Swing Application - Searches DB & display results through JTable in JTabbedPane

This feed narrates how to search for a record in a JTabbedPane. The search results are displayed in tabular form using JTable. To download these java files, please click on corresponding filename. Lets drill down, to the code.

• OrderView - Main class, which calls out layout design. (i.e UI)
• ItemTabelModel - An abstract table model, to display search results in tabular form
• OrderDAO - Takes care of DB interaction, I have used MySQL
• OrderInfo - A class to demonstrate order object

OrderView.java

• Creates JTabbedPane with four panels - Create, Edit, Delete & Search
• Searches for record in DB using OrderDAO class
• Search is invoked by "Enter" key as well as "Search" button
• Zero & Empty search results are handled
• Search result-set size need not be one.
• Implements listeners for KeyTyped, KeyPressed and KeyReleased events
• Display search results in tabular form using JTable
• Snippet shared here is confined to "Search" tab, other tabs are not designed

  public class OrderView implements ActionListener {

ArrayList orderList;
OrderDAO oDAO; <- For DB interaction
JFrame appFrame;
    JLabel jlbName, jlbItem;
    JTextField jtfName,jtfDate;
    JTabbedPane appPane;
    JButton jbbSave, jbnDelete, jbnClear, jbnUpdate, jbnSearch;
    JTable jtbOrder;
    JScrollPane sp;
    JPanel jPaneCreate,jPaneEdit,jPaneDelete,jPaneSearch;
   
    String name, address, email;
    int recordNumber;
    String nameStr;   
    private ItemTableModel ItemTabModel;
   
    public static void main(String args[]){
        new OrderView(); 
     }
    
    public OrderView()
    {       
      createGUI();    
      orderList = new ArrayList();
      oDAO=new OrderDAO();
    }
    
    public void createGUI(){

    /*Create a frame, get its contentpane and set layout*/
    appFrame = new JFrame("View your order status");
    appPane=new JTabbedPane();
    jPaneCreate=new JPanel(new GridLayout(5,2));
    jPaneEdit=new JPanel(new GridLayout(5,2));
    jPaneDelete=new JPanel(new GridLayout(5,2));
    jPaneSearch=new JPanel(new GridLayout(5,2));   
   
    appPane.setTabPlacement(JTabbedPane.LEFT);   
    appFrame.getContentPane().add(appPane);
    appPane.add("Create New",jPaneCreate);
    appPane.add("Edit/Update",jPaneEdit);
    appPane.add("Delete",jPaneDelete);
    appPane.add("Search",jPaneSearch);
   
    //set shortcuts for each tab
      appPane.setMnemonicAt(0 , KeyEvent.VK_C);
    appPane.setMnemonicAt(1 , KeyEvent.VK_E);
    appPane.setMnemonicAt(2 , KeyEvent.VK_D);
    appPane.setMnemonicAt(3 , KeyEvent.VK_S);   
    //Arrange components on contentPane and set Action Listeners to each JButton
    arrangeComponentsCreate();
     arrangeComponentsEdit();
    arrangeComponentsDelete();
    arrangeComponentsSearch(); 
           
    appFrame.pack();
    appFrame.setVisible(true);
    appFrame.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
    }
   
    private void arrangeComponentsSearch() {
     jlbName = new JLabel("Customer Name");
     jlbItem = new JLabel("Item Ordered");  
     jtfName=new JTextField(20);
     jtfDate=new JTextField(20);
     //listeners ensure typed search strings are converted to uppercase, as & when key typed
     jtfName.addKeyListener(new KeyAdapter(){
     public void keyReleased(KeyEvent e) {
                JTextField textField = (JTextField) e.getSource();
                String text = textField.getText();
                textField.setText(text.toUpperCase());
            }

            public void keyTyped(KeyEvent e) {
                // TODO: Do something for the keyTyped event
             JTextField textField = (JTextField) e.getSource();
                String text = textField.getText();
                textField.setText(text.toUpperCase());
            }
          //Invoke search person on "Enter" button event
            public void keyPressed(KeyEvent e) {
                // TODO: Do something for the keyPressed event
             JTextField textField = (JTextField) e.getSource();
                String text = textField.getText();
                textField.setText(text.toUpperCase());
                if (e.getKeyCode()== KeyEvent.VK_ENTER )
                {
                 searchPerson();
                }
            }
     });
    
