Java Platform 1.2

javax.swing
Class UIManager

java.lang.Object
  |
  +--javax.swing.UIManager

public class UIManager
extends Object
implements Serializable

This class keeps track of the current look and feel and its defaults.

We manage three levels of defaults: user defaults, look and feel defaults, system defaults. A call to UIManager.get() checks all three levels in order and returns the first non-null value for a key, if any. A call to UIManager.put() just affects the user defaults. Note that a call to setLookAndFeel() doesn't affect the user defaults, it just replaces the middle defaults "level".

Warning: Serialized objects of this class will not be compatible with future Swing releases. The current serialization support is appropriate for short term storage or RMI between applications running the same version of Swing. A future release of Swing will provide support for long term persistence.

See Also:
Serialized Form

Inner Class Summary
static class UIManager.LookAndFeelInfo
          Provide a little information about an installed LookAndFeel for the sake of configuring a menu or for initial application set up.
 
Constructor Summary
UIManager()
           
 
Method Summary
static void addAuxiliaryLookAndFeel(LookAndFeel laf)
          Add a LookAndFeel to the list of auxiliary look and feels.
static void addPropertyChangeListener(PropertyChangeListener listener)
          Add a PropertyChangeListener to the listener list.
static Object get(Object key)
          Returns an object from the defaults table.
static LookAndFeel[] getAuxiliaryLookAndFeels()
          Return the list of auxiliary look and feels (can be null).
static Border getBorder(Object key)
          Returns a border from the defaults table.
static Color getColor(Object key)
          Returns a drawing color from the defaults table.
static String getCrossPlatformLookAndFeelClassName()
          Returns the name of the LookAndFeel class that implements the default cross platform look and feel, i.e.
static UIDefaults getDefaults()
          Returns the default values for this look and feel.
static Dimension getDimension(Object key)
          Returns a dimension from the defaults table.
static Font getFont(Object key)
          Returns a drawing font from the defaults table.
static Icon getIcon(Object key)
          Returns an Icon from the defaults table.
static Insets getInsets(Object key)
          Returns an Insets object from the defaults table.
static UIManager.LookAndFeelInfo[] getInstalledLookAndFeels()
          Return an array of objects that provide some information about the LookAndFeel implementations that have been installed with this java development kit.
static int getInt(Object key)
          Returns an int from the defaults table.
static LookAndFeel getLookAndFeel()
          Returns The current default look and feel, or null.
static UIDefaults getLookAndFeelDefaults()
          Returns the default values for this look and feel.
static String getString(Object key)
          Returns a string from the defaults table.
static String getSystemLookAndFeelClassName()
          Returns the name of the LookAndFeel class that implements the native systems look and feel if there is one, otherwise the name of the default cross platform LookAndFeel class.
static ComponentUI getUI(JComponent target)
          Returns the L&F object that renders the target component.
static void installLookAndFeel(String name, String className)
          Creates a new look and feel and adds it to the current array.
static void installLookAndFeel(UIManager.LookAndFeelInfo info)
          Adds the specified look and feel to the current array and then calls setInstalledLookAndFeels(javax.swing.UIManager.LookAndFeelInfo[]).
static Object put(Object key, Object value)
          Stores an object in the defaults table.
static boolean removeAuxiliaryLookAndFeel(LookAndFeel laf)
          Remove a LookAndFeel from the list of auxiliary look and feels.
static void removePropertyChangeListener(PropertyChangeListener listener)
          Remove a PropertyChangeListener from the listener list.
static void setInstalledLookAndFeels(UIManager.LookAndFeelInfo[] infos)
          Replaces the current array of installed LookAndFeelInfos.
static void setLookAndFeel(LookAndFeel newLookAndFeel)
          Set the current default look and feel using a LookAndFeel object.
static void setLookAndFeel(String className)
          Set the current default look and feel using a class name.
 
Methods inherited from class java.lang.Object
clone, equals, finalize, getClass, hashCode, notify, notifyAll, toString, wait, wait, wait
 

Constructor Detail

UIManager

public UIManager()
Method Detail

getInstalledLookAndFeels

public static UIManager.LookAndFeelInfo[] getInstalledLookAndFeels()
Return an array of objects that provide some information about the LookAndFeel implementations that have been installed with this java development kit. The LookAndFeel info objects can be used by an application to construct a menu of look and feel options for the user or to set the look and feel at start up time. Note that we do not return the LookAndFeel classes themselves here to avoid the cost of unnecessarily loading them.

