBounds(50,60,100,30);
t1=new TextField("");
t1.setBounds(150,60, 200,25);
l2=new Label("Regd No :");
l2.setBounds(50,120,100,30);
t2=new TextField("");
t2.setBounds(150,120, 200,25);
l3=new Label("Year :");
l3.setBounds(50,180,100,30);
ch=new Choice();
ch.setBounds(150,180,200,30);
ch.add("I-YEAR");
ch.add("II-YEAR");
ch.add("III-YEAR");
ch.add("IV-YEAR");
l4=new Label("Branch :");
14 GUI Programming in Java |Madhu T.
 l4.setBounds(50,240,100,30);
ls=new List(4);
ls.setBounds(150,240,200,80);
ls.add("CSE");
ls.add("CSIT");
ls.add("ECE");
ls.add("EEE");
ls.add("CIVIL");
ls.add("MECH");
l5=new Label("Subjects :");
l5.setBounds(50,330,100,30);
cb1=new Checkbox("C");
cb1.setBounds(150,330,30,30);
cb2=new Checkbox("JAVA");
cb2.setBounds(190,330,50,30);
cb3=new Checkbox("DBMS");
cb3.setBounds(240,330,100,30);
l6=new Label("Address :");
l6.setBounds(50,360,100,30);
ta=new TextArea();
ta.setBounds(150,360,230,120);
b=new Button("Submit");
b.setBounds(150,520,100,30);
f.add(l1);f.add(l2);f.add(l3);
f.add(l4);f.add(l5);f.add(l6);
f.add(t1);f.add(t2);
f.add(ch);
f.add(ls);
f.add(cb1);f.add(cb2);f.add(cb3);
f.add(ta);
f.add(b);
}
}
Output:
Javac RegistrationExample.java
Java RegistrationExample

15 GUI Programming in Java |Madhu T.

 Event Handling
Event: Changing the state of an object (component) is known as an event. For example,
click on button, dragging mouse etc.

Event describes the change in state of component. Events are generated as result
of user interaction with the graphical user interface components. For example, clicking
on a button, moving the mouse, entering a character through keyboard and selecting an
item from list.

Def: Event Handling is the mechanism that controls the event and decides what should
happen if an event occurs.

This mechanism have the code which is known as event handler that is executed
when an event occurs.
The java.awt.event package provides many event classes and Listener interfaces for
event handling.

 Steps to perform Event Handling

Following steps are required to perform event handling:
– Register the component with the Listener.

By using addActionListener(ActionListener a)
Example:
Button b=new Button(“Submit”);
b.setBounds(100,50,80,30);
b.addActionListener(this);

– Provide or put event handling code.

By using actionPerformed(ActionEvent e) method of ActionListener Interface,we

can perfom action what the user want.
Example:
Public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e)
{
tf.setText(“welcome”);
}

16 GUI Programming in Java |Madhu T.

Simple Example:
import java.awt.*;
import java.awt.event.*;
class EventExample extends Frame implements ActionListener{
TextField tf;
EventExample(){
tf=new TextField(); //create components
tf.setBounds(60,50,170,20);
Button b=new Button("click me");
b.setBounds(100,120,80,30);
b.addActionListener(this);//register listener &passing current instance
add(b);add(tf); //add components and set size, layout and visibility
setSize(300,300);
setLayout(null);
setVisible(true);
}
public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e){
tf.setText("Welcome");
}
public static void main(String args[]){
new EventExample();
}
}
Output: javac EventExample.java
java EventExample

17 GUI Programming in Java |Madhu T.