Wait timer to display JPanels

[StevoLord]

Hi All,

I am a newbie at java and need some help. I have a JFrame setup where basically I want to show two pictures. I have everything setup however at sleep, timers ect dont currently work and I dont know why. The snipplet of code below should show imagePanel1 first then after 5seconds remove imagePanel1 then add imagePanel2 to the frame. However when I start it the first 5seconds shows nothing but a transparent frame then it shows imagePanel2 after 5seconds. Anyone know why this might be happening and how to fix it. I've already tried to use Thread.sleep(5000); but still no luck and same is happening.

static class previewAction implements ActionListener {
	
	final int seconds = 5;
	final long start = System.currentTimeMillis();
	
	public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e) {
		
		previewFrame.setVisible(true);
		imageLabel1.setIcon(imageIcon1);
		imagePanel1.add(imageLabel1);
		imageLabel2.setIcon(imageIcon2);
		imagePanel2.add(imageLabel2);
		previewFrame.getContentPane().add(imagePanel1);
		
		
		long a1 = System.currentTimeMillis();   
		while(true) {   
		       long b1 =  System.currentTimeMillis();   
		       if(b1-a1 >= 5000) break;   // Elapsed 5s   
		       previewFrame.getContentPane().remove(imagePanel1);
		       previewFrame.getContentPane().add(imagePanel2);  
		}  
	}
}

[JamesCherrill]

Google the Swing Event Dispatch Thread - this is a standard problem that's well documented - but basically your ActionPerformed method blocks all screen updates etc until it has finished.
The right way to handle delays in a Swing GUI is to use a javax.swing.Timer - once again this is well documented on the web.

[StevoLord]

Will it still work using a javax.swing.Timer inside the ActionPerformed method blocks?

and thanks for the reply

[JamesCherrill]

This is well documented on the web,with lots of examples, but basically you need to split this into two methods:
1. In the first method you display the first panel and start a Timer with a 5 second delay
2. When the Timer fires it calls a second method in which you remove the first panel and display the second one.

[StevoLord]

cheers James thanks for your help. Understand what to do now.

[StevoLord]

Okey now I've tried doing a swing.timer which James proposed but im still having trouble. It only shows the first image straight away now so I dont think my timer is working. Anyone have a clue where im going wrong?

(Update 1)I have put a System.out.println in my timers if statement and it shows up in the console so I dont know why the two commands below are not working still.

previewFrame.getContentPane().remove(imagePanel1);
previewFrame.getContentPane().add(imagePanel2);

(Update 2)I have used the previewFrame.repaint(); and this removes the imagePanel1 and shows a gray empty JFrame but it is not adding the imagePanel2 to display the 2nd image. Am I doing something wrong?

(Update 3)SOLVED! WORKING! I missed out previewFrame.validate(); It now works perfect! :)

static class previewAction implements ActionListener {
	
	public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e) {
		
		previewFrame.setVisible(true);
		imageLabel1.setIcon(imageIcon1);
		imagePanel1.add(imageLabel1);
		imageLabel2.setIcon(imageIcon2);
		imagePanel2.add(imageLabel2);
		previewFrame.getContentPane().add(imagePanel1);
		
		t.start();
	}
}

static javax.swing.Timer t = new javax.swing.Timer(delay, new ActionListener() {
    
	public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e) {
    	if (slidecounter == 1) {
    	    previewFrame.getContentPane().remove(imagePanel1);
    	    previewFrame.getContentPane().add(imagePanel2);
             previewFrame.repaint();
    	    System.out.println("Test");
    	    slidecounter++;
    	} if (slidecounter == 2) {
    		//add code later
    		slidecounter++;
    	} if (slidecounter == 3) {
    		t.stop();
    	}
    }
 });

[JamesCherrill]

Well done Steveo. Isn't it doubly satisfying when you get something to work AND you know it's done "right", not a bodge?

[StevoLord]

Haha thanks James, it is great to finally getting it working. Thanks for pointing me in the right direction :D Now I need to do some transition effects on these images so hopefully it aint too much work :D