To configure a Pick Applet ;

1. Either identify an existing PicK Applet based on the same pick BC as is required or create a new Applet. Set the BC as the required on and Type of the applet as PickList.

2. To invoke this applet from a field in the originating Applet (in the application) first identify the field in the originating BC (corrosponding BC of the Originating Applet) assign appropriate Picklist to it. On the originating Applet set the Runtime property of the field to TRUE.

To configure an MVG applet ;

1. Create a multi value link between originating BC and destination BC and add it to the originating BC’s Links sub object.

2. Create Multi value fields for it and specify a multi value field map.

3. Identify or create an MVG applet based on the destination BC. Set the type to MVG.

4. Identify the field in the originating Applet that will be associated to the MVG. set the runtime property to TRUE.

MVG is used to perform Multi Value Field for 1:M or M:M Relationship.

MVG applet displays and maintain set of data from another
BC associated with currently displayed BC Record. It is
invoked from originating applet.

Dynamic Picklist is Picklist whose values varies during runtime and is based on a BC other Picklist Generic Picklist Sub Area or Picklist hierarchical Sub Area.It is generally used to Update joined fields and Pick Applet are used for the field to be populated by Dynamic Picklist.

Fibonacci Sequence – http://nlvm.usu.edu/en/nav/frames_asid_315_g_4_t_1.html

The purpose of this manipulative is to allow students to explore the Fibonacci sequence, the golden ratio, and the relationship between these two things.

The applet itself is very simple.  One can use it without entering any data, or can enter two starting digits to see how this changes the sequence.  It works very well.

Accompanying the applet are some instructions for use, information on the NCTM standards which the applet meets, and a brief article explaining some background and making some suggestions as to how to use the applet in a classroom setting.

Buttons on the applet allow you to scroll through numbers in the sequence.  Along with each number is the ratio of the quotient of the number and the one just higher to it.  This allows one to see that as you progress through the sequence, this quotient approaches the golden ratio, which is conveniently included.

Taken by itself, I think this applet is interesting, and might be a fun way to change pace in a class.  I could also see using this as part of a lesson in the history of math, and also as a way to augment lessons on functions.  Combining it with other applets, such as the Golden Rectangle that follows, could yield a more powerful lesson.

+++++

Golden Rectangle – http://nlvm.usu.edu/en/nav/frames_asid_133_g_4_t_1.html

When you run the Golden Rectangle applet, a spiral is drawn inside a rectangle in such a way that each time the spiral intersects the side of the rectangle, a perpendicular is drawn.

This perpendicular creates a new rectangle of the same proportion as the original.  All the rectangles created a proportioned to the Golden Ratio.  Like the Fibonacci Sequence applet above, this tool includes instructions, information on NCTM standards, and some background and suggested uses.

The Golden Rectangle provides a visual representation of the Golden Ratio illustrated in the Fibonacci Sequence applet.  Using these two tools together could help students get a sense of the relationship between mathematics and the real world, especially if done in the context of a lesson on where the concepts of Golden Ratio and Fibonacci Sequence first came from, and how they’ve been significant over time.  I think one of the things that makes it difficult for some students to “get” math is that in addition to being abstract, it probably seems to be rather arbitrary.  Teaching more how these ideas came into being, what sort of problems gave rise to them, and how they’re used today might make the subject much more concrete for many.

+++++

Turtle Geometry – http://nlvm.usu.edu/en/nav/frames_asid_178_g_4_t_1.html?open=instructions&from=vlibrary.html

Turtle geometry is like a simplified game version of Geometer’s Sketchpad that uses only lines and angles.  By entering a series of commands, one can program the turtle (cursor) to move geometrically.

With the right combination of moves, one could draw various shapes.  To do this successful requires some thought about which angles and lengths would be appropriate.

In addition to a blank screen, one could choose to navigate a maze, follow a drawing, or walk through randomly placed rocks.  Each type of exercise requires students to think about angle and length/distance, which are important concepts for geometry.  This applet can also help students begin to think of some of the ways that mathematics might play a role in things like computer programming and building.  Making these connections would likely require some discussion.

I am not sure, though, that this manipulative would be worth using in the classroom.  I can think of more active ways of teaching the same concepts that might involve getting outside the classroom and building an actual maze or writing out instructions for a geometric treasure map.

+++++

Linear Function Machine – http://www.shodor.org/interactivate/activities/LinearFunctMachine/

One of the clearest metaphors I encountered as a student was to think of a function as a machine.  This function machine applet has students input x values, receive y values, and then work out the linear relationship between the two.

The applet begins with blank input boxes.  One can enter multiple values, one at a time, in order to get a sense of the pattern the function follows.

The applet page includes four tabs: Learner, Activity, Help, and Instructor.  Activity is open by default and includes the applet.  Learner provides some basic definitions and background, and a list of links to related resources.  Help contains instructions for using the applet.  Instructor outlines some basic information useful to teachers, including how the applet aligns with various standards.

