Dynamically Updating JavaFX Table

There are many tricks on the web for updating tables when a value changes and the table doesn't update such as adding and removing columns to force the table to refresh.  I think there may be a refresh table option in Java 8 now.  However, getting the data structure correct makes a big difference.

Using Properties
Use properties in the backing object so that the table can bind to them and get the updates.  In the example below the name is immutable so doesn't need a property but the count is changeable so use a property value and importantly include the countProperty() method.


public class MyTableData
{
    /**
     * A value that doesn't change so just stored as a string.
     */
    private final String name;
        
    /**
     * A changeable value so stored as a property.
     */
    private final SimpleIntegerProperty count;
    
    /**
     * Constructs a new MyTableData with the given parameters.
     *
     * @param name The name
     * @param count The count
     */
    public MyTableData (final String name, final Integer count)
    {
        this.name= name;
        this.count = new SimpleIntegerProperty(count);
    }

    /**
     * Gets the namevalue.
     *
     * @return the name
     */
    public String getName()
    {
        return name;
    }

    /**
     * Gets the count value.
     *
     * @return the count
     */
    public int getCount()
    {
        return count.get();
    }

    /**
     * Set the count value.
     *     * @param count The new value to set
     */
    public void setCount(final int count)
    {
        this.count.set(count);
    }

    /**
     * The count property.
     *
     * @return The count property
     */
    public IntegerProperty countProperty() 
    {
        return count;
    }
}

The Table
In the table create the columns as normal,

        // Count Column
        final TableColumn<MyTableData, Number> countCol = new TableColumn<MyTableData, Number>("Count");
        countCol.setCellValueFactory(new PropertyValueFactory<MyTableData, Number>("count"));