Java Web Start , Sun AS 9, NetBeans 5.5

Sorry I didn't notice this post until now.

The Sun app server, starting with release 9.0 (which is based on the GlassFish open source app server project at http://glassfish.dev.java.net) , provides automatic support for launching app clients using Java Web Start. Here's a link to a blog entry that describes how to use this feature: http://blogs.sun.com/quinn/entry/launch_app_clients_using_java

If the JNLP that is generated does not meet all your needs, then you will need to create your own JNLP. You can see the JNLP that is generated and you might be able to create your own based on that. It's not a good solution and we plan to make it possible for developers to specify much more of the generated JNLP in the next release.

- Tim

tjquinna at 2007-7-8 23:44:16 >

..

> It could be nice if i was possible:

> - to specified an image file (in my jar), to be used

> as splash screen.

Java 6 offers the ability to include a splash

image in an application jar file, but that clashes

with the webstart approach of putting the splash

image separate to the application jar files, and

specifying it in the JNLP launch descriptor.

> - to provide an image icon to be used in program

> shortcut.

That can be configured in the JNLP file,

though some *nix systems do not use the

icon.

> - to set some java web start options in my deployment

> descriptor, such as, installing shortcut at

> deployement time,

Options in the JNLP can be used to offer

a shortcut to the end user. Whether they accept

an icon, is up to them.

>..silent download for application

> launch other than the very first launching.

> - to disable "JAVA STARTING" splash screen.

Why? What does that offer to the end user?

Basically, the splash screen is for the benefit

of the end user, and if Sun were to offer* the

ability to suppress it, it would be probably be

done at the level of the Java Control Panel (JCP).

But then, if I saw an option in the JCP to

|_| Show a splash when downloading new

program resources or

|x| Simply show a 'blank screen' between when

I double click the shortcut, and ten seconds later

when the application appears.

I would almost certainly ask for the 'splash'

since the second makes no sense at all.

* As such, I doubt Sun will be offering to suppress

that, even through the JCP.

AndrewThompson64a at 2007-7-8 23:44:16 >

A few quick notes on this...

> the JNLP file is not configurable!

In response to requests filed as GlassFish issues the latest promoted build of GlassFish allows the developer to specify his or her own splash and/or icon images. See this blog entry

http://blogs.sun.com/quinn/entry/specifying_icon_and_splash_images

that describes how. It's not the cleanest solution, I'll agree. We hope to permit much more extensive customization of the generated JNLP in a future release but this was a low-impact way of letting developers specify images now.

As for suppressing certain information, look in the Java Web Start forum for topics along these lines. Also the javaws command documentation

http://java.sun.com/javase/6/docs/technotes/tools/share/javaws.html

describes the -Xnosplash option. It is not the automatic mechanism you described but it is there.

tjquinna at 2007-7-8 23:44:16 >