This is a very slick and useful tool.  The same group (shodor.org) has a simplified version that helps to introduce the concept of functions.  I could see using both applets in the classroom.  Last spring I observed a lesson where students were first being introduced to functions.  The idea seemed very foreign to them, almost like it was a major departure from the math that had come before.  This might have been because of the new notation.  Being able to have a tool that’s both fun and challenging and provides a concrete metaphor for what’s happening with the numbers would, I hope, make the transition easier.

Tres enlaces, tres (como dirían en los toros) muy buenos para seguir con este diario de clase.

• Formulación Inorgánica y Formulación Orgánica de José Carlos Alonso Quevedo (Profesor de Física e Química do I.E.S. Ricardo Mella de Vigo, Galicia, España) que se presenta en el vídeo para tales efectos.

• Educaplus.org que no por famosa la dejaremos atras en este diario. Con entradas a animaciones bastante buenas tanto de Física como de Química. Además de otras disciplinas.

In a world where everyone is using technologies like Flash, Silverlight etc to present rich content, are Java Applets still used? Are they still relevant? The answer is – “Yes”. Apart from being used primarily for playing online games, Java Applets are still used in many different ways. Read more from SolitaryGeek.

Para poder acceder a los recursos del ordenador donde se esta ejecutando un Applet, este debe de estar firmado digitalemten.

Leer más…

Desde los Applets de java podemos invocar metodos JS y viceversa

leer mas

Para que cuando hagamos clic en el reloj para ver el calendario nos aparesca lo que tenemos en google calendar debemos hacer lo siguiente:

Entrar a su cuenta de google calendar.

En la parte superior encontraran un enlace que dice “configuracion”, click en el.

En la pagina que se les habre encontraran 3 o 4 pestañas, hagan click en la que dice “Calendarios”.

Se les mostraran todos sus calendarios, elegir 1. Luego pueden repetir el proceso para todos sus calendarios. Hacer click sobre el calendario elegido.

Copiar la URL privada llamada ICAL del calendario.

Ahora en un terminal escribimos:

$ /usr/lib/evolution-webcal/evolution-webcal URL

Obviamente reemplazamos la URL por lo que copiamos anteriormente

Lo que obtendran como resultado es que cada vez que hagan click sobre el calendario de la barra de Gnome este se sincronizara con el calendario de Google y les mostrara las tareas y localizaciones.

- Noen ganger ser jeg den over alt. Den er rett og slett sexy!

ISEXY

Den kan være myk, tørr, hard sjelden våt, men alltid sexy. Ordet i seg selv er sexy, og du er sikkert enig. "Sexy" selger mer enn en markedsførers villeste våteste drøm! Det meste kan nemlig gjøres sexy nå for tiden, og hemmeligheten om hvordan sexy skapes er selvfølgelig super konfidensiell på nivå med politiske statshemmeligheter fra den kalde krigen.

Følelsen av sexy gjør noe rart med de fleste av oss og vi glemmer raskt tid, sted og ikke minst pris.

La meg fortelle deg en kort og ærlig historie fra mitt eget liv

Historiens hovedperson er Apple fra IPhone. Denne er i følge flere jeg kjenner selve symbolet på 2009 sexy! Min tidligere D&B kollega Bård stammet febrilsk når han skulle forsøke å beskrive hva det håndholdte monsteret kunne gjøre. .

- Du forstår ikke! Kleiven, den har mer enn 50 000 små ”applets” . Disse kan lastes ned for å brukes på mobilen, også har den et ”uber” sexy design som gjør konkurrentene til utdøende dinosaurer, og skitne brøytekanter sa han skremmende entusiastisk

Som du allerede skjønner, i følge Bård finnes det bare en telefon og den er tilgjengjeld skapt for det 2100 århundre. Bårds store kjærlighet heter IPhone, og kommer i en liten eske med et eple i sølv diskret ingravert på toppen.

Apple Eplet gjør selv oss ikke vegetarianere tørre i munnen, men spiser du en bit av eplet da blir du fort avhengig!

Skammen over din nye avhengighet må du imidlertid leve lenge med. Ikke i syndens hage men i Apples bakgård. Der finner du andre produkter med I som første bokstav. Og i følge enkelte av synderne jeg kjenner så er de minst like vanedannende.

Enkelte sier IPhone mangler brukervennlighet. Hvem bryr seg om brukervennlighet når telefonen blinker i solen som en nypolert Porsche svarer andre.

Porsche eller ikke, jeg vet hva Bård ville svart!

