To directly answer a couple of your questions:

1) To develop a modal form, you start with a Dialog as show here:

http://java.sun.com/docs/books/tutorial/uiswing/components/dialog.html

2) Layouts in Swing can be extremely difficult. And I don't think there's any fast rules anyone can give you.

Some general comments:

1) I don't think it's a good idea to go into a project like this with the thinking that this is how I did it in VFP, how do I accomplish it this way in Java. I think this applies for any language you choose. You really need to focus on how to architect an app in Java.

2) As I stated before, using layout managers in Java can be extremely difficult. I've been working in a Java app for about 2 yrs now. If it's a complicated layout, there's a good chance that its using gridbaglayout. And if I have to modify a form, if there's not an existing control I can copy the layout properties from, I need to ask someone more experienced for help. Someone I used to work with told me that he doesn't use gridbaglayout because there's a good chance that someone else using his code doesn't understand how to properly design with that layout. But at the same time, I don't know how you can design a complicated data-entry form without using gridbaglayout.

3) There's really a couple major issues here. One, the differences in the architecture of the language itself. And two, the specific differences between the languages. If I were asked to upgrade a VFP app to Java, or any other language for that matter, I would not want to proceed with just the members of the VFP team.

There are no application frameworks in Java that are similar to something like Mere Mortals or Maxframe. Frameworks in Java, such as Spring, address a particular area. So you need to architect your Java app from the ground up, basically. And if you don't have a talented Java person on your team to help with that process, I really think you're screwed.

Obviously, your VFP data knowledge is transferable to help with the data model of your project. But you will really need some classes, or a lot more background in Java before making this leap.


>I would like to see that too. We are encountering problems that we did not anticipate. The concept of screens doesn't really exist - you have panels instead. There does not appear to be a way to create a modal screen (panel). Things resize and move around on their own - layout panels. I sure there are others we will encounter along the way. However, it came to me this weekend that I will be able to produce a front end, middle tier, and backend that will run on virtually any environment and I will not have to pay one cent for any of the tools. That is not the primary consideration as I have always been willing to pay for tools, but it isn't insignificant.