ListView and ComboBox Example Code

Background

Below is an example of a JavaFX application that shows how to use the ListView and ComboBox controls. Both are initially populated by an ObservableList. When the user selects an item in the ListView or an option from the ComboBox drop-down list, a corresponding label shows what value is selected.

This is done by adding a ChangeListener to the SelectionModel of the ListView and the ComboBox controls.

Java Code

//List of import statements needed to reference the controls
import javafx.application.Application;
import javafx.beans.value.ChangeListener;
import javafx.beans.value.ObservableValue;
import javafx.scene.Scene;
import javafx.scene.layout.HBox;
import javafx.stage.Stage;
import javafx.scene.control.Label;
import javafx.scene.control.ComboBox;
import javafx.scene.control.ListView;
import javafx.collections.ObservableList;
import javafx.collections.FXCollections;
import javafx.scene.control.SelectionMode;
public class JavaFXControls extends Application {
//Main entry point into the JavaFX application
@Override
public void start(Stage primaryStage) {
//Use HBOX layout panes to space out the controls
//in a single row
HBox comboBox = new HBox();
HBox listBox = new HBox();
HBox controlBox = new HBox();
//An Observable list to populate the ListView with items
ObservableList countries = FXCollections.observableArrayList(
"England", "Germany", "France", "Israel", "South Africa", "U.S.A.", "Australia");
ListView list = new ListView(countries);
//Set the width of the ListView to be 100 pixels
list.setPrefWidth(100);
//Allow multiple selections from the Listview
list.getSelectionModel().setSelectionMode(SelectionMode.MULTIPLE);
//Create a naming label to highlight the selected item from the ListView
Label listLabel = new Label("Selected List Item: ");
//Create a label to hold the value of the selected item of the ListView
final Label listSelection = new Label();
listSelection.setPrefWidth(200);
//Set up a changelistener to listen for the items being selected in the ListView
list.getSelectionModel().selectedItemProperty().addListener(
new ChangeListener() {
public void changed(ObservableValue ov,
String old_val, String new_val) {
//Set the label with the selected item
listSelection.setText(new_val);
}
});
//Add the ListView and two labels to the HBOX layout pane
listBox.getChildren().add(list);
listBox.getChildren().add(listLabel);
listBox.getChildren().add(listSelection);
//An Observable list to populate the ComboBOx with options
ObservableList fruits = FXCollections.observableArrayList(
"Apple", "Banana", "Pear", "Strawberry", "Peach", "Orange", "Plum",
"Melon", "Cherry", "Blackberry", "Melon", "Cherry", "Blackberry");
ComboBox fruit = new ComboBox(fruits);
//Set the dropdown list to 13 so all the options can be seen at one time
fruit.setVisibleRowCount(13);
//Create a naming label to highlight the selected option from the ComboBOx
Label comboLabel = new Label("Selected Combo Item: ");
//Create a label to hold the value of the selected option of the ComboBox
final Label comboSelection = new Label();
fruit.getSelectionModel().selectedItemProperty().addListener(
new ChangeListener() {
public void changed(ObservableValue ov,
String old_val, String new_val) {
//Set the label with the selected option
comboSelection.setText(new_val);
}
});
//Add the ComboBox and two labels to the HBOX layout pane
comboBox.getChildren().add(fruit);
comboBox.getChildren().add(comboLabel);
comboBox.getChildren().add(comboSelection);
//Add the two HBOXes to another HBOX to space out the controls
controlBox.getChildren().add(listBox);
controlBox.getChildren().add(comboBox);
//Add the main HBOX layout pane to the scene
Scene scene = new Scene(controlBox, 800, 250);
//Show the form
primaryStage.setTitle("Hello World!");
primaryStage.setScene(scene);
primaryStage.show();
}
/**
* @param args the command line arguments
*/
public static void main(String[] args) {
launch(args);
}
}