Mer skremmende er det likevel hva Bårds tordentale om det ”sexy” produktet gjorde med meg. Behovet for å kjøpe en tilsvarende kul telefon fremfor en sliten Sony Ericsson steg i takt med superlativene. Jeg følte meg der og da som en kynisk markedsførers drømmekunde. Liten redd og sårbar med ønske om å holde et menneskeskapt ”nice to have” produkt i hånden.

Hvis denne følelsen hadde vært et Apple produkt så ville de trolig kalt den Ipathetic.

Teorien sier i følge de fleste marketing bøker at en fornøyd kunde er den beste markedsføring. Hvis dette er sant, da er jeg beviset. Jeg var på vill leting etter en telebutikk så snart lunsjen med Bård var over. Ordene som surret rundt i hodet mitt var "Ineed to buy Iphone".

I need Iphone, fortsatte hodet mitt som for øyeblikket var satt manisk i modus repeat. Jeg kan fortsatt høre Bårds stemme tale messende som den fødte vekkelsespredikant.

- Det som er GØY er jo at det sitter tusenvis av utviklere og IT-eksperter hos Nokia, Sony, Samsung og Motorola (de 4 store) – mens et lite team med super kreative, innovative og litt gale mennesker hos Apple i Cupertino, California, klarer å lage tidenes mest innovative og sexy mobil. De klarer å snu hele Mobil-markedet opp ned i løpet av kort tid. Dermed skapes et helt unikt og nytt brukergrensesnitt som mobilbrukere over hele verden elsker. Og hva gjør de 4 store – det eneste de kan gjøre: De kopierer Apple. Men hvem gidder å kjøpe kopien – når originalen er best?

Conclusion: History is nothing. Design is everything.

- Sitat Bård Lerberg.

Hvem kjøper kopien når originalen er best

Hvis Scientologikirken hadde hatt Bård som yppersteprest ville trolig kjendis sekten med medlemmer
som Tom Cruise og Johan Travolta vært en verdens religion. Denne hjernevaskede mannen kan nemlig det å prate om ting som engasjerer han. For Bård er sexy ”gadgets” religion! Og han er ikke den eneste.

Selv sliter jeg også med samme svakhet for nye sexy gadgets. Dette har gjennom mange år kostet meg dyrt.

Heldigvis for oss gadget freaks så finnes det en gud, som i enkelt tilfeller ivaretar interessen til lommebøkene våre.

Etter mitt møte med vekkelsespredikanten var slutt ble transen brutt rått og brutalt.

Metoden han benyttet seg av for å sende meg kynisk tilbake til virkeligheten kan sammenlignes med å se maling tørke i sommersolen.

Mitt neste møte var nemlig med en ”støvsuger selger” lignende skapelse kledd i en altfor stor dobbeltspent dress med labelen ”Armada” sydd på ermet. Han ristet meg brutalt ut av IPhone transen med sin monotone stemme og sigar luktende ”bambus” parfyme.

- Gulesider er fremtiden, sa han. Ja, sikkert men ikke i dag tenkte jeg!

…….tilbake til IPhone selgeren Bård et lite sekund.
Like fasinerende som tordentalen hans var det å se hva talen gjorde også med min høyt utdannede venn. Mens iveren over den nye telefonen piplet ut av munnen hans fikk min venn både tårer i øynene og tørr hals. Det er rart hva et riktig innpakket produkt kan gjøre med selv den tøffeste markedsmann.

I praksis satt han under lunsjen og solgte telefonen til seg selv på nytt, og med på kjøpet fikk Apple en hjernevasket ung Kleiven med ønske om sin egen sexy IPhone innpakket i sølv med et frodig eple på fronten.

Apple har forstått noe de fleste konkurrentene deres fortsatt ikke er i nærheten av å innse. Sexy selger! Design er konge, og sjefen i klassen heter ikke lenger Motorola eller Sony Ericsson. Vi vil alle sammenligne oss med Apple. IPod, Iphone, Iwhatever…! Det er Apple som leder an i kampen om kundene. I fremtiden kommer det sikkert en I fridge, Icar, Ibed eller en I TV. Det eneste som er sikkert er at den vil være designet og pakket så Sexy som bare Apple kan gjøre det!

Jeg er allerede på vei mot et navnebytte til IKleiven. Det vil sikkert øke også min verdi.

Apple er likevel ikke alene om å forstå at sexy selger. Det finnes tusenvis med sexy produkter og tjenester der ute. For ikke å nevne sexy arbeidsplasser!

Har du noen gang lurt på hvor de fleste unge vil jobbe? Svaret er et nerdete søkemotor selskap som de færreste av oss visste fantes for under ti år siden.

Nå er Google verdens mest populære bedrift.

Bedriften blir kalt et selskap til etterfølgelse. Et arbeidssted hvor unge fremadstormende sloss om å få trimme sine raskt løpende karriere ben.

Den Amerikanske Harward studenten Ben Closhe sa det kanskje best.

"I would like to work at Google because it’s creative, challenging and sexy!

