The visual editor palette

The visual editor for Java includes a palette of components and other selection tools for you to use in the Design view.

By default, the design palette is collapsed on the right side of the Design view in the visual editor for Java. You can resize the palette, collapse it, and choose whether you want the palette collapsed by default. For more information, see Customizing the appearance of the visual editor for Java.

Tip: You can access the same Java components found on the palette by clicking the arrow next to the Choose bean Choose Bean toolbar button toolbar button.
The design palette includes the following selection tools:
Visual editor for Java palette

The design palette also includes common components, containers, menus, and controls for SWT, Swing, and AWT. The components are organized by type using drawers that you can expand, collapse, and pin open.

When you select a tool or a component from the design palette, it becomes the active behavior for your cursor. For example, if you select a SWT Button on the palette and then move your cursor over the Design view, the visual editor will give visual cues about the availability and location of placement. When you click in a valid position, the Button will be dropped onto the design. After you drop the component, your cursor reverts to the default selection cursor.

The SWT controls and containers are only included in the palette for projects that include the Standard Widget Toolkit (SWT) library on the Java build path. This library is automatically added to your project when you create a new SWT visual class or if you are using a plug-in project that has org.eclipse.ui as a required plug-in. You can also manually add the library on the Java Build Path page of the project properties. Remember that SWT controls and containers can only be used with SWT applications.

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