By Dr. Jiang B. Liu

1. Java Computing By Dr. Jiang B. Liu 12. The Java Beans

2. Java Beans • JavaBeans is a portable, platform-independent software component model written in Java. It enables developers to write reusable components once and run them anywhere - benefiting from the platform-independent power of Java. • Beans may be manipulated in a visual builder tool and composed together into applications. A Bean is any Java class which adheres to certain property and event interface conventions. • The Beans Development Kit (BDK) provides support for the JavaBeans APIs and a test container (the “BeanBox” to test Bean behavior),

3. Network Computing: Java Beans • JavaBeans Network Component Computing Model

4. Java Beans in the Java Enterprise Architecture

5. Java Beans: Caracteristic features • Introspection: Enables a builder tool to analyze how a bean works. • Customization: Enables the developer of a Bean component to customize the appearance and behavior of a Bean. • Events: Enables beans to fire events and informing builder tools about the events they can fire and the events they can handle. • Properties:Supports the customization mentioned above. • Persistence: Enables developers to customize Beans, and then retrieve those Beans later, with customized features intact.

6. Java Beans: Create a Java Bean • 1. Create a Bean (jar) file jar cfm FancyButton.jar \ FancyButton.mf FancyButton.class FancyButton.gif FancyButton.au (FancyButton.mf: Manifest-Version: 1.0 Name: FancyButton.class Java-Bean: True) • 2. Copy the Bean file to C:\BDK1.0\jars • 3. Test the Bean in the BeanBox.

7. Java Beans: JAR Files • A JAR file is a convenient way of packaging together a set of class files and any associated GIF images, data files, or other resource files. • A JAR file consists of a normal ZIP format file, plus an optional manifest file describing the JAR contents. • You can use the JDK 1.1 jar command to create and read JAR files. • Manifest file: Each JAR file may contest a manifest file describing the contents of the JAR file.

8. Java Beans: JAR Files • The jar command The jar command is provided as part of JDK 1.1. It allows you to either create a JAR file or to extract the content of a jar file. • The jar command syntax is: jar [ctxvfm] [jar-file] [manifest-file] files … Option flags are: c create new archive t list table of contents for archive x extract named (or all) files from archive v generate verbose output on standard error f specify JAR file name m include manifest information from specified manifest file If any file is a directory then it is processed recursively.

9. Java Beans: BeanBox • The BeanBox is a very simple test container. It allows you to try out beans. • The BeanBox allows you to: • drop beans onto a composition window • resize and move beans around • edit the exported properties of a bean • run a customizer to configure a bean • connect a bean event source to an event handler method • connect together bound properties on different beans • save and restore sets of beans • get an introspection report on a bean • add new beans from JAR files

10. Java Beans: Create an Application using Beans • 1. Run BeanBox java sun.beanbox.BeanBoxFrameset (CLASSPATH=%CLASSPATH%;C:\JavaBdk1.0\beanbox\CLASSES) • 2. Create an instance of Juggler bean and two instance of OurButton beans. (using Toolbox) Rename the button label (using PropertySheet) • 3. Select the button bean and connected to the Juggler bean. (Edit->event->action->actionPerform->Click on the Juggler->start/stop method in EventTargetDialog) • 4. Save the application (File->save)

11. Java BeanBox