How to access the vbox that I created via javafx scene builder?

Question

I have added a vbox from scene builder and set its visibility to false. Based on certain condition I want to set visibility to true. How do I do it?

I am new to java as well, so I am not able to sort out the problem with root.getChildren() which throws a compilation error, getChildren() has protected access in Parent. Could you please help?

Answer 1

It takes three steps.

1. Define controller Java class in your FXML file. Either in SceneBuilder or directly in XML.
2. In controller define field VBox and annotate it with @FXML and its name use in XML like fx:id . This will tell to JavaFX to bind your field with correct instance of VBox.
3. Do whatever you want with VBox

XML definition (notice fx:controller and fx:id ):

    <BorderPane prefHeight="600.0" prefWidth="1024.0" xmlns:fx="http://javafx.com/fxml/1" xmlns="http://javafx.com/javafx/2.2" fx:controller="foo.bar.MainController">
      <center>
        <VBox fx:id="content" fillWidth="true" prefHeight="200.0" prefWidth="100.0" />
      ...

Controller class:

    public class MainController {
          @FXML
          private VBox content;
    }

If you want to call controller class from outside, you will get instance of controller from right instance of FXMLLoader like this:

   MainController controller = (MainController) loader.getController();