Add ToolTipText in Jlist Item(s)

Question

public static void populateJList(JList list) {
        ArrayList<String> contents= DataAccess.getContents();
        DefaultListModel listModel = new DefaultListModel();
        for (String string : contents) {
            listModel.addElement(string);
        }
        preset.setModel(listModel);
}

I have this method that populates my JList, is there a way that I can add toolTipText of every item in the JList?

Answer 1

1. You can override the getToolTipText(..) method of the JList.

2. I believe you can also use a custom renderer which invokes the setToolTipText(...) method.

Answer 2

If you don't want to override JList, you can use a MouseMotionAdapter to change the tooltip text

    jList.addMouseMotionListener(new MouseMotionAdapter() {
        @Override
        public void mouseMoved(MouseEvent e) {
            JList l = (JList)e.getSource();
            ListModel m = l.getModel();
            int index = l.locationToIndex(e.getPoint());
            if( index>-1 ) {
                l.setToolTipText(m.getElementAt(index).toString());
            }
        }
    });

Answer 3

For JDK >= 1.6, a slightly different construction is needed:

   loggingList.addMouseMotionListener(new MouseMotionListener() {

        @Override
        public void mouseDragged(MouseEvent e) {
            // no-op
        }

        @Override
        public void mouseMoved(MouseEvent e) {
            JList l = (JList) e.getSource();
            ListModel m = l.getModel();
            int index = l.locationToIndex(e.getPoint());
            if (index > -1) {
                l.setToolTipText(m.getElementAt(index).toString());
            }
        }
    });