Det høres bare så utrolig kult ut! Tenk å jobbe for selskapet som ga oss Google Earth, Google Translate, Google Adwords og Google search.

Det siste er kanskje ikke så kult når jeg tenker meg om, men likevel så vil vi alle jobbe for Google. Der har de i følge ryktene kreative fredager hvor man kan jobbe med fremtidens Google prosjekter og kreative hvile rom for inspirasjon. Mytene om Google er mange, og det er sikkert derfor vi alle vil jobbe nettopp der. På kort tid har selskapet klart det de færreste selskap noensinne oppnår. De har gjort noe så trist som en søkemotor sexy!

Mens merkevaren Arthur Anderson over natten ble forvandlet fra gull til gråstein etter Enron skandalen så har Google gjort søk til sexy tilsvarende raskt.

Hvis Google hadde vært en filmstjerne så ville selskapet uten tvil vært en Marilyn Monroe eller en James Dean. Ikke fordi virksomheten vil dø ung men fordi den allerede har rukket å bli en myte. Selv blant oss som kun kjenner merkevaren fra en trøtt søkerute i ”cyberspace”.
Det i seg selv er sexy!

Para aprender a programar applets y a controlar los loops, me han mandado programar una bola que rebota. Analizo el programa:

La clase Applet implementa varios métodos a los que llama de manera predeterminada y que podemos o tenemos que hacerles override. Los dos más importantes son init y paint(Graphics g). Pretenden que en init se carguen los datos iniciales y se instancien las declaraciones de objetos. En el caso de que también se trabaje con animaciones, que implican una sucesión de operaciones intercaladas por interrupciones de una longitud que podemos determinar, necesitamos recurrir a la clase Thread. Los Thread representan hilos de proceso. Paint, que recibe como parámetro una instancia de la clase abstracta Graphics, puede hacer dos cosas: o bien pinta la bola, con lo que recibiría los datos de anchura, altura, color, etc. de la bola, o bien invocamos un método pinta de la bola.

public void init() {

height=this.getBounds().height;
width=this.getBounds().width;

bola=new Bola(200,201);
ThreadBola t=new ThreadBola();
t.start();

}

public void paint(Graphics g) {

bola.pinta(g);

}

Guardo en los atributos estáticos height y width la altura y la anchura del applet respectivamente. Llamo al constructor de la clase Bola pasándole las coordenadas en las que quiero que la pelota aparezca. Como se ve, basta con llamar al método start del objeto ThreadBola para que él mismo se organice.

Necesito una clase que represente a la bola en sí. La clase Bola consiste en un constructor que la coloca en unas coordenadas preestablecidas de la pantalla y que inicializa la dirección en la que se moverá por ambos ejes. Además, la clase ThreadBola necesitará que se mueva a razón de una vez por “fotograma”, así que también será necesario implementar un método mueve. Quiero que la bola se pinte a sí misma, por así decirlo, así que tendré que implementar otro método pinta al que se le pase el objeto de tipo Graphics.

public Bola() {

//Empieza.

xpos=100;
ypos=100;
dirx=xpos % 10 +1;
diry=ypos % 10 +1;


}

public void mueve() {

if (xpos<0||xpos>=appletBola.width) {
dirx=-dirx;}

if(ypos<0||ypos>appletBola.height) {
diry=-diry;}

xpos+=dirx;
ypos+=diry;

}

public void pinta(Graphics g) {
g.setColor(color);
g.fillOval(xpos, ypos, 20, 20);
}

El método mueve tiene que controlar que no haya llegado a los límites de la pantalla. Si lo ha hecho, ya sea en el eje y o en el eje x, alteraré la dirección del movimiento en ese eje. Obliga a la bola a tomar la dirección opuesta a la que llevaba en el eje en el que se cumpla la condición. Además, sumo la dirección en x a la posición que tenía anteriormente y lo mismo con la dirección en y.

La clase Thread funciona de la siguiente manera. Después de que se llame al método start, el objeto llama la función run, que engloba la operativa principal de la clase. Primero comprueba si el hilo no se ha interrumpido por algún motivo, caso en el que no ejecutaría las operaciones. Dentro de la dinámica de cada “fotograma”, le decimos a la pelota que se mueva mediante el método mueve. Llamamos entonces al método repaint del applet, que a su vez hemos organizado de manera que llame al método pinta de la bola. Por último, indicamos las unidades de tiempo durante las que el thread “dormirá”. Cuando menor sea el número, más rápido se moverá la bola.

public void run() {

while(true)
{

bola.mueve();
repaint();

try { Thread.sleep(15);
} catch (InterruptedException exc) { }

}

}

Subiría el resultado, pero soy pobre y vago. Imagináoslo.

