Creating GUI Board Java--Buttons

Question

Hi guys,

I'm looking to make a GUI board for my own version of Tic Taco Toe. Currently using Java.AWT* and javax.swing*. I'm aware that there are a plethora of projects with this game, but I don't want to "cheat" or copy directly from existing sources because I believe it defeats the purpose of learning. I want the experience of problem-solving and being creative . Any assistance and input would be helpful. I'm still a beginner. My goal with this project is to advance the skill of algorithmic thinking and to complete a first project. I have a separate Logic Class that I'm very happy with -- it works beautifully. I ran into difficulty figuring out a better way for the user to interact with the game board. I'm working making the board interactive if possible-- maybe button clicks and the game state updates...that sort of thing. Any other ideas are welcome.

Thank you so much.

Currently using JButton to make a button board.

how do i get my buttons to be in a grid layout? I'd like 9 buttons to be in a grid of 3 rows and 3 columns. If I use grid layout, how do I get it to not take up the entire portion of the the JFrame? Right now the 9 buttons line up at the top of my JFrame. How do I get it to be in the center of the JFrame? Is there a cleaner way than the code I have below?

public class testBoard extends JFrame {
JPanel buttonPanel;
JButton b1,b2,b3,b4,b5,b6,b7, b8, b9;
String text[]= {"1","2","3","4","5","6","7","8","9"};

public testBoard(){
this.setTitle("Tic Tac Toe");

this.setSize(1000, 1000);

this.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);

b1=new JButton();
b1.setText(text[0]);

b2=new JButton();
b2.setText(text[1]);

b3=new JButton();
b3.setText(text[2]);

b4=new JButton();
b4.setText(text[3]);

b5=new JButton();
b5.setText(text[4]);

b6=new JButton();
b6.setText(text[5]);

b7=new JButton();
b7.setText(text[6]);

b8=new JButton();
b8.setText(text[7]);

Answer 1

JFrame f=new JFrame("New");
f.add(b1);
f.add(b2);
...
f.setLayout(new GridLayout());

May be this can works for you...

You already extending JFrame so try like
this.add(b1);....
this.setLayout(new GridLayout(x, y)) ;
x, y are row, column values....

Answer 2

buttonPanel = new JPanel();
buttonPanel.setLayout( new GridLayout(3,3) );

JButton[] buttons = new JButton[9];
for (int i=0; i<9; i++) {
buttons[i] = new JButton( String.valueOf(i) );
buttonPanel.add(buttons[i]);
}
add(buttonPanel);

Answer 3

Thank you. I will try it. You're amazing!

Answer 4

thank you, Zemiak, I apology for my late response. I really appreciate your help as well.