Class LayoutStyle

Possible argument to getPreferredGap. Used to indicate the distance to indent a component is being requested. To visually indicate a set of related components they will often times be horizontally indented, the INDENT constant for this. For example, to indent a check box relative to a label use this constant to getPreferredGap.

Possible argument to getPreferredGap. Used to indicate the two componets are grouped together.

Possible argument to getPreferredGap. Used to indicate the two componets are not grouped together.

Returns the amount of space to position a component inside its parent.

Parameters: component the Component being positioned position the position component is being placed relative to its parent; one of SwingConstants.NORTH, SwingConstants.SOUTH, SwingConstants.EAST or SwingConstants.WEST parent the parent of component; this may differ from the actual parent and may be null

Returns: the amount of space to place between the component and specified edge

Throws: IllegalArgumentException if position is not one of SwingConstants.NORTH, SwingConstants.SOUTH, SwingConstants.EAST or SwingConstants.WEST; or component is null

Returns the amount of space to use between two components. The return value indicates the distance to place component2 relative to component1. For example, the following returns the amount of space to place between component2 and component1 when component2 is placed vertically above component1:

   int gap = getPreferredGap(component1, component2,
                             LayoutStyle.RELATED,
                             SwingConstants.NORTH, parent);
 

The type parameter indicates the type of gap being requested. It can be one of the following values:

RELATED	If the two components will be contained in the same parent and are showing similar logically related items, use RELATED.
UNRELATED	If the two components will be contained in the same parent but show logically unrelated items use UNRELATED.
INDENT	Used to obtain the preferred distance to indent a component relative to another. For example, if you want to horizontally indent a JCheckBox relative to a JLabel use INDENT. This is only useful for the horizontal axis.

It's important to note that some look and feels may not distinguish between RELATED and UNRELATED.

The return value is not intended to take into account the current size and position of component2 or component1. The return value may take into consideration various properties of the components. For example, the space may vary based on font size, or the preferred size of the component.

Parameters: component1 the JComponent component2 is being placed relative to component2 the JComponent being placed type how the two components are being placed position the position component2 is being placed relative to component1; one of SwingConstants.NORTH, SwingConstants.SOUTH, SwingConstants.EAST or SwingConstants.WEST parent the parent of component2; this may differ from the actual parent and may be null

Returns: the amount of space to place between the two components

Throws: IllegalArgumentException if position is not one of SwingConstants.NORTH, SwingConstants.SOUTH, SwingConstants.EAST or SwingConstants.WEST; type not one of INDENT, RELATED or UNRELATED; or component1 or component2 is null

Factory methods for obtaining the current LayoutStyle object appropriate for the current look and feel.

Returns: the current LayoutStyle instance

Sets the LayoutStyle instance to use for this look and feel. You generally don't need to invoke this, instead use the getter which will return the LayoutStyle appropriate for the current look and feel.

Parameters: layoutStyle the LayoutStyle to use; a value of null indicates the default should be used