The GraphicComponent.java class is the superclass in the Graphical Rendering module. It contains the functionality for manipulating the creating, adding and drawing of the graphics in the applets. This GraphicComponent.java class has a subcalss in the Framework -- the GraphicComposite.java class. The GraphicComposite.java inherites from the GraphicComponent.java class and in addition to its superclass's functionality, it also contains some functionality for manipulating children graphics, such as adding and removing children graphics from a GraphicComposite. All graphical unit is natrally a GraphicComponent. In addition, if a graphical unit can be further divided into some smaller parts, then it is also a GraphicComposite. This way, all the graphics are the subclasses of the GraphicComponent.java. So the client does not have to distiguish the types among the classes and hence it can treat them uniformly.

The GraphicComponent.java class has the following functionalities: drawing a GraphicComponent/GraphicComposite, manipulating of the translation of a GraphicComponent/GraphicComposite, getting and setting of the actual position of a GraphicComponent/GraphicComposite. getting and setting wjether a GraphicComponent/GraphicComposite is chnaged or fixed during a specific operation.

The GraphicComposite.java is responsible for drawing a GraphicComposite and for munipulating the children graphics, such as adding and removing children graphics.

An example of the GraphicComponent/GraphicComposite can be seen in the Amplifier Circuit and the Characteristic Curve in the Single-Stage Common-Emitter Amplifier Applet.