com.jgoodies.forms.builder

## Class AbstractFormBuilder

- java.lang.Object
- - com.jgoodies.forms.builder.AbstractBuilder
  - - com.jgoodies.forms.builder.AbstractFormBuilder

- Direct Known Subclasses:
    PanelBuilder

      public abstract class AbstractFormBuilder
      extends AbstractBuilder

  An abstract class that minimizes the effort required to implement non-visual builders that use the `FormLayout`.

  Builders hide details of the FormLayout and provide convenience behavior that assists you in constructing a form. This class provides a cell cursor that helps you traverse a form while you add components. Also, it offers several methods to append custom and logical columns and rows.

  Version:
    $Revision: 1.16 $
  Author:
    Karsten Lentzsch
  See Also:
    `ButtonBarBuilder`, `ButtonStackBuilder`, `PanelBuilder`, `I15dPanelBuilder`, `DefaultFormBuilder`

- - ### Field Summary

    - ### Fields inherited from class com.jgoodies.forms.builder.AbstractBuilder

      `currentCellConstraints`

  - ### Constructor Summary

    Constructors
    Constructor and Description
    `AbstractFormBuilder(FormLayout layout, Container container)` Constructs an AbstractFormBuilder for the given FormLayout and layout container.

  - ### Method Summary

    Methods
    Modifier and Type | Method and Description
    --- | ---
    `Component` | `add(Component component)` Adds a component to the container using the default cell constraints.
    `Component` | `add(Component component, CellConstraints cellConstraints)` Adds a component to the panel using the given cell constraints.
    `Component` | `add(Component component, String encodedCellConstraints)` Adds a component to the panel using the given encoded cell constraints.
    `void` | `appendColumn(ColumnSpec columnSpec)` Appends the given column specification to the builder's layout.
    `void` | `appendColumn(String encodedColumnSpec)` Appends a column specification to the builder's layout that represents the given string encoding.
    `void` | `appendGlueColumn()` Appends a glue column.
    `void` | `appendGlueRow()` Appends a glue row.
    `void` | `appendLabelComponentsGapColumn()` Appends a column that is the default gap between a label and its associated component.
    `void` | `appendParagraphGapRow()` Appends a row that is the default gap for paragraphs.
    `void` | `appendRelatedComponentsGapColumn()` Appends a column that is the default gap for related components.
    `void` | `appendRelatedComponentsGapRow()` Appends a row that is the default gap for related components.
    `void` | `appendRow(RowSpec rowSpec)` Appends the given row specification to the builder's layout.
    `void` | `appendRow(String encodedRowSpec)` Appends a row specification to the builder's layout that represents the given string encoding.
    `void` | `appendUnrelatedComponentsGapColumn()` Appends a column that is the default gap for unrelated components.
    `void` | `appendUnrelatedComponentsGapRow()` Appends a row that is the default gap for unrelated components.
    `protected CellConstraints` | `cellConstraints()` Returns the CellConstraints object that is used as a cursor and holds the current column span and row span.
    `protected CellConstraints` | `createLeftAdjustedConstraints(int columnSpan)` Creates and returns a `CellConstraints` object at the current cursor position that uses the given column span and is adjusted to the left.
    `int` | `getColumn()` Returns the cursor's column.
    `protected int` | `getColumnIncrementSign()` Returns the sign (-1 or 1) used to increment the cursor's column when moving to the next column.
    `protected int` | `getLeadingColumn()` Returns the index of the leading column.
    `int` | `getRow()` Returns the cursor's row.
    `boolean` | `isLeftToRight()` Returns whether this builder fills the form left-to-right or right-to-left.
    `void` | `nextColumn()` Moves to the next column, does the same as #nextColumn(1).
    `void` | `nextColumn(int columns)` Moves to the next column.
    `void` | `nextLine()` Moves to the next line: increases the row and resets the column; does the same as #nextLine(1).
    `void` | `nextLine(int lines)` Moves the cursor down several lines: increases the row by the specified number of lines and sets the cursor to the leading column.
    `void` | `nextRow()` Increases the row by one; does the same as #nextRow(1).
    `void` | `nextRow(int rows)` Increases the row by the specified rows.
    `void` | `setAlignment(CellConstraints.Alignment hAlign, CellConstraints.Alignment vAlign)` Sets the horizontal and vertical alignment.
    `void` | `setBounds(int column, int row, int columnSpan, int rowSpan)` Sets the cell bounds (location and extent) to the given column, row, column span and row span.
    `void` | `setColumn(int column)` Sets the cursor to the given column.
    `void` | `setColumnSpan(int columnSpan)` Sets the cursor's column span.
    `void` | `setExtent(int columnSpan, int rowSpan)` Sets the cursor's extent to the given column span and row span.
    `void` | `setHAlignment(CellConstraints.Alignment alignment)` Sets the horizontal alignment.
    `void` | `setLeftToRight(boolean b)` Sets the form fill direction to left-to-right or right-to-left.
    `void` | `setOrigin(int column, int row)` Sets the cursor's origin to the given column and row.
    `void` | `setRow(int row)` Sets the cursor to the given row.
    `void` | `setRowSpan(int rowSpan)` Sets the cursor's row span.
    `void` | `setVAlignment(CellConstraints.Alignment alignment)` Sets the vertical alignment.

