public static void addStrut(JComponent b,boolean horiz,int size){
  if (size < 1)   return;
  b.add(horiz ? Box.createHorizontalStrut(size) : Box.createVerticalStrut(size));
}

public static void addStrut ( JComponent b , boolean horiz , int size ) { if ( size < 1 ) return ; b . add ( horiz ? Box . createHorizontalStrut ( size ) : Box . createVerticalStrut ( size ) ) ; }
add a strut , or rigid spacing , to a ui component