Given a LookAndFeelInfo object one can set the current look and feel like this:

 UIManager.setLookAndFeel(info.getClassName());
 
See Also:
setLookAndFeel(javax.swing.LookAndFeel)

setInstalledLookAndFeels

public static void setInstalledLookAndFeels(UIManager.LookAndFeelInfo[] infos)
                                     throws SecurityException
Replaces the current array of installed LookAndFeelInfos.
See Also:
getInstalledLookAndFeels()

installLookAndFeel

public static void installLookAndFeel(UIManager.LookAndFeelInfo info)
Adds the specified look and feel to the current array and then calls setInstalledLookAndFeels(javax.swing.UIManager.LookAndFeelInfo[]).
Parameters:
info - a LookAndFeelInfo object that names the look and feel and identifies that class that implements it

installLookAndFeel

public static void installLookAndFeel(String name,
                                      String className)
Creates a new look and feel and adds it to the current array. Then calls setInstalledLookAndFeels(javax.swing.UIManager.LookAndFeelInfo[]).
Parameters:
name - a String specifying the name of the look and feel
className - a String specifying the class name that implements the look and feel

getLookAndFeel

public static LookAndFeel getLookAndFeel()
Returns The current default look and feel, or null.
Returns:
The current default look and feel, or null.
See Also:
setLookAndFeel(javax.swing.LookAndFeel)

setLookAndFeel

public static void setLookAndFeel(LookAndFeel newLookAndFeel)
                           throws UnsupportedLookAndFeelException
Set the current default look and feel using a LookAndFeel object.

This is a JavaBeans bound property.

Parameters:
newLookAndFeel - the LookAndFeel object
Throws:
UnsupportedLookAndFeelException - If lnf.isSupportedLookAndFeel() is false.
See Also:
getLookAndFeel()

setLookAndFeel

public static void setLookAndFeel(String className)
                           throws ClassNotFoundException,
                                  InstantiationException,
                                  IllegalAccessException,
                                  UnsupportedLookAndFeelException
Set the current default look and feel using a class name.
Parameters:
className - a string specifying the name of the class that implements the look and feel
Throws:
ClassNotFoundException - If the LookAndFeel class could not be found.
InstantiationException - If a new instance of the class couldn't be creatd.
IllegalAccessException - If the class or initializer isn't accessible.
UnsupportedLookAndFeelException - If lnf.isSupportedLookAndFeel() is false.

getSystemLookAndFeelClassName

public static String getSystemLookAndFeelClassName()
Returns the name of the LookAndFeel class that implements the native systems look and feel if there is one, otherwise the name of the default cross platform LookAndFeel class.
See Also:
setLookAndFeel(javax.swing.LookAndFeel), getCrossPlatformLookAndFeelClassName()

getCrossPlatformLookAndFeelClassName

public static String getCrossPlatformLookAndFeelClassName()
Returns the name of the LookAndFeel class that implements the default cross platform look and feel, i.e. the "Java Look and Feel", or JLF.
Returns:
a string with the JLF implementation-class
See Also:
setLookAndFeel(javax.swing.LookAndFeel), getSystemLookAndFeelClassName()

getDefaults

public static UIDefaults getDefaults()
Returns the default values for this look and feel.
Returns:
an UIDefaults object containing the default values

getFont

public static Font getFont(Object key)
Returns a drawing font from the defaults table.
Parameters:
key - an Object specifying the font
Returns:
the Font object

getColor

public static Color getColor(Object key)
Returns a drawing color from the defaults table.
Parameters:
key - an Object specifying the color
Returns:
the Color object

getIcon

public static Icon getIcon(Object key)
Returns an Icon from the defaults table.
Parameters:
key - an Object specifying the icon
Returns:
the Icon object

getBorder

public static Border getBorder(Object key)
Returns a border from the defaults table.
Parameters:
key - an Object specifying the border
Returns:
the Border object

