How to implement draggable tab using Java Swing?

Question

How do I implement a draggable tab using Java Swing? Instead of the static JTabbedPane I would like to drag-and-drop a tab to different position to rearrange the tabs.

Answer 1

@Tony: It looks like Euguenes solution just overlooks preserving TabComponents during a swap.

The convertTab method just needs to remember the TabComponent and set it to the new tabs it makes.

Try using this:

    private void convertTab(TabTransferData a_data, int a_targetIndex) {

            DnDTabbedPane source = a_data.getTabbedPane();
            System.out.println("this=source? " + (this == source));
            int sourceIndex = a_data.getTabIndex();
            if (sourceIndex < 0) {
                    return;
            } // if
            //Save the tab's component, title, and TabComponent.
            Component cmp = source.getComponentAt(sourceIndex);
            String str = source.getTitleAt(sourceIndex);
            Component tcmp = source.getTabComponentAt(sourceIndex);

            if (this != source) {
                    source.remove(sourceIndex);

                    if (a_targetIndex == getTabCount()) {
                            addTab(str, cmp);
                            setTabComponentAt(getTabCount()-1, tcmp);
                    } else {
                            if (a_targetIndex < 0) {
                                    a_targetIndex = 0;
                            } // if

                            insertTab(str, null, cmp, null, a_targetIndex);
                            setTabComponentAt(a_targetIndex, tcmp);
                    } // if

                    setSelectedComponent(cmp);
                    return;
            } // if
            if (a_targetIndex < 0 || sourceIndex == a_targetIndex) {
                    return;
            } // if
            if (a_targetIndex == getTabCount()) {    
                    source.remove(sourceIndex);
                    addTab(str, cmp);
                    setTabComponentAt(getTabCount() - 1, tcmp);
                    setSelectedIndex(getTabCount() - 1);
            } else if (sourceIndex > a_targetIndex) {
                    source.remove(sourceIndex);
                    insertTab(str, null, cmp, null, a_targetIndex);
                    setTabComponentAt(a_targetIndex, tcmp);
                    setSelectedIndex(a_targetIndex);
            } else {
                    source.remove(sourceIndex);
                    insertTab(str, null, cmp, null, a_targetIndex - 1);
                    setTabComponentAt(a_targetIndex - 1, tcmp);
                    setSelectedIndex(a_targetIndex - 1);
            }

    }