CS111 and AppletViewer

All the Java programs in CS111 are Java applets. Applets are a special type of program intended to be executed in a web browser. Theoretically, we should be able to run and test our CS111 applets in popular web browsers like Netscape Navigator and Internet Explorer. Realistically, web browser support of Java varies widely and viewing new versions of our programs require a huge overhead (restarting the web browser). So, AppletViewer is the program we will be using to run our Java applets.

Using AppletViewer

  1. Start AppletViewer by selecting it from the Apple Menu.

  2. The Key Server message appears. Click "OK".

  3. The AppletViewer window appears. Closing this window (clicking the top left corner) quits AppletViewer.

  4. To run a CS111 applet, select File-->Open Local. (Apple-O)

  5. This will bring up a dialog box. Click Desktop to start looking for files on the MacIntosh Desktop. Navigate to the folder with your programs. If you want to run a Java program called SomeName.java, you will be running a file called SomeName.html in AppletViewer.

  6. The applet starts.

  7. If you are working on the program in Symantec Cafe, you will need to select Applet-->Reload to see your changes after you have brought the code up to date. Sometimes AppletViewer fails to show your changes. In that case, quit AppletViewer and restart it. You will still need to reload the applet after restarting AppletViewer and opening the .html file.

  8. When you are done, please quit AppletViewer. (Apple-Q, or close the AppletViewer window)