Resolving 'Eclipse Applet Viewer Display Squished Screen' Issues

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When developing Java applications, especially those involving applets or Swing-based GUI components within Eclipse's built-in integrated development environment (IDE), users may encounter frustrating issues such as a squashed or distorted display. This article will guide you through troubleshooting and resolving these problems.

### Symptoms

- The main application window appears smaller than expected.

- UI elements are either missing, stretched, or overlap each other excessively.

- Text within the editor or console windows is illegibly tiny.

These symptoms often indicate that there's an issue with how Eclipse is rendering its graphical user interface (GUI) components. In this case, we'll focus on resolving such problems specifically related to applet development and display issues in Eclipse.

### Causes

There are several potential causes for these types of GUI-related problems:

1. Incorrect Java Runtime Environment (JRE) or Development Kit (SDK): Ensure that you're using the correct version of either JRE or SDK compatible with your application's requirements.

2. Incompatible Browser/Java Plug-in: If you're developing applets, ensure that both your development environment and target browser support the same Java versions and plug-ins.

### Solution Steps

#### Step 1: Check Project Settings for Applet Development

1. Open Eclipse and navigate to 'Window' > 'Preferences...'

2. In the Preferences dialog box, expand 'Java' under the left-hand menu.

3. Select 'Applets.'

4. Ensure that both 'Generate applet stubs & skeleton code in HTML file' and 'Create JNLP files for Applets' are checked.

#### Step 2: Update or Reinstall Java Development Kit (SDK) / Runtime Environment (JRE)

1. Download the latest version of either SDK or JRE from Oracle's official website, depending on your project requirements.

2. Follow the installation instructions provided with the downloaded package to properly install both the JDK and/or JRE.

#### Step 3: Clean & Rebuild Project

1. Select 'File' > 'Clean...':

- In the 'Build' section of the dialog box, ensure that all project types are selected.

2. Click on 'OK.'

3. After cleaning your workspace:

- Navigate to 'Project' > 'Build All'.

4. Wait for Eclipse to rebuild and recompile any necessary files.

#### Step 4: Restart Eclipse

If none of the above steps resolve your issues, try restarting Eclipse completely:

1. Close all open projects and perspectives.

2. Click on the 'Eclipse' icon in the top-left corner of your screen (or press `Alt+Shift` + X or `Cmd+Option+X` depending on your operating system).

3. In the resulting dialog box:

- Select 'Restart Eclipse'.

4. Wait for Eclipse to fully start up again.

#### Step 5: Check Browser/Java Plug-in Compatibility

If you're still experiencing problems after completing these steps, ensure that:

1. Your development environment (Eclipse) and target browser are running with compatible versions of Java.

2. The latest version of the Java Runtime Environment (JRE) or Plugin is installed on your system.

By following these troubleshooting steps in order, you should be able to resolve any 'squished screen' issues related to applet display within Eclipse's integrated development environment.

Eclipse applet viewer display squished screen