I have an application that has an applet that does two simple things:
Download an executable jar file from our server (if the user doesn't already have it) to an specific folder in the user's PC
Execute the jar file with the corresponding parameters
This jar file monitors an Office file for changes and send it back to our server.
The problem is the war Chrome is creating with Java with this NPAPI thing. So I have until September to think of an alternate technology or stop the Chrome support.
Do you think of some other way to achieve the same result? Just download and execute. Doesn't seem that hard =(. Can HTML 5 do that?
EDIT
I was looking into Java Web Start and became a little happy. It appears that it can do what I want: executing a up to date jar file passing parameters. But I never worked with JWS, so I have some doubts:
Is it possible to pass parameters to it? I read about some JSP files that you can configure to do that, but I'm still unsure.
Theoretically, it should start automatically from a browser link, am I right? I tried this site:
https://docs.oracle.com/javase/tutorial/deployment/webstart/running.html
and it didn't work that way. I had to mark "always open files of that type" on Google Chrome. Is there a way for automatize it?
Thanks again!!
From what I know there are at least two things that allow you to stick with Java.
Webstart
Install4
Webstart is provided by Oracle and allows you to download Java program from the web and execute them. Update mechanisms exist, so you can always provide a current version.
Install4J (or any other installer for Java applications that offers an update mechanism) provides an installer which enables your customer to install an application which afterwards will be kept up to date by the integrated update mechanism. But Install4J comes at a price, there might be freeware / open source alternatives. Install4J and its alternatives are often discussed here on SO, you might want to check here.
I think the FileAPI of HTML5 is limited and can not access arbitrary files because a sandbox prevents this. You might check SO again for details about that.
I have java class file (server.class) I want to run this file to client machine using php.
My approach
download the file from server to client machine
run this file in client machine
close the cmd and delete the file after on pressing another button
tell me my approach is right or I am making it more complex.If it is complex the then suggest me what is the right approach?
You cannot run programs on a client's machine. You can provide a download link and instructions on how to run it.
If you want to avoid the client having to click a download button, all I can think of is implementing server.class as an applet inside a web page or maybe using webstart, but I don't know much about webstart, and either way the client will go through a process of agreeing to run the java code.
Also, it sounds like some shady, shady stuff you're attempting to do. I hope you're not trying to run something on a person's computer without them knowing. If that is the case... I WILL find you :P
I have created a Java software with a graphical interface using SWING. I have packaged it in a runneable JAR file by using he "export" function of ECLIPSE and it runs fine on my computer.
However, the function of reading files of my software does not work on some other computers.
I guess that it must be a security permission problem.
So my question is: how to give the permissions to my Jar file or how the user can give the permissions so that my software is allowed to read file?
I'm looking for something as simple as possible as i'm not going to sell my software.
EDIT: My application is a desktop application (not an applet).
Thanks,
Digitally sign the Jar.
Create an XML based (JNLP) launch file for it.
Launch it from a link using Java Web Start. JWS can install desktop shortcuts & menu items for it, if requested in the launch file and supported on the target OS.
I'm looking for something as simple as possible..
Installing applications in a way that is reliable & simple for the end user, is not easy for the developer.
I took the advice I've been given here to look at IzPack to create a JNLP based one click installation for computer illiterate clients who are using a Java desktop application I've created.
Java Web Start Driven Installation
However, I can't seem to find my way around it.
I don't know where to begin and seems the online tutorials are basic "look at the examples" which are themselves pre compiled and not sourced.
I want to create a simple form - be it in JSP or the JNLP install app (preferably JSP and the JNLP should get arguments from the JSP that launches it).
Then when the users click Install, the program installs to the default directory of userappdata with no questions (except for the UAC).
But IzPack seems to be forcing me to use panels and stuff... Not sure I want all of that.
Or maybe....
Hmmm, writing this just gave me an idea, but I'd still like some feedback.
Thanks.
Another approach perhaps?
If all what you need is to allow the user invoke a JAR, then consider using JSmooth to wrap it in an exe file. The exe file knows how to invoke java correctly and prompt the user to download if not present.
We also have used one-jar to wrap multiple jars in a single jar for exactly this purpose.
I need assistance finding a delivery method that best fulfills the following requirements:
We wish to deliver a single file to my clients.
Clients should be able to launch this file from the operating system shell - much like running an '.exe' on Windows.
After being launched, the program/script should be able to display a window with HTML content. this may be done using a stand alone program, a runtime or by running within a browser.
We need the ability to embed a resource within the delivered file, such as an mp3 file, which i can later extract programmatically.
Optimally, the solution should run on Windows, Mac and Linux machines. Less than perfect cross-platform interoperability is acceptable, but we want as broad a penetration as possible.
Clients should not need to pre-install anything (unless it is done transparently), pre-configure anything, or approve any thing for this to happen.
For example:
We could use a regular executable file, written in C++ to do this, but it will not be cross-platform.
We could use a sliverlight XAP file, an adobe Flex file or a Java JAR, but internet explorer warns users when local content is launched. In addition these approaches mean that we have less than perfect penetration, even though it is acceptable in these cases.
We could use a python (or equivalent) script, but the installed-base (penetration) of the python interpreter is not good enough.
Using a standard HTML is not enough because of the difficulty of embedding resources in it. Embedding Silverlight XAML or uuencoded content in HTML causes IE to display a warning.
Using something along the lines of a jpeg as a delivery method is not rich enough since we need to display HTML.
..but internet explorer warns users when local content is launched..
I don't get it, what's the problem with IE saying "Hey this app is trying to run your files!"
I don't mean you don't have a good reason for this, it is just, I don't get it.
IE will only warn the user if the app has not been downloaded and try to access local resources, for instance if running from an applet or a JNLP like this one:(click on the first orange button you see )
But if the users download the jar and run it from the computer ( double click on it ) the app is local and can run without problems.
The jar file is a zip file after all, so you can attach your mp3 file with it. Double click is supported in the desired platform, and the HTML content could be either a local file ( un-packed along with the mp3 file ) or an internet web page.
Java is preinstalled on those OS already.
"internet explorer warns users when local content is launched"
There's a reason for this. How can they distinguish your excellent, well-behaved, polite application from a virus?
Since the line between your app and a virus is very, very blurry, go with any of Silverlight XAP file, an adobe Flex file or a Java JAR.
The IE business is a good thing, not a bad thing.
You could try using the 'Jetty' application server.
This supposes there is a working java environment on the target machine.
Jetty is java servlet container but it is possible to configure
everything (web server, html templates, applications, etc.) in a
single executable jar, which launches the web server and opens a default page.
Exactly how the jar file is launched will vary from platform to platform
but otherwise the user interface will be identicle, and, as its a java application
you can do pretty much anything one it has started.
Sounds like MIME HTML does exactly what you want - unfortunately, it is not supported by many browsers other than IE.
I'd investigate Adobe AIR. It can display both HTML and Flex content in a desktop application without using a web browser. However this will require installation of the AIR runtime, also I'm not sure if the Linux version is out of the beta stage.
http://www.adobe.com/products/air/
You can also use a binary for each platform.
As per your description the app is very simple, and porting from one platf to another sounds like just matter of re-compile and offer binary based on the dist.
Is this an option?