Installation

Installation of Simple Desktop for Java

Before installation

Installing Simple Desktop for Java is very easy job to do. But before you can do anything you need the following:

installed TCP/IP network,

at least one server with WEB server software installed (including link to Simple Desktop's Start.html or Start1024.html for 1024x768 resolution),

a lot of clients with 100% Java 1.1 capabable browsers and

(optional) third-tier database server with installed database and its jdbc driver.

Look at intranet scheme for easier understanding of intranet concept.

Installing Simple Desktop

Simple Desktop for Java must be placed on WEB server. Simply unzip desktop.zip into root directory.

Before starting RMI server

Server initialization file (rmiserver.ini - pic.) should be properly set with INI maker (start java Inimaker or inimaker on Win95/NT and OS/2).

The following must be set:

jdbc driver for proper database (for example: jdbc.odbc.jdbcOdbcDriver),

database url to access you database file (for example: jdbc:odbc:SimpleDesktop) and

database accessibility with logon option (shows if you need username and password each time you access database - username and password must be the same as they are in Simple Desktop!!).

When adding each user you must put:

unique username for each user,
password for each user and
database write access for each user (if user can access INSERT, UPDATE and DELETE commands).

To add each user fill all cells and click on Add. To remove first select user in a listbox and then click on Remove. When you exit the program everything is saved on the disk.

Each user should have its own picture (username.jpg of size 64x64) and own audio file (username.au) in desktop/users/images and desktop/users/audio subdirectories.

Starting RMI server

To start server type runserver (on Win95/NT or OS/2) or just start java rmiregistry and java RMIServerImpl. DON'T forget to start WEB server first.

Adding database capabilities

You have to add database first (I tested my applet under MS Access with Sun's JDBC-ODBC bridge). For this purpuses Sun's JDBC-ODBC driver is enough otherwise you will have to add DB providers' own JDBC driver (DB2, Oracle, mSQL, ...). Driver should be added to CLASSPATH of computer's configuration file where RMI server is run.

Database ini file (database.ini - pic.) must be set by DB maker (start java Dbmaker or dbmaker on Win95/NT and OS/2). Database table name must be set (for example: Store).

Each table entry needs:

cell name (SQL variable name),

label name (name that will appear in x-database panel) and

variable type (basic knowledge of SQL is recommended).

Database should be manually created with default name SimpleDesktop (database for MS Access is created via 32-bit ODBC settings in Control Panel).

Creating MS Access database with 32bit ODBC driver

First you open 32bit ODBC settings from Control panel. Then click on System DNS... (pic.) and add MS Access database (*.mdb) with data source name as SimpleDesktop (pic.). The name of file can be desktop.mdb and that is all.

Starting Simple Desktop

From browser (patched Netscape Communicator 4.03+ or Sun HotJava 1.1) jump to site that contains Simple Desktop for Java. Login as Roman with password roman (by default) or whatever you add in server ini file.

Starting Simple Desktop on standalone (connectless) computer with Win95

First you have to setup (pic.) your TCP/IP properties in Network settings (remember that you will lose you internet access because of fixed IP addressing):

IP address. Set fixed IP to 128.0.0.1 and subnet to 255.255.255.1.

WINS. Leave disabled.

Gateway. Add 128.0.0.1.

Bindings. Leave empty.

Advanced. Leave none.

DNS. Set host to xxx and domain to yyy.com. Add search order to yyy.com and com.

Finally you have to modify hosts.sam file in Windows directory where you have to change 127.0.0.1 localhost to 128.0.0.1 xxx.yyy.com.