trying to implement a mutiple jpanels some of which need to be able to paint.Please help!

try setting the preferred size for your prettypanel instance

in the constructor somehow? i'm not quite sure what you mean? i just looked in the java api under jpanel and found nothing thast would give me the ability to specifiy how large.

it's wierd the code i have the 4x4 grid and the jtextfield take up the entire frame?

First make sure your method is running. Put in a System.out.println("DEBUG"); If it's running we can go from there...

Ok i'm still running into major problems. I have tried many different alternatives all have got me back in the same spot.No Where!

the problem is that i'm trying to get the 4x4 grid of buttons and two panels that paint into one single panel. but they wont mix i either get one or the other. Either the buttons show up or just the two paint show up?

    00  01  11  10  <===== thats painted along with the one going horizontal
        |   |    |
00    |   |    |
----------------------------
01    |   |    |
------------------------------
11    |   |   |
-------------- ----------------
10    |   |   |


how do you mix painted components and swing components?

my current idea was to create a class that painted the top numbers

==========================

public class KirPanel1 extends JPanel
{



   public KirPanel1() //Initializes all the mess
   {

   }



    private void paintleftGrid(Graphics g)
    {
                  g.drawString("00" ,15,100);
                  g.drawString("01" ,15,200);
                  g.drawString("11" ,15,300);
                  g.drawString("10" ,15,400);




      }
   /**
      This method is called by the framework each time this component is repainted.
      That happens when the operating system determines that this component needs repainting,
      after minimizing and then restoring, for example, or in response to the user's request via
      the method <code>repaint()</code>. This mechanism is basic to all graphics programming.

      @param g  a <code>Graphics</code> object created by the framework and passed to
      the method. In reality, it is actually a <code>Graphics2D</code> object and can be
      used as such, after appropriate cast
   */
   public void paintComponent(Graphics g)
   {
      super.paintComponent(g); //Should always be here, this is for some housekeeping

      Graphics2D g2 = (Graphics2D)g; //Cast g to <code>Graphics2D</code>

      paintleftGrid(g);

              return;


   }

}








==================================

then another to paint the vertical numbers. Then have a class with three jpanels one to hold the left paint class, one to hold the top paint class,and another to hold the 4x4 grid of buttons


==================== holds everything===========================


public class KirWindow extends javax.swing.JFrame implements ActionListener
{
    private KirPanel1 onepanel;
    private KirPanel2 twopanel;

    private JPanel jgridpanel;
    private JPanel toppanel;

    private JPanel buttPanel;
    private JButton buttSolve;
    private JButton buttExit;

       private JButton one;
         private JButton two;
         private JButton three;
         private JButton four;
         private JButton five;
         private JButton six;
         private JButton seven;
         private JButton eight;
         private JButton nine;
         private JButton ten;
         private JButton eleven;
         private JButton twelve;
         private JButton thirteen;
         private JButton fourteen;
         private JButton fifteen;
         private JButton sixteen;





    /**
      Constructs a basic, closable window.
      @param title - the title to be displayed in the upper bar
    */
    public KirWindow(String title)
    {   super.setTitle(title);

        //Make the window closable , and determine the initial
        //appearence
        setDefaultCloseOperation(EXIT_ON_CLOSE);

        //Determines the original size and position
        Toolkit kit = getToolkit();
        int width = kit.getScreenSize().width - 10;
        int height = kit.getScreenSize().height - 50;
        this.setSize(width, height);


        //Create the entral, display panel, All the drawing takes place here
        onepanel = new KirPanel1();  <=============left panel which i want on the left
        twopanel = new KirPanel2(); <=============this will be top panel


        toppanel = new JPanel();
               toppanel.setPreferredSize(new Dimension(Integer.MAX_VALUE, 100));

        toppanel.setLayout( new FlowLayout());
        toppanel.add(onepanel);                                 <========  this should place them on page but does not!!
        toppanel.add(createControlPanel());
        toppanel.add(twopanel);


        //Add centPanel to the DemoWindow being constructed
        this.getContentPane().add(toppanel);

        //createControlPanel();

        //Bottom panel to hold the buttons
        buttPanel = new JPanel();
        buttPanel.setBackground(Color.black);

        //Create the buttons and add them to the to the buttPanel

        buttSolve = new JButton("Solve");
        buttExit = new JButton("Exit");



        buttSolve.setBackground(Color.gray);
            buttSolve.addActionListener(this);
        buttPanel.add(buttSolve);

        buttExit.setBackground(Color.gray);
            buttExit.addActionListener(this);
        buttPanel.add(buttExit);





        //Add the buttPanel to the DemoWindow object being constructed
        this.getContentPane().add(buttPanel, "South");
    }

   private JPanel createControlPanel()
    {
            // Makes the buttons
                    jgridpanel = new JPanel();
                    jgridpanel.setLayout(new GridLayout(4, 4));
                    jgridpanel.add(one = new JButton("0"));
                    jgridpanel.add(two = new JButton("0"));
                    jgridpanel.add(three = new JButton("0"));
                    jgridpanel.add(four = new JButton("0"));
                    jgridpanel.add(five = new JButton("0"));
                    jgridpanel.add(six = new JButton("0"));
                    jgridpanel.add(seven = new JButton("0"));
                    jgridpanel.add(eight = new JButton("0"));
                    jgridpanel.add(nine = new JButton("0"));
                    jgridpanel.add(ten = new JButton("0"));
                    jgridpanel.add(eleven = new JButton("0"));
                    jgridpanel.add(twelve = new JButton("0"));
                    jgridpanel.add(thirteen = new JButton("0"));
                    jgridpanel.add(fourteen = new JButton("0"));
                    jgridpanel.add(fifteen = new JButton("0"));
                jgridpanel.add(sixteen = new JButton("0"));

               return  jgridpanel;  <===============this is the button panel




    }