Padding between columns of a grid in javaFX - javafx

Question

I'm trying to show a 4-column grid in a javaFX program. This is how I setup the grid.
GridPane gridPane = new GridPane();
gridPane.setHgap(10);
gridPane.setVgap(10);
ColumnConstraints c1 = new ColumnConstraints();
c1.setPercentWidth(25);
ColumnConstraints c2 = new ColumnConstraints();
c2.setPercentWidth(25);
ColumnConstraints c3 = new ColumnConstraints();
c3.setPercentWidth(25);
ColumnConstraints c4 = new ColumnConstraints();
c4.setPercentWidth(25);
gridPane.getColumnConstraints().addAll(c1,c2,c3,c4);
I have placed the label and textfields in columns 1,3 and columns 2,4 respectively. Problem is there is a gap between the textfield and the next label and hence the width of the second textfield is reduced.
How can I solve this?

Answer 1

Here a very simple Application using GridPane. It uses the same gridPane column constraints and has Label's and TextField's as used by your example.
If you are worried about the gap between the Label and TextField, you must remember that the total width of the gridpane is divided into 4 parts (25% each). The TextField fills the space, Label fills the space too, but we see only the Text.
MVCE Code :
public class GridPaneExample extends Application {
#Override
public void start(Stage primaryStage) throws Exception {
GridPane gridPane = new GridPane();
gridPane.setHgap(10);
gridPane.setVgap(10);
gridPane.setPadding(new Insets(10));
ColumnConstraints c1 = new ColumnConstraints();
c1.setPercentWidth(25);
ColumnConstraints c2 = new ColumnConstraints();
c2.setPercentWidth(25);
ColumnConstraints c3 = new ColumnConstraints();
c3.setPercentWidth(25);
ColumnConstraints c4 = new ColumnConstraints();
c4.setPercentWidth(25);
gridPane.getColumnConstraints().addAll(c1, c2, c3, c4);
gridPane.add(new Label("Profile ID"), 0, 0);
gridPane.add(new TextField(), 1, 0);
gridPane.add(new Label("Profile Name"), 2, 0);
gridPane.add(new TextField(), 3, 0);
gridPane.add(new Label("Transfer Object"), 0, 1);
gridPane.add(new TextField(), 1, 1);
gridPane.add(new Label("Class Name"), 2, 1);
gridPane.add(new TextField(), 3, 1);
primaryStage.setScene(new Scene(gridPane, 500, 500));
primaryStage.show();
}
public static void main(String[] args) {
launch(args);
}
}
If you are still not able to tweak your code and fix it, consider editing your code and adding a MCVE

Answer 2

There are plenty of other properties in the ColumnConstraints class that you can use. You probably want the labels aligned right; you probably also want the text fields to grow and fill the space, while the labels need only enough space to hold their text. So I would do something like:
GridPane gridPane = new GridPane();
gridPane.setHgap(10);
gridPane.setVgap(10);
ColumnConstraints c1 = new ColumnConstraints();
c1.setHalignment(HPos.RIGHT);
c1.setHgrow(Priority.NEVER);
ColumnConstraints c2 = new ColumnConstraints();
c2.setHgrow(Priority.ALWAYS);
c2.setFillWidth(true);
ColumnConstraints c3 = new ColumnConstraints();
c3.setHalignment(HPos.RIGHT);
c3.setHgrow(Priority.NEVER);
ColumnConstraints c4 = new ColumnConstraints();
c4.setHgrow(Priority.ALWAYS);
c4.setFillWidth(true);
gridPane.getColumnConstraints().addAll(c1,c2,c3,c4);