CPU Fire Load Monitor es un applet para el entorno de escritorio GNOME que permite monitorizar el estado de la máquina y la carga de trabajo de la CPU utilizando gráficos estilo fuego, con llamas de distintos colores para detallar los niveles.

Puedes instalarlo abriendo una terminal y agregando:

$ sudo aptitude install cpufire-applet

Finalmente lo agregamos haciendo click derecho en el panel y seleccionando “agregar al panel” y seleccionamos el applet y lo añadimos.

Enlace | GnomeFiles: CPU Fire Load Monitor

Tons of Bouncy Balls

Introduction

In the second installment of the series “JavaFX to JavaScript and Back” we will look at code! If you remember what we discussed in my previous post of Part 1 showing a demo of many bouncy balls. If you want to skip to the source code go to demo and click on download project.

Newcomers

If you are new and just getting started with JavaFX I strongly suggest JavaFX.com or Java.sun.com. If you are like me, one who knows enough to be dangerous please skip to Getting Started. Newcomers should take a look at books in the References section at the end of this article. Another awesome resource is the “Free” 15-Week JavaFX Programming (with Passion!) Online Course w/ Sang Shin & James Weaver.

Assumptions

• NetBeans 6.5.1 is installed with JavaFX 1.2 pluggin.
• Java SDK 1.6 update 14
• Know basic JavaScript
• Know basic HTML

Getting started

To give you a quick recap of the scenarios:

1. Create Bouncy Balls (JavaScript to JavaFX)
2. Remove Bouncy Balls (JavaFX to JavaScript)

Create a JavaFX Applet

Step 1: Create a Ball (Custom Node)
First create a class called Ball that extends a CustomNode. The key is overriding the create() method of the CustomNode class. We first create a Circle with a RadialGradient fill. Next we create a Group containing the circle in its content attribute. Then add the onMousePressed function to the group to detect a mouse pressed event which will remove this ball’s instance from the Scene (Game Area) and decrements the numBalls variable which updates the Web Page’s form element Number of Balls. Finally we return the group (ball variable).

class Ball extends CustomNode {
    public var velocity:Velocity;
    public var centerX:Integer=100;
    public var centerY:Integer=100;
    public var radius:Integer;
    public var fill:Color;
    protected override function create(): Node {
        var circle:Circle = Circle {
                centerX: centerX, centerY: centerY
                radius: radius
                fill: RadialGradient {
                        centerX: centerX - radius / 3
                        centerY: centerY - radius / 3

                        radius: radius
                        proportional: false
                        stops: [
                            Stop {
                                offset: 0.0
                                color: getRndColor()
                            },
                            Stop {
                                offset: 1.0
                                color: Color.BLACK
                            }
                        ] // stops
                } // RadialGradient
        } // circle
        var ball = Group{
            content:[circle];
            // remove ball
            onMousePressed: function( e: MouseEvent ):Void {
                delete this from gameArea;
                numBalls--;
            }
        } // Group

        return ball;
    } // create()
} // Ball

Step 2: Create initial ball to be put in Scene

You should notice I’ve created a few script level functions which conveniently return random values to create a Ball node. I won’t list those function for brevity. The random generated attributes are: velocity, centerX, centerY, radius, circle.fill = (RadialGradient 1st stop Color [Step 1 - Line 19])

// create an initial ball to float around.
var initialBallRadius = getRndRadius();
var rndCenter:Point = getRndCenter(500, 400, initialBallRadius);
var firstBall = Ball{
    velocity:getRndVelocity()
    centerX: rndCenter.x
    centerY: rndCenter.y
    radius: initialBallRadius
};

Step 3: Create the Scene to display Balls
The variable gameArea is a sequence of Nodes. You will notice the ball instance from Step 2 is the first node in the sequence. The scene’s content attribute is bound to the gameArea variable. During run time as nodes are added and removed from the game area the scene will dynamically update the visible nodes.

var gameArea:Node[] = [firstBall, toggleAnimationButton, mainRectRegion];
var scene:Scene = Scene {
        content: bind gameArea
        fill:Color.TRANSPARENT
};

Step 4: Create the Stage
This is the top level container which holds the scene.

Stage {
    title: "Application title"
    width: 500
    height: 400
    opacity: bind mainScreenOpacity;
    scene: scene
}

Step 5: Create a game or animation loop using the Timeline class
Here we create a Timeline instance that will run indefinitely (Timeline.INDEFINITE) with a single key frame (KeyFrame) which periodically updates each bouncy ball’s attributes which eventually renders each ball node with a new x and y position based on the velocity. Also the Timeline (gameLoop) is started immediately using the play() function.