    - ### Methods inherited from class com.jgoodies.forms.builder.AbstractBuilder

      `createComponentFactory, getColumnCount, getComponentFactory, getContainer, getLayout, getRowCount, setComponentFactory`

    - ### Methods inherited from class java.lang.Object

      `clone, equals, finalize, getClass, hashCode, notify, notifyAll, toString, wait, wait, wait`

- - ### Constructor Detail

    - #### AbstractFormBuilder

          public AbstractFormBuilder(FormLayout layout,
                             Container container)

      Constructs an AbstractFormBuilder for the given FormLayout and layout container.
      Parameters:
        `layout` - the FormLayout to use
        `container` - the layout container
      Throws:
        `NullPointerException` - if `layout` or `container` is `null`

  - ### Method Detail

    - #### isLeftToRight

          public final boolean isLeftToRight()

      Returns whether this builder fills the form left-to-right or right-to-left. The initial value of this property is set during the builder construction from the layout container's `componentOrientation` property.
      Returns:
        true indicates left-to-right, false indicates right-to-left
      See Also:
        `setLeftToRight(boolean)`, `ComponentOrientation`

    - #### setLeftToRight

          public final void setLeftToRight(boolean b)

      Sets the form fill direction to left-to-right or right-to-left. The initial value of this property is set during the builder construction from the layout container's `componentOrientation` property.
      Parameters:
        `b` - true indicates left-to-right, false right-to-left
      See Also:
        `isLeftToRight()`, `ComponentOrientation`

    - #### getColumn

          public final int getColumn()

      Returns the cursor's column.
      Returns:
        the cursor's column

    - #### setColumn

          public final void setColumn(int column)

      Sets the cursor to the given column.
      Parameters:
        `column` - the cursor's new column index

    - #### getRow

          public final int getRow()

      Returns the cursor's row.
      Returns:
        the cursor's row

    - #### setRow

          public final void setRow(int row)

      Sets the cursor to the given row.
      Parameters:
        `row` - the cursor's new row index

    - #### setColumnSpan

          public final void setColumnSpan(int columnSpan)

      Sets the cursor's column span.
      Parameters:
        `columnSpan` - the cursor's new column span (grid width)

    - #### setRowSpan

          public final void setRowSpan(int rowSpan)

      Sets the cursor's row span.
      Parameters:
        `rowSpan` - the cursor's new row span (grid height)

    - #### setOrigin

          public final void setOrigin(int column,
                       int row)

      Sets the cursor's origin to the given column and row.
      Parameters:
        `column` - the new column index
        `row` - the new row index

    - #### setExtent

          public final void setExtent(int columnSpan,
                       int rowSpan)

      Sets the cursor's extent to the given column span and row span.
      Parameters:
        `columnSpan` - the new column span (grid width)
        `rowSpan` - the new row span (grid height)

    - #### setBounds

          public final void setBounds(int column,
                       int row,
                       int columnSpan,
                       int rowSpan)

      Sets the cell bounds (location and extent) to the given column, row, column span and row span.
      Parameters:
        `column` - the new column index (grid x)
        `row` - the new row index (grid y)
        `columnSpan` - the new column span (grid width)
        `rowSpan` - the new row span (grid height)

    - #### setHAlignment

          public final void setHAlignment(CellConstraints.Alignment alignment)

      Sets the horizontal alignment.
      Parameters:
        `alignment` - the new horizontal alignment

    - #### setVAlignment

          public final void setVAlignment(CellConstraints.Alignment alignment)

      Sets the vertical alignment.
      Parameters:
        `alignment` - the new vertical alignment

    - #### setAlignment

          public final void setAlignment(CellConstraints.Alignment hAlign,
                          CellConstraints.Alignment vAlign)

      Sets the horizontal and vertical alignment.
      Parameters:
        `hAlign` - the new horizontal alignment
        `vAlign` - the new vertical alignment

    - #### nextColumn

          public final void nextColumn()

      Moves to the next column, does the same as #nextColumn(1).

    - #### nextColumn

          public final void nextColumn(int columns)

      Moves to the next column.
      Parameters:
        `columns` - number of columns to move

    - #### nextRow

          public final void nextRow()

      Increases the row by one; does the same as #nextRow(1).

    - #### nextRow

          public final void nextRow(int rows)

      Increases the row by the specified rows.
      Parameters:
        `rows` - number of rows to move

    - #### nextLine

          public final void nextLine()

      Moves to the next line: increases the row and resets the column; does the same as #nextLine(1).

