Adding Items to a ComboBox in JavaFX Scene Builder
This article will guide you through the process of adding items to a ComboBox in JavaFX Scene Builder.
1. Create a ComboBox
- Open Scene Builder: Launch Scene Builder and create a new FXML file.
- Drag and Drop: Drag a ComboBox component from the Controls palette onto your FXML design.
2. Adding Items in Scene Builder
- Select the ComboBox: Click on the ComboBox to select it.
- Properties Panel: Look for the Properties panel on the right side of the Scene Builder window.
- items: Locate the items property within the Properties panel.
- Input: There are two ways to add items:
- Direct Input: You can directly type items separated by commas into the items property field. For example:
"Apple", "Banana", "Orange"
. - Using List: Click on the "..." button next to the items property. This opens a dialog box where you can add items one by one, each on a separate line.
- Direct Input: You can directly type items separated by commas into the items property field. For example:
- Apply: Once you've added all your items, close the dialog box or click Apply.
3. Preview Your Changes
- Preview: Click on the Preview button in the Scene Builder toolbar to see the updated ComboBox with your items.
4. Code Example
import javafx.collections.FXCollections;
import javafx.collections.ObservableList;
import javafx.fxml.FXML;
import javafx.scene.control.ComboBox;
public class MyController {
@FXML
private ComboBox fruitComboBox;
public void initialize() {
ObservableList fruits = FXCollections.observableArrayList(
"Apple", "Banana", "Orange", "Mango", "Strawberry"
);
fruitComboBox.setItems(fruits);
}
}
In this example, we create an observable list of fruits and then set it as the items for the fruitComboBox
.
5. Adding Items Dynamically (Programmatically)
You can also add items to the ComboBox programmatically from your controller class. This is useful when you need to fetch items from a database or other data source.
- Get the ComboBox: Get a reference to the ComboBox using its FXML ID.
- Create a List: Create a list of items to add to the ComboBox.
- Set the Items: Use the setItems() method of the ComboBox to set the items from the list.
Conclusion
This guide shows how to add items to a ComboBox in JavaFX Scene Builder, both visually and programmatically. By following these steps, you can create interactive ComboBoxes that enhance your JavaFX applications.