Creating a User Interface: Table of Contents

To see all the lessons about creating user interfaces, start at the first lesson listed in this Table of Contents and walk your way through the lessons and pages of the "book". Each page has Next and Previous links at the top and bottom that guide you through the pages in the order listed here.

Overview of the Java UI

AWT Components
Other AWT Classes
The Anatomy of a GUI-Based Program

Classes in the Example Program
The Component Hierarchy
Drawing
Event Handling

Using Components, the GUI Building Blocks

Using the AWT Components

General Rules for Using Components
How to Use Buttons
How to Use Canvases
How to Use Checkboxes
How to Use Choices
How to Use Dialogs
How to Use Frames
How to Use Labels
How to Use Lists
How to Use Menus
How to Use Panels
How to Use Scrollbars
How to Use TextAreas and TextFields

Details of the Component Architecture
Common Component Problems (and Their Solutions)

Laying Out Components within a Container

Using Layout Managers

General Rules for Using Layout Managers
How to Use BorderLayout
How to Use CardLayout
How to Use FlowLayout
How to Use GridLayout
How to Use GridBagLayout

Specifying Constraints
The Applet Example Explained

Creating a Custom Layout Manager
Doing Without a Layout Manager (Absolute Positioning)
Common Layout Problems (and Their Solutions)

Working with Graphics

Overview of AWT Graphics Support
Using Graphics Primitives

Drawing Simple Shapes
Working with Text

Using Images

Loading Images
Displaying Images
Manipulating Images

How to Use an Image Filter
How to Write an Image Filter

Performing Animation

Creating the Animation Loop
Animating Graphics
Eliminating Flashing

Overriding the update() Method
Double Buffering

Moving an Image Across the Screen
Displaying a Sequence of Images
Improving the Appearance and Performance of Image Animation

Common Graphics Problems (and Their Solutions)

Creating a User Interface