var gameLoop:Timeline = Timeline {
    repeatCount: Timeline.INDEFINITE
    keyFrames : [
        KeyFrame {
            time: 1s / 50
            canSkip : true
            action: function() {
                for (node:Node in gameArea) {
                    if (not (node instanceof Ball)){
                        continue; // don't update non balls
                    }
                    var ball = node as Ball;
                    var xMin = ball.boundsInParent.minX;
                    var yMin = ball.boundsInParent.minY;
                    var xMax = ball.boundsInParent.maxX;
                    var yMax = ball.boundsInParent.maxY;

                    // Collision - boundaries
                    if (xMin  scene.width){
                       ball.velocity.xVelocity = ball.velocity.xVelocity * -1;
                    }
                    if (yMin  scene.height){
                       ball.velocity.yVelocity = ball.velocity.yVelocity * -1;
                    }

                    ball.translateX = ball.translateX + ball.velocity.xVelocity;
                    ball.translateY = ball.translateY + ball.velocity.yVelocity;
                }
            } // action
        } //
    ]
};
gameLoop.play();

Step 6: Create the AppletStageExtension
This is the reference to the JavaFX applet which would assist with browser functionality such as the evaluation of JavaScript code.

var applet: AppletStageExtension;

Step 7: Create the numBalls variable keeping track of adds and removes.
The numBalls variable has a trigger (on replace) that updates the HTML page’s input text field “numBalls“. You should notice the id attribute of the tag is name “numBalls“. An id is a way to uniquely locate the form element in the HTML DOM (in this case a reference to the input field. When numBalls variable changes the trigger will evaluate the JavaScript code “document.getElementById(‘numBalls’).value = {numBalls}”. What this does is populate the form element field’s ‘id’ called “numBalls” whenever the JavaFX variable numBalls is updated.

var numBalls:Integer = 1 on replace {
    applet.eval("document.getElementById('numBalls').value = {numBalls}");
};

Step 8: Create a JavaFX function to add lots of balls

The HTML Web page will have a JavaScript function that would call the JavaFX function below when the user presses the Add Ball(s) button.  You will notice the FX.deferAction() call, which ensures updates to JavaFX classes are happening on the JavaFX main processing thread. This function will instantiate num balls inserts into the game area (Scene content) and increments the numBalls (trigger will update Web page’s form element).

// This function is called from the JavaScript button and numBallsToAdd field
function addBalls(num:Integer) : Void {
    FX.deferAction(function() : Void {
        for( i in [1..num]){
            var curBallRadius = getRndRadius();
            var rndCenter:Point = getRndCenter(500, 400, curBallRadius);
            var b = Ball{
                velocity:getRndVelocity()
                centerX: rndCenter.x
                centerY: rndCenter.y
                radius: curBallRadius
                fill: getRndColor()
            };
            insert b into gameArea;
            numBalls++;
        }
    });
}

Create a HTML Web page containing the JavaFX applet

Step 9: Create HTML Web page to display JavaFX applet

Run in Browser

After creating the project in NetBeans select project / properties / Run (categories) / Application Execution Model – Run in Browser.

Step 10: Build Project

Building the project which will create files in the {PROJECT_HOME}/dist directory.

Step 11: Copy originally NetBeans created HTML file of the dist directory to another name

Use the copied and renamed HTML file and not the original because when the build process occurs it will overwrite the original HTML generated file.

Step 12: Modify HTML code to contain JavaScript to call JavaFX applet.

    javafx(
        {
              archive: "JavaFXtoJavaScript.jar",
              draggable: true,
              width: 500,
              height: 400,
              code: "javafxtojavascript.Main",
              name: "JavaFXtoJavaScript",
			  id: "ballApp"
        },
		{ isApplet: "true" }
    );

function addBalls() {
	document.ballApp.script.addBalls(document.getElementById('numBallsToAdd').value);
}

Step 13: Modify HTML to contain Form Elements.

<form>
<table>
<tr><th>Add balls to Scene :</th>
<td><input id=”numBallsToAdd” name=”numBallsToAdd” value=”1″/></td>
<td><input onClick=”addBalls();” type=”button” name=”addButton” value=”Add Ball(s)”/></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>Number of balls: </th>
<td><input id=”numBalls” name=”numBalls” READONLY/></td>
</tr>
</table>
<br/>
</form>

Running Applet in Browser through NetBeans

Step 14: Run application or hit F6 key

This will launch the JavaFX applet into the browser from the original HTML page created from the build. Go to the address and modify the URL (Just the file name) to use the modified copy which would run the JavaFX applet along with the form elements added from step 12 – 13.

Conclusion

Although the example only used simple attributes of the AppletStageExtension there are other properties and events to explore such as onAppletRestored, showDocument(), etc.  Hopefully we can get away from HTML and just have rich client applications, however I don’t think the browser is going away anytime soon. So we can happily go from JavaFX to JavaScript and Back!

Enjoy. Let me know what you think.

