Web Page Configuration
The Web Page Configuration utility (Javxpagegen.pvs) is an easy-to-use ProvideX program for creating
web content to run JavX as an applet.
Typically, JavX is deployed as a
Java applet that runs in a web browser. Deploying JavX as an applet means that
JavX is not installed permanently on
the workstation. Instead, it is served up as a Java applet from a web server.
Because most browsers cache the Java applets for re-use, the client workstation
does not need to download JavX each time the user accesses the server's web
page. However, the web content required to configure this can be complex. The
HTML (and sometimes JavaScript) that embeds JavX on a web page is dependent on
several components, including the browser, operating system, Java Runtime
Environment (JRE) as well as the JavX configuration present on the client
machine.
The Javxpagegen
program automates the web page generation so that ProvideX developers can use
JavX without having to write their own HTML or JavaScript. If you wish to
better understand the HTML and Script applets used in the process, refer to the
JavX documentation. For further information, Sun’s Java website has many pages
on embedding Applets: http://java.sun.com/products/plugin/1.2/docs/tags.html and http://java.sun.com/products/plugin/versions.html
.
Applets and HTML
The Javxpagegen
program uses *web/merge to add the appropriate HTML tags and JavaScript to a
provided template web page.
Using the Web Page Configuration Utility
The Javxpagegen
program is simple to use. There is main window divided into two tabbed panels, one
for Browser Settings and the other
for Optional Parameters. The Image
below illustrates the Web Page Configuration. Most of the fields are described
briefly by a floating tip.
Mandatory Arguments to Pass JavX
Input Web Page Template -Enter the path to the web page on
which you wish to embed the JavX.jar. The template
web page can be any HTML page, simply add “~~JavX$?A~~” to the file where JavX should appear on the
page. There is a simple HTML page provided javxtmpl.txt. If you are building
web pages with an HTML editor like MS FrontPage simply add the text “~~JavX$?A~~” on the page where JavX should appear, then when
you are done editing the page enter the path to it in this field.
Output Web Page Name -Enter the path and name of the
desired new web page which will contain the JavX Applet.
Server Name -Either the
IP address or Domain Name of the host system where *nthost
or the ProvideX Application Server is running. (The web server and ProvideX
host must be running on the same machine)
Socket Number -TCP/IP Socket Number that *nthost or the ProvideX Application Server is monitoring.
Browsers Settings Tab – Select
the combination of Browsers and OSs to support. Older
Browsers and JRE’s require different HTML tags (see the
JavX documentation for details). The generated web page will support only the
Browsers selected. Select either of the first two check boxes to support any
Browser and OS. If the first check box is selected JavaScript will be added to
the page, if the second check box is selected a JRE of 1.4 or later is required
on the client machine. If the client machine does not have a valid JRE
installed, the download and installation of a JRE will be seamlessly integrated
into the loading and running of the JavX.jar. The
JRE, like the JavX.jar, is a one time only download.
The Java Plug-in will be downloaded from the URL provided in the Download Location of JRE field.
JavX requires a Java 2 or later JRE (see the JavX documentation for details on
the Java Plug-in )
Optional Parameters Tab –These fields
are used to configure the JavX session. They generate the “args”
string which is passed to the JavX Applet’s lead class at runtime (see the JavX
documentation for
details on the args string). The two most important
of the optional arguments are Embed on
Applet and Application Server. If
Embed on Applet is selected, the JavX
session’s main window will run directly on the web browser window. If Embed on Applet is not selected, a new window
will open on top of the web browser, see images below:
Embed on Applet selected Embed
on Applet not selected
When Application Server is selected, the
ProvideX host must be the ProvideX Application Server and not Nthost. JavX uses a different
protocol to establish a connection with the ProvideX Application Server. The
ProvideX Application Server supports Secure Sockets (SSL),
JavX can encrypt communication when Application
Server is selected.
Build Page button - This button takes all of
the above selections and generates a web page containing the JavX Applet.