    - #### nextLine

          public final void nextLine(int lines)

      Moves the cursor down several lines: increases the row by the specified number of lines and sets the cursor to the leading column.
      Parameters:
        `lines` - number of rows to move

    - #### appendColumn

          public final void appendColumn(ColumnSpec columnSpec)

      Appends the given column specification to the builder's layout.
      Parameters:
        `columnSpec` - the column specification object to append
      See Also:
        `appendColumn(String)`

    - #### appendColumn

          public final void appendColumn(String encodedColumnSpec)

      Appends a column specification to the builder's layout that represents the given string encoding.
      Parameters:
        `encodedColumnSpec` - the column specification to append in encoded form
      See Also:
        `appendColumn(ColumnSpec)`

    - #### appendGlueColumn

          public final void appendGlueColumn()

      Appends a glue column.
      See Also:
        `appendLabelComponentsGapColumn()`, `appendRelatedComponentsGapColumn()`, `appendUnrelatedComponentsGapColumn()`

    - #### appendLabelComponentsGapColumn

          public final void appendLabelComponentsGapColumn()

      Appends a column that is the default gap between a label and its associated component.
      Since:
        1.0.3
      See Also:
        `appendGlueColumn()`, `appendRelatedComponentsGapColumn()`, `appendUnrelatedComponentsGapColumn()`

    - #### appendRelatedComponentsGapColumn

          public final void appendRelatedComponentsGapColumn()

      Appends a column that is the default gap for related components.
      See Also:
        `appendGlueColumn()`, `appendLabelComponentsGapColumn()`, `appendUnrelatedComponentsGapColumn()`

    - #### appendUnrelatedComponentsGapColumn

          public final void appendUnrelatedComponentsGapColumn()

      Appends a column that is the default gap for unrelated components.
      See Also:
        `appendGlueColumn()`, `appendLabelComponentsGapColumn()`, `appendRelatedComponentsGapColumn()`

    - #### appendRow

          public final void appendRow(RowSpec rowSpec)

      Appends the given row specification to the builder's layout.
      Parameters:
        `rowSpec` - the row specification object to append
      See Also:
        `appendRow(String)`

    - #### appendRow

          public final void appendRow(String encodedRowSpec)

      Appends a row specification to the builder's layout that represents the given string encoding.
      Parameters:
        `encodedRowSpec` - the row specification to append in encoded form
      See Also:
        `appendRow(RowSpec)`

    - #### appendGlueRow

          public final void appendGlueRow()

      Appends a glue row.
      See Also:
        `appendRelatedComponentsGapRow()`, `appendUnrelatedComponentsGapRow()`, `appendParagraphGapRow()`

    - #### appendRelatedComponentsGapRow

          public final void appendRelatedComponentsGapRow()

      Appends a row that is the default gap for related components.
      See Also:
        `appendGlueRow()`, `appendUnrelatedComponentsGapRow()`, `appendParagraphGapRow()`

    - #### appendUnrelatedComponentsGapRow

          public final void appendUnrelatedComponentsGapRow()

      Appends a row that is the default gap for unrelated components.
      See Also:
        `appendGlueRow()`, `appendRelatedComponentsGapRow()`, `appendParagraphGapRow()`

    - #### appendParagraphGapRow

          public final void appendParagraphGapRow()

      Appends a row that is the default gap for paragraphs.
      Since:
        1.0.3
      See Also:
        `appendGlueRow()`, `appendRelatedComponentsGapRow()`, `appendUnrelatedComponentsGapRow()`

    - #### add

          public Component add(Component component,
                      CellConstraints cellConstraints)

      Adds a component to the panel using the given cell constraints.
      Parameters:
        `component` - the component to add
        `cellConstraints` - the component's cell constraints
      Returns:
        the added component

    - #### add

          public final Component add(Component component,
                      String encodedCellConstraints)

      Adds a component to the panel using the given encoded cell constraints.
      Parameters:
        `component` - the component to add
        `encodedCellConstraints` - the component's encoded cell constraints
      Returns:
        the added component

    - #### add

          public final Component add(Component component)

      Adds a component to the container using the default cell constraints. Note that when building from left to right, this method won't adjust the cell constraints if the column span is larger than 1. In this case you should use `add(Component, CellConstraints)` with a cell constraints object created by `createLeftAdjustedConstraints(int)`.
      Parameters:
        `component` - the component to add
      Returns:
        the added component
      See Also:
        `add(Component, CellConstraints)`, `createLeftAdjustedConstraints(int)`

    - #### cellConstraints

          protected final CellConstraints cellConstraints()

      Returns the CellConstraints object that is used as a cursor and holds the current column span and row span.
      Returns:
        the builder's current `CellConstraints` object

    - #### getLeadingColumn

          protected int getLeadingColumn()

      Returns the index of the leading column.

      Subclasses may override this method, for example, if the form has a leading gap column that should not be filled with components.

      Returns:
        the leading column

    - #### getColumnIncrementSign

          protected final int getColumnIncrementSign()

      Returns the sign (-1 or 1) used to increment the cursor's column when moving to the next column.
      Returns:
        -1 for right-to-left, 1 for left-to-right

    - #### createLeftAdjustedConstraints

          protected final CellConstraints createLeftAdjustedConstraints(int columnSpan)

      Creates and returns a `CellConstraints` object at the current cursor position that uses the given column span and is adjusted to the left. Useful when building from right to left.
      Parameters:
        `columnSpan` - the column span to be used in the constraints
      Returns:
        CellConstraints adjusted to the left hand side

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