# Attribute Editor

Use the Attribute Editor window to change the attributes of GUI builder components, including frames, panels, and dialog boxes.

There are three ways to open the attribute editor:

- Click the right mouse button while the pointer is positioned in the area between the component and its cell border.
- Select the component and click on the Attribute Editor button, , in the main toolbar.
- Select the component, then choose GUI -> Edit Attributes.

## Customizer

This button is active for bean components only. A dialog box opens with custom attributes that are specific to the selected bean. Select the settings you want and click OK to close the box. Click OK in the attribute editor to establish the changes.

You can modify a bean if the bean contains a customizer in its JAR file. No action results if you click the Customizer button for a bean without a customizer in its JAR file.

Attributes vary from component to component. The following list describes attributes that are common to many of the components. Some components have specialized attributes to fit their particular function; see the discussion of a component for its list of special attributes. For a list of components in GUI builder, see GUI Builder Palette.

`anchor` | Determines where the component is anchored within the cell.
`background` | Changes the color of the component's background. A color chooser dialog box is provided.
`borderLabel` | Adds a text label to the panel border.
`borderRelief` | Adds a graphical border around the edge of the panel.
`borderWidth` | Sets the width of `borderRelief`
`operations` | Activates the Operations dialog box. Use the Operations dialog box to add callbacks to components. See Operations Dialog Box for details.
`font` | Changes font to use in the component (if it contains text). A font chooser dialog box is provided.
`foreground` | Changes the color of the font. A color chooser dialog box is provided.
`insets` | The distance (in pixels) from the left, right, top, or bottom edge of the cell. A dialog box is provided for you to enter the values. |
`enabled` | Controls whether the component is initially in the enabled or disabled state.
`name` | The name of the component. All components are uniquely named by Visual Java GUI builder when they are created. You can change the name using this attribute. Be sure that all component names within a group are unique. You can quickly change the name of a selected component by typing in the name box.
`text` | Text displayed on the component. You can quickly add or change the text of a selected component by typing it in the text box.

See also:

  Visual Java GUI Builder Overview
  GUI Builder Palette
  Laying Out the Interface
  Creating Menus

  Visual Java GUI Builder API Documentation
    Visual Java GUI Builder Runtime Packages
    Class Hierarchy
    Index of All Fields and Methods