Re: Adding a title to a 3D display

• To: Tom Whittaker <tomw@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
• Subject: Re: Adding a title to a 3D display
• From: Ugo Taddei <p6taug@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
• Date: Wed, 26 Jun 2002 10:31:56 +0200

Hi all,


Tom Whittaker wrote:
> 
> Well, I could be wrong, but...since your VisADCanvasJ3D 'canvas' extends
> java.awt.Canvas (a few levels deep...), it might work the same way:  when
> you get the graphics context for the Canvas and drawString() onto it, you
> may trigger a call to that Canvas' paint() method...which just might
> obliterate whatever you just drew into it.
> 
> Perhaps a different approach would be to imbed the VisAD Display into your
> own frame, leaving some room for a label inside the frame.  Using the same
> background color would give the effect of being part of the Display, and
> have the added benefit of not getting blocked out by any of the VisAD
> 'box' contents.

That's what exactly what I do and it looks fine.

Use a BorderLayout, put, the display in the CENTER, put a JLabel or,
even better, a JTextField (as it is editable) at NORTH. It saves one
from having to deal with all that DataReference stuff and from having to
use code to draw non-rotating text. Not to mention this trouble with
drawString() onto some Canvas.

As Tom says, the only drawback is the back/foreground color. When
changing the display color, you have to remember to tell you computer to
do the same for the JLabel/JTextField. Another little problem is when
saving the display as a JPG. you can't "captureDisplay()" anymore, but
have to write your own code do do so. Which isn't difficult. Let us know
in case you want more details.

Cheers,

Ugo

• Follow-Ups:
  • Re: Adding a title to a 3D display
    • From: Bill Hibbard

• References:
  • Re: Adding a title to a 3D display
    • From: Tom Whittaker