Java User Interfaces

The goal of today's lab is to practice implementing Graphical User Interfaces in Java.

Resources

• Gaddis CH 7.1-7.2, 13.1-13.2
• Java Swing API
• Java AWT API

Note that the Java GUI framework makes extensive use of inheritance. This can make reading the documentation difficult because a majority of methods only appear in the "Methods inherited from ..." section of the JavaDocs.

Decoder Ring

The file DecoderRing.java includes utility methods for encrypting and decrypting messages using a simple substitution cipher.

Your task today is to create a GUI application that makes it easy for a user to encrypt and decrypt messages using the methods provided by DecoderRing.java. You are free to design your application however you want, within the following constraints:

• All input and output must be handled within a single window — your application should not interact with the user by popping up JOptionPanes.
• All text areas and buttons must be labeled.
• Your application must contain separate text fields for the message to encode/decode and the result of encoding/decoding. The result field must be read-only.
• The GUI must provide the user with a way to select an integer key value.
• Use should not use a GUI-Building tool like Netbeans or WindowBuilder. Those tools are very useful, but you need to be able to understand the code they generate.
• You do NOT need to worry about error handling. For example, you may assume that the user will enter a valid integer for the key.

Submit your completed .java files when you are finished.