Sample Code: Set Center Status Info Pane

boolean showProgress = true;
...
final JProgressBar progressBar = new JProgressBar(0, 100);
progressBar.setValue(0);
progressBar.setStringPainted(true);
Object[] args = new Object[1];
args[0] = new Integer(progressBar.getValue());
progressBar.setString(MessageFormat.format("{0}%", args));
progressBar.setVisible(showProgress);

myTool.fireConsoleAction(new VConsoleEvent(
    myTool, VconsoleActions.UPDATEPROGRESS,
    showProgress ? progressBar : null));

...

// As the operation proceeds (presumably in a seperate thread),
// update the progress bar.
// We assume "count" and "total" are integer variables
// that represent the cumulative status thus far and the total
// expected.
if (count >= total)
    progressBar.setValue(100);
else
    progressBar.setValue((count * 100)/total);
Object[] args1 = new Object[1];
args1[0] = new Integer(progressBar.getValue());
progressBar.setString(MessageFormat.format("{0}%", args1));

...

// Later when the operation is complete, we want to disable
// the progress meter and remove it from the center pane.
myTool.fireConsoleAction(new VConsoleEvent(
    myTool, VConsoleActions.UPDATEPROGRESS, null));