java Knob

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aleicaro@libero.it - 11 Jul 2005 08:59 GMT

Hi,
I would like to use a Knob, but considering the fact that I am not very
able with graphic, if it's possible, I would like to find something
existing...:)

Does anybody can suggest me where can I find the source of a simple
swing-Knob? I searched in google but I find only one knob but it's very
ugly.

Thank you very much
Alessandro

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Thomas Fritsch - 11 Jul 2005 14:18 GMT

> Hi,
> I would like to use a Knob, but considering the fact that I am not very
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
> Thank you very much
> Alessandro

Hi Alessandro,

I don't fully understand what you mean with "knob", and what
functionality you want it to have. May be it is one of: JButton,
JToggleButton, JRadioButton, JCheckBox. I suggest you have a look
through the "Visual Index to the Swing Components" at
http://java.sun.com/docs/books/tutorial/uiswing/components/components.html
to find your kind of "knob" there.

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aleicaro@libero.it - 12 Jul 2005 13:26 GMT

A Knob is a slider with a circular shape. Like the volume controller of
a radio :).
Thank you, but I've just found a pretty knob (DKnob)

Alessandro

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Bill Tschumy - 12 Jul 2005 16:13 GMT

> A Knob is a slider with a circular shape. Like the volume controller of
> a radio :).
> Thank you, but I've just found a pretty knob (DKnob)
>
> Alessandro

DKnob seems very unintuative to me. I would think you would grab the pointer
and drag it in a circular motion to change the setting. Instead it appears
you drag horizontally left to right or vertically top to bottom to change it.
This would drive me batty in a UI.

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Bill Tschumy
Otherwise -- Austin, TX
http://www.otherwise.com

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Aki Laukkanen - 13 Jul 2005 07:57 GMT

>>A Knob is a slider with a circular shape. Like the volume controller of
>>a radio :).
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
> you drag horizontally left to right or vertically top to bottom to change it.
> This would drive me batty in a UI.

I can't even figure out why would anyone in their right mind want to
include a knob[-like control] in a UI. What's wrong with sliders? They
provide the exact same functionality with much less complication.
"Fancy looks" should never be a priorized above ease of use.

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-Aki "Sus" Laukkanen

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Monique Y. Mudama - 13 Jul 2005 17:01 GMT

> I can't even figure out why would anyone in their right mind want to
> include a knob[-like control] in a UI. What's wrong with sliders?
> They provide the exact same functionality with much less
> complication. "Fancy looks" should never be a priorized above ease
> of use.

I was wondering this, too! Knobs are great as a physical interface to
fingers, but seem like an awful idea as a GUI component.

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monique

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jan V - 25 Jul 2005 10:42 GMT

> I can't even figure out why would anyone in their right mind want to
> include a knob[-like control] in a UI. What's wrong with sliders? They
> provide the exact same functionality with much less complication.
> "Fancy looks" should never be a priorized above ease of use.

Sliders need LOAAAAAAADS of space (either horizontally or vertically). A
knob component will take up a lot less GUI screen estate, that is why.

If you know anything about music synthesizers, you may recall that many
older (analog) models has lots of knobs. Knobs were used over sliders for
precisely the same reason: space efficiency.

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Andrew Thompson - 25 Jul 2005 11:36 GMT

>> I can't even figure out why would anyone in their right mind want to
>> include a knob[-like control] in a UI. What's wrong with sliders? They
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
> older (analog) models has lots of knobs. Knobs were used over sliders for
> precisely the same reason: space efficiency.

Semi-opposable fingers are good for knobs. A pointer is much less good.
Some actual, physical components do not function well as GUI components.

If you need to save screen acreage, there are other ways.

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Andrew Thompson
physci.org 1point1c.org javasaver.com lensescapes.com athompson.info
A By-Product Of The TV Industry

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aleicaro@libero.it - 14 Jul 2005 08:32 GMT

Hi,
Me as well was thinking that you have to drag horizontaly and
vertically, but I downloaded the swing code, and I saw that in the
swing class works properly. I think only the applet has this "problem".

Bye,
Alessandro.

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jan V - 25 Jul 2005 10:43 GMT

> I would like to use a Knob, but considering the fact that I am not very
> able with graphic, if it's possible, I would like to find something
> existing...:)

Complete Dial and NumericDial classes are shown in "Mastering JavaBeans", a
book which you can now download entirely for free (search in Google).

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