How to start

hi,

i am writing it in points

(I) First of all , before starting servlet programming try to know more abt

the tools required .probably, the things required are a web browser(for

sending a request) and a tomcat server (to handle the requests that are

sent by the web browser)

(ii) The things to know abt tomcat include what type of programs can be run on a tomcat server.(probably JSP,Servlets)

(iii) Which packages to use for handling servlets(u can find API in sun site)

(iv) installation of tomcat server

(v) properly setting the class path . the reason y i am saying this point

is i suffered a lot for setting the classpath. but finally i managed some how.

(vi) now , start learning y servlets have been developed. how can we use them and important thing to know is the life cycle of the servlet.

Thorough learning of the lifecycle will help u in understanding the background scenario of how servlet execution takes place .

(vii) now , u learn in how many ways u can create a servlet program and which is the best efficient technique to use .

(viii) Start writing small programs using the best technique(probably the

best technique is by extending HttpServlet class available in javax.servlet.http package )

i hope u understand what i have written .

if u feel any diffuculty in servlet programming , just post a message.

i will be regularly checking this site.

regards

strictly_helpfula at 2007-7-13 22:45:24 >

In java, for example if we want to design a GUI , we use AWT package.

The AWT package contains button class, textfield class,so on . if we want to use a button we just create an object of button class(like

for example Button b1=new Button("Send")).Similarly, for designing

servlet applications we use some built in classes that are present in

javax.servlet.* package and javax.servlet.http.* package. this is what i was saying in the third point. For more information about what methods and classes are there in that package(above two) please visit sun site.

if u dont find i will send u the link.

u must require a tomcat server to run servlet applications. the main reason is that servlets are nothing but server side applications.

another reason u require tomcat is that it contains jar files of SERVLET and JSP api's .the two packages i told earlier are present in servlet-api jar file.U can find those jar files in Tomcat5.0\common\lib . check it out after installing tomcat in ur system.

u must install tomcat in the same machine.

though u have two servers, it is not a problem , it is better to use

tomcat server because u are new to servlets.

dont worry once u write one application, u will be very much comfortable with servlets(because i also had the same problems when i was new to servlets )

waiting for ur reply

strictly_helpfula at 2007-7-13 22:45:24 >

after installing tomcat .class path must be set properly , otherwise we get a compile time error saying that no servlet.http.* package found.

i will show an example how to set class path.

u have to set these in my computer ( in properties ( in advanced (Environment variables)) )

(I) user variables

CATALINA_HOME

C:\Apache Group\Tomcat 4.1

JAVA_HOME

C:\j2sdk1.4.2_03

(II) System variables

classpath

C:\j2sdk1.4.2_03\lib\tools.jar;C:\Apache Group\Tomcat 4.1\common\lib\servlet.jar;

JAVA_HOME

C:\j2sdk1.4.2_03;

the above is an example. ur paths may be different because ur tomcat

may be anywhere(i.e either C or D drive ). set according to that.

i hope it works fine and i hope u understand what i have written

regards,

strictly_helpfula at 2007-7-13 22:45:24 >