Documentation

Contents

  

IntelliJ IDEA plug-in

This plug-in integrates JFormDesigner into Jetbrains IntelliJ IDEA.

Benefits

Using this plug-in has following benefits compared to JFormDesigner stand-alone edition:

  • Fully integrated as editor for JFormDesigner .jfd files. Create and design forms within IntelliJ IDEA. No need to switch between applications.
  • Uses the source folders and classpath of the current IntelliJ IDEA project/module. No need to specify them twice.
  • The Java code generator updates the .java file in-memory on each change in the designer. You can design forms and edit its source code without the need to save them (as necessary when using JFormDesigner stand-alone edition).
  • Folding of generated GUI code in Java editor.
  • Go to event handler method in Java editor. Double-click on the event in the Structure view to go to the event handler method in the Java editor of IntelliJ IDEA.
  • Two-way synchronization of localized strings in designer and in properties file editors. Changing localized strings in the designer immediately updates the .properties file in-memory and changing the .properties file updates the designer.
  • Copy needed libraries (JGoodies Forms, TableLayout, etc) to the project and add them to the classpath of the current IntelliJ IDEA project/module. Optionally include source code and javadoc.
  • Assign shortcut keys to most JFormDesigner commands in IntelliJ IDEA's keymap settings.
  • Integrated with IntelliJ IDEA's Version Control Systems.

User interface

The screenshot below shows the IntelliJ IDEA main window editing a JFormDesigner form.

IntelliJ IDEA main window

A JFormDesigner editor consists of:

  • Toolbar: Located at top of the editor area.
  • Palette: Located at the left side.
  • Design View: Located at the center.
  • Structure View: Located at the upper right. You can hide this view in the editor and show it instead in IntelliJ IDEA's Structure tool window by unselecting Show Structure in Editor ().
  • Properties View: Located at the lower right.
  • Error Log View: Automatically opens on errors in a tool window at the bottom. This view is not visible in the above screenshot.

Creating new forms

You can create new forms in any of IntelliJ IDEA's project views. First select the destination package or folder, then invoke IDEA's New command and choose JFormDesigner Form.

New Form Menu

In the New JFormDesigner Form dialog, enter the form name (which is also used as class name), choose a superclass, a layout manager and set localization options.

New Form Dialog

After clicking OK, the form will be created and opened.

Open forms for editing

You can open existing forms the same way as opening any other file in IntelliJ IDEA. Locate it in any of IDEA's project views and double-click it.

Go to Java code / go to form

JFormDesigner adds a button to IntelliJ IDEA's main toolbar that enables you to switch quickly from a JFormDesigner form editor to its Java editor and vice versa. If a form editor is active, then the button is named Go to Java code (). If a Java editor is active, then it is named Go to JFormDesigner form (). You can also use Ctrl+Shift+D.

Go to Java code

Go to form

Code folding

To move the generated code out of the way, JFormDesigner folds it in the Java editor.

Code folding

Convert IntelliJ IDEA and NetBeans forms

You can convert existing IntelliJ IDEA and NetBeans forms to JFormDesigner forms. Right-click on the form file and select Convert to JFormDesigner Form.

 Convert forms

Note: When converting an IntelliJ IDEA form, JFormDesigner inserts its own generated GUI code into the existing Java class, but does not remove IDEA's GUI code. You have to remove IDEA's component variables and initialization code yourself.

Settings

JFormDesigner uses the term "Preferences" instead of IntelliJ IDEA's "Settings". The JFormDesigner preferences are fully integrated into the IntelliJ IDEA settings dialog. Select File > Settings from the menu to open it and then click the icon named "JFormDesigner". See Preferences for details.

Keyboard shortcuts

You can assign shortcut keys to most JFormDesigner commands in IntelliJ IDEA's keymap settings dialog. Select File > Settings > Keymap to open it. In the actions tree expand All Actions > Plug-ins > JFormDesigner.

Keymap Settings

« previous | next »