Using Java Web Start

1. What is Java Web Start?
   
   
2. How do I get Java Web Start?
   
   
3. Why does Java Web Start ask me if I want to create an application on my desktop after I run an activity twice?
   
   
4. How can I get Java Web Start to work in a mulit-user environment?
   
   
5. How do I set global preferences for all users?
   
   
6. How do I get Java Web Start to work behind our proxy server?
   
   
7. I have the right proxy info entered into the Java Web Start preferences, but I'm still having trouble making it work.
   
   
8. Can I use your software even if I can't get Java Web Start to work on my system?
   
   

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1. What is Java Web Start?

Java Web Start is part of the latest Java installation. It is a piece of software that allows you to run Java applications by clicking on a standard web page link.

There are web based databases and web sites with support materials which contain links to our activities. If Java Web Start is working properly, you should be able to click on these links to launch activities.

If you don't have the software to run the activity, it will be downloaded to your Java Web Start cache folder and then launched.

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2. How do I get Java Web Start?

Download the latest version of Java for your computer.

For Mac OS X, you can run Software Update from System Preferences.

For Windows, you should go to-> http://www.java.com/en/download/index.jsp and get the latest version of Java (which will automatically include the latest version of Java Web Start).

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3. Why does Java Web Start ask me if I want to create an application on my desktop after I run an activity twice?

That is the default behavior for the Java Web Start software. The idea is that you might avoid going to a web page to run some software that is cached on your machine. It is just asking you if you want to have easy access to that software by placing a shortcut on your desktop to launch it.

If you say yes, and you are using many of our activities, then you desktop will become quite cluttered. You can safely say "No" when Java Web Start prompts you to create a shortcut.

If you want to change that default behavior, then you need to make that change in the Java Web Start preferences. For a single user, just start Java Web Start and choose File->Preferences. Click on the "Shortcuts" tab and make your desired changes. If you want to change this preference globally, for all users, then see our FAQ on setting global preferrences for Java Web Start -> http://molo.concord.org/faq/2.html#14

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4. How can I get Java Web Start to work in a mulit-user environment?

By default Java Web Start downloads software to a cache folder located in the user's home directory. To avoid having a duplicate set of downloads for many users, two methods will work:

1. Easy method: Create a generic user, perhaps "CC User", that all students using our software would log into.
   
   
2. Harder method: Use a common cache folder for all users.
   
   
   • Create a folder on the local machine that will be writable by all users.
     
     

   For Windows:

   • Determine the %SYSTEMROOT% by opening a console and typing: echo %SYSTEMROOT%
     
     
   • If it doesn't already exist, create a directory at %SYSTEMROOT%/Sun/Java/Deployment (ex. for Windows 2000 this will be C:/WINNT/Sun/Java/Deployment)
     
     
   • Create a file called "deployment.properties" using any text editor and enter the line: deployment.javaws.cache.dir=C\:\\myCache (assuming you created a folder with write permissions for all users called "myCache" at the root level of the local drive)
     
     
   • Place this file in the directory you just created.
     
     

   If you have other Web Start global settings that need to be set, you can see a list of all possible parameters at -> http://lopica.sourceforge.net/conf.html

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   5. How do I set global preferences for all users?

   For Windows:

   • Determine the %SYSTEMROOT% by opening a console and typing: echo %SYSTEMROOT%
     
     
   • If it doesn't already exist, create a directory at %SYSTEMROOT%/Sun/Java/Deployment (ex. for Windows 2000 this will be C:/WINNT/Sun/Java/Deployment)
     
     
   • Create a file called "deployment.properties" using any text editor and enter the appropriate settings you would like to assign for all users. The available options can be found at -> http://lopica.sourceforge.net/conf.html
     
     
   • Then place this file in the directory you created above.
     
     

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   6. How do I get Java Web Start to work behind our proxy server?

   1. Make sure you have the latest version by updating your Java installation at -> http://www.java.com/en/download/index.jsp
      
      
   2. Make sure Java Web Start knows the correct proxy settings for your proxy server.
      
      
      • For Windows: Open the Java Web Start application and choose "File->Preferences". Then check to see if the right host and port are displayed. If not, you may need to check "Manual" and type this in.
        
        
      • For Mac OS X: The proxy information stored in the Network preferences will be used.
        
        

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      7. I have the right proxy info entered into the Java Web Start preferences, but I'm still having trouble making it work.

      It's possible that your school/organization's proxy server and/or internet filtering software is causing problems for Java Web Start. There are several possible solutions:

      1. Set the internet filtering software to allow everything from the "concord.org" domain.
         
         
      2. Set up a second proxy server that is unfiltered on a port other than the standard http port. For example, set up a second proxy server on port 8080, and make sure not to filter this content. Then set the Java Web Start preferences to point to this proxy server.
         
         
      3. Use a free public proxy server that is operating on a port other than 80 which is the http port filtered by your school. A list of freely available proxy servers can be found at -> http://www.stayinvisible.com/index.pl/proxy_list?order=port%20desc (If your organization has a firewall, you will need to open the port used by the proxy server.) Then, set the Java Web Start preferences to point to this proxy server.
         
         

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      8. Can I use your software even if I can't get Java Web Start to work on my system?

      Yes. It is possible for most of our software to be used independent of Java Web Start. However, you will not be able to click on web page links to launch specific activities. You will have to determine which activity you want to run and navigate to it by using methods appropriate for that particular software package.

      To download software without using Java Web Start go to this page -> TBD.

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