Content pane

The Content pane displays the detailed content of the file selected in the Navigation pane. The editor or viewer used is determined by the file's extension.

File Type Editor(s) or Viewer (s) available in the Content pane
Text files If you select a text file in the Navigation pane (a file with an extension such as .txt or .bat), a single editor, identified by the Source tab, is available in the Content pane. This is a simple text editor that lets you see and modify the text file.

JBuilder recognizes certain file extensions (such as .txt and .bat) as text files. However, you can extend this list. For more information, see Extending JBuilder's list of text file extensions.

Image files If you select a .gif, .jpg, or .bmp image file in the Navigation pane, an image viewer, identified by the View tab, is available in the Content pane.

See also:
Context-sensitive help: Viewer pane

HTML files If you select an HTML file in the Navigation pane, two tabs are displayed at the bottom of the Content pane, labeled View and Source.
View tab
The View tab selects an HTML viewer. This viewer lets you to see the rendered HTML file, as you would see it in a web browser.

See also:
Context-sensitive help: View pane

Source tab
The Source tab selects an Editor that lets you see and edit the file as raw HTML source.

.Java files If you select a .java file in the Navigation pane, you will see three tabs labeled Source, Doc, and Design.
Source tab
If you select the Source tab when viewing a .java file, you will see the JBuilder Java Source Code Editor. This is a full-featured, syntax-highlighted programming editor, with several popular key mappings.

See also:
Context-sensitive help: Source pane

Doc tab
If you select the Doc tab when viewing a .java file, you will see the corresponding reference doc for that .java file, if there is one. Java supports a documentation standard called JavaDoc that automatically generates HTML documentation pages from .java source code and comments.

JBuilder has produced an enhanced version of JavaDoc, called JBDoc. JBDoc produces HTML files that show additional information about JavaBeans properties, methods and events. JBuilder comes with JavaDoc or JBDoc HTML pages installed for the following:

  • JavaSoft packages (JavaDoc)
  • Borland JBuilder (borland.jbcl) packages (JBDoc)
  • Selected third-party packages

If you click on the Doc tab for any of these provided .java files, you will view the HTML documentation page for the class.

See also:
Context-sensitive help: Doc pane

Design tab
If you select the Design tab when viewing a .java file, you will see the JBuilder visual design tools for that class. For example, if you select the WelcomeFrame.java class in the Welcome project (or a Frame class in your own project), you will see the JBuilder UI Designer in the Content pane. This designer will show you what the UI appearance of this class will be at run-time, and lets you visually construct and develop your UI.

See also:
Context-sensitive help: Design pane

See also:
Context-sensitive help: The AppBrowser window
User's Guide: The AppBrowser