The most important part of the Java 2 (JDK 1.2) standard is its Swing user interface classes. Pure JFC Swing is a well-organized guide to all the new Swing components, and it includes clear programming examples. Besides a worthy overview of Swing development, this book provides over 300 pages of reference material on all Swing objects, properties, and methods. The book begins with a guide to what's new in Swing, including its new interface components and pluggable look and feel. It continues with instructions on how to use Swing alongside traditional Abstract Window Toolkit (AWT) components. Clear examples, along with short commentary by the author, are the norm in Pure JFC Swing.
Next the book provides a blow-by-blow tour of Swing classes, from getting started with panels to events and basic and advanced Swing components. His explanation of Swing's Model-View-Controller (MVC) architecture is particularly noteworthy, as are the examples for using such sophisticated Swing controls as JTable (for grids) and JTree (for tree controls). From simple to complex components, the author's code examples are just what you need to start using Swing effectively on your own.
The second half of the book contains a reference to all Swing objects and events, organized by package. (An extensive index lets you search easily for whatever topic you need.)
Though occasionally a little dry, this title is perfect for the intermediate or advanced JDK 1.1 developer who wants to master the latest in Swing functionality quickly. --Richard Dragan
