Specify column-specific TableCellRenderers for a JTable

Question

I have a JTable with multiple columns that display doubles, some of which are ratios, and others of which are dollar values. I'd like to specify a TableCellRenderer to be used for the ratios, and another for the dollar values.

The java tutorials say "To specify that cells in a particular column should use a renderer, you use the TableColumn method setCellRenderer". This is helpful, but it's unclear to me at what point I ought to call this method on my TableColumns. Is there a standard way of doing this? Should I make a custom JTable that does this in its constructor? Or a custom TableColumnModel? Ideally I'd like to be able to do this from the custom TableModel that I already have, though it seems unlikely that this possible.

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

Answer 1

You can set a renderer on a column this way:

table.getColumnModel().getColumn(0).setCellRenderer(new TableRendererExample());

Than you can write your own renderer implementation:

  class TableRendererExample extends DefaultTableCellRenderer {
    @Override
    public Component getTableCellRendererComponent(JTable table, Object value, boolean isSelected, boolean hasFocus, int row, int column) {
      Component c = super.getTableCellRendererComponent(table, value, isSelected, hasFocus, row, column);
      if (column == 1) {
        c.setForeground(Color.gray);
      }
      return c;
    }
  }