# :: Readme :: Forms 1.4 :: The Forms framework helps you lay out and implement elegant Swing panels quickly and consistently. It makes simple things easy and the hard stuff possible, the good design easy and the bad difficult. Since version 1.4 the JGoodies Forms requires Java 5 or later and the JGoodies Common library. Forms versions for Java 1.4 are available in the JGoodies Archive. ## Top Questions :: What are the main benefits? :: Can I use the Forms in a commercial product? :: How to get started? :: Where do I get support? :: How to report a problem? ## Distribution Contents
`jgoodies-forms-1.4.2.jar` |  | the library jar
`lib` |  | required libraries
`docs/api` |  | JavaDocs directory
`src/core` |  | Java sources for the library core
`src/extras` |  | Java sources for useful extensions
`src/test` |  | Java sources for unit tests
`LICENSE.txt` |  | the license agreement
`README.html` |  | this readme file
`RELEASE-NOTES.txt` |  | Release Notes
`build.xml` |  | ANT build file
`default.properties` |  | ANT default build properties
## Open Issue There's a weakness in the FormLayout that may require an API extension. Components that span multiple columns or rows do not affect the column width or row height resp., but can in some cases expand the container. I'm looking for a means to let the layout grid honor these components that is both powerful and easy to understand. See the FAQ for details and a workaround. ## Acknowledgements The Forms project has been financed by Johannes Riege, and customers of the JGoodies Swing Suite. It is only with their money that I can provide, maintain, and improve this library at no charge. FormLayout has been inspired by Mullet&Sano's grid system, Daniel Barbalace's TableLayout, Daniel Michalik's HIGLayout, and Doug Stein's GridBagLayout. The concept of dialog units stems from Microsoft user interface implementations.
(c) 2011 JGoodies |  |