References:

Pro JavaFX Platform by Jim Weaver, Weiqi Gao, Stephen Chin, and Dean Iverson
JavaFX: Developing Rich Internet Applications by Jim Clarke, Jim Connors and Eric J. Bruno
Essential JavaFX by Gail Anderson and Paul Anderson

numBalls

Introduction

One of the most impressive features that I’ve seen relating to JavaFX, is the ability of an Applet to interact with the browser via JavaScript and HTML. The browser can also interact back with JavaFX code. There are plenty of examples out there but I’d like to add one more to the pile of cool examples. It may be cool using AJAX concepts with JavaScript & HTML, but using the concept with JavaFX is just amazing. The possibilities are endless. “JavaFX to JavaScript and Back Part 1” will demonstrate what the application will do and “JavaFX to JavaScript and Back Part 2” will be on steps on how-to do it.

While I was a kid growing up, I would go to the bowling alley to get a 25 cent(US) bouncy ball from the vending machine. I’ve lost many a bouncy ball in the parking lot from bouncing them as hard as I could. In this example I will create a 500 by 400 pixel sized bouncy ball containment field in JavaFX. This is to prevent them from ever leaving me like they did when I was a kid.

Note: Thanks to Stephen Chin an author of the book Pro JavaFX Platform and WidgetFX for allowing me to host The Bouncy Ball Containment Field.  Click Here to run!

(Tip: If in Firefox just middle mouse click link to launch in another tab)

Here is an example of an HTML page with an embedded JavaFX applet with HTML form elements below for data input to create bouncy balls. The demo allows a user to specify the number of balls to add to the scene called the “Add balls to Scene” field.  When the “Add Ball(s)” button is pressed the JavaScript code will pass the number of balls to the JavaFX public script level function called addBalls() which will create bouncy balls. When balls are added the JavaFX Script code will talk back to the HTML read-only field called “Number of balls” to show the current number of balls in the containment field (Scene). On the JavaFX side of things the location, velocity, size and color of the balls will be generated randomly and rendered on the scene.  You should notice the new JavaFX 1.2 Toggle Button component on the upper left. It is used to stop and  start the animation of the bouncing of the balls (Timeline pause & play to be exact). The first use case scenario is add balls which depicts the JavaScript to JavaFX data flow. The second use case scenario is display the current number of bouncy balls in the containment field which depicts the JavaFX to JavaScript data flow.

Balls addBalls(lots of balls)

This shows when the user specifies a whole bunch of balls to add.

A ball can be removed from the scene by just clicking an individual ball.  The field “Number of balls” input field is really a read-only field that is updated from the JavaFX side whenever balls are added and removed from the bouncy ball containment field.

More Bouncy Balls

By adding many balls I wanted to see how well it would perform.

Here I add balls, lots of balls! The bouncy ball containment field now holds 400 bouncy balls. Although I might not be doing things efficiently I noticed my CPU was performing adequately. The utilization was between 41% to 46% (older Dell hyper-threading Inspiron XPS laptop Pentium(R) 4 CPU 3.40 GHz) using Windows XP SP 3. It was a smooth animation with no flicker. The Ball class is a Custom Node which contains a Circle with an effect called Radial Gradient to give it a 3D sphere look.

Dragging JavaFX Applet out of Web Page

By using the Alt key along with mouse drag the JavaFX applet will appear to be pulled out of the browser’s Web page and out onto the desktop.

By default, when you drag the applet out of the browser onto your desktop a small “close button” appears on the upper right corner of your application. When the user clicks the “close button” box the JavaFX applet will snap right back into the browser. Another thing to note is that when the JavaFX applet is running outside the browser and the user subsequently closes the browser the applet will remain running independent of the browser.   This introduces an interesting ability that adds a new dimension to usability on the desktop.  As the user becomes drawn into the application experience the need to be attached to the Web page will be obsolete. Another cool effect that I have added to the Application is transparency or opacity level when the mouse cursor is exiting or entering the scene area. When the user moves the mouse away from the application the screen will fade to a subtle transparency. When the user moves the mouse cursor into the application screen area the background becomes fully opaque (white in this case).

Fully Opaque when mouse moves into application

This fading effect helps the user transition from one application to another.

The last, item of the desktop experience to mention is the Java JNLP mechanism that asks the user if he or she wants to create a short-cut icon for the application to launch at a later time.

Create short-cut dialog

To reproduce the dialog asking for a shortcut, you would drag the applet out of browser, then close tab or browser application and then a dialog will appear asking to create the short-cut.

Conclusion

Building the bouncy ball containment field was extremely fun. I learned a lot about boundsInParent which taught me that it is the rectangular region after all transformations to the node has been applied when adding balls to the Scene. As the future of the Web 2.0 apps grow users will demand richer interfaces and better content. I believe JavaFX has made great strides in desktop development and also increasing the usability factor of desktop applications by leaps and bounds. In Part 2 of “JavaFX to JavaScript and Back” I will detail a step-by-step tutorial on how to build the JavaFX applet you see here. Let me know what you think. Feedback is always welcome!

