[news.eclipse.tools.ve] Re: Visual Swing Designer for Eclipse - the new

[public.forums@xxxxxxxxx (Marty Fried)]

Sebastian Brandt wrote:

> Hi!
> I have similar experiences ...
> Especially, it is impossible to add a component into a panel that is empty
> and zero size in one direction ...

> 1) use border layout
> - put panel on it, CENTER
> - try to put anything on left, top, right, or bottom
>   I didn't manage.

> 2) use border layout
> - put panel on it, bottom
> - put panel on it, center
> - try to put anything on the bottom panel.
>   again, I didn't manage.

> Only solution: change the center panel to top, add the controls.

> W/o a working border layout, I lost my interest in Visual Swing Designer ...

Yes, that's the sort of problems that come up where it is essential to be 
able to add the element in some sort of outline mode where you can see 
every existing element.

I've been experimenting with Igloo, and it is better; not perfect, but 
pretty good.  I especially like its use of screen space.  You can 
semi-maximize the source you are working on, and still see everything you 
need.  The palette is a small tabbed toolbar on top (icons only).  Their 
GUI outline widow is on the right, above a tabbed properties/layout/events 
window.  The remaining space is used for the source/GUI editor, which can 
be either split or tabbed.

I've had a few problems, but that may be due to my inexperience.  Also, it 
was a bit cryptic starting out, as it seems to show two possible 
containers for adding elements, and it wasn't clear which one to use.  But 
only one works, and the documentation kind of shows how to do it, although 
it doesn't mention what these two containers are.