       GridBagConstraints c = new GridBagConstraints();
        setMyConstraints(c,0,0,GridBagConstraints.CENTER);
        jPaneSearch.add(getFieldPanel(),c);
        setMyConstraints(c,0,1,GridBagConstraints.CENTER);
        jPaneSearch.add(getButtonPanelSearch(),c);         
        jtbOrder=new JTable();
ItemTabModel=new ItemTableModel();
jtbOrder.setModel(ItemTabModel); 
 sp=new JScrollPane(jtbOrder); 
        jbnSearch.addActionListener(this);
}  
    
    public void actionPerformed (ActionEvent e){  
     if (e.getSource() == jbnSearch)
      searchPerson();//clicking search button should invoke searchPerson() function   
    }

private JPanel getButtonPanelSearch() {
//Search Button
JPanel p = new JPanel(new GridBagLayout());
    GridBagConstraints c = new GridBagConstraints();
    setMyConstraints(c,0,0,GridBagConstraints.CENTER);
     p.add(jbnSearch,c);
return p;
}

     private JPanel getFieldPanel() {
       JPanel p = new JPanel(new GridBagLayout());
       p.setBorder(BorderFactory.createTitledBorder("Details"));
       GridBagConstraints c = new GridBagConstraints();
       setMyConstraints(c,0,0,GridBagConstraints.EAST);
       p.add(jlbName,c);
       setMyConstraints(c,1,0,GridBagConstraints.WEST);
       p.add(jtfName,c);
       setMyConstraints(c,0,1,GridBagConstraints.EAST);
       p.add(jlbItem,c);
       setMyConstraints(c,1,1,GridBagConstraints.WEST);
       p.add(jtfDate,c);
       return p;
     }

    private static void setMyConstraints(GridBagConstraints c, 
           int gridx, int gridy, int anchor) {
           c.gridx = gridx;//manages the layout of controls
           c.gridy = gridy;
           c.anchor = anchor;
        }
    
public void searchPerson() {        
     name = jtfName.getText();    
    /*clear contents of arraylist if there are any from previous search*/    
    orderList.clear();
    recordNumber = 0;

    if(name.equals("")){
    JOptionPane.showMessageDialog(null,"Please enter person name to search.");
                         //when a empty string is searched
    clear();
    }
    else{
    /*get an array list of searched persons using PersonDAO*/
    orderList = oDAO.searchPerson(name);
    if(orderList.size() == 0){
    JOptionPane.showMessageDialog(null, "No records found.");
    //Perform a clear if no records are found.-Refer screenshot
    clear();
    }
    else
    {    
    //Erasing previous history
    recordNumber=orderList.size();
    ItemTabModel.removeall();
    jPaneSearch.remove(jtbOrder);
    jPaneSearch.remove(sp);
    jPaneSearch.repaint();    
    //If there are more search results, display all in tabular form
    while(recordNumber>0)
    {
    /*downcast the object from array list to OrderInfo*/
    OrderInfo person = (OrderInfo) orderList.get(recordNumber-1); 
                  ItemTabModel.addOrderInfo(person);
                   recordNumber--;
    }    
    //Redraws the table
    jPaneSearch.add(sp);
    jPaneSearch.revalidate();   
    }    
    clear();        
    }
}
private void clear() {
//Clears the textbox and sets focus
jtfName.setText("");
jtfName.requestFocusInWindow();
}
 }

Here are the snapshots of OrderView Application

I have not briefed other java files since they are trivial in function. Modify these code to your needs and let me know if you face any errors. To note, ensure you have MySQL connector jar in java build path to access database. Kindly share your comments, if any

Outlook Plugin - Momentous Testcases / Checklist

Last week, I got an opportunity to play with a plugin meant for outlook, through 99tests.com. Lot of testers logged remarkable bugs. I did not want to leave my observations unshared, hence posted it.

To get an acquaintance about Outlook plugins, please read Outlook_add-ins. To note, here I have cited cases that are applicable for COM plugins for Windows. As we know, types of testing that are eligible for any plugin depends upon its domain & functionality, since this is a general feed, I waived those cases.

So here are the few notable pointers

1. Validate properties of Add-In
   
   • Navigate to outlook->options->Add-Ins page. 
   Check for the foll properties
   • Name – Caption or title of the plug in
   • Publisher – Name of the organization or publisher
   • Location – Path of application, mostly the dlls
   • Compatibility – Usually this field won’t be available for predominant applications
   • Description – A one liner, that calls out the functionality or usage
2. Check load behavior of Add-In
• Manage Add-Ins - Dialog has options to, manage
• Location: Path of application, mostly the dlls
• Load Behavior: When to load the application
• Unloaded
• Load on Demand (not currently loaded)
• Loaded at startup
3. Valiidate availability of plugin under Ribbon or Toolbar
• Navigate to outlook->options-> Customize Ribbon/Quick Access Toolbar
  
4. Plug-in shortcuts should not clash with outlook standard keystrokes

Of-course not to mention the followings are mandatory

• Must co-exist with Outlook and Windows versions.
• Should not alter existing functionalities of Outlook.
• Outlook data loss is not acceptable.
• Must comply with Outlook protocols

These pointers many not be fresh for voluminous, but still it could be a checklist for testing newbie. Share your learnings, am definite it will be supportive to someone. I consider "in doing & sharing, we learn".