Applet problem

[steve_marjoribanks]

Forgive me if this sounds a little stupid and ignorant but I am new to
both Java and programming generally and thought people on here might be
able to give me some good advice!

I am currently learning Java with a view to writing a small application
(the purpose of the application is irrelevant). In addition to this
main program I had a need to create some sort of basic application
which would essentially take the contents of an XML file and display it
graphically in a predetermined way. I had originally thought of using
an applet within a webpage for this because of the basic nature of the
program, however, after more thought I realised that this was not
possible due to the security restrictions on applets which would mean
that it would be impossible for a user to load an XML file from their
hard drive into the applet for it to process and display.

My main question is that what is the most suitable way of creating this
'mini' application so that it will:
a) run from a webpage
b) be able to load a file from a users hard drive
c) easily handle XML files

I'm guessing I might have to use another language? I have considered
using Java Web Start instead of an applet but this would essentially be
the same as providing an application on a webpage which then has to be
downloaded before it can be used, or would this be the most sensible
thing to do (and just put up with the download time required to cache
the application)?

Many thanks

Stephen

 

[Mickey Segal]

I'm guessing I might have to use another language? I have considered
using Java Web Start instead of an applet but this would essentially be
the same as providing an application on a webpage which then has to be
downloaded before it can be used, or would this be the most sensible
thing to do (and just put up with the download time required to cache
the application)?

You could use Java Web Start or you could digitally sign your applet.
Either should work, but the Java Web Start approach would assume that users
have (or are willing and able to download) a modern Sun version of Java.

 

[IchBin]

Forgive me if this sounds a little stupid and ignorant but I am new to
both Java and programming generally and thought people on here might be
able to give me some good advice!

I am currently learning Java with a view to writing a small application
(the purpose of the application is irrelevant). In addition to this
main program I had a need to create some sort of basic application
which would essentially take the contents of an XML file and display it
graphically in a predetermined way. I had originally thought of using
an applet within a webpage for this because of the basic nature of the
program, however, after more thought I realised that this was not
possible due to the security restrictions on applets which would mean
that it would be impossible for a user to load an XML file from their
hard drive into the applet for it to process and display.

My main question is that what is the most suitable way of creating this
'mini' application so that it will:
a) run from a webpage
b) be able to load a file from a users hard drive
c) easily handle XML files

I'm guessing I might have to use another language? I have considered
using Java Web Start instead of an applet but this would essentially be
the same as providing an application on a webpage which then has to be
downloaded before it can be used, or would this be the most sensible
thing to do (and just put up with the download time required to cache
the application)?

Many thanks

Stephen

It is harder to start learning Java by writing applets rather than
applications. You can have Applet's run off the users machine you just
have to have the applet signed.

My be better to write an application and distribute using Java Web Start.

http://java.sun.com/products/javawebstart/faq.html
http://mindprod.com/jgloss/javawebstart.html

Thanks in Advance...
IchBin, Pocono Lake, Pa, USA
http://weconsultants.servebeer.com/JHackerAppManager
__________________________________________________________________________

'If there is one, Knowledge is the "Fountain of Youth"'
-William E. Taylor, Regular Guy (1952-)

 

[Roedy Green]

My main question is that what is the most suitable way of creating this
'mini' application so that it will:
a) run from a webpage
b) be able to load a file from a users hard drive
c) easily handle XML files

see http://mindprod.com/jgloss/javawebstart.html
or
http://mindprod.com/jgloss/signedapplets.html

 

[steve_marjoribanks]

Ok, thanks for the input everybody. It's what I was expecting to hear
really, I was just wondering if there was a method that I hadn't come
across!

One thought I did have, (bearing in mind I'm a beginner and so don't
have a great understanding of programming), was that would it be
possible to load a file from the users hard drive using a different
language within the webpage (ie. outside of the applet) and then use
the loaded data within an applet on the page by passing the information
as parameters to the applet on initialization?