:: Reference :: Bounded Sizes ::

Bounded sizes are used to restrict a layout element's initial size. They add context related layout information that the element does not or cannot provide. To use a bounded size, you typically combine a component size (min, pref or default) with a constant size as lower or upper bound.

For example, a well designed command button honors the button's label and icon size, but also uses a minimum width. The latter increases the design consistency and often makes it easier to click on buttons with short labels. A Swing JButton is used in different contexts: form, button bar, button stack, toolbar with icons, toolbar with texts, toolbar in large button mode, etc. Since the JButton (or the ButtonUI) can only provide a single preferredSize that often lacks the context. And so, the button lacks information about context-related layout requirements.

String Representations

String representations for bounded sizes are used in the FormLayout constructors as well as in classes ColumnSpec, RowSpec and Border. The string encodings allow to set only a lower or upper bound, where the related Java objects allow to set both bounds at the same time, which is needed rarely.

boundedSize ::=   MIN(constantSize;componentSize)
                | MAX(constantSize;componentSize)

Note: The string representation uses max to specify a minimum size, and min to specify a maximum size. Think of this as a function - like Math.max and Math.min. The max function provides a lower bound, the min function an upper bound.

Examples

new ColumnSpec("max(50dlu;pref)");  // maximum of 50dlu and pref size

new RowSpec("min(100dlu;pref)");    // minimum of 100dlu and pref size

new FormLayout("max(50dlu;pref), 4dlu, max(100dlu;min)", 
               "p, 3dlu, p, 3dlu, max(200dlu;p):grow");