File browser component for Java swing

ring bearer picture ring bearer · Aug 25, 2011 · Viewed 13k times · Source

Has anyone come across a fully customizable (compatible with all standard LnF), fast file browser component for Java Swing ?

I should be able to place this component to Netbeans UI palette and drag and drop in to any JPanel while designing the UI. Also it should support directory, single file, multiple file selection along with file type filtering. There must be something because I have seen this in applications like jEdit etc.

Note that I am not asking about a dialog box like JFileChooser instead a browser/explorer/tree-view like component.

Answer

Nate W. picture Nate W. · Aug 25, 2011

Here's a relatively simple file system browser built in a JPanel:

Here are a few more complex examples of a file browser with icons, popup menus, and tooltips.
These are all built in a JFrame:

These examples probably aren't as customizable as you may want, but they're a pretty good starting point for adding new functionality.

For further reading, Swing, Second Edition (Chapter 17) walks through implementing a JTree component for browsing your file system complete with lazy loading, custom renders, popup menus, and tooltips.
If you'd like to see just the source, you can get it here.

There is also the FileBro that you may want to take a look at. Perhaps you can use it, or at least borrow implementation details.