Instant Java - Softcover

Pew, John A.; Pew, Stephen G.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0130105333 ISBN 13: 9780130105332

Publisher: Prentice Hall Ptr, 1998

Synopsis

New edition of a resource for Web authors who are looking to use Java on their Web sites. Features 140-plus applets with multi-dimensional effects, multi-line and paragraph capabilities, active time and date facilities, the "Data File" feature which brings real-time text updates to running applets, and the "Property Sheet" customizer. The CD-ROM includes all the applets covered in the book and the latest Netscape browser. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.

About this title

About the Author

John Pew is a software consultant to leading Silicon Valley firms such as Sun and Adobe. An expert in UNIX and Windows programming, he is author of Guide to Solaris (Sun Microsystems Press/Prentice Hall PTR). He is founder of Vivid Solutions, which provides consulting and training in Java, X Windows, and UNIX applications. Stephen Pew is an acclaimed Sun Microsystems Java trainer with over 25 years programming experience.

From the Back Cover

Supercharge your Web site with Java-no programming needed!

So you want to supercharge your site with the power of Java-but you don't want to write code? Get Instant Java, Third Edition! Here are 150+ great applets with sample configurations you can use right now: fancy text, tickers, slide shows, animated text and more. All applets feature multi-dimensional effects, multi-line and paragraph capabilities, active time and date facilities, plus the "Data File" feature, bringing real-time text updates to running applets.

Instant Java is the one-stop resource for web authors who want to add the power of Java to any web site. You'll find everything you need to get results-including: practical examples of how to use each applet, detailed instructions for customizing, and tips for fine-tuning. So easy to use you will be integrating and publishing applets to your Web site instantly! Note: Screen capture of ticker and property page to be inserted here

Best of all, these aren't just any applets! They contain the "Property Sheet" customizer, available through the Java Plug-in for Web browsers. No need to edit any HTML-with Save AS and Publish your customized applet is ready to fly. They run on Windows 95, 98, NT and UNIX environments!

If you want a great Java-enabled site-without the fuss-get Instant Java, Third Edition!

More than 150 great applets, all ready to run!

* Text, graphics, animation and multimedia.
* Highlighted text on mouseover.
* Over 70 unique tickers, each with a great text effect!
* Mouseover image effects for exciting navigation tools.
* Integrated date and time and the data file feature for real-time text updates.

The easy Java resource for Web professionals!

* Step-by-step instructions.
* Cross-platform code-Win95, 98, NT, and UNIX.
* CD-ROM also includes the latest Netscape browser.

