how the size of jpanel components in a specific layout can be set?

Question

I'm a beginner and I want to design the gui of the windows calculator in java. I have set some jpanels(Gridlayout) with some jbuttons in each. I set the size of the buttons this way:

jButton[i].setPreferredSize(new Dimension(42, 42));

but buttons in differen jpanels don't have the same size. what should I do?

Answer 1

jButton[i].setPreferredSize(new Dimension(42, 42));

There are 3 easy ways to make buttons larger.

• Use a big Icon for the button
• Use a big Font for the button (preferably via a PLAF).
• Set a large margin around the text and icon.

As to setting the preferred size. See Should I avoid the use of set(Preferred|Maximum|Minimum)Size methods in Java Swing? (Yes.)

If you are still intent on going that route, take the advice of @trashgod and override the preferred size instead.

Answer 2

You should also set the same size for your jpanels

ie. jpanel.setBounds(startingWidth, startingHeight, actualWidth, actualHeight);

and then add these to your container panel.