How to add node to another node's child in FXML? - javafx

Question

Example of what I'd like to get, written in Java code:
public class Main extends Application {
private static Scene scene;
public static void main(String[] args) {
launch(args);
}
#Override
public void init() throws IOException {
// Load root pane from FXML file.
URL url = getClass().getResource("sample.fxml");
StackPane root = FXMLLoader.load(url);
// Create scene for a root node on JavaFX thread.
Platform.runLater(() -> scene = new Scene(root, 600, 400));
}
#Override
public void start(Stage stage) {
stage.setScene(scene);
stage.show();
}
}
Custom node:
public class CustomGroup extends Group {
private VBox contentPane = new VBox();
public CustomGroup() {
getChildren().add(contentPane);
contentPane.getChildren().add(new Label("First Label"));
contentPane.getChildren().add(new Label("Second Label"));
}
}
FXML:
<StackPane>
<CustomGroup/>
</StackPane>
The code above is example of what I'd like to get, but instead of adding labels in Java code, I want to add them in FXML. Something like that:
<StackPane>
<CustomGroup>
<Label text="First Label"/>
<Label text="Second Label"/>
</CustomGroup>
</StackPane>
but this adds labels to the custom group. I want to add them to the content pane (VBox) of the custom group.

Answer 1

Though, I am not sure why you are adding the Labels to your VBox inside the constructor of CustomGroup, I will ignore it and answer your question.
You can add a separate method to add the items to your VBox. Let us consider the methods:
setItems() which accepts Nodes adds them to the VBox
getItems() which returns the ObservableList<Node> from the VBox
CustomGroup
public class CustomGroup extends Group {
private VBox contentPane = new VBox();
public CustomGroup() {
getChildren().add(contentPane);
contentPane.getChildren().add(new Label("First Label"));
contentPane.getChildren().add(new Label("Second Label"));
}
public void setItems(Node...nodes) {
contentPane.getChildren().addAll(nodes);
}
public ObservableList<Node> getItems() {
return contentPane.getChildren();
}
}
FXML
<CustomGroup>
<items>
<Button text="hi"/>
</items>
</CustomGroup>
This FXML adds the new Button inside the VBox.