From the Inside Flap

Preface The third edition of Instant Java introduces a whole new generation of easy to use applets. In fact, they are an order of magnitude easier and allow you to customize and publish without ever editing a single line of HTML code. While these applets are packed with new capabilities, they maintain many of the effects introduced in earlier editions of the book. You'll find page after page of new ways to get your message across and give new functionality with incredible ease. Included in the last chapter are the animation applets from the second edition, including full explanations on customization and over 40 animation examples. Why We Wrote Instant Java Third Edition We undertook the project of the third edition in large part because we saw a need for the functionality and interest that applets can provide to Web pages. In surfing the Web, we've found many attention grabbing ways to put across a message. More often than not, these features are complex to use. For instance, many Web sites of major companies and organizations have fancy mouseover effects and visually impressive tickers and text animations. Many of these effects are done with proprietary applets, or complex JavaScript. We felt we could do the same and offer even more interesting presentations of information with an ease and accessibility not currently available to most Web developers. The New Instant Java Applets Over and over again, as we worked on the development of the new Instant Java applets, our almost hourly comment started with, "You know what would be really cool..." and some new feature was born. The property sheet concept was the first such idea. We felt that Web developers needed an easy way to use an applet without hours of parameter adjusting, saving and reloading. The property sheet is launched from any of the new Instant Java applets by placing the pointer over the applet and pressing Esc. This brings up the Property Sheet window that contains the editable properties of the applet. The Property Sheet is designed to effect the applet in real time. As a property is adjusted, the applet responds immediately to the new property value. Trusted Applets To provide these new features, the applets had to have permission to read and write to the local file system. This and other special permissions can be given to an applet if it is a trusted applet. Allowing the Instant Java applets to run as trusted applets required using Java Plug-in. Java Plug-in is a browser plug-in from Sun Microsystems that implements the complete Java run-time. A step-by-step description of how to run the Instant Java applets as trusted applets is detailed in chapter one. Once this has been configured, you are ready to begin. Performance The customization features provided by the Property Sheet are only needed when you are designing an applet. We refer to this as design mode. During design mode, you customize the applet to get it just the way you want it. Then you save or publish your work. The saved or published version does not include the Property Sheet and cannot be used in design mode. Two versions of each applet are on the Web site and CD; one that uses Java Plug-in and one that does not. The version that uses Java Plug-in is capable of displaying the Property Sheet so you can customize, save locally, or publish applets to your Web site. The other version of the applets is like the version you would publish; it does not use the plug-in nor the additional files required for the Property Sheet. The performance difference between the two versions of the applets is noticeable at load time. The applets that run in the plug-in and use the Property Sheet require additional Java class files and, therefore, take longer to load. These additional files are not included in the applets you save or publish. The load time of the design mode applets is not representative of how the same applets will load in your Web page. Performance, in general, is very good. The files are relatively small. Most are no bigger than a medium sized image. Who Should Use Instant Java Instant Java has always been focussed on the Web developer. Earlier versions required some familiarity with HTML and programming experience could give you an advantage in developing a sophisticated implementation of an applet. The third edition, however, presents applets that even the most casual Web enthusiast will find easy to use. If you can click a mouse button, you can customize these applets to their fullest extent. Why Use Applets There are many technologies and tools for doing Web development. You could use JavaScript, XML, Dynamic HTML and more. Each requires a level of sophistication to implement and each has its strengths and weaknesses. You could also use one of the development tools from the major software companies. These allow you to do some pretty fancy things, without days and weeks of trial and error development. Using the Instant Java applets adds another weapon to your arsenal for creating killer Web pages. For example, you can create a ticker, with shadowed text, a background image, a highlight effect and audio, which loads a new page into a frame when clicked with the mouse. When you've got your creation just the way you want it, a few mouse clicks publishes it directly to your Web site. It's as easy as that. Instant Java Updates As diligently as we have worked on debugging, and notwithstanding our testing, we're certain our code is not perfect. If you have a problem with an applet in this book, you should first try to isolate it by replacing an image or an audio file or the values of the properties. You will also want to check the Instant Java Web site at: instantjava We will post known problems, bug fixes, and new versions at this site that you may freely download. If you cannot find an answer at the Web site and are convinced that you have discovered a bug, send a complete description (including the HTML code) to: support@vivids Bug fixes and code updates will be posted to the Web site on an ongoing basis. Third Edition New Features The third edition of Instant Java has several significant enhancements: The Property Sheet Built-in HTML Code Generator Save As and Publish HTML Preview Detachable applet for sizing Performance improvements Over 100 new applets New Applets Although the applets in the Fundamental, Text, Tickers and Assorted chapters are new, they incorporate many of the text effects created for earlier editions of Instant Java. Here are some of the new features we've added. Multi-line, Multi-paragraph applets: Text, Ticker and Assorted applets can contain multi-line paragraphs Highlighting: Nearly all of the applets provide some sort of highlighting, per paragraph, on mouseover URL: Each paragraph can have an associated URL URLTarget: For each URL, you may assign a URL Target that will load the new page into a frame, new window, current window, etc. Audio: Paragraphs may have an audio file assigned that plays on mouseover Indexed Text Color: A different text color can be selected for each paragraph Remote Datafile: The applet can be connected to a remote data source to pick up new information at preset intervals Multi-Layout Paragraph Options: Paragraphs in the text chapter can have a horizontal, vertical, flow, or matrix layout, with separate background colors and frames Halo: A new text effect that sets off text like nothing else Headline: Multi-lined paragraphs can have a separate headline color set for each Adjacent Tickers: New tickers include Adjacent Horizontal and Vertical versions that show multiple paragraphs simultaneously Random Tickers: Displays text entering the applet from a random angle Fade Tickers: Tickers that move text in, and fade text out Bonus Animation Examples Chapter 6 presents the animation applets created for earlier editions of Instant Java. They are more complex to use, but are viable for special needs you may encounter in your development work. The chapter contains full details on how to use the applets and effects filters that go with them. There are over 40 animation examples provided to spark your imagination, and launch the creation of your own unique animation sequences. Browsable applets on the CD The CD that comes with this book contains all the applets and examples from the book. The CD is configured so that it can be browsed, using your favorite browser, without having to install anything onto your hard drive. This means that you can run any of the applets from the book before installing anything on your hard drive. Remember, if you have not installed Java Plug-in, you may browse the applets from the Non Plug-in Version, but you will not be able to customize them. Improved Applet Installation Method One of the most common problems that users of earlier editions of Instant Java reported, was that when they went to use an applet from the book, they couldn't make it work properly because they did not include the necessary files, or did not put them in the right place. The new Instant Java applets leave all the hassles and concerns about files behind. Since the code generator built into the property sheet creates an HTML file for you, the code is always right. Changes you make to the applet are done via the property sheet. The changes you make are reflected in the code the generator creates. Java 1.1 Although Java 1.1 has been available for nearly two years, it has not been until recently that both Netscape and Internet Explorer were both Java 1.1 compliant. Both browsers are available as a free download, and we have included Netscape Navigator 4.5 for Windows and Solaris on the CD. Because there are many dependencies on Java 1.1 in the new applets, it is important that you (and anyone who views your page with these applets) be running a browser that supports Java 1.1. In other words, you need the latest browser to run the production version of the Instant Java applets. The minimum browser requirements to run the Instant Java applets is either Netscape Navigator 4.06 for Windows and Solaris, or Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0 for Windows. Both of these browsers are 1.1 compliant. Using an earlier version of these browsers will not work with the published versions of the applets. Although you can run the design mode versions of the applets in an older browser with Java Plug-in installed, you cannot run the published versions. A Note About Performance In building the new Instant Java applets, we have tried to be as creative and far-ranging as possible. But it is worth bearing in mind that the more complex an applet is, the longer it takes to execute. This is not an issue with most of the applets, but a few have features that may tax the compute power of older systems. Also, remember that on any given visitor's machine, an applet might run more slowly than it does on yours. Even if you find its performance acceptable, it may not be so on your visitor's. This depends in large part, of course, on the speed and power of the system on which you construct and test your applets. Images, in particular, present performance concerns. The larger the image file, the greater the processing time required. Often you can speed execution considerably by choosing smaller images or by decreasing the overall size of your applet. Summary You're ready to get started. Go to the Quick Start Guide in Chapter 1 on page 3 for some brief installation instructions. You should have the applets up and running in no time. We hope that you find the Instant Java applet to your liking and that you will be able to use one or more of them on your web pages.

Edition details

• Publisher: Prentice Hall Ptr
• Publication date: 1998
• ISBN 10: 0130105333
• ISBN 13: 9780130105332
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Edition number: 3
• Number of pages: 452