From VFP to Java trouble (newbie)

[John Fabiani]

Hi,
I'm just starting with Java and I'm having a little trouble relating a
concept that is in VFP to Java. In VFP (Visiual FoxPro) the programmer can
create a form (a JFrame/Window) and add a class to the form (drag and
drop). In my case this class is a data manager class. The class contains
routines to access data and much more. But basicly adds methods to the
form. So my question is what is there in Java that allows me to add a class
to a JFrame/window? Or if I'm all wrong in my thinking can someone direct
me to a white paper or URL?

 

[Raymond DeCampo]

Hi,
I'm just starting with Java and I'm having a little trouble relating a
concept that is in VFP to Java. In VFP (Visiual FoxPro) the programmer can
create a form (a JFrame/Window) and add a class to the form (drag and
drop). In my case this class is a data manager class. The class contains
routines to access data and much more. But basicly adds methods to the
form. So my question is what is there in Java that allows me to add a class
to a JFrame/window? Or if I'm all wrong in my thinking can someone direct
me to a white paper or URL?

John,

You need to think a little more fundamentally. Visual Studio does a
bunch of things for you behind the scenes when you use the wizards. (I
am assuming Visual FoxPro is similar to Visual C++ in this regard.)

In Java, you have a couple of choices. You can directly subclass the
JFrame class and add Swing widgets to it. Or you could instantiate a
JFrame and add widgets to it. It's really a matter of style. I usually
extend JPanel for each screen; then the screen is re-usable in the sense
that I could imbed it in another JPanel or a JFrame.

If you are looking for a GUI builder I believe NetBeans has one. Or you
can search the comp.lang.java.softwaretools newsgroup via Google. Or
you could post a message saying how much you hate this tool or that tool
and learn a lot that way as well.

Ray