]]> http://nathankraft.wordpress.com/2009/07/03/exploring-the-world-of-applets/ Fri, 03 Jul 2009 19:55:51 +0000 nathankraft http://nathankraft.wordpress.com/2009/07/03/exploring-the-world-of-applets/

I believe that the scatter plot applet in the National Library of Virtual Manipulatives would be very useful for my class. When I’ve worked on scatter plots in the past, I had to spend some time teaching my students how to use some of the more difficult applications on Microsoft Excel. While I believe that learning Excel is very important for the student, it always felt like I had to spend much more time teaching Excel than teaching scatter plots. Unlike Excel, this applet is very easy to use. All you have to do is input your data. The applet will plot the data, create a line of best fit, give the equation for that line, and provide the correlation coefficient. It even automatically sets the scale based on the data you have inputted. This allows the student to quickly create and study multiple scatter plots. I believe this is a much better way to study scatter plots as compared to creating them by hand.

I chose a great activity from the illuminations website called “Fraction Model 1.” It can be found at:

http://illuminations.nctm.org/ActivityDetail.aspx?ID=11

This tool explores several representations for fractions using adjustable numerators and denominators. You can see decimal and percent equivalents, as well as a model that represents the fraction. Your fractions can be displayed as a circle, rectangle or a set model. This applet restricts the range of the numerator from 0 to 20, and the denominator is limited to benchmark values of 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 10 and 20. You can adjust the value of the numerator and denominator by moving the slider or using the up and down arrows. Once you make your adjustment, the decimal and percent values that are equivalent to the fraction are shown.

I really enjoyed this activity and think it would be great to use in the classroom. Fractions and their equivalents have always been a struggle for my students. Students can access this site from home or we can do it as an activity in class. I really like that it allows the students to investigate what happens when the numerator is larger than the denominator. They can see what happens to the value of the decimal and percent, as well as how the picture changes. There is also another version that allows values from 0 to 100 for both the numerator and denominator.

Según mi opinión, la parte más importante de un escritorio es el panel. En él se deben aunar la utilidad junto con el orden para lograr eficacia. Nuestro objetivo; dotarlo también de una bonita estética y una apariencia estilo Gnome 3.0.

Captura panel de Gnome tras la modificación (clic para aumentar resolución)

Como podemos observar en la imagen anterior, el panel parece haber sido divido en dos partes. La que se sitúa a la derecha contiene los iconos del área de notificación, junto con el control de volumen. En el centro del panel, algunos iconos de programas que suelo usar frecuentemente (un organizador personal, un To do list, control del reproductor de música) y en la parte izquierda del panel el botón del menú de Gnome y un dock de acceso a las aplicaciones en uso. Empecemos por el principio:

¿Cómo dividir el menú en dos partes?

Endidura en nuestro menú de gnome.

No es más que una artimaña visual, un truco bastante simplón. En realidad se trata de una imagen de tamaño menor que el ancho de la pantalla, con una zona transparente a la derecha. Por ejemplo, mi resolución es de 1024 pixels de ancho, la imagen de fondo del panel mide 1009 pixels. Gnome completará el resto con la imagen nuevamente desde el principio. [Ver imagen de fondo de muestra]. Para darle una estética acorde con los tiempos que corren (véase el amplio panel de KDE 4 o del nuevo Windows 7) le damos al panel el ancho máximo permitido por Gnome, 40 pixels.

El área de notificación.

Área de notificación junto con el control de volumen.

En segundo lugar incorporamos al panel de Gnome el área de notificación (si no la tenemos añadida aún).  Con el botón derecho sobre el panel: clic en añadir al panel, buscamos área de notificación y le damos a añadir.  Nuevamente con el botón derecho del ratón y sobre el área, clic sobre mover y la desplazamos hasta la derecha. Para asegurarnos que permanecerá allí podemos bloquearla al panel desde el menú derecho.

Acceso a aplicaciones y acciones frecuentes.

Centro del panel: aplicaciones frecuentes y control reproductor

En esta zona recomiendo añadir algunos lanzadores de aplicaciones frecuentes. Con el botón derecho sobre el panel: Añadir al panel >> Añadir lanzador personalizado. Después tendremos que indicar el comando de la aplicación. También se puede hacer, de manera mucho más sencilla, arrastrando el icono de la aplicación hasta el panel. Yo personalmente he optado por incluir entre los iconos unas barras separadoras.

Applets utilizados.

Miniaplicación de Música | Para controlar el reproductor de música desde el panel de GNOME. Soporta multitud de reproductores | http://www.kuliniewicz.org/music-applet/

DockbarX | Transforma la lista de ventanas en iconos | http://gnome-look.org/content/show.php/DockbarX?content=101604