Thread: arranging components in a vertical manner in a jpanel?

Hi guys, I'm just starting in java... or coming back to using it again... I'm not that good so I was wondering after reading on my old java book, how to arrange components such as labels and buttons in a panel in a vertical position, much like a webpage link panel on the left side where the user chooses which page he wants to go to... the default layout of a jpanel is a flowlayout I think and all the components I add to it just automatically arranges itself horizontally which is really far from what I want to do... Hope any help would be ok... it would be easier if it was html where I just add a <br> in order to skip a line and then just add each separate link... is there some sort of absolute positioning for components in a panel or contentpane where I can use to store jlabels/jbuttons so I can arrange the components in a way that can be more user friendly... thanks again...

Consider using nested JPanels with the outer JPanel using BorderLayout. It holds a JPanel on its WEST side that can use BoxLayout, and then it holds another JPanel in the BorderLayout.CENTER position that uses a CardLayout to swap views, the view choice is based on whatever was clicked on the WEST JPanel.