How do I dynamically add Panels to other panels at runtime in Java?

Question

I'm trying to get into java again (it's been a few years). I never really did any GUI coding in java. I've been using Netbeans to get started with this.

When using winforms in C# at work I use a usercontrols to build parts of my UI and add them to forms dynamically.

I've been trying to use JPanels like usercontrols in C#. I created a JPanel form called BlurbEditor. This has a few simple controls on it. I am trying to add it to another panel at run time on a button event.

Here is the code that I thought would work:

mainPanel.add(new BlurbEditor());
mainPanel.revalidate();
//I've also tried all possible combinations of these too
//mainPanel.repaint();
//mainPanel.validate();

This unfortunately is not working. What am I doing wrong?

Answer 1

I was dealing with similar issue, I wanted to change the panel contained in a panel on runtime
After some testing, retesting and a lot of failing my pseudo-algorithm is this:

parentPanel : contains the panel we want to remove
childPanel : panel we want to switch
parentPanelLayout : the layout of parentPanel
editParentLayout() : builds parentPanel with different childPanel and NEW parentPanelLayout every time

parentPanel.remove(childPanel); 
editParentLayout();
parentPanel.revalidate();
parentPanel.repaint();

Answer 2

I figured it out. The comments under the accepted answer here explain it: Dynamically added JTable not displaying

Basically I just added the following before the mainPanel.add()

mainPanel.setLayout(new java.awt.BorderLayout());