Java GUIs and Project Matisse Learning Trail
Project Matisse is the innovative new approach to developing a Java graphical
user interface (GUI) that was introduced in NetBeans IDE 5.0. It consists of
a new layout manager, GroupLayout, and a visual GUI builder that makes the layout
design of visual forms much easier.
Why Use Project Matisse?
Project Matisse greatly reduces the learning curve and development time needed
to produce professional quality Java GUIs. The project exposes simple layout
rules that are easy to understand and to use quickly. It lets you lay out components
freely, providing visual guidelines for optimal spacing between components and
alignment of components. Project Matisse infers the appropriate resizing behavior and
more, freeing the developer from the complexities of Swing layout managers.
You can just use the intuitive visual form builder to produce a professional
GUI easily - in the background, the IDE produces the correct implementation
using a layout manager and other Swing constructs.
For more information, see the Matisse Project
Home Page, and the Matisse Project Roadmap.
Getting Started
New to Project Matisse? Check out the GUI
Building in NetBeans IDE 5.0 tutorial for a quick introduction to creating
Swing forms with NetBeans IDE.
Project Matisse Tutorials
20th Feb 2006, Talley Mulligan
This document describes the visual feedback the Matisse GUI Builder provides
during the process of Java GUI creation. You can use it as a quick reference
for Alignment Guidelines, Anchoring Indicators as well as Sizing Indicators.
15th March 2006, Marek Grummich
This tutorial shows you ways how to internationalize
GUI forms in NetBeansTM IDE 5.0. We take a form created with Project Matisse and show
several approaches to internationalization: inserting internationalized strings
as we type, converting hard-coded strings to internationalized strings in an
entire project, and converting strings one-by-one.
24th Feb 2006, Amy Lu
This tutorial provides a step-by-step walk-through of
how to use the Netbeans Module for Java Web Start. First you install the plug-in
module, then you take the GUI form examples created with Project Matisse and enable
Java Web Start functionality for the projects. Finally, you assemble, deploy,
and debug this application in Netbeans IDE 5.0.
Flash Demos
The NetBeans 5.0 GUI Builder (Project Matisse) solves
the core problem of Java GUI creation by making the layout design of visual
forms much easier. The project extends the previous NetBeans IDE 4.1 Form Editor
to support a brand new "Free Design" paradigm that exposes simple layout rules
that are easy to understand and use quickly.
This extensive tutorial guides you through the process
of creating the graphical user interface (GUI) for an application called ContactEditor
and it includes eleven short Flash movies that show a detailed interactive demonstration
of GUI Builder functionality.
This tutorial shows how to use Gridbag Layout and Group
Layout (from Project Matisse) together on one JFrame. You can also discover how to edit
panels separately, independent on the rest of the form. Contributed by Claudio
Miranda.
A quick Flash demo of how to recreate a simple GUI form
with Project Matisse.
This tutorial explains how to reuse your custom components
using palette manager and thus save some time when creating your forms. Contributed
by Claudio Miranda.
Other Resources
The main web page for the GUI Builder and Project Matisse. Feature
descriptions, future plans, roadmaps, and more.
The main web page for the GUI Builder and Project Matisse. Feature
descriptions, future plans, roadmaps, and more.
Tomas Pavek, one of the lead engineers on the Matisse
Project, blogs about using NetBeans IDE to build Java GUI forms.
The full tutorial for creating graphical user interfaces
(GUIs) for applications and applets, using the Swing components. Doesn't use
Matisse but provides good info on basic component behavior.
