:: Quick Start ::

How to make your apps look better using the JGoodies Looks

The following describes how to start effectively with the JGoodies Looks. For each step we have listed the estimated migration costs.

1) Integrate the JGoodies L&Fs (< 1 day)

This is a very effective step and easy to do with about 5 lines of code. Just choose your preferred JGoodies look&feel and set it in the UIManager, see here.

As a result of this step your application will look better.

2) Use an Appropriate Icon Set (1-4 days)

Icons have a significant effect on the function and elegance of your applications. The choice of an appropriate icon set depends on many factors, among others: your platform support strategy.

If you aim to provide high-fidelity Windows support plus good support on Linux, Solaris, and Mac, I recommend to consider using the icon set from eclipse.org. This icon set won't alienate Windows users, is relatively large and portable, and quite easy to extend by developers. If you require larger icons, the icon set by Dean S. Jones may be your choice. From my perspective, the icons provided by Sun's HIG group don't work well on Windows and Mac and do conflict with many popular desktop colors.

3) Remove Obsolete Decorations :: Use Less Ink (1-5 days)

Remove obsolete and duplicate borders and separators. Check every line in your panels and ask yourself whether it adds information or blurs your content. Very often you can replace a border or separator with white space.

The JGoodies Looks contain ClearLook, an add-on that can help you find visual clutter. The clutter often stems from wrapping multiple decorated components, for example a JScrollPane in a JSplitPane. Switch on the ClearLook debug mode and look what it has marked with colored decorations. You may consider these decorations as obsolete.

As a result users can more quickly and easily comprehend your panels and find relevant information.

You're Done

If you have completed these steps your application should look significantly better. Congratulations! If you want to further improve the appearance and consistency of your applications check out the free JGoodies Forms.