import java.awt.Component; public class EPanel extends javax.swing.JPanel { public EPanel (String labelText, Component one) { if (labelText != null && labelText.length() > 0) add (new ELabel().text (labelText)); add (one); } public EPanel (String labelText, Component one, Component two) { if (labelText != null && labelText.length() > 0) add (new ELabel().text (labelText)); add (one); add (two); } } /* usage: to add a label and a textfield in that order, which will stay next to each other even when the frame is resized: add (new EPanel ("2+2?", new AnswerField().width (8))); Also for adding a label and a button with the same advantage. You can add additional Components to the EPanel if you want. */