Cell component parameters

  Anchors
  Span width and span height
  Cell insets
  Changing a component's kind

After you have placed a component in the design grid, you can manipulate the component's , adjust its anchors, define a span width and a span height, you can define insets to the grid cell's bounds or select another kind of component.


Anchors     Top of page

By setting one anchor you fix a component at either the top, bottom, right or left side of its cell (see ).

By setting two anchors you can fix a component at either a cell edge (see ) or at two opposite sides, this stretches the component (see ).

With three anchors selected, the component is stretched and fixed at one side of its grid cell (see ).

Finally, if you set all four anchors, the component fills the entire cell (see ).

With at least one component selected, you can select or deselect anchors with Alt+Letter (where Letter is one of T(op), L(eft), B(ottom) or R(ight)).


Span width and span height     Top of page

By defining a span width of n for a component, the component occupies n columns. This does not mean, that the component fills those columns but just, that it's centered inside (see ).

With a combination of anchors and span width/height you can realize most of your .

You can control span width and span height simultaneously by dragging the .

With at least one component selected, change span width with S+W+Value (where Value must be an integer). To change span height, press S+H+Value. To change values relative to the current value, precede Value with 'plus' (+) or 'minus' (-).


Cell insets     Top of page

Cell insets are for fine-tuning the location of components (see ). Insets are in top-left-bottom-right order, you can use both positive and negative values. Sometimes insets can save you the creation of additional rows or columns. Negative insets are the only way, you can make components overlap, but the paint order of components is undefined.

With at least one component selected, change cell insets with Letter(s)+Value (where Letter(s) is any combination of T(op), L(eft), B(ottom) and R(ight) and Value is an integer).


Changing a component's kind     Top of page

You use the combo box to change the kind of a selected component. If the component you replace has one or more properties set to non-default values and the replacing component supports one ore more of those properties, you can select to properties, EventListeners, property and event handlers.

RADi especially cares for the following components:
JList JComboBox Items and cell renderers are restored
JPanel FolderPanel Child components are restored
JTabbedPane CardPanel Child components are restored
JLayeredPane JDesktopPane Child components are restored

See also:
Containers in grid cells
Components which can render antialiased text
Handle with care - JEditorPane