Thread: Add Image to JPanel

What is the best way to simply add an image in the local directory to a JPanel? The JPanel fills the entire JFrame.

I have been trying multiple methods and none of them have worked. I, for some reason, just can't get an image to be displayed.

Again I am looking for a simple way to briefly display a large .jpg image filling the whole JFrame.

Thanks.

Override the JPanel's paintComponent method and draw the image there.

Yeah I got that to work but do you know of a way to make a general path identification for a file (not system specific) or better yet, a way to include a file (as in picture) in a package?

look at the format here and see if this helps you out.
[java-swing-how-to-add-an-image-to-a-jpanel

a way to include a file (as in picture) in a package?

Not sure what you mean by package? Are you referring to a jar file?
Your first post stated: image in the local directory

Originally Posted by Norm

Not sure what you mean by package? Are you referring to a jar file?
Your first post stated: image in the local directory

Right now the path has to be specified exactly like so:

//code back here...
Image iScreen = new ImageIcon("C:\\Java Workspace\\JavaCalcIntroScreen.jpg");

I just want to tell java to look in the local directory for the .jpg file or, when a jar is made with all the classes, have it find the jpeg in the jar (I would store the jpeg in the jar with the class files).

The only reason I mentioned packages is because I've seen a lot of source code where the programmer had pictures inside of the jar within folders that the program used. I don't know if those count as packages or not... doesn't matter. That would be great if I knew how to do that.

Clarification:
-I DON'T want the JVM trying to find the file based on a specific path for my system only.
-I WANT the JVM to either look in the local directory for the file, or, most ideally, look for it within the executable jar.
-Alternatively, I would certainly accept a simple method of typing a file name that specifies the local location (i.e. some sort of wildcard or something like in batch files when you use %USERPROFILE%\<rest of path>

Thanks again!

Originally Posted by aussiemcgr

I haven't checked back on my previous programs (I will if this doesn't work), but I seem to remember doing this:

InputStream is = this.getClass().getClassLoader().getResourceAsStream("yourFileInJarOrLocalPath.file");

Since jars are compressed folders (essentially), you have to access files within them with Streams instead of standard file IO. I believe the above thing will work the same for local files.

Should I return that to a BufferedImage variable?

You need to find a constructor or method that takes an input stream that is reading an image and returns an image object of some kind.

Originally Posted by Norm

You need to find a constructor or method that takes an input stream that is reading an image and returns an image object of some kind.

Hmm. Would that be in javax.imageio maybe? I will go check.