best lookandfeel / SWT

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bernd_no_junk@hotmail.com - 24 Aug 2004 05:32 GMT

Hi,

currently I am eveluating some look and feels
(see for example http://www.javootoo.com) and
I was wondering what user people like best.

So, some recommendations?

Important criteria would be good quality under
all common OS (that was unfortunately not the case with
some L&F i tried, e.g. WRT to OS X) and speed.

Also, could somebody give some general remarks on whether
it's worthwhile to use SWT?

I have seen some application which used it, and they
appeared to have faster reaction time.

Is the API very different to SWING or harder to programm?
Is useful stuff missing which is available in SWING?

Bernd

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Tim - 24 Aug 2004 11:08 GMT

> So, some recommendations?

Maybe, users like it best, if the LAF is the same as what they are used to,
mostly the LAF of their OS, so you could use the OS LAF. When the user runs
it on windows XP, it 'll use the windows XP LAF, on a unix, it'll look like
a unix window.

UIManager.setLookAndFeel(UIManager.getSystemLookAndFeelClassName());

hope this helps,
greets
Tim

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Andrew Thompson - 24 Aug 2004 11:35 GMT

> Maybe, users like it best, if the LAF is the same as what they are used to,

This is *very* good advice.

I think the OP should give it serious
consideration before assuming they can
better guess what the user wants to see.

> UIManager.setLookAndFeel(UIManager.getSystemLookAndFeelClassName());

...ahhh. But there's more than one way
to skin a cat.

Sun's implementations of the default OS PLAF
have some quirks and failings. I would recommend
you give the JGoodies system specific PLAF's
a try-out. Available from...
<http://www.jgoodies.com/>

HTH

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Andrew Thompson
http://www.PhySci.org/ Open-source software suite
http://www.PhySci.org/codes/ Web & IT Help
http://www.1point1C.org/ Science & Technology

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Bernd - 24 Aug 2004 17:44 GMT

> Sun's implementations of the default OS PLAF
> have some quirks and failings.

That's very true indeed.

I would recommend

> you give the JGoodies system specific PLAF's
> a try-out. Available from...
> <http://www.jgoodies.com/>

I am using JGoodies right now and
quite like them. Was just wondering what other
people prefer or whether there is still a better
alternative that i don't know.

Bernd

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Tim - 26 Aug 2004 22:54 GMT

>> Maybe, users like it best, if the LAF is the same as what they are
>> used to,
>
> This is *very* good advice.

are you serious or just ironic?

>> UIManager.setLookAndFeel(UIManager.getSystemLookAndFeelClassName());
>
> Sun's implementations of the default OS PLAF
> have some quirks and failings. I would recommend

That, I didn't know... But indeed, I tried it with the current program
I'm writing, where I adjust the Backgroundcolor of a JButton (it's the
button that calls a JColorChooser and that indicates the selected color)
and with WindowsXP, you don't get the desired BgColor, only a little
border around the button.

> you give the JGoodies system specific PLAF's
> a try-out. Available from...
><http://www.jgoodies.com/>

Bookmarked it. ;-)

greetz
Tim

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Andrew Thompson - 26 Aug 2004 23:37 GMT

>>> Maybe, users like it best, if the LAF is the same as what they are
>>> used to,
>>
>> This is *very* good advice.
>
> are you serious or just ironic?

Completely serious. Users like to see exactly
what they expect an app. to look like, which is
exactly like the rest of the apps. in their system,
they also get up to speed faster if the beyboard
navigation works in a familiar way.

There can be special case made for custom and
funky PLAF's, very occasionally.. But most
developers fall into the trap of thinking they
can better guess how to make the app. work/look
for the user. They are generally wrong.

Signature

Andrew Thompson
http://www.PhySci.org/ Open-source software suite
http://www.PhySci.org/codes/ Web & IT Help
http://www.1point1C.org/ Science & Technology

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Tim - 31 Aug 2004 14:27 GMT

>> are you serious or just ironic?
>
> Completely serious.

ok, I just thought I smelled a tinge of irony in your message. ;-)

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Adam - 27 Aug 2004 08:04 GMT

> That, I didn't know... But indeed, I tried it with the current program
> I'm writing, where I adjust the Backgroundcolor of a JButton (it's the
> button that calls a JColorChooser and that indicates the selected color)
> and with WindowsXP, you don't get the desired BgColor, only a little
> border around the button.

I'm experiencing te same problem. Did you manage to
find a solution?

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Tim - 31 Aug 2004 14:31 GMT

>> That, I didn't know... But indeed, I tried it with the current
>> program I'm writing, where I adjust the Backgroundcolor of a JButton
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> I'm experiencing te same problem. Did you manage to
> find a solution?

I did not, since you can only use "setBackground". The real
backgroundcolor in windows xp, is defined by the user in his settings
and cannot be overruled I'm affraid. So you'll have to find another
sollution to it, if you want to use the winxp style. E.g. make a little
square JPanel, place it next to the button and set that one's background
in stead of the button. The basic idea is just to show the user which
color is currently selected, so I think that's a good solution.

greetz

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Adam - 01 Sep 2004 07:18 GMT

> >> That, I didn't know... But indeed, I tried it with the current
> >> program I'm writing, where I adjust the Backgroundcolor of a JButton
[quoted text clipped - 12 lines]
> in stead of the button. The basic idea is just to show the user which
> color is currently selected, so I think that's a good solution.

Yep, I was thinking of using a JPanel with a bevel border _instead_ of
the
JButton and use mouse listeners instead of action listeners.

I must say this is strange for me - in other versions of Windows
you could change any color (they are all defined by the user
settings),
and suddenly a change that makes my working programs in need of a fix

Adam

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Tim - 03 Sep 2004 15:38 GMT

> Yep, I was thinking of using a JPanel with a bevel border _instead_ of
> the
> JButton and use mouse listeners instead of action listeners.

simulating a button, this could be a good idea too, however, maybe it won't
look like a button compared to the winxp buttons? :p

> I must say this is strange for me - in other versions of Windows
> you could change any color (they are all defined by the user
> settings),
> and suddenly a change that makes my working programs in need of a fix
>:(

I think that's because it's only in winXP that buttons have gotten a "3D
LAF" by having a background that gradually changes, so there's always more
then one color. But I do agree, they should have build in the possibility
to completely change the color of a button, even if the typical winxp LAF
disappears along with it. Could you show a screenshot of the button you
created?

greetz
Tim

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best lookandfeel / SWT

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