Inventory system layout issues

Okay, below is the code for the Character information area of my Inventory system for my game.

The problems im having are the following:

  1. How in the world do I paint or write my strings to my panel?
  2. How do i do it so i get a nice titled border layout like the equipable area and the inventory list?

Code>>>


/*
 * Created on Dec 14, 2005
 *
 * TODO To change the template for this generated file go to
 * Window - Preferences - Java - Code Style - Code Templates
 */
package com.inventory;

import java.awt.*;
import javax.swing.*;
import javax.swing.border.TitledBorder;

/**
 * @author zalexander
 *
 * TODO To change the template for this generated type comment go to
 * Window - Preferences - Java - Code Style - Code Templates
 */
public class InvCharPane extends JPanel{
	
	private String textString1 = new String();
	
	
	
	public InvCharPane() {
		
		JLabel invCharText = new JLabel();
		invCharText.setBorder(BorderFactory.createEmptyBorder(10,0,0,0));
		invCharText.setText(textString1);
		
		
		JPanel charPanel = new JPanel();
		TitledBorder charPanelTitle = BorderFactory.createTitledBorder("Character Information");
		charPanel.setLayout(new BorderLayout());
		charPanel.setPreferredSize(new Dimension(100, 480));
		charPanel.add(invCharText);
		//charPanel.setBorder(BorderFactory.createEmptyBorder(5,5,5,5));
		charPanel.setBorder(charPanelTitle);
		
	/**	
		JFrame invCharFrame = new JFrame("Character Information");
		invCharFrame.setSize(100,480);
		Container invCharContent = invCharFrame.getContentPane();
		invCharContent.setBackground(Color.white);
		invCharContent.setLayout(null); 
		invCharContent.add(charPanel);
		invCharFrame.setVisible(true);
	*/
	}
	
	public void paintComponent(Graphics charPane) {
		super.paintComponent(charPane);
		textString1 = "Character Pane Text";
		
		charPane.drawString(textString1,10,10);
		
		
		
	}

}


here is a screen shot of the first rendered version of the inventory system in full. (minus of course the few bugs im working on above)

http://data.memberclicks.com/site/si/invScreenPreview.gif

thanx for any help given!

I wouldnt bother tryng to do this, just use JLabel (but if you want to draw on a compoentn i find its best to extend JComponent rether than jpanel)

jcomponent.setBorder(BorderFactory.createTitledBorder(“Inventory”));

If i use JLabel is my paintComponent Method overiting my JLabel?