Java: Example - Text Clock

This is a simple text clock. See.

  • javax.swing.Timer Explains how use javax.swing.Timer class, if it isn't already obvious from this example.
  • Example - Text Clock 2 creates a component, a subclass of JTextField, to display the time.
Image of text clock
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// File   :  animation/textclock/TextClock1.java
// Purpose: Show use of Timer, Calendar to implement a clock.
// Enhancements: Center text, 12 hour with AM/PM, ....
// Author : Fred Swartz, 1999 ... 2007-03-02, Placed in public domain

import java.awt.*;
import java.awt.event.*;
import javax.swing.*;
import java.util.Calendar;

//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// TextClock1
class TextClock1 extends JFrame {
	
    //============================================================== fields
    private JTextField _timeField;  // set by timer listener

    //========================================================== constructor
    public TextClock1() {
        //... Set characteristics of text field that shows the time.
        _timeField = new JTextField(5);
        _timeField.setEditable(false);
        _timeField.setFont(new Font("sansserif", Font.PLAIN, 48));

        JPanel content = new JPanel();
        content.setLayout(new FlowLayout());
        content.add(_timeField); 
        
        this.setContentPane(content);
        this.setTitle("Text Clock 1");
        this.pack();
        this.setLocationRelativeTo(null);
        this.setResizable(false);

        //... Create timer which calls action listener every second..
        //    Use full package qualification for javax.swing.Timer
        //    to avoid potential conflicts with java.util.Timer.
        javax.swing.Timer t = new javax.swing.Timer(1000, new ClockListener());
        t.start();
    }
    
    /////////////////////////////////////////////// inner class ClockListener
    class ClockListener implements ActionListener {
    	public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e) {
    		//... Whenever this is called, get the current time and
    		//    display it in the textfield.
            Calendar now = Calendar.getInstance();
            int h = now.get(Calendar.HOUR_OF_DAY);
            int m = now.get(Calendar.MINUTE);
            int s = now.get(Calendar.SECOND);
            _timeField.setText("" + h + ":" + m + ":" + s);
            //... The following is an easier way to format the time,
            //    but requires knowing how to use the format method.
            //_timeField.setText(String.format("%1$tH:%1$tM:%1$tS", now));
    	}
    }
    
    //================================================================= main
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        JFrame clock = new TextClock1();
        clock.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
        clock.setVisible(true);
    }
}