java - More than one JPanel in a Frame / having a brackground Image and another Layer with Components on the top

Question

I've got a JFrame with a JPanel in which there is a JLabel with an ImageIcon(). Everything's working perfectly, problem is i now want to add another JPanel with all the other stuff like buttons and so on to the JFrame. But it still shows the background Image on top and nothing with the second JPanel.

Can someone help me? Here is an extract of my code:

JFrame window = new JFrame("Http Download");


/*
 * Background Section
 */
JPanel panel1 = new JPanel();

JLabel lbl1 = new JLabel();


/*
 * Component Section
 */
JPanel panel2 = new JPanel();

JLabel lbl2 = new JLabel();


/*
 * Dimension Section
 */
Dimension windowSize = new Dimension(800, 600);
Dimension screen = Toolkit.getDefaultToolkit().getScreenSize();

public HTTPDownloadGUI() {

    window.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);

    panel1.setLayout(null);
    panel1.setSize(windowSize);
    panel1.setOpaque(false);

    panel2.setLayout(null);
    panel2.setSize(windowSize);
    panel2.setOpaque(false);

    lbl1.setSize(windowSize);
    lbl1.setLocation(0, 0);
    lbl1.setIcon(new ImageIcon(getClass().getResource("bg1.png")));
    panel1.add(lbl1);

    lbl2.setBounds(0, 0, 100, 100);
    //lbl2.setIcon(new ImageIcon(getClass().getResource("bg2.png")));
    lbl2.setBackground(Color.GREEN);
    panel2.add(lbl2);

    panel1.add(panel2);

    window.add(panel1);

    int X = (screen.width / 2) - (windowSize.width / 2);
    int Y = (screen.height / 2) - (windowSize.height / 2);

    window.setBounds(X,Y , windowSize.width, windowSize.height);
    window.setVisible(true);

}

Answer 1

1. Avoid null layouts, here more trouble then they are worth
2. Set the frame a layout to BorderLayout
3. Add the label to the frame
4. Set the labels layout to BorderLayout
5. Create you panel and set it's opaque property to false
6. Add the other components to as per normal
7. Add the panel to the label

Checkout

• Are there any issues with placing image as background on an extended JFrame?
• Place JLabel on top of JLabel with image in

For examples

Update with example

• panel1 is the main background...
• Set panel1's layout to BorderLayout
• Add lbl1 to panel1
• Set lbl1's layout to BorderLayout
• Set panel2's layout to what ever you want to use...
• Set panel2's opacity property to false (panel2.setOpacity(false))
• Add lbl2 to panel2
• Add panel2 to lbl1
• Add panel1 to what every you want.

public class TestLayout17 {

    public static void main(String[] args) {
        new TestLayout17();
    }

    public TestLayout17() {
        EventQueue.invokeLater(new Runnable() {
            @Override
            public void run() {
                try {
                    UIManager.setLookAndFeel(UIManager.getSystemLookAndFeelClassName());
                } catch (ClassNotFoundException | InstantiationException | IllegalAccessException | UnsupportedLookAndFeelException ex) {
                }

                JFrame frame = new JFrame("Testing");
                frame.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
                frame.setLayout(new BorderLayout());
                frame.add(new TestPane());
                frame.pack();
                frame.setLocationRelativeTo(null);
                frame.setVisible(true);
            }
        });
    }

    public class TestPane extends JPanel {

        /*
         * Background Section
         */
        JPanel panel1 = new JPanel();
        JLabel lbl1 = new JLabel();
        /*
         * Component Section
         */
        JPanel panel2 = new JPanel();
        JLabel lbl2 = new JLabel();
        /*
         * Dimension Section
         */
        Dimension windowSize = new Dimension(800, 600);
        Dimension screen = Toolkit.getDefaultToolkit().getScreenSize();

        public TestPane() {

            setLayout(new BorderLayout());

            panel1.setLayout(new BorderLayout());

            lbl1.setLayout(new BorderLayout());
            URL url = getClass().getResource("/bg1.gif");
            System.out.println(url);
            try {
                BufferedImage image = ImageIO.read(url);
                Image smaller = image.getScaledInstance(-1, image.getHeight() / 2, Image.SCALE_SMOOTH);
                lbl1.setIcon(new ImageIcon(smaller));
            } catch (Exception e) {
                e.printStackTrace();
            }
//            lbl1.setIcon(new ImageIcon(url));
            panel1.add(lbl1);

            add(panel1);

            panel2.setLayout(new GridBagLayout());
            panel2.setOpaque(false);

            lbl2.setBorder(new EmptyBorder(8, 8, 8, 8));
            lbl2.setBackground(Color.GREEN);
            lbl2.setText("Say hello");;
            lbl2.setOpaque(true);
            panel2.add(lbl2);

            lbl1.add(panel2);

        }
    }
}