About VerticalFlowLayout

VerticalFlowLayout arranges components in columns from top to bottom, then left to right using each component's preferredSize . VerticalFlowLayout lines up as many components as it can in a column, then moves to a new column. Typically, VerticalFlowLayout is used to arrange buttons on a panel.

VerticalFlowLayout image

You can choose how to arrange the components in the columns of a VerticalFlowLayout container by specifying an alignment justification of top, middle, or bottom. You can also specify the amount of gap (horizontal and vertical spacing) between components and columns. It also has properties that let you specify the components should fill the width of the column, or the last component should fill the remaining height of the container. Use the Inspector to change these properties when you're in the Java Visual Editor.

Alignment

TOP - groups the components at the top of the container.
MIDDLE - centers the components vertically in the container.
BOTTOM - groups the components so the last component is at the bottom of the container.

The default alignment in a VerticalFlowLayout is MIDDLE.

To change the alignment, select the verticalFlowLayout object in the Structure window, then specify a value in the Inspector for the alignment property as follows:

0=TOP

1=MIDDLE

2=BOTTOM

Gap

The default gap between components in a VerticalFlowLayout is 5 pixels.

To change the horizontal or vertical gap, select the VerticalFlowLayout object in the Structure window, then modify the pixel value of the hgap (horizontal gap) or vgap (vertical gap) property in the Inspector.

Order of Components

To change the order of the components in a VerticalFlowLayout container, drag the component to the new location.

Horizontal Fill

horizontalFill lets you specify a fill to edge flag which causes all the components to expand to the container's width.

HorizontalFill image

Warning: Your program can become unstable if the main panel has less space than it needs. This property also prohibits multi-column output.

The default value for horizontalFill is True.

Vertical fill

verticalFill lets you specify a vertical fill flag that causes the last component to fill the remaining height of the container.

VerticalFillLayout image

The default value for verticalFill is False.