Initializing the application GUI

To initialize the application GUI, you need to call one of the following methods:

1. The AbstractMDIApplication.preparePanels(boolean, boolean, MDIMenuFactory) with no MessageArea, a Toolbar, and a Status bar,
2. The AbstractMDIApplication.preparePanels(int, MDIMenuFactory) with a default logger area, a Toolbar, and a Status bar
3. The AbstractMDIApplication.preparePanels(int, boolean, boolean, MDIMenuFactory) with a default MessageArea in the application
4. The AbstractMDIApplication.preparePanels(int, int, boolean, boolean, MDIMenuFactory) with a default MessageArea in the application, specifies if the MessageArea is global or specific to each tab, and allows to add a save option to the MessageArea popup menu^[1]
   See also Message area type for more information
5. The AbstractMDIApplication.preparePanels(SwingMessageArea, boolean, boolean, MDIMenuFactory) with a custom MessageArea

These methods should be called after the application configuration has been initialized and the plugins have been registered.

Initialization options

No MessageArea, a Toolbar, and a Status bar

The AbstractMDIApplication.preparePanels(boolean, boolean, MDIMenuFactory) method initializes the GUI with no MessageArea, and:

• A Toolbar if the first argument is true
• A Status bar if the second argument is true

A MessageArea, a Toolbar, and a Status bar

The AbstractMDIApplication.preparePanels(int, MDIMenuFactory) method initializes the GUI with a Status bar and a Toolbar and:

• A Message area with a specified height specified by the first argument

The AbstractMDIApplication.preparePanels(int, boolean, boolean, MDIMenuFactory) method initializes the GUI with:

• A Message area with a specified height specified by the first argument
• A Toolbar if the second argument is true
• A Status bar if the third argument is true

A configured MessageArea, a Toolbar, and a Status bar

The AbstractMDIApplication.preparePanels(int, int, boolean, boolean, MDIMenuFactory) method initializes the GUI with:

• A Message area with a specified height specified by the first argument and a Message area type type specified by the second argument
• A Toolbar if the third argument is true
• A Status bar if the fourth argument is true

Examples

Basic initialization

This example creates the application:

• With a Message area with 4 lines
• A Toolbar
• A Status bar

   public class BasicExampleMDI extends AbstractMDIApplication {
      public BasicExampleMDI {
        super("BasicExampleMDI");
        mfactory = new SimpleMenuFactory();
        super.preparePanels(4, true, true, mfactory);
      }
   }

Per-tab message area initialization

This example creates the application:

• With a per-tab Message area with 4 lines
• A Toolbar
• A Status bar

   public class TestMDIApplication extends AbstractMDIApplication {
      public TestMDIApplication() {
        super("TestMDIApplication");

        this.initConfiguration();

        mfactory = new SimpleMenuFactory();
        super.preparePanels(4, MessageAreaType.MESSAGEAREA_PER_TAB, true, true, mfactory);
        this.setSize(500, 500);
        this.getStatusBar().setMessage("Hello World!");
      }
   }