getPreferredSize : Java Glossary

getPreferredSize

Each component has four sizes (height,width).

Component. getMinimumSize() — smallest could be shrunk to.
Component. getMaximumSize() — largest it makes sense to grow it to.
Component. getPreferredSize() — ideal size.
Component. getSize() — actual size it is now.

These methods often return 0,0 as the size. The reason is, they rely on the underlying GUI to compute the size, and if there in no peer object yet, there is no hook to ask the native GUI. See addNotify.

If you want to manually control any of these sizes, e.g. to create a fixed size Component, override all three methods: Component. getMinimumSize(), Component. getMaximumSize() and Component. getPreferredSize().

In JDK 1.5+, alternatively you can use Component. setMinimumSize, Component. setMaximumSize, and Component. setPreferredSize instead of overriding getXXXXsize methods.

Learning More

Sun’s Javadoc on getMinumimSize class : available:

on the web at java.sun.com
in the current JDK 1.6.0_17 or in the old JDK 1.5.0_22 on your local Windows J: drive.

Sun’s Javadoc on getMaximumSize class : available:

on the web at java.sun.com
in the current JDK 1.6.0_17 or in the old JDK 1.5.0_22 on your local Windows J: drive.

Sun’s Javadoc on getPreferredSize class : available:

on the web at java.sun.com
in the current JDK 1.6.0_17 or in the old JDK 1.5.0_22 on your local Windows J: drive.

Sun’s Javadoc on getSize class : available:

on the web at java.sun.com
in the current JDK 1.6.0_17 or in the old JDK 1.5.0_22 on your local Windows J: drive.

Sun’s Javadoc on setMinumimSize class : available:

on the web at java.sun.com
in the current JDK 1.6.0_17 or in the old JDK 1.5.0_22 on your local Windows J: drive.

Sun’s Javadoc on setMaximumSize class : available:

on the web at java.sun.com
in the current JDK 1.6.0_17 or in the old JDK 1.5.0_22 on your local Windows J: drive.

Sun’s Javadoc on setPreferredSize class : available:

on the web at java.sun.com
in the current JDK 1.6.0_17 or in the old JDK 1.5.0_22 on your local Windows J: drive.

Sun’s Javadoc on setSize class : available:

on the web at java.sun.com
in the current JDK 1.6.0_17 or in the old JDK 1.5.0_22 on your local Windows J: drive.

Component
JComponent
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