getString

public static String getString(Object key)
Returns a string from the defaults table.
Parameters:
key - an Object specifying the string
Returns:
the String

getInt

public static int getInt(Object key)
Returns an int from the defaults table.
Parameters:
key - an Object specifying the int
Returns:
the int

getInsets

public static Insets getInsets(Object key)
Returns an Insets object from the defaults table.
Parameters:
key - an Object specifying the Insets object
Returns:
the Insets object

getDimension

public static Dimension getDimension(Object key)
Returns a dimension from the defaults table.
Parameters:
key - an Object specifying the dimension object
Returns:
the Dimension object

get

public static Object get(Object key)
Returns an object from the defaults table.
Parameters:
key - an Object specifying the desired object
Returns:
the Object

put

public static Object put(Object key,
                         Object value)
Stores an object in the defaults table.
Parameters:
key - an Object specifying the retrieval key
value - the Object to store
Returns:
the Object returned by UIDefaults.put

getUI

public static ComponentUI getUI(JComponent target)
Returns the L&F object that renders the target component.
Parameters:
target - the JComponent to render
Returns:
the ComponentUI object that renders the target component

getLookAndFeelDefaults

public static UIDefaults getLookAndFeelDefaults()
Returns the default values for this look and feel.
Returns:
an UIDefaults object containing the default values

addAuxiliaryLookAndFeel

public static void addAuxiliaryLookAndFeel(LookAndFeel laf)
Add a LookAndFeel to the list of auxiliary look and feels. The auxiliary look and feels tell the multiplexing look and feel what other LookAndFeel classes for a component instance are to be used in addition to the default LookAndFeel class when creating a multiplexing UI. The change will only take effect when a new UI class is created or when the default look and feel is changed on a component instance.

Note these are not the same as the installed look and feels.

Parameters:
laf - the LookAndFeel object
See Also:
removeAuxiliaryLookAndFeel(javax.swing.LookAndFeel), setLookAndFeel(javax.swing.LookAndFeel), getAuxiliaryLookAndFeels(), getInstalledLookAndFeels()

removeAuxiliaryLookAndFeel

public static boolean removeAuxiliaryLookAndFeel(LookAndFeel laf)
Remove a LookAndFeel from the list of auxiliary look and feels. The auxiliary look and feels tell the multiplexing look and feel what other LookAndFeel classes for a component instance are to be used in addition to the default LookAndFeel class when creating a multiplexing UI. The change will only take effect when a new UI class is created or when the default look and feel is changed on a component instance.

Note these are not the same as the installed look and feels.

Returns:
true if the LookAndFeel was removed from the list
See Also:
removeAuxiliaryLookAndFeel(javax.swing.LookAndFeel), getAuxiliaryLookAndFeels(), setLookAndFeel(javax.swing.LookAndFeel), getInstalledLookAndFeels()

getAuxiliaryLookAndFeels

public static LookAndFeel[] getAuxiliaryLookAndFeels()
Return the list of auxiliary look and feels (can be null). The auxiliary look and feels tell the multiplexing look and feel what other LookAndFeel classes for a component instance are to be used in addition to the default LookAndFeel class when creating a multiplexing UI.

Note these are not the same as the installed look and feels.

See Also:
addAuxiliaryLookAndFeel(javax.swing.LookAndFeel), removeAuxiliaryLookAndFeel(javax.swing.LookAndFeel), setLookAndFeel(javax.swing.LookAndFeel), getInstalledLookAndFeels()

addPropertyChangeListener

public static void addPropertyChangeListener(PropertyChangeListener listener)
Add a PropertyChangeListener to the listener list. The listener is registered for all properties.
Parameters:
listener - The PropertyChangeListener to be added
See Also:
PropertyChangeSupport

removePropertyChangeListener

public static void removePropertyChangeListener(PropertyChangeListener listener)
Remove a PropertyChangeListener from the listener list. This removes a PropertyChangeListener that was registered for all properties.
Parameters:
listener - The PropertyChangeListener to be removed
See Also:
PropertyChangeSupport

Java Platform 1.2

Submit a bug or feature Version 1.2 of Java Platform API Specification
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