Author: nigel stuart at Internet Date: 8/26/97 11:26 PM Priority: Normal TO: Liang at ZZEAST1POST Subject: Re: Free applets ------------------------------- Message Contents ------------------------------- Read Me These notes go with the initial demonstration package of the Resource Dynamics stereographic projection java courseware. Java Applets: Java applets are programs that run from within web documents. For security reasons they are forbidden to do certain things (like print or locally store on files). Java applets will run on all sorts of machines provided that you have a browser that is up to the job (and don't disable the java capability). These programs should thus be fine on OS2, 32 bit windows, Unix, and Macs. Performance, Size and resolution One of the trade offs with java is that applets are created at a fixed resolution in terms of pixels. Thus their occupancy of screen space varies from screen to screen. The 3-d stereodemonstration is not resizeable and I would like to here of problems if you find it too big/small. On low res systems it does not all fit on the screen at once and the redrawing of the applets can be less than perfect (try clicking on the slider bar). Please e-mail me with concerns about this or any other concerns about performance (nstuart@agt.net). To see the distributed document: Place all the files in a single directory e.g. c:\rdcourse. Then point your (java capable) browser at it. You can do this in netscape by typing c:\rdcourse\coursej.htm in the url box. It will take a few seconds to load the files and for the java machine to get going. To use the applets on your own page (Yes you are welcome, but please maintain links to Resource Dynamics page www.agt.net/public/nstuart/rd.htm). To use both applets copy all the .class files into your directory and copy the appropriate applet tags where you wish them into your html file. That is to say cut an paste everything from the to the . To use only the 3d stereo projection demo you need classes: project, p2d,blockcanvas, mapsymcanvas and sterprj. The remainder are for the minicauldron applet. Using the Appletviewer program. Sun provides (free) a program called "appletviewer". If, for example, you put the minicauldron files in a subdirectory and created a minimal html file (perhaps called mytry.htm) that had the appropriate applet link then you could run minicauldron by running (in windows95 dos mode) by typing "appletviewer mytry.htm" at the dos prompt. You might find this less clumsy than launching a browswer each time. Oddities The normal closing buttons on the mini-cauldron applet don't work while the browser is in operation (you can use the file:hide option instead). However, when it is run from appletviewer or when you keep the minicauldron window going after you have closed the browser (yes -it is possible) then they work fine. Coming soon: The applets will be embedded in my introductory courseware in time for the start of term in October 1997 and should be up on my web site which will be updated.