Modifying Forms Externally
See Also
Forms are stored in two files:
- A .java file, which contains the form's Java source code.
-
A .form file, which stores the information that is used to generate the
.java file when you make changes to the form in the Form Editor.
This file does not need to be distributed with your application. If you delete
this file, you can no longer use the Form Editor to change the form.
You can edit the .java files using external editors (but not
while the form is being edited in the IDE), with the following exceptions:
-
Do not modify the content of the initComponents() method. The body of
this method is always regenerated when the form is opened in the IDE.
-
Do not remove or modify any of the special comments placed in the source by the IDE's
Form Editor (// GEN-...). They are required for the form to open
correctly. These comments are not visible inside the IDE's Source Editor.
-
Do not modify the headers or footers of event handlers.
Legal Notices