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Java Code Generator

JFormDesigner can generate and update Java source code. It uses the same name for the Java file as for the Form file. E.g.:

    C:\MyProject\src\com\myproject\WelcomeDialog.jfd (form file)
    C:\MyProject\src\com\myproject\WelcomeDialog.java (java file)

Stand-alone: Before creating new forms, you should specify the locations of your Java source folders in the Project dialog. Then JFormDesigner can generate valid package statements. For the above example, you should add C:\MyProject\src.

IDE plug-ins: The source folders of the IDE projects are used.

If the Java file does not exist, JFormDesigner generates a new one. Otherwise, it parses the existing Java file and inserts/updates the code for the form and adds import statements if necessary.

Stand-alone: The Java file will be updated when saving the form file.

IDE plug-ins: If the Java file is opened in the IDE editor, it will be immediately updated in-memory on each change in JFormDesigner. Otherwise, it will be updated when saving the form file.

JFormDesigner uses special comments to identify the code sections that it will generate/update. E.g.:

// JFormDesigner - ... //GEN-BEGIN:initComponents
// JFormDesigner - ... //GEN-END:initComponents

The starting comment must contain GEN-BEGIN:<keyword>, the ending comment GEN-END:<keyword>. These comments are NetBeans compatible. The text before GEN-BEGIN and GEN-END (in the same line) does not matter. JFormDesigner uses the following keywords:

Keyword name Description
initComponents Used for code that instantiates and initializes the components of the form.
variables Used for code that declares the class level variables for components.
initI18n Used for code that initializes localized component properties if option "Generate initComponentsI18n() method" is enabled in the Localization (Java Code Generator) preferences or "(form)" properties.
initBindings Used for code that initializes bindings if option "Generate initComponentBindings() method" is enabled in the Localization (Java Code Generator) preferences or "(form)" properties.
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