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You don't have to output everything to a terminal window in Java. In
this section, you'll be writing a calculator programme that makes use
of forms. The form will have buttons and a text box. We'll start off
with a very simple calculator that can only add up, and then extend
its capabilities so that it can subtract, divide and multiply. The calculator
will look something like this:
(The above screenshot was taken on a Windows XP machine. Your calculator
will look different if you have, say, a Linux operating system, or an
Apple Mac.)
Let's make a start.
NetBeans and Java Forms
Developing a Graphic User Interface (GUI) using Java can be an art-form
in itself, as there's quite a lot to get used to: Components, Containers,
Layout Managers, and a whole lot more besides. The NetBeans development
environment, however, has greatly simplified the creation of forms,
and we'll use this to drag and drop controls onto a frame.
Rather than go through reams of GUI theory, we'll just jump straight
into it.
Create a new project for this by clicking File > New Project
from the NetBeans menu at the top. Select Java > Java Application
from the list boxes, and then click the Next button.
On step 2 of the wizard, type MyCalculator as the project name.
At the bottom, uncheck "Create main class". This is because
a main method will be created for us by NetBeans when we add a form.
Step 2 of the wizard should look like this:
Click the Finish button, and NetBeans will create the project, but
not much else. Have a look at the Projects area on the left in NetBeans
and you should see this (If you can't see the Projects area, click Window
> Projects from the NetBeans menu at the top):
Normally, there's a .java file under the Source Packages name.
But because we unchecked the "Create main class" box, there's
no java class file there.
What we'll do is to add a Form to the project. When the form is created,
it will be created in its own java class file.
To add a form, right click the project name in the Projects window.
A menu will appear:
Select New > JFrame Form from the menu. When you do, you
should see the following wizard appear:
Here, you are being asked for a name for your Class, and a package
name. We've already created the project, and called it MyCalculator.
The package name and class will go into the project. So, for your Class
Name type JavaCalculator. In the blank package text box, type
jCalculator. So we're creating a class called JavaCalculator,
which is in the jCalculator package, which is in the MyCalculator project.
Click the Finish button to complete the process.
In the next part, you'll see what happens after you click finish, and
explore the various windows of the NetBeans IDE.
<-- Write to a Text
File | Exploring Form Views -->
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