Event handling

Event handling

So far we have seen that we can create and install a GUI component as follows:

1. Create the item and initialize it if necessary.
2. Add the items to the content pane of the WindowController, and validate the pane.

We can also set the program up so that the WindowController object is notified whenever the user interacts with a GUI item. The program DoubleComboBoxDrawing.

In order to get the program to respond to events associated with the object, we must also:

1. Add this as a listener to the GUI item. E.g.,

       colorMenu.addActionListener(this);
       

2. Add a declaration that the class implements the appropriate listener interface. E.g.,

       public class DrawingProgram extends WindowController 
                                   implements ActionListener { ... }
       

3. Add the method promised by the listener interface:

       public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent event) {
          ...
       }
       

As an exercise, how would you modify this program so that when a new figure is drawn on the screen, its color is determined by the setting of the color menu at that time.

A solution is given by ColorfulDoubleComboBoxDrawing.

It is awkward having the combo boxes be on opposite ends of the window. We can put them both together on the bottom if we first insert them in a JPanel. A JPanel uses a FlowLayout manager - meaning items just fit in the panel from left to right - they don't get put in NORTH, SOUTH, etc., and there is no contentPane to worry about in a JPanel. See PanelComboBoxDrawing.

Event handling