Java AWT Reference (Java Series) [Paperback]

John Zukowski (Author)

Book Description

Series: Java Series | Publication Date: April 8, 1997

The Java AWT Reference provides complete reference documentation on the Abstract Window Toolkit (AWT), a large collection of classes for building graphical user interfaces in Java. With AWT, you can create windows, draw, work with images, and use components like buttons, scrollbars, and pulldown menus. The Java AWT Reference covers the classes that comprise the java.awt, java.awt.image, java.applet, java.awt.event, and java.awt.datatransfer packages. These classes provide the functionality that allows a Java application to provide user interaction in a graphical environment.

This book takes you beyond what you'd expect from a standard reference manual. Classes and methods are, of course, described in detail. But the book does much more. It offers a comprehensive explanation of how AWT components fit together. In working with components, for example, you'll see how events fit into the overall picture, what they mean, and how to use them. The book includes lots of sample code, so that you can learn by example. In addition to descriptions of the standard layout managers, for instance, you'll find an extended code example for writing your own layout manager.

The Java AWT Reference is part of O'Reilly's Java documentation series. This edition describes both Version 1.0.2 and Version 1.1 of the Java Development Kit and includes:

• Easy-to-use reference material on every AWT class
• Extended examples that demonstrate important AWT functionality
• A detailed explanation of Java's image processing mechanisms
• Coverage of every AWT component and container, showing how to use them in various combinations to create effective interfaces
• Descriptions of all the layout managers, including GridBagLayout

The Java AWT Reference is meant to be used in conjunction with the Java Fundamental Classes Reference. Together, these two reference manuals cover all of the classes in the the Java Core API. The Java Language Reference completes the package, providing a complete reference on the Java programming language. These manuals comprise the definitive set of Java documentation that you need to do serious programming with Java.

O'Reilly & Associates also publishes an introductory text, Exploring Java, if you need to get up to speed with this exciting new technology. For advanced Java programming topics, look for upcoming books from O'Reilly on network programming, distributed computing, and database programming. And as new Java APIs become available, O'Reilly is committed to expanding the Java series to cover those as well.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Java AWT Reference provides a solid introduction to programming with the Abstract Window Toolkit (AWT) in Java. AWT programming is something of an endangered species with JavaBeans and new interface class libraries just over the horizon. However, until these new technologies arrive, the AWT is still the bread and butter for today's Java user interfaces.

The author carefully introduces all the basics here, starting with graphics programming and continuing with new JDK 1.1 features, such as the new event model, and information on working with individual AWT components like labels, buttons, and text controls. Along the way, the author highlights features that are new to JDK 1.1 (for instance, clipboard and printing capabilities, which are described in separate chapters). Although the book is primarily a reference for the AWT (a look-up section contains over 450 pages of the AWT class APIs), it also includes some short, clear programming examples on how to use the main features of AWT. Clearly written, this book is a good candidate for the library of any Java developer who needs to learn the nuts and bolts of AWT programming, including JDK 1.1-specific features.

From the Publisher

The Java AWT Reference provides complete reference documentation on the Abstract Windowing Toolkit (AWT), a large collection of classes for building graphical user interfaces in Java. With AWT, you can create windows, draw, work with images, and use components like buttons, scrollbars, and pulldown menus. The Java AWT Reference covers the classes that comprise the java.awt, java.awt.image, java.applet, java.awt.event, and java.awt.datatransfer packages. These classes provide the functionality that allows a Java application to provide user interaction in a graphical environment. This book takes you beyond what you'd expect from a standard reference manual. Classes and methods are, of course, described in detail. But the book does much more. It offers a comprehensive explanation of how AWT components fit together. In working with components, for example, you'll see how events fit into the overall picture, what they mean, and how to use them. The book includes lots of sample code, so that you can learn by example. In addition to descriptions of the standard layout managers, for instance, you'll find an extended code example for writing your own layout manager. The Java AWT Reference is part of O'Reilly's new Java documentation series. This edition describes both Version 1.0.2 and Version 1.1 of the Java Development Kit and includes: Easy-to-use reference material on every AWT class Extended examples that demonstrate important AWT functionality A detailed explanation of Java's image processing mechanisms Coverage of every AWT component and container, showing how to use them in various combinations to create effective interfaces Descriptions of all the layout managers, including GridBagLayout Material on graphics primitives and rendering techniques The Java AWT Reference is meant to be used in conjunction with the Java Fundamental Classes Reference. Together, these two reference manuals cover all of the classes in the the Java Core API. The Java Language Reference completes the package, providing a complete reference on the Java programming language. These manuals comprise the definitive set of Java documentation that you need to do serious programming with Java. O'Reilly & Associates also publishes an introductory text, Exploring Java, if you need to get up to speed with this exciting new technology. For advanced Java programming topics, look for upcoming books from O'Reilly on network programming, distributed computing, and database programming. And as new Java APIs become available, O'Reilly is committed to expanding the Java series to cover those as well.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 1074 pages
• Publisher: O'Reilly Media; 1 edition (April 8, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1565922409
• ISBN-13: 978-1565922402
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7 x 2.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,532,160 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars twice as long as it should be, July 7, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Java AWT Reference (Java Series) (Paperback)

This book is 1045 pages long and has a split personality. The first 519 pages do a wonderful job covering all aspects of the AWT with fine explanations and concise examples. It's even peppered with helpful diagrams to explain the example code further.

Unfortunately, the last half of the book leaves a lot to be desired. It's ALL reference material virtually airlifted from Java in a Nutshell. It does give a little more detail than Nutshell, but not by much.

If this book had been cut in half (and reduced in price accordingly), it would be a perfect AWT book. I just hope the upcoming O'Reilly Swing book doesn't have the same waste of space.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not bad, but not 1.1, September 23, 1998

By 

Danger Powers (Portland, OR USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Java AWT Reference (Java Series) (Paperback)

The book is well organized and has lots of useful information in it. What really bothers me about it is that even though it advertises itself as being "1.1" many of the examples are in fact in 1.0. They have a small disclaimer that says that new features have examples in 1.1 and while old features are in 1.0. Can you say lazy?

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It's the best out there for AWT 1.1, August 25, 1997

By 

[e-mail] (Austin, TX) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Java AWT Reference (Java Series) (Paperback)

If you want to do AWT 1.1 programming, get this book. I spent the past four months implementing the new 1.1 AWT features in Metrowerks Java for the Macintosh, and only this book described the new features in enough detail to give me the specification that is sorely lacking in the Sun documentation. Plus, the sample code provided not only an excellent tutorial, but also gave me lots of test cases to work with.

This book isn't just a reference with the API's and constants listed for you. It also has excellent descriptions of the classes, and how they work, along with samples that demonstrate the new features. Many chapters (notable the printing chapter) document bugs in Sun's JDK that you'll run into as well.

The appendices on internationalization using resource bundles and properties is also excellent, and the table on platform-specific event handling (i.e., which VM's/browsers support which events) will save you many hours in debugging.