Cross-browser applet tags?

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jgenyuk - 28 Jan 2005 21:38 GMT

Can anyone point me to a resource about what HTML tags to use for
applets to make it load properly in all recent browsers? I tried
<applet> and HTMLConverter which gave me <object>...<embed>, but the
first didn't work for IE with Microsoft JVM, and the second forced some
users to download a plugin.

Is there a good discussion anywhere at all about cross-browser issues?
Everything I found by Google so far, looks outdated. We have a wide
variety of users and I cannot possibly test applets in all
configurations. Thanks.

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evadnikufesin - 30 Jan 2005 15:04 GMT

> Can anyone point me to a resource about what HTML tags to use for
> applets to make it load properly in all recent browsers? I tried
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
> variety of users and I cannot possibly test applets in all
> configurations. Thanks.

You're not going to find a truly cross-browser-capable approach outside
of the <APPLET>. In that case if you applet isn't compatible with the
VM that's in the browser of for that user - they're stuck. The MS JVM
is based on JDK 1.1.8 (with some 'extensions'). So if you try to
create an applet for use with JDK 5, it'll never work. The client
would have to download the latest Sun JDK and configure it to work
with the web browser they are using.

The reason that you are seeing "outdated" discussions on google is
because these issues haven't changed since the Java Plug-In was
released. If Microsoft was *smart* they'd just put the Java Plug-In
into XP and call it done - telling their current VM users to upgrade
their code accordingly. But they're more interested in market
dominance than in customer satisfaction.

But I digress...

Use the <embed> tag and if a customer needs the newer JVM, they'll be
prompted to install it. If they already *have* it, the browser will
merely switch to that VM and your applet will run.

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Andrew Thompson - 31 Jan 2005 12:27 GMT

>> Can anyone point me to a resource about what HTML tags to use for
>> applets to make it load properly in all recent browsers?

None. Some users have text readers. Some users refuse Java,
other users have Java refused for them by the system administrators.

Your web page must cater to these people by at least explaining that
the wonderful applet on the page requires the
"free, safe, secure JAva plug-in. (insert JRE link)"

>>..I tried
>> <applet> and HTMLConverter which gave me <object>...<embed>, but the
>> first didn't work for IE with Microsoft JVM, and the second forced
>> some users to download a plugin.

That is actually *attempting* to cater for all browsers, but Sun's
attempts using some of those HTMLConverter templates is horrendous,
you are best off avoiding it completely.

As ..'evadnikufesin' mentioned. Those users without the Java
plug-in, or an *outdated* Java plug-in, will need to download it.

>> Is there a good discussion anywhere at all about cross-browser issues?

Many, distributed under various titles across mainly c.l.j.help,
c.l.j.programmer and (to a lesser extent) c.l.j.gui.

I have made many posts relating to applets that might
help explain the complexities. Try these searches.

My posts on..
Applets
<http://groups.google.com.au/groups?as_q=applet&as_ugroup=comp.lang.java.*&as_uau
thors=andrew%20thompson%20>

Applets and the MSVM *
<http://groups.google.com.au/groups?as_q=applet%20msvm&as_ugroup=comp.lang.java.*
&as_uauthors=andrew%20thompson%20>

My development site
The FAQ, several mentions of applets and the MSVM *
<http://www.physci.org/codes/javafaq.jsp>

The alternative to the HTMLConverter
<http://www.physci.org/codes/jre.jsp>

What applet deployers should be warning end users about if
they still have an MSVM
<http://www.physci.org/jvmclean.jsp>

>> Everything I found by Google so far, looks outdated. We have a wide
>> variety of users and I cannot possibly test applets in all
>> configurations.

Applets might well drive you mad.

> You're not going to find a truly cross-browser-capable approach outside
> of the <APPLET>. In that case if you applet isn't compatible with the
> VM that's in the browser of for that user - they're stuck. The MS JVM
> is based on JDK 1.1.8 ..

There are security differences between the 3810 build (last
and safest) of the Java 1.1.4 MSVM, and the Symantec 1.1.5
VM used in Netscape Navigator 4.80.

Before we even get to the proprietary...

>..(with some 'extensions'). So if you try to
> create an applet for use with JDK 5, it'll never work.

I have compiled and run applets on the MSVM using Java 1.5,
you simply need to specify the right options when compiling
(and only use 1.1 compatible classes/members, of course).

>The client
> would have to download the latest Sun JDK and configure it to work
> with the web browser they are using.

Yes. Java is simply a plug-in!
<http://www.physci.org/codes/java/plugin.jsp>

> ..If Microsoft was *smart* they'd just put the Java Plug-In
> into XP and call it done ..

We've been down that merry path before. Browsers should come
with no JRE, get the latest and greatest direct from Sun.

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Andrew Thompson
http://www.PhySci.org/codes/ Web & IT Help
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Cross-browser applet tags?

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