Working with Frame Windows - AWT Classes

Working with Frame Windows

In addition to the applet, the type of AWT-based window you will most often create is derived from Frame. You will use it to create child windows within applets, and top-level or child windows for stand-alone applications. As mentioned, it creates a standard-style window.

Here are two of Frame’s constructors:

Frame( ) throws HeadlessException Frame(String title) throws HeadlessException

The first form creates a standard window that does not contain a title. The second form creates a window with the title specified by title. Notice that you cannot specify the dimensions of the window. Instead, you must set the size of the window after it has been created. A HeadlessException is thrown if an attempt is made to create a Frame instance in an environment that does not support user interaction.

There are several key methods you will use when working with Frame windows. They are examined here.

Setting the Window’s Dimensions

The setSize( ) method is used to set the dimensions of the window. Its signature is shown here:

void setSize(int newWidth, int newHeight) void setSize(Dimension newSize)

The new size of the window is specified by newWidth and newHeight, or by the width and height fields of the Dimension object passed in newSize. The dimensions are specified in terms of pixels.

The getSize( ) method is used to obtain the current size of a window. One of its forms is shown here:

Dimension getSize( )

This method returns the current size of the window contained within the width and height fields of a Dimension object.

Hiding and Showing a Window

After a frame window has been created, it will not be visible until you call setVisible( ). Its signature is shown here:

void setVisible(boolean visibleFlag)

The component is visible if the argument to this method is true. Otherwise, it is hidden.

Setting a Window’s Title

You can change the title in a frame window using setTitle( ), which has this general form: void setTitle(String newTitle)

Here, newTitle is the new title for the window.

Closing a Frame Window

When using a frame window, your program must remove that window from the screen when it is closed, by calling setVisible(false). To intercept a window-close event, you must implement the windowClosing( ) method of the WindowListener interface. Inside windowClosing( ), you must remove the window from the screen. The example in